-𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝗴 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 & 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞𝐬-
TAYLOR WATCHED CURIOUSLY AS Daryl tuned the guitar, turning the guitar pegs at it's head before strumming the strings, letting the sounds echo throughout the room.
Hearing Daryl begin to play a beat, she knew he had picked a song as she rested her head in her hands, watching as his fingers glided over the strings almost perfectly.
"If I ever were to lose you, I'd surely lose myself.".
"Everythin' that I have found here, I've not found by myself.".
"Try an' sometimes you'll succeed, to make this man of me.".
"All my stolen missin' parts, I've no need for anymore.".
"'Cause I believe.".
"'An I believe, 'cause I can see.".
"Our future days.".
"Days of you and me.".
(If you would like to hear the original, full song, I've put it down below. ^^)
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Strumming the last few cords, he finished, setting down the guitar beside him, "Well, that's as good as it's gonna get for me not playin' in years.".
"Holy shit. Daryl fucking Dixon can play the guitar and sing." Taylor giggled in response.
Chuckling, he smiled, "Well...thanks, babygirl. Why don' I teach ya' how to play?".
"What? I-I don't know. I don't have a clue on-" He interrupted her by setting the guitar down in her lap, "Yer dad mentioned you wanted to learn, an' I'm willin' to teach ya'.".
Sighing, she nodded, "Alright, if your sure.".
Grinning, he gestured to the door, "C'mon, I wanna talk to you for a sec.".
"Okay." She replied, getting up from off the couch as she followed him out of the farmhouse.
"I've uh...I've been thinkin'; 'bout the group." He began.
"What about the group?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"The groups broken, Taylor. An' I'm worried for ya'. I wan' what's best for you an' to keep ya' safe, an'...maybe leavin' to try an' fin' Merle an' yer mom an' dad might be the best option." He explained.
"...W-We can't leave, Daryl. These people; there family. We can't abandon them." She argued.
"Look, I ain't sayin' we are gonna leave, it's just somethin' to think 'bout, alri'?" He sighed.
Nodding, she mumbled, "Okay...".
-The Next Day-
Sighing, Taylor furrowed her eyebrows in annoyance as she tried to play the cords Daryl taught her last night correctly.
She was still thinking about what he had said about the group yesterday, and it definitely wasn't helping with her concentration.
"Your playing guitar now?" She heard Dale say, looking up and seeing him walk over with a grin on his face.
"Oh, yeah. Daryl taught me a few things last night and I'm trying to practice them." She replied, looking back down at the guitar as she tried to play another cord.
"Damnit." She groaned, adjusting her fingers.
"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. Patience is key." He encouraged ber.
"Yeah...I know. Hey, Dale." She began, setting down the guitar as she rummaged through her bag, pulling out her Walkman as she handed it to him, "Think you or Kenny could fix it? I dropped it back at the CDC and it hasn't worked since.".
Looking over it, he looked back up at her and nodded, "Me and Kenny'll see what we can do.".
She smiled, "Thanks, Dale.".
"No problem kiddo. You keep practicing. Me and Kenny will take a look at your Walkman." He said, beginning to walk off.
Nodding, she called, "Bye, Dale!".
Suddenly, Clementine ran over looking a bit spooked, "Taylor, Daryl's in the shed with the man Rick, Glenn, and Hershel brought back. I think something's going on.".
"Don't worry, Clem. I'll go check it out. You go and find Lee." The elder girl responded, to which Clementine nodded and ran off.
Taylor made her way to the shed, seeing the old, wooden door to it creaked open, groans of pain seeping from inside.
She pushed the door all the way open, revealing Daryl beating the shit out of Randal.
The two men both looked over to her, Daryl shocked and Randal's a mixture of relief and sadness, "Oh thank god, Taylor! Please, you gotta help me! Your dad's beating the fuck out of me for no reason!".
Glaring, she folded her arms, "Why should I? When I needed your help you just watched and let Madison beat the hell out of me. So no, I won't help you, and I'm gonna let Daryl beat the holy fuck out of you and watch.".
"It's gonna be messy till he tells me where the rest of his group is." Daryl muttered, punching another blow to Randal's beaten up face, "You should go.".
Furrowing her eyebrows, she replied, "What, wh-".
"You don' need to see this. Go practice yer guitar; I'll be done soon." He argued, resting his bruised and bloodied hands on her shoulders.
"But-" She began, but he interrupted her.
"It's alri'. Jus' go. I'll be done soon.".
"...Bu-...Y-Yeah...I uh...okay." She mumbled, walking out of the shed as she shut the door behind her.
"What? Daryl beatin' the shit out o' the kid?" Kenny grumbled, causing Taylor to jump.
"Jesus Christ! Kenny...fuck, you scared the hell out of me. But uh...yeah, he is. Not like I give two shits though; the asshole deserves to get his ass kicked." She mumbled in response.
"Yeah you ain't wrong 'bout that." He muttered, walking away.
"Hey, Kenny wait!" She called, catching up to him, "I um...wanted to ask you about something. You mentioned the other day on how you didn't want to see another kid die. What did you mean by that?".
"It's uh...it's nothin' Taylor. Don' worry 'bout it." He replied, walking off.
Sighing, Taylor returned back to her and Daryl's tent, continuing her practice with the guitar.
Strumming the different strings, she smiled as they began to actually sound decent.
"Sounds like someone's gettin' good with the guitar." She heard Rick say, looking up to see him in front of her.
Giggling, she looked over the wooden instrument, "I'm no where near as good as Daryl.".
"Daryl plays guitar?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Well, he did; in highschool. He started teaching me this morning." She explained.
"Well, you seem to catch on quick then." He replied, sitting down next to her.
"I haven't even gotten to the hard stuff yet. So, what's up?" She asked, setting down the guitar beside her.
"What do you think of Randal?" He asked her, to which she furrowed her eyebrows.
Sighing, she ran a hand through her hair as she replied, "Fuck, I don't know. He's an asshole and I don't give two shits about what happens to him.".
"I uh...I just wanted to let you know that were gonna have a meetin' on the fate of Randal. You'll get to have a say in his fate." He explained.
"So whether we kill him or not. If he makes it. Daryl's beating the shit out of him right now, but I can't say I blame him. Randal's a fucking asshole." She muttered.
"...Randal told us about Madison." He sighed.
"Yeah, Daryl said he did. I um...I appreciate you letting me get to have a say, Rick. I'm just a teenager...and sometimes...I feel like that's all people think I am." She said.
"Thank Daryl. He said you should be able to get to have a say, and I agreed with him. He thinks highly of you; almost like his daughter."He smiled.
Giggling, she replied, "Daryl made me who I am today; in a good way. I know he might be a bit...questionable at times, but he has a good heart. He fights for the ones he cares about.".
Nodding, he grinned, "Think I'm starting to see it. And Taylor, don't stress over the meeting. Just be ready to make a choice.".
"Yeah, I know, Rick. I'll see you there." She responded.
He walked off, leaving her alone to continue her practice with her guitar.
-A Few Hours Later-
Looking up at Daryl as Taylor and him walked across the field and up to Hershel's farmhouse with the others, she asked, "What happened to Randal?".
Not looking down at her, he furrowed his eyebrows, "What do ya' mean?".
"Did you...beat him to death?".
"No, I didn't. I wanted to...but...ya' know..." He muttered in response.
"Oh." Was all she said before the two walked inside.
That's when the arguing began, everyone quite okay with just executing the young boy.
Except Dale, as he argued that the group couldn't just kill a kid.
Giving up on proving his point, he walked up to Daryl, resting a hand on his shoulder, "You were right. This group is broken.".
Remembering what Daryl had said about her and him leaving the group, she pushed her feelings aside as she went after Dale.
"Dale, I-I'm sorry. It's just...we need to execute him; he's nothing but trouble." She said.
"...Walk with me for a minute..." He muttered.
Looking up at the now night sky sprinkled with bright stars, and a thick blanket of fog coating the fields, she looked back to Dale, "Okay.".
The two stayed in silence for a bit as they just walked side by side along the fields.
Dale then spoke up, "Yesterday, I heard Daryl say something about you and him leaving the group.".
"O-Oh...yeah...he did." She nodded, mumbling.
"Well, do you two plan on leaving?" He asked.
Thinking about all the friends she had here, she didn't want to leave, but she had to follow whatever Daryl says is best.
It's how she's survived this long...
"I mean...maybe. I'm not sure." She replied.
"Well, if you do end up leaving, would you be willing to take me along? This group is broken and I want out." He explained.
Nodding, Taylor nodded up at him, "Of course, Dale. Me and Daryl'll bring you along.".
Smiling back down at her, he responded, "Tha-" He was cut off as a walker pushed him to the ground, dropping his rifle as he struggled against the walkers grip.
"Taylor, my rifle! Shoot it! Shoot the walker!" Dale shouted.
Reaching her hand out to the gun, she stopped as a hand grabbed it.
Looking up, she saw Randal, standing there with the rifle in his hands, "Nighty night, princess." He smirked, firing the gun.
Feeling the bullet pierce through her stomach, she cried out, the pain shooting through her body as she fell to the ground, her vision going hazy.
Hearing Dale's cries of pain, she tried to push her body up to do something, but the sharp pain in her stomach fought back.
Seeing above her someone rip the gun out of Randal's hands and shoot him in the head with it and then the walker, the unknown person dropped down to her, "It's alri', babygirl. I got ya'.".
Realizing it was Daryl, her bloodied hands clinged to his vest, "F-Forget me; what about Dale?".
Not responding, he handed her to Kenny, "Don' let her watch.".
"No! Daryl, stop!" She cried, reaching out to him as Andrea came next to her, fresh tears running down her face.
"Sorry brother." Was what she heard Daryl said before a gunshot followed, and she knew Dale was gone.
Dale...was gone...
To Be Continued....
Word Count: 1900
Edited: No