𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 ➪ «𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛»

ch. XXI pt. II

oOo

Daryl maintained his original seating pose. His head was propped lazily against his hand as he looked down at her. Then his hand reached out towards her face and her chest clenched, leaving her a little breathless. His fingertips grazed her cheek as he pulled some of her hair free from the corner of her mouth.

Diana opened her lips to help to release them and then thanked him quietly. His eyes lingered there and she licked them subconsciously, feeling how dry they were.

A subtle ticklish warmth began playing in her lower belly. She sat up in a flash and announced abruptly, "So about that deal, dude."

"About that deal," Daryl repeated. The atmosphere lightened up. The spell had been broken. Diana felt both relieved and disappointed, though, she didn't understand why.

"Once upon a time, I said I'd tell you about the bow if you taught me how to use it, right?" she asked, knowing very well that she had no idea where she was going with this.

"I think I remember somethin' 'bout some super-secret special technology. That the one?" Daryl asked with a raised eyebrow, faking seriousness.

"That is the very one. The one... which I accidentally forgot to bring with me today... Sorry." Diana shrugged sheepishly and gave a tentative smile. "The thing is... I've got no idea how or what or who."

Daryl sat straight. "You what?"

Diana raised her hands in defense. "Don't get mad! Okay, I just... I don't know anything about the bow. What I've- what you've seen till now is all I got."

So she'd gone with the honesty route. She usually preferred little white lies that worked in her favor, but Daryl had never been anything but honest with her and she felt like she owed him the same treatment. At least out of respect.

She was kind of anxious over how he'd react. Right now he was just processing it, staring off into space.

"So you been lyin'? All this time?" he asked finally, still not meeting her eyes.

Diana sighed. She'd ruined everything. That's why white lies were good. She could've told him a bullshit story and he would've been none the wiser. Especially since he'd be out of her life soon. Wow, that actually hurt a little to think about.

"I- yeah, well... não, not really lying, 'cause I... 'cause I've never actually ever said anything about the bow... Apenas- yeah, I- I've kinda kept it- yeah..." she stumbled and staggered. Her face scrunched up in a guilty grimace and she added, "I am so sorry."

Daryl gave a little huff of laughter. "You always with the damn apologies when you done nothin' wrong."

Diana looked at him from the corner of her eye, too scared to face him. "Excuse me?" What did he mean nothing wrong?

"What'd I tell ya in the beginning? Don't go trustin' everybody, keep this to yourself. Ya actually done listened." He didn't sound berating or even remotely mad. Just a hint of pride in his voice. Along with his half smile, Diana could almost guess that he was proud of the fact that she'd omitted the truth from him. Like it was some sort of test.

"So you... You think I acted right?" she asked just to clear it up. Not that there was a chance that she was actually misunderstanding his body language.

Daryl gave a short nod. Diana snorted in disbelief and shrugged loosely. She pulled her legs to her chest and put her arms around them, her hands came to fidget with her shoelaces.

"I was like making a huge deal out of it. Even lost some sleep over it. Like for real. And now..."

Daryl swept her ponytail back over her shoulder, catching her attention. Then he said, "Ya gotta learn that I ain't gonna bite your head off."