Chapter 4

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I dreamt of him last night, after the encounter in the barn my mind couldn't help but wonder. I sit up in bed next to Beth, secretly embarrassed by my subconscious thoughts. He fascinates me. The mysterious man that found me out in the woods. He tries to be distant, pretends to be cold, but I can see right through it. Maybe that's why we've become friends so quickly, because deep down we're the same. Maybe he's just as curious about me. Its silly I know, he's so much older than me, I'm practically a child compared to him. And look at him, he'd never be interested in someone like me. Even if it is the end of the world. Or would he? I shake my head at the thought almost laughing out loud. I really must be delusional. Too much time alone would do that to you I suppose. Beth rolls over sleepily. "You okay?" She mumbles without even opening her eyes.

"Yeah, sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." Before I know it she's sound asleep again. I know I wont be able to fall back asleep, so I don't even bother trying. I sneak out of bed and get dressed as silently as I can. I slide on my shoes and sneak down the stairs, careful not to wake anyone. I make my way to the front porch, plopping into one of the rocking chairs. I sway gently, letting the morning breeze wash over me as I watch the sun rise. The rooster crows from the coop, the cows moo in the pasture. The morning is so peaceful I forget for a minute that the barn right across the yard is full of the living dead. I shiver at the thought. This place is so perfect, so sheltered from the nightmare that we live in and now  at any minute all hell could break loose. All of this. This haven we've fallen upon could be gone in an instant, and that terrifies me more than anything.

"You okay kid?" Shane asks as he sits beside me. I nod.

"Just thinking." I answer. "What are you doing up?" I ask him curiously.

"Taking watch at the barn. Daryl took night shift, so its my turn." I nod.

"Whens my shift?" I ask seriously. He stands, laughing. He ruffles my hair like a child.

"You just let the big kids take care of that." I try not to let the fact that his words hurt show, but secretly my heart is breaking. I used to look up to my big brother, he was kind and honorable and I wanted nothing more than to grow up to be just like him...but now...now I want nothing less.

"I'm not a child anymore Shane. I'm almost 18." He raises his eyebrows at me, holding back a laugh. "I'm serious. You have no idea what I've been through, what I've survived. I kept myself alive, I can help protect this group." 

"Come on Hails don't get your panties all in a twist now, just relax okay? You should be grateful that I want to protect you from that burden." I scoff at him, getting to my feet. I swallow my pride and walk away knowing that nothing I say will make him see me any differently.  The idea of reuniting with him kept me alive for months, the thought of having my big brother back fueled my will to live and now I have nothing. Don't get me wrong, I'm so glad that he's alive..I just wish he hadn't turned so cold. I swallow back tears. I've fought for months to stay strong, to survive. I closed myself so far inside myself in order it make it through and now, being with these people its like I'm feeling everything all at once. I don't want to be alone again, but sometimes this is all just too much. Daryl gets that. I roll my eyes, my mind always floats back to him. I cant help it. He's probably hungry, he's been up all night. I wander around the farm, picking fruit from the trees. An apple, a peach, etc. Then I make my way to his tent on the edge of the property. His camp is so secluded from everyone else's that I almost feel wary of going. I shrug it off seeing his tent flap partially open. I open my mouth to say something, but before I do I see that he's already sound asleep. I cant help but smirk. He puts on a good act pretending to be a  big scary tough guy, but asleep with all the facades gone he looks vulnerable, almost sweet. I place the fruit in the doorway, and leave not wanting to disturb him. I continue my day, pushing him from my mind completely as I busy myself with chores around the farm. Maggie joins me in the barn shoveling hay for the horses.

"You okay sweetie?" She asks kindly. "You were up pretty early this morning." I nod, wiping the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.

"Just couldn't sleep." I say with a smile. "Sorry I didn't mean to wake you."

"Oh no, you didn't. Glenn and I were....I was..uh..." She laughs nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Oh." I reply, biting my tongue to stifle my laughter. But its too much, I lean forward clutching my stomach as I laugh hysterically. She elbows me playfully.

"Hey its not funny." She says, with a laugh. We both stop laughing when Daryl comes sauntering into the barn.

"Hey...uh, can I borrow Hailey for a minute?" He says awkwardly. Maggie shrugs.

"Don't see why not, go ahead honey I'll finish up here." I give her a quick side hug thanking her, then put my shovel back.

"What's up?" I ask Daryl casually as I approach him. He nods his head, indicating for me to follow him outside. I follow him around to the back of the barn in silence, my stomach suddenly in knots. He stops abruptly, turning to face me, his movements so sudden that I walk straight into him. My hands instinctively land on his chest to keep myself from falling. I pause for a moment, feeling his muscles tense beneath my palms. My eyes meet his and I drop my hands away, sheepishly. I can feel my face getting hot and I hope and pray he doesn't notice. He smirks. Crap, he definitely noticed. I laugh nervously.

"Thanks for breakfast." He says, his thick southern accent finally breaking the awkward silence. I tilt my head, pretending to be confused.

"Breakfast?" I question, with a smirk. His eyes widen.

"Oh..I..uh..i thought..." He says, almost sounding embarrassed. I hit him playfully.

"I'm kidding." I say with a laugh. "How'd you know it was me?" I ask. He shrugs.

"No one else gives a shit." He replies rather bluntly.

"I'm sure that isn't true." I say sweetly. He shrugs. "Maybe its probably because you're so great at showing your feelings." I add sarcastically, laughing a little so he knows I'm just teasing. He steps closer, causing me to back right into the barn wall. My heart pounds as he places his hands on the wall on each side of my head. His musky scent filling my nose, his breath against my neck as he whispers in my ear.

"Maybe I just needed someone to remind me how....someone worth feeling for." My breath catches in my throat, butterflies soaring inside me. He pulls back a little so he's looking straight into my eyes. I try to think of something witty and sarcastic to say, to keep up this façade of mine, but I'm at a complete loss for words. So instead of speaking I caress his face with my hand, my other hand resting against his chest. Part of me expects him to pull away like he did before, but instead he leans his face into my touch, closing his eyes as if he's savoring the moment. Seeing him allow himself to be so vulnerable with me makes me ache. He deserves so much more kindness than what he's been given. When he opens his eyes he moves his hands from the wall to my face, rubbing his thumbs on my checks. His eyes comb my face trying to read what I'm thinking. I stare into his eyes, gobbling up every second of this show of intimacy. My stomach erupts in butterflies as he leans forward, pressing his lips to mine. I freeze for a moment, unsure of myself. He pulls away looking to me, almost like he's asking permission to kiss me again. I wrap my arms around his neck pulling him into me as I kiss him, more confidently this time. Electricity pulses through me as his lips dance against mine. His touch, his kiss, its everything I ever could've imagined...everything I had imagined and more. This moment. Him. Everything is so...perfe-

Daryl and I freeze, we try to pull away but it's too late....

"Shane." I whimper.

*AUTHORS NOTE*

Hey guys! ❤ Thank you all so much for all the support I've been getting lately, it means the world to me. ❤ If you guys could be with anyone on the walking dead who would it be? I would 10/10 want to be with either Maggie, Tara, Rosita, or Daryl 😍

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