Meet Me Under Our Willow (A Daryl Dixon Pre-Apocalypse Love Story)

Chapter 6 - Returning to the Past

5 days later

"I think that's all of them." I huffed, setting the last box on the table.

We didn't have to bring any furniture or appliances since the house already had them. We just had to pack our clothes and personal belongings for our rooms. The whole hour and a half ride here consisted of me trying to engage in conversation with Noah, but he only shrugged or didn't answer at all. I gave up about halfway through the ride.

Noah started taking his boxes into his room, which was my old room. I took Mom and Dad's old room. After I put all my boxes in there, I decided to take a minute and look around my childhood home. I pull out the grocery money Mom gave to us and stuffed it in my pocket.

I go down to Noah's room at the end of the hall and open the door. His music is blasting through his headphones, drowning out all sounds. He's sitting on the bed, his hands clasped behind his head, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. I close the door before he even notices I came in.

I leave a note on the counter telling him I'll be back in a little bit. I head outside, going straight for my old swing set. The shiny metal I once knew is now rusted over, but the memories weren't. I smile a little, thinking back to how I used to feel swinging on this. I felt like a bird.

My eyes drift to the dirt path that leads to my favorite tree. I grin and my feet carry me towards the woods. I can hardly contain my excitement as I near my favorite tree. I have the best memories under that beautiful tree. Well, there are some that weren't so great that involved...

I can't think about him. He was such a jerk when I had to leave and he didn't even let me explain. Things could've been so much different if he would've listened to me. But, that was a long time ago, I guess. I should let it go. I knew there was a possibility I may run into him here. Unless he made a life for himself and lives elsewhere.

I reach the clearing and there it is. The sun still hits it just right, so it almost shines. The long branches flow with the subtle wind. My eyes brighten as I move towards it. I run my fingers along the soft and droopy branches. I look up and marvel at it's grandness and it's height.

I whip around when I hear branch cracks and leaves rustling in the tree line behind me. I don't see anything, but I still feel something. I feel like I'm being watched. I would like to stay longer, but I get goosebumps because the feeling doesn't go away. I head back to the house to finish unpacking.

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Noah and I go to the grocery store to shop. I'm excited to show my brother my childhood town and all my favorite shops. He seemed less than thrilled. I insisted that he leave his headphones at the house so we can talk. But, I'm the only one doing the talking. We pull into the store and go inside. We get all the essential groceries plus some other snacks.

As we check out, I watch through the window as two motorcycles drive by. I can't help but feel drawn to them for some reason. When we get back out into the parking lot, we put the groceries in the car and I notice the motorcycles parked across the street at the diner. They put a new restaurant in there, it used to be our parent's old diner.

"Hey, do you want to go get lunch?" I asked Noah. He shrugged.

We walk across the street and enter the diner. We seat ourselves and begin to look through the menu. After a few minutes, a waitress comes to take our drink order. We both order water. I notice two men sitting at the barstools. One looks much older than the other, but they're definitely related. I can tell by their stances. But the younger one looks oddly familiar, even though I can't see his face.

They're drinking Coca-Cola's and quietly talking with one another. The waitress steps in my line of sight to take our order.

"Uh, I'll take a chef salad with a side of ranch, please." I ordered.

"Chicken sandwich with fries." Noah mutters, pushing his menu towards her.

I can't help but look over at the men again. I can't shake the feeling of familiarity that is radiating off of the younger one. I think I know who it is...

No, it can't be.

Could it?

I look away, and concentrate on the blank expression on Noah's face as he stares at the table. This has to be hard for him. He had to leave his friends and the house he grew up in. I can understand how he feels, I went through the same thing.

I can feel someone's gaze burning into the side of my face. I instinctively look over at the men. I lock eyes with the younger one and my whole body ignites with something that makes me still. His expression matches mine, and it's unreadable. It's like everyone else in the room disappeared, and it's just us. Staring at each other. His bright blue eyes confirm my assumption of who this man is.

It's Daryl.

Of course it is. His features are just sharpened and he's grown even more handsome than what he was when we were kids. The older one nudges him, breaking our trance. He looks away. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. That must be the oldest Dixon brother that Daryl never let me see.

Our food comes and I don't look over at him again. I see out of the corner of my eye the Dixon's leave. I hear the motorcycle rumbles get farther away.