How it was

I Might be A Loner

"Where ya going?" He asked; his voice frightening me. I smiled, wondering if it was concern that I was hearing in his southern voice. I chuckled quietly.

"No where I ain't been before," I said in a voice just as quiet, teasing him.

I knew he was anxious for an answer. He probably thought I was leaving the group without telling anyone. In reality, I was just going to get away from this farm. Not permanently, just for an hour or two while everyone else was gathered around the dinner table talking and trying to forget.

Everyone knew that was impossible.

He sighed, irritated. I couldn't help but smile at him. He was so cute when he got this way. I sighed in defeat and walked closer towards him, but not too close. Me and Daryl weren't anything. Of course, I felt that was just because neither one of us wanted to let our guard down during the impending zombie apocalypse.

"I need a breather," I said, tightening my grip on my backpack. He nodded, still unsure of whether or not I was staying or leaving in a permanent sense.

"Daryl, I'm staying," I said nodding, trying to reassure him. He seemed to relax and nodded before clearing his throat.

"I'm coming with ya," he said, being as stubborn as usual. I shrugged and turned around, continuing my walk. This was expected. If he hadn't of offered to come with me, I would have been left with thousands of thoughts and worry.

Ever since I had arrived at this farm, I had felt right at home. Of course there were a few evil glares at first but everyone soon enough warmed up to the idea of another person. It was kind've strange to everyone when I first arrived, I supposed, because Daryl was the one who brought me back here.

I had been in the woods by a small creek when a walker had apparently snuck up on me. The next thing I knew, an arrow came flying out of no where, missing me and headed straight for that walker. Why he did it, I had no idea. It was something I still thought about on a daily basis and it was something that I was determined to find out.

Maybe I had just got lucky that he was in a good mood that day or something. Or maybe he was saving himself. I don't know. But it was still something I was thinking about when we reached the place I had been heading for; the same creek he had found me at.

I sat down on this stump and started fiddling my thumbs before Daryl finally spoke with a raised eyebrow.

"Why here?" He asked, curious. I shrugged, a small smile playing on my lips.

"I don't know. I guess this place just place reminds me of the day I met some awesome people." I could tell my words had him somewhat amused.

"Is this where you come every time?" He asked after a little while. I smiled and nodded.

"Yeah," I said still smiling," this place is beautiful."

I took a break to think of a good way for wording what I was about to say.

"I think that I will always remember this place because of the memories I have from it."

He looked down at me with curious eyes.

"Memories?" He asked seeming truly interested.

I nodded looking back up at him.

"When you found me and saved me, the times I came here to think.."

It was quiet for quite sometime. For a while we just sat there looking at what beauty was left in the world during this time of devastation. Then, before I knew it, words were spewing out of my mouth.

"Why did you do it?" I asked, turning to look him square in the eyes. He raised an eyebrow and looked at me with a confused expression.

"Do what?"

I swallowed then spit it out,"Save me. Why did you save me? That day by the creek.. You could have left me. You could have just let that walker kill me. You didn't. Why?" I could tell he was taken off guard.

His body was tense and rigid. My eyes went to his neck and I watched him swallow. I really hoped he answered my questions instead of dodging them, as he sometimes liked to do. I made my eyes travel back up to his striking, baby blue eyes.

He shrugged,"Hell, I don't know. I guess I was tired of seeing people die and maybe I could save at least one person. At that point, I was thinking that even if you died tomorrow, I could have saved you then and you would have at least another day to live." I nodded slowly, my gaze moving towards the ground.

It may have been the first time he saved me, but it most certainly wasn't the last. He had saved me many times since my arrival at the farm. I remember the time when I had been helping Glenn make a run for supplies and Daryl had went, too. He had saved my ass when a walker jumped up out of nowhere behind an isle in this store. I was sure that he would probably save me some more in the future. I kind've owed Daryl all my lives.

"Had you been planning to bring me back?" I asked, wondering. A part of me had wondered this ever since he had brought me back. His forehead creased and I could tell he was thinking hard. I hoped that he had been planning to bring me back but I knew that probably wasn't going to be the answer.

He took a deep breath then began answering,"I think that I had been hoping you would just thank me and be on your merry way.." A part my heart had broken for some reason, but I held myself together to hear what else he had to say.

"..but a different part of me had been wanting you to come back with me. It's better to have people watch your back nowadays." Well, that had made me feel better. I could tell he was being honest because his never left mine when he spoke. And I was thankful for that.

After the seriousness of that conversation, we walked back in silence. Today, I had managed to get a little bit closer to the Dixon.

Maybe it was the way that he was so different from everyone else. Maybe it was the way he challenged me all the time; made me want to be better and prove myself. Maybe it was the way that he looked at me or talked to me or all the different times that he had been there for me and saved me.

Or maybe it was because he was the realest person I had ever met. No matter what it was, I was somehow drawn to him like a moth to a flame and I hoped that me wanting to get to know him and wanting to get closer to him wouldn't make him run away. I had to let him know I wasn't going to leave like some people seemed to have done in his past. I needed to let him know that he could trust me.

Of course, that would take time with him and I was more than willing to remain patient.