The Stacks [Daryl & Carol]
Carol had always worried that whatever it was they had between them could so easily disintegrate. They were equally broken, but she knew that for all the things that they had in common, how she felt may not have been one of them. And now she’d gone and ruined what they did have. Ed had been right about one thing. She had always wanted too much. She had just destroyed something precious between Daryl and her. She’d been so selfish in thinking that she could have more of him, and now she’d pushed him further than he was ready to go. Further than he’d probably ever have been ready to go.
She came to an abrupt stop, nearly colliding with him. She blinked back the tears that stung and threatened to fall. A thousand I’m sorry’s and other apologies flitted through her head, consuming her like a fire would dry leaves. She burned in embarrassment and shame, but she managed to finally find words. Though not words she ever wanted to say.
“It was a mistake,” she blurted out, desperate to make him forget that she’d gone and screwed it all up with her actions. It had been her fault that they could barely look at one another now. He probably never wanted to see her again.
“I’m sorry. Can we forget it ever happened?” Her voice was small and her heart was breaking with every beat. She drew in another breath, lifting her eyes to him where he was facing away from her. For the first time since she’d caught up with him she suddenly realized that she’d stumbled into a moment as private at the one that had passed between them last night had been.
Daryl's entire being deflated even more. He couldn't look at her, couldn't let her see in his eyes that he didn't want that. That he needed every bit of herself that she'd given him last night. Maybe more. He pressed the heels of his hands into the concrete blocks and pushed himself up. "Sure. That's what you want, it's what you get." He wasn't about to throw himself on her mercy. She'd obviously come to her senses, thought over what happened, and finally come to realize it was hormones talking. Lack of sex always seemed to muddle with everyone in some way, shape, or form. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. He didn't know what to do with himself and standing there with the door just passed her was about to drive him insane. He ached to flee, to get as far from her as he could, but that would be counterproductive. He'd just agreed that last night had been a mistake, and he had to make sure that she thought he was serious, or they'd be in a bigger mess. He shuffled from foot to foot. "You eat yet?" He knew all to well that she served the others first and did without if need be, and he had to put and end to it. "I'm hungry," he lied. " Wanna go eat?" Sharing a meal was normal for them. If he could get through it, they'd be well on their way to okay.
