Always || Daryl Dixon

Nine

"Lyla?" A voice called from behind me as I sat peeling potatoes at Hershel's table.

"Carl? What are you doing up?" I questioned as he came and sat next to me.

"Hershel said I'm okay to get up, mum said you found Sophia." He said looking up at me. "I have to tell you something." He murmured as he looked around almost as though he was checking if there was anybody around.

"What is it?" I asked stopping what I was doing turning slightly to see him better. "Carl?"

"I saw, um, mum and Shane, uh kissing." He stuttered his eyes never leaving his lap.

"What? When? Where?" I asked in confusion trying to think if I'd seen any weird behaviour between them, and other than Shane paying her a little bit too much attention I came up blank.

"It was at the creek, just before dad got back. I went to look for her and I saw her go into the woods with Shane. I didn't want to get in trouble for following them so I didn't say anything." He said quietly.

"What are you guys talking about?" Mums voice came from behind us causing us both to jump.

"Fucking Jesus mother! Was there really any need for that?" I yelled as I came down from the shock. "We were just talking about how happy we are that Sophia's back, right Carl?" I asked looking at him with an eyebrow raised.

"Uh, yeah, that's all." Carl smiled up at our mother.

"Carl, go find Sophia, I need a quick word with your sister." She said giving Carl her 'don't argue with me' look, he got up giving me a small smile and ran outside.

"What's up?" I asked confused, what have I done now?

"I don't want you hanging round with those Dixon brothers so much." She said bluntly.

"What? Where's this come from?"

"Their no good, that Merles always on some kind of drugs and Daryl ain't much better! Not to mention they both look at you like you're some kind of meat!" She whisper yelled at me as she kept checking the door, probably in fear that one of them will come through and hear her bitching. "I don't trust them."

"No good? Those men have been nothing but good to me since they showed up at the quarry! It was Daryl that covered me from the explosion at the CDC, it was him that went after Sophia on the highway! They've helped us out plenty of times and you don't trust them?" I said back to her not bothering to watch who came in and out.

"Do you, Lyla do you like Daryl? Have feelings for him?" She whispered in a mix of anger and shock. Taking my silence as her answer she ran her hands down her face and sighed. "Lyla, you can't-"

"Can't?" I interrupted fed up. "I'm 21 years old, I'm perfectly capable of dealing with my own feelings. Just because you don't like them doesn't mean that I can't!" I said getting up and making my way towards the door.

"He's a grown man Lyla!" She yelled properly this time.

"And Shane's dads best friend, but somethings don't matter, right?" I mumbled subtlety dropping in that I knew about her and Shane, and by the look on her face, she knew.

"See ya later, Lori." I said using her real name to make sure she knew I was pissed.

———————

It's been a couple of hours since I spoke to mum and a few more since Daryl went out hunting and he still wasn't back. I was currently sitting at the edge of our little tent city looking out over the fields.

"Hey Dear Lyla, whatcha doin'" Merle spoke as he sat beside me.

"Just thinking." I shrugged picking at the grass.