The Walking Dead

Chapter 8

I grinned up at Daryl, unable to hide my happiness from him. Then, I started to bounce around him, going around and around, laughing, then stopping, poking, and continuing. I skipped away from him and over to Sophia, picking her up and twirling her around. She giggled, the sound adorably cute. I laughed along with her, then set her down and poked her nose.

Then, I skipped away from her and over to Carol. We shared a smile, and began dancing around, soon everyone but Daryl, Ed, and Merle, who wasn't in the camp, was dancing. I spotted Merle the instant he walked out of the tent.

I steeled my nerves and marched over to him. "Come on grumpy pants. We're gonna dance." I ordered.

Merle looked repulsed, "No way would I dance with the likes of you."

"Well, that's too bad. 'Cause your stuck with me. Now come on." I scowled, grabing Merle's arm and jerking him over to the crowd. He protested the whole way. "Just shut it." We stopped in the middle of everyone. "Okay, now." I propped up on of his arms, and draped the other arm over my waist. "Hold it there." I ordered, then marched over to Andrea. "Go dance with Merle." I urged.

She gagged, "Ew! Why don't you do it?" She asked.

I cast a pointed look to Daryl leaning up against the tree. He hadn't danced, he had just stood there and leaned against that tree, ever the warrior. "I need to do something, otherwise I would."

She sighed, "Just for you, I will."

"Thank you!" I dragged her over to Merle, seeing that his arms were dropped and he was standing in the middle, looking lost.

"Hey!" I snapped, whacking him upside the head, "I thought I said to hold your arms where they were."

He shrugged, "Oh, well."

"No, not 'oh well,' You get your arms up, and dance with Andrea, now." I ordered.He grumbled and walked over to Andrea standing in front of her. He rested a hand on her waist, and held her hand up.

"Okay, right foot back, left foot back, step to the right, step forward, step to the left, repeat, and spin." I said. Once they got the hang of it, I took my chance and escaped, resting by Daryl.

"Mr.Lone Wolf doesn't dance?" I guessed.

He smiled, "That is correct. I never leared to, and even if I could, Merle wouldn't have let me."

I looked at him out of the corner of my eyes, then back to Merle. "But he's dancing." I protested.

"I know." Daryl sighed.

"Come on." I grinned, holding a hand out for him to take. Luckily, he did. His larger hand collapsed around my much smaller one, dwarfing it.

I pulled him to the center, seeing as Andrea and Merle had moved to one of the outer positions. I held Daryl's hand out, away from our bodys and rested my hand on his shoulder. "Put your hand on my waist." I directed.

He followed without complaint, and I felt his hand rest lightly on my waist. "Okay, now match my movements. Normally, the man is supposed to lead, but since your the newbie, I'll lead. When you get the hang of it, then you can try to lead." I took the first step, Daryl accidentally stepping on my foot.

"Sorry! Sorry." He apologized, "I should just go. I'm no good." His hand left my waist, our intertwined hands falling apart.

"Nope." I said, grabbing his hand again, I jerked him back, and forced his hand back to its original place. "Your new. I was like that. You just need practice. Here, listen to my voice and repeat it with me once you get the pattern. Forward, right, back, left. Forward, right, back, left." We went through the dance again and again.

"That's it!" I encouraged. "Keep it up. You lead now. You got this Daryl." I let my lead slip, Daryl taking it up as he led the dance, I could see his lips moving as he recited the steps.

"Where'd you learn to dance?" He asked.

"My mother taught me. When we we're alone and Dad was at the bar, we would dance around the house for hours. I used to enjoy it, then I turned into what I am today."

"That's nice that your mother still taught you how to dance even with what was happening."

I smiled, "She was wonderful. If you would like to add something to this besides the regular, forward, right, back, left, you can add a twirl, or a dip. It adds elegance."

Daryl smiled and held out his arm, I spun down, my lips lifting into a smile. When I came back, he dipped, his hand splayed out on my back, holding me to make sure I didn't fall out of his grip.

The world dissapeared as we twirled, dipped, and danced around the camp. Neither of us noticed that everyone was watching us, awe shining in their eyes. When we finally stopped, we were both panting, our cheeks flushed a light red and our chests breathing slightly heavier to gather more oxygen.

Our faces were centimeters apart, our breath mixing with each other's. Daryl's blue eyes glittered as mine sparkled. Blue clashed as our eyes met. He released my hand, my arm falling to my side as I stared up at him, breathless.

His hand rested on my cheek, his thumb tracing my cheek bone lightly, gently. His blue eyes were soft, staring down at me with wonder and a safe feeling spread throughout my body.

"Kiss her already!" A voice, Lori I believe, shouted.

"You don't have to kiss me. It would probably be the pressure anyways." I breathed.

"But what if I want to?" He asked.

I shrugged, "You wouldn't though. Nobody would."

"Why ever not?" He asked, acting 'polite'

"Because I'm me. I'm the tough tomboy."

He just smiled, he didn't talk. Instead, he lightly pressed his lips to mine, but not how I've always seen couples kiss. It was light, just a brush of his lips. It was sweet, but most of all, it showed me things that I never thought I could see again. I saw my mother smiling, happy. I saw my baby sister still alive and crying our for her lunch. I saw a happier me.

I saw a life after this.