In This Life

Chapter 23

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ANDY POV - 16 YRS OLD

I tapped my foot nervously while staring  at the clock, which was taunting me with every stroke of the second hand. As each minute grew, my stomach dropped further and further until it threatened to hit the floor. 

 "Should I be early?" I wondered out loud, never pealing my eyes from the clock. "Or late.."

My nerves began eating my stomach away the moment Daryl finally asked me on a "date" - or in his way of asking, "to hang out" - three days ago, and they only devoured me more aggressively as the days lingered on. It was winter break and my family headed up North to visit my Great Aunt and Uncle, but Asher and I decided to stay behind this time so we could do our own holiday activities. I decided to make a break for our family cabin, which was located just on the outskirts of the town that we lived in, while Asher stayed behind for a few days to catch up on school work. Though, as nervous as Asher was about letting me venture off to our cabin by myself for a few days, he felt somewhat at ease, knowing who lived next door.

The Dixons.

It had been several of months since the youngest Dixon began to notice me, but it had been amazing - yet slow - several months. But no less, Daryl and I were just friends. But for just being friends, I had never felt this nervous and anxious for an event to take place in my entire life. Since the day he awkwardly asked me on a "date", my mind never stopped spinning with scenarios of possible occurrences for that night. And that night, was tonight.  

A sudden burst of energy mixed with a sickening feeling bubbled up in my abdominal area and began to spread to my toes and all the way to the tips of my fingers as the clock finally ticked to 6:30. I slowly stood from the couch, nearly contemplating if I was truly making the right decision.

"Of course it's the right decision!" I scolded myself as I slowly began to pace back and forth across the wood floor. "Why are you freaking out, Anderson? It's just Daryl.." But that was it. It was Daryl Dixon. The mysterious, rebellious boy who doesn't need anyone to uphold his life. He was as independent as he was content, which only scared me more.

A light rap on the door startled me, sending my heart into erratic fits. My breath caught in my chest and my face flushed white as I turned to look towards the front door of the cabin. Taking a deep breath, I turned on my heel to answer the door, but quickly stopped as I looked down at my outfit. 

I was wearing a pair of black leggings with a long, light brown sweater than buttoned down and hugged me graciously. A light colored scarf was wrapped around my neck, falling over my shoulders and down my front, and I wore a light brown pair of leather boots to match. As soon as I began to think I was overdressed and that I should dash to my room to change, another knock sounded from the front door, this time slightly louder. Ignoring all parts of my body telling me to turn and run before it was too late, I made my way to the large, wooden door, took a deep, unsteady breath, grasped the door handle, then slowly swung it open.

Daryl was facing the other way -almost as if he were deciding whether or not to leave- but quickly swung around to face me once I opened the door, chewing on his thumb nail, which seemed to be a habit of his. Realizing he was partaking in his jittery addiction, he immediately dropped his hand to his side and composed himself. His face was masked from all emotions -which was normal for him- but a hint of unease flickered across his hazy stare.