The Reunion •Daryl Dixon• •Book Two•

Thirteen

It had been a few weeks since she left Daryl's garage she hadnt spoken to him since, and it was her choosing, by just seeing him at Lori's that day she felt like she had fallen head over heels for him again and vowed to protect herself from being hurt, she had her 'life' with Negan and he had his future with Kate. It was done.

But since that night with Daryl, Olivia had done some severe soul searching as much as she had fun with Negan and his money she needed to strike out on her own, maybe she could stop being so closed up and find someone? She needed to make it on her own for once in her life.

Negan had sensed she wasnt herself, and no matter how many gifts he lavished on her and attention he still couldnt get that smile from her he loved.

"I dont think this is for me anymore Negan" Olivia spoke as she sipped her latte in bed, Negan was next to her, glasses resting on his nose as he filled out paperwork, he quickly put them onto his side table and removed his glasses "We've had our fun now, I'm 28, I think I need to branch out on my own, start working and finding someone" she added, Negan listened to her every word, he stroked the small of her back as she opened up "I knew you were not happy baby but I thought and hoped it would pass" he spoke softly "after this I'll pack my stuff and go, I wont tell your family what we did, I'm not ending this in a strop because I want you all to myself, I just need to be on my own and independent" she explained. "Olivia I never had to worry about you telling anyone, you are a trustworthy girl, we did have some fun, a lot of it actually, but what I liked about us is we became good friends through it all too" Negan pulled her in for a hug, it was a long hug, but it did feel like old friends, she cared about him but never loved him. They had a perfect relationship at the time with no feelings involved.

Olivia got up and got in the shower, she felt thoroughly cleansed and new as she emerged, it was the reunion tonight so she had already told Negan she had plans she just had to sort out somewhere to stay for the evening so messaged Lori to ask if she could crash at her and Rick's, they had become a lot closer in the last few weeks, it was like she never left.

She was very apprehensive about the reunion especially with Daryl but she hadnt seen TDog and Andrea since the summer she had her baby so she wanted to go to catch up with them and gain some closure on Woodbury.

Walking out into their room in just a towel  she found Negan dressed and taking a folded piece of paper out of his pocket for her "just a little something to help you on your way" he spoke as he put it in her hand. She gave him a confused look but opened it anyway. Her mouth opened and she had to double check she read the amount correctly "500,000 dollars?" She stammered, she had never seen that much money in her hands before "you are giving me a cheque for 500,000 dollars?" She asked again, she had to sit down for a moment. Negan knelt in front of her "think of it as a thankyou for the last five years, a hundred thousand for each" he replied calmly "Negan I cant take this" she pushed the cheque back into his hand but he wouldnt let her "Olivia, I insist, it will get you an apartment somewhere and some money to keep you going until you find work. Maybe do your college course you wanted to do?" He smiled, she didnt realise how much they had talked about stuff rather than it being just sex, "its a gift Olivia, do with it what you want, drink it all if you wish, dont cash it even, but I cant let you leave with nothing" he insisted further and she put it in her purse and thanked him.

She took a small overnight bag with her to get ready at Lori's it was going to be how it was when they were teens! She parked her car on the driveway, Rick was going to meet them there he decided against listening to girly cackles as they glittered out the bathroom and he took Carl's to his mothers.

Olivia poured them both a glass of wine and she filled her in on Daryl, she promised she wouldnt tell anyone but she knew Lori would never rat her out. Lori listened intently to her friend as she explained the ins and outs of what went on between them and how it made her feel. "He doesnt mention her Liv" Lori spoke "he never brings her up not how he used to with you" she added, Olivia felt her mouth become dry with nerves so she took a big swig of her wine. Lori sighed before she began again, she looked unsure on whether to say something else or not.

"Rick told me he only got with Kate to get over you" she revealed "it took him a very long time to try and move on, when you left he wasnt himself sweetie, you two should never of split up but you did but its no ones fault, shit just happens" she added.

Olivia took another swig, she never saw it from his perspective just hers, she left town to forget him but it forced him to forget her.

"He is marrying the girl, they have made plans for it, I have to fake a smile and get through tonight and move on. Again" Olivia scoffed "well, I also know that Kate is making him wait until their wedding night" Lori told her widening her eyes for Olivia to pick up where she was going with that statement "that is one expensive way to get sex" Olivia joked and the pair laughed "truth is I think Daryl is in way over his head, he was never going to marry her but she is very persuasive, she wants a house, marriage, babies and a career. In that order too" Lori added. Olivia mouthed the word "wow"  and to Olivia she sounded like a control freak but she was never going to like Kate even if she found out she cuddled puppies and kittens for a living.

Fed up of talking about Daryl and Kate, the girls finished their drinks and made their way to Woodbury Highschool for the reunion...