My Secrets In The Apocalypse

Chapter 7

They had been traveling in silence for a little while. Riley was lost in her thoughts, replaying what happened in the CDC with Jenner in her head. She suddenly remembered how Daryl had saved her from making a stupid mistake back there. She turned to look at him, noticing that he seemed to be deep in thought staring straight ahead. She took a moment observe him while he was distracted. He was definitely an attractive man, that she couldn't deny. She had noticed it back when he and Merle had first joined the group. It didn't matter to her back then though, she was too busy avoiding everyone. But now that she was letting her guard down, she couldn't help but notice him. Her mind flashed back to the CDC when he pulled her off of Jenner. She was too angry at the time to notice, but looking back now she could remember how his strong arms felt around her waist, making her blush.
She quickly looked out the side window berating herself for thinking like that. She only just decided to open up to these people! She couldn't be having thoughts like that about Daryl! This was completely unacceptable! She was only supposed to be letting them in a little bit, she couldn't afford to let him come barging through like this. She was already going against everything she ever knew by trying to become one with the group but this thing with Daryl, these feelings, that needed to stop right then and there. She would never let someone that close to her again.

The line of vehicles slowly came to a stop just outside of the city, abandoned cars all along the highway around them. Everyone hopped out of their cars looking a little worse for wear. They decided to scavenge the area for supplies before heading out to Fort Benning. Daryl and T-dog decided to collect gas from the abandoned vehicles in the area. Riley had searched a few cars and managed to find a few bottles of water, a pocket knife that she'd decided to keep, and a few cans of vegetables. Once everyone was done they packed away their collected supplies. Daryl and T-dog had managed gather quite a bit of gas from the abandoned cars and, in an attempt to save on fuel, the decision was made to leave Daryl's truck behind.

Riley watched him unload Merle's motorcycle from the bed of the truck, her mind instantly wondering what ever happened to him. She had heard that he escaped the roof by cutting off his hand and that he stole the box truck back in Atlanta. She couldn't help but wonder how someone would be able to survive a world like this all alone with only one hand. But she also knew Merle was tough, she doubted losing a hand would do much to slow him down.
"What?" Daryl's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Apparently she had been staring a little too long.
"Nothing, sorry," she shrugged trying not to show her embarrassment from getting caught watching him.
"Didn't look like nuthin," he shot back.
"I was just thinking about Merle," she said nonchalantly.
"Merle? The hell you thinkin bout him for?" he growled. That was a strange reaction Riley thought.
"That's his bike, ain't it?" she pointed to the motorcycle. He raised an eyebrow at her and nodded.
"It just reminded me about him is all," she shrugged. "I was just wondering how he might be getting along out there with just one hand. It cant be easy." Riley looked off in the distance.

Daryl didn't say anything, just stood there watching her. Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze she made her way over to the truck to grab her bag and move it to a different vehicle, feeling his eyes on her the whole time. When she was done she made her way up to Rick and Shane informing them that she'd be riding in the RV. She sure as hell wasn't riding on that motorcycle with Daryl, not with all the inappropriate thoughts swimming around her head today. She needed to distance herself from Daryl until she could get a grip on herself.

Everyone was finally situated and they were back on the road again. Riley was sitting at the table in the RV reading a book she'd found lying on the counter. It wasn't great, but it kept her mind busy and helped pass the time. She refused to sit there stewing in her thoughts, that would only drive her crazy. She had managed to get through a few chapters before she felt the RV slowing. She looked out the front window and saw a mass of vehicles blocking the road ahead. Daryl passed them on his motorcycle trying to find a way through as they crept slowly behind. They hadn't made it far before smoke started pouring from the engine of the RV, forcing them to stop in the middle of the highway.
Everyone got out of their vehicles once again, frustrated with all the delays today. They all gathered near the front of the RV watching as Dale opened the front and started to fiddle with the engine, Glenn handing him the tools he needed.