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

Chapter 9 - Drunken Visits

I turn up the radio as I drive down the road into town. I have to go to the store to get decorations and supplies for my classroom. Noah decided to stay home, and it really didn't surprise me. But I was still disappointed.

I grabbed things that were necessary, and some that I really liked. I bought so many decorations, my walls will be full of posters and boards and I don't even know if it'll all fit. I also grabbed some things for Noah when he starts school. I know it's a few months away, but I want him to be prepared. After a long wait in the checkout line, I paid for everything and went to load my trunk.

I decide to go to the diner and surprise Noah with lunch. I start my car and drive around the corner and down the street to the diner. The first thing I notice as I park is the two motorcycles sitting outside the bar. It's almost noon, and their already drinking away their sorrows. I scoff and go inside to get our lunch.

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I get back to the house and leave all my classroom supplies in the trunk. I'll just unload it in a few days when I have to go to the school. I carry our lunches inside and go to Noah's room and knock on the door.

"I brought lunch." I said, setting the box on his dresser. He nodded.

I turned and left his room, closing the door behind me. I thought I heard him mumble a thanks as the door clicked shut. I head out to the patio to eat at the table we have set up out there. I almost fall out of my seat when I see Noah step out onto the patio and sit at the table with me. I smile at him, and a ghost of a smile forms on his lips before looking down to eat.

"I picked up some school supplies for you. I know it's early, but I thought you should be prepared." I break the silence. He only nods, his usual reaction to everything I tell him.

Later on that night, after Noah went to bed, I sat out on the front porch swing with a glass of wine and listened to the frogs and crickets making music. I forgot how peaceful it is out here. I've been listening to cars whizzing by for the last 14 years. I wrapped my blanket tighter around as it got chilly.

Headlights blind me as an old, light blue truck pulls into my driveway. The engine cuts off, and I sit up, pushing the blanket off of me and setting my glass down. I can hear my heartbeat. I watch Daryl stumble out of the drivers side. I intently watching him, noticing how he walks. He's obviously drunk. He looks around, like he doesn't know where he is, then locks eyes with me.

"I was lookin' for ye." he slurs. I stand up and walk down the steps.

"What do you want?" I stand my ground.

"I wanted to tell ye...to--to fuck off! I don't ever wanna see ye again."

"I thought you made it perfectly clear you didn't want anything to do with me."

"Gettin' sassy are we?" he taunted, "Don' ye talk to me tha' way!"

"Who do you think you are?" I said, getting mad, "You have no right to tell me what to do. You said it yourself, you want nothing to do with me!"

He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off, "No! Just shut the hell up and listen to me! I am so fucking done with the way you have treated me. It's such bullshit that you won't even let me get one word out about what happened that day! Yes, I left. But, I just found out that fucking day I was moving away! But you are such a stubborn asshole you didn't let me explain then either! God, Daryl!"

He silently stared at me with narrowed eyes. I continued, more calm, "Maybe...maybe things would be different if you would've just let me explain. You have no idea how much it hurt me that you said those things, then just walked away. I thought about you all the time, and missed you so fucking much. I resented my parents for making me leave you. I mean, I cleaned your wounds for God sakes. I was there for you when you needed me the most; when your Mom passed. We were friends, and we had each other."

My breathing slowed down along with my raging heartbeat. We stared at each other, the air thick with tension. I ran out of words, and once again, I felt drained.

As I opened my mouth to speak, he stormed up to me, grabbed my face in his rough hands, and smashes my lips against his. His rough lips ground against mine, and his hands moved to my hips, moving me closer to him. My hands had a mind of their own and wandered up to his hair, lacing my fingers through it.

And just like that, I found myself kissing back.