Sneaky

Chapter 76

Eve's POV

It felt weird. Crying.

I haven't cried in such a long time. I almost forgot what it felt like.

More importantly, I forgot how it unties the knots inside.

I rubbed my dry eyes, taking slow deep breaths as everything that had been boiling over was finally gone.

"Sorry" I muttered, feeling a little uncomfortable warmth in my puffy cheeks after my sudden meltdown.

"What you got to be sorry for?" I don't even know anymore.

My shoulders barely lifted while I shook my head, and that's when I noticed his hand still on my shoulder. Seems he noticed too because I watched him glance at it before he removed it, turning away from me slightly.

I'm too tired to think too much into that, and found myself picking up a stick, burning the end of it.

Daryl picked up a couple small sticks as well, from his other side, tossing them into the fire and keeping one long one to burn the end of like I was.

Well this is different. Haven't had an awkward silence between us for a long time. Awkward enough that Daryl cleared his throat. Twice.

I almost thought I was missing something, some hint, but when I shifted to kinda get up, he stiffened. So I let one knee down to rest on the ground, tucking the rest of my leg under the other which is still up at my shoulder, and he seemed to relax again.

So I take it that means he doesn't want me to leave. Then what am I missing here? Why is it so awkward?

Does he feel awkward or am I just crazy?

I snuck a glance at Daryl and quickly directed my eyes back at my shoes when he looked at me.

Am I over analyzing this? I'm over analyzing this aren't I?

Ohhh I don't handle awkward well. Am I actually sweating? I feel like a twinkly teenager what is wrong with me? It's just an awkward silence, after an awkward moment, spawned by an embarrassing meltdown, following an intense argument.

It was my turn to swallow, clearing my throat a little. I took my stick out of the fire, blowing lightly on the end and put it to the dirt, starting the beginnings of complicated swirls in the loose dirt.

Ugh why is this so uncomfortable!? It's just Daryl.

I know neither of us do super well with physical contact but it was just a touch on the shoulder —there wasn't even any skin contact! And it didn't feel weird or uncomfortable when it was there, why is it so awkward now that it's gone?

Should I just leave? It's dark anyway and I gotta go sleep at some point tonight. Yeah, maybe I should just go.

I almost shifted to get up again but stopped.

Won't it be even more awkward if I just up and left?

Daryl's shoulder brushed mine as he shifted and I glanced over.

Why does he look so calm? Is it really just me over thinking?

I didn't realize I was staring at him until he spoke, tapping my shoe with his charred stick.

"What are those?"

What's wha—? I met blue eyes before I looked at my shoe, tilting my leg to see the thick lines carved in the side of the sole of my left boot.

A small part of me was grateful for the distraction but never in my lifetime did I think I'd forget about these. Hell I haven't been in the system for how many years? and I still put 'em on my boots when I got these years ago.