My Secrets In The Apocalypse

Chapter 13

When Riley woke up the next morning she made no move to get up. Why had she agreed to talk to Daryl today? That was the last thing she wanted to do. Why did she give in to him so quickly last night? She could have easily ignored him and went back to sleep. She was still mad at him for being an asshole to her, what the hell makes him think she'd even want to talk to him? Who the hell did he think he was, acting like everything was ok between them after he was such a jerk? And why the hell did her past matter to him so badly?
Everyone else seemed to have moved past that by now, so why wouldn't he?

She stayed curled up in her sleeping bag trying to think of a way out of it when her stomach let out a loud growl. Looked like she couldn't hide in here much longer. Sighing, she got up and ran her fingers through her hair to get the knots out. It was getting too long, almost to her waist. She would have to cut it soon. She pulled on some clean clothes, slipped her boots on, not bothering to tie them, and slipped her hatchet into her belt.

Unzipping the door to her tent she stepped out and pulled it closed behind her. She made her way over to the middle of the camp where everyone was eating breakfast. She made herself a plate of food and sat with the others, eating as slowly as possible trying to postpone seeing Daryl for as long as she could. When she finished eating she washed her dishes and put them away.

Riley was desperately looking for anything to kill time so she wouldn't have to face Daryl when she remembered she needed to wash some clothes. Happy that she had found something that would take a while, she went to her tent to gather up her dirty clothes. By the time Riley had finished washing and hanging all of her laundry it was early afternoon.
She noticed that most of the camp was heading over toward the vehicles and she overhead them talking about gun practice. When they left, the camp was almost completely empty.

Riley decided that now would probably be the best time to get her talk with Daryl over with. With the camp so empty there was less chance of someone overhearing them, so she would take advantage of the situation, no matter how much she really didn't want to. She slowly made her way over to Daryl's tent, her stomach twisting nervously. She didn't want to tell him anything more. The explanation back at the CDC should have been enough for him.

Riley knocked on the tent pole, "Daryl?"
"Bout time." She heard his voice from inside the tent. She stepped inside shutting the door behind her. He was laying on a cot with a book in his lap "What took ya so long?" he asked.
"I had things to do," she said dismissively, watching him as he slowly sat up tossing the book to the side. She stood there watching him, not really knowing what to do. He stared at her for a minute before scooting to one side of the cot motioning for her to sit on the other side. She sat down looking at him, not wanting to be the first one to talk.
"Well, you gonna talk or what?" he asked impatiently.
"I don't really know what you want me to say," she said annoyed.
"Well, maybe talk about the secrets you been keepin?" he suggested sarcastically.
"Why do you want to know so badly?" she asked frustrated. "Yesterday you didn't even want me in the same room as you! Now all of a sudden you're acting like that never happened and your demanding I tell you about my life!" She stood angrily and stared him down. "Everyone else is letting it go! Why can't you?"
"Because you haven't!" he said standing up too. She noticed how much taller than her he was, she only came up to his chin.
"Huh?" Riley raised her eyebrows confused.
"You keep sayin you put it behind ya, but obviously you ain't!" he said.
"What are you talking about? Of course I have! I let it go a long time ago!" she replied just as loudly.
"Bullshit," he said. "Ya wouldn't be waking up all hours of the night with nightmares if ya had!"
"So I have bad dreams! What does that matter?!"
"Obviously it still bothers ya!" he said tossing his hands up irritated.
"So what?!" she yelled getting in his face and poking him in his chest. "What does it matter to you? Just yesterday you were being a huge dick to me for no reason at all!"
"Quit pokin me!" he said grabbing her wrist.
"No!" she said yanking her wrist from his hand. "I don't get it Daryl! You told me to go away because I'm such a problem for you! So I did! Then you come bothering me about shit that's none of your fucking business, saying you want answers! What the hell?"
"Was just a bad day," he mumbled grumpily.
"Just a bad day? Oh, that makes me feel so much better!" she said sarcastically. "I don't get it Daryl! What's this all about?! Why are you so concerned with my nightmares and my past all of a sudden?!" she yelled getting frustrated with him.
"Why're ya makin this such a fight?!" he yelled back.
"Because this time I want some fucking answers!" she yelled. "Its my turn to demand an explanation!"
"I was worried about ya!" he yelled. "Seein ya screamin and cryin like that! How shook up ya were when ya woke up! That ain't right!" he yelled at her exasperatedly.
"Why do you even care so much!?" she yelled back at him.