The Cheerleader •Daryl Dixon AU•

Nineteen

Closing her eyes in silent frustration Olivia turned to her mother, she looked stern and meant what she said, that much was true. Olivia couldnt help look at her mother like dirt, just how Shane did when he first lay eyes on Daryl, but this time there was more reasoning, her mother really was dirt to her right now with her spiteful judgemental ways. "Oh? And what are you going to do? Watch my every move?" Olivia spat "i'll tell your father I think you are on drugs and he will make sure you are back here straight after school no exceptions" her mother replied smirking at one upping her daughter. Olivia scoffed, not giving into her pathetic demands she walked past her and up the stairs to her room but not before turning to look at her mother again "Just because Daryl is different to Shane, or even Rick and T doesnt mean he is worse than them. Did you know Shane cheated on me our entire relationship? He lied every opportunity he had, he never cared for me like I thought he did" her mother looked remorseful but Olivia stepped in before she could respond "Daryl is a nice guy, a great friend even, money doesnt matter to guys like him, and it shouldnt matter anyway. Take Shane for instance, we were never going to work even if you had hoped we would marry and both families money would combine" Olivia added matter of factly to her mother. Her mother's stance softened towards her daughter "dont jump to the conclusion that im sleeping with Daryl because im not" Olivia explained and it pained her inside that this was the truth, her feelings for him were growing stronger by the day "I'm not what you were at high school" Olivia quipped with sarcasm before turning on her heels and heading to her room.

Slamming her door for maximum effect Olivia grabbed her phone to send a ranting text to Lori about her hatred for her mother when there was a gentle knock on her door.

"Mom, you are the only one home I know its you" Olivia sighed allowing her mother to enter.

She entered awkwardly and Olivia exhaled fed up. "Honey, I know you are unhappy right now but drugs are not the answer" her mother spoke making Olivia rub her hands over her face "because Daryl looked like a dealer right?" Olivia snapped with sarcasm "you are so shallow right now" she quipped "even after I told you Daryl was a, a friend you still judge" she added flopping down on her bed. "All because he isnt from money" she sighed. Olivia heard her mother step further into her room "whatever you are doing with Daniel" "Daryl!" Olivia interrupted her mother's obnoxiousness "whatever you are doing with Daryl can stop now, he isnt right for you, Shane is, he can provide for you, he is from good money, Olivia you are not one of those girls who work for everything you dont need to, Shane can take over his father's business and you will be set for life. Take me and your father for instance, my parents pointed me in the right direction with him and look at what we have now? A lovely house, cars, holidays twice even three or four times a year, a holiday condo and much more!" Her mother urged. It was clear she had nothing else to add to that but her mother had always been about the material goods in life and Olivia knew it wasnt for her.

This made Olivia sit up on her bed "you never listen to me! Shane and I are through! He isnt for me he never was!" She shrieked "you think Im so ungrateful for everything but I dont care about being head cheerleader! I dont even like it anymore its all your dream and what you wanted!" She added trying to fight back the tears that were forming in frustration. "There is more to life than popularity at highschool and money. Meeting Daryl has shown me that, he takes me for who I am and he doesnt care, he doesnt judge" Olivia smiled when she mentioned Daryl.

A silence fell over the pair, Olivia's angry glare was softening on her mother whilst her mother's confused glare was weakening. Eventually her mother walked towards her and pointed for her and Olivia to sit together on the bed. The silence was still there but Olivia knew her mother wanted to speak.

After a sigh she did. Taking her daughter's hand in hers she spoke "the truth is darling, I never wanted to marry your father." Olivia's eyes widened at her mother's honesty, she looked for her to continue "I had a rocker boyfriend" she laughed as she reminisced "he had this lovely long hair, it was always so glossy and he could play the best music on his guitar, I'd sneak over to his and we would jam and cuddle and--"her mother trailed off not knowing what to say next "have sex? You can say sex mom" Olivia laughed "and have sex" her mother laughed back before continuing "we had all these dreams of getting married and having loads of kids to form our own rock band" she paused and looked saddened "my parents found out and forbid me to see him again and pushed your father under my nose, sure he was handsome and charming. but he wasnt, he wasnt James." Olivia had never seen this side to her mother before after all these years of assuming she chased the money her father had and clambered onto Olivia's life in hopes of living through her it turned out if was far from that, she was just as trapped as Olivia felt. "Eventually the girls on my cheer team found out I had been hanging with 'the school loser' and pushed me to the bottom of the pyramid even though i deserved to be the one holding up the head. I know I only kept my place in that team because your grandfather ran the school and with me dating his son he wanted to keep him happy." Her mother finished giving her daughter's hand a squeeze. "So to sum up, dont live the life I had, even your sister hates the piano but its what your father wants, in this situation what he doesnt know wont hurt him, ive tried to get him to see Poppy is unhappy but what he says goes. Just be happy Livvy."

She kissed her daughter's cheek before getting up to leave. "Mom, wait" Olivia called out making her mother turn "why did you tell me this?" She asked, her mother smiled "because I know you like Daryl more than you are letting on" Olivia blushed, she knew she was right "and besides getting over James was really hard, even now I think of him and it hurts. Dont settle sweetie, Shane was a nice guy but he wasnt your nice guy" her mother informed her and left her room and closed the door.

Olivia smiled. And for a very long time it was her mother that made her smile.