Two months went by before Daryl and I were no longer watched like hawks. John had taken a strong liking to him and the longer we were there, the more respect Daryl earned but it wasn't all daises and tulips. With Daryl's new standing in the group came resentment from others less talented and shrewd than he. They had been in the group longer; some were there from the beginning. The malcontents began to push both Daryl and me. I was out tending some of the goats we had managed to capture when one of the younger men came out to pay me a little visit.
"Hey pretty thing." He twanged as he circled me. I glared at him as I placed my hand on the hilt of my machete. It was less practical in close combat than a switchblade, but I was hoping he would understand the gesture and back off. Unfortunately for me, most men don't do well with subtlety.
"Where's your man at?" He sneered, knowing full well they had just left for a raid.
"He's not my babysitter." I replied.
He grabbed me and pulled me up against his lean body before I could react. I could feel his hard length as he ground his hips against me. I struggled fiercely to no avail.
"I'm gonna take you and make you my bitch." He told me as his hand helped itself to my ass. "We'll see how great Daryl thinks he is then."
I spit right in his face and he hit me so hard that I saw stars. I fell to the ground, stunned for a minute, but as I regained my senses, I started laughing.
"What the hell you laughing at?" The man said.
"You do what you want with me," I said, "but you better kill me after because as soon as I tell Daryl that you laid a hand on me, you're a dead man."
I saw a flicker of fear pass over his face but it was quickly replaced by determination.
"You want me to kill you? Done. No one will know who did it and Daryl will get what he deserves."
I cursed myself for giving him ideas as he grabbed me and started dragging me towards the woods. I shrieked until he landed another blow to my face.
"Shut the fuck up." He growled. "As soon as we hit those woods, I'm gonna-" The thunk of a well-placed arrow ended his sentence. He released me and looked down at the arrow protruding from his chest. I watched him fall to the ground, choking on his own blood.
"I told you." I said as I headed back to the houses. I saw Daryl standing on the nearest one's deck with his crossbow pointing up.
"Thanks." I called up to him as I reached the house.
"You aright?" he asked.
"Yeah."
Daryl nodded and headed into the house. I went in the back door and met him inside.
"I thought you were on a raid." I said.
"Nah, I came back. I told John how the guys have been actin' up and he let me come back to check on you."
"Good thing." I said .
That night, the men came back from the raid bloody and wounded though their vehicles were loaded with spoils. They had lost a couple of people and the mood was somber. The few women who were there tried to lighten the mood, sitting on the men's laps and cuddling up to them. Kara, the cute willowy blonde who did most of the cooking, sidled up to Daryl. She started to rub his shoulders. His eyes connected with mine and he smirked.
I watched as she ran her hands all over him and the smirk never left his face. I smirked too, knowing that no matter what she did she would never have him. When her eyes connected with mine, my smirk was immediately replaced by a scowl. I could see the smug look on her face, like she thought she had won something and she was trying to gloat.
I got up from my place and headed over to him. I climbed onto his lap, straddling his hips. Kara glared at me, challenging my decision to come over. I peeled her hands from off of his chest.
