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New years was on a Sunday, so we had Monday and Tuesday off for the new school year. And it was already a shit show, people starting new trends, music...Whatever in the world was going on, but I just focused making it to class. 

And meeting Daryl at the top of the school when he texted.

His exact words to me were 'you're too stressed about somethin' so stupid like school.' And sometimes I actually believe him, that he's right. But what else am I to focus on? Midterms and finals were this month, then the new semester was about to hit. Nothing in my mind began to worry more about that, especially college.

College was the main thing.

To be honest, this week wasn't at all that eventful. It was Friday now, considering there were the good three days of honest school. And Wednesday was just the recap of everyone still talking about what they did for new years eve. And what I did was probably a shocker to most.

Kissing on new years is one thing, but why make that the only thing to do. Hell, I almost came into the new year screwing around with Daryl. And to make matters all the bit worse, the rumors were getting worse or better. 
Daryl's a tease when it comes to them, but the one he'll never let go, is us fucking on the bathroom sink. But turning the tease around was easier than him enacting to it. 

He's been very patient, all things considering. As much as I put myself before him, he's been keen on stopping before he can't handle it anymore. Unlike Daniel, he's respecting my wishes. But even then, I don't know what his wishes are. Sex is just that...Sex. It's a neutral thing however done, and it's obvious he's done it before.

Guess him coming to my work again was another strike on that door. But tonight was going to be different, he said he had plans after school. So I think into tonight, since it is Friday. Took off work specifically for this, didn't really want to, but he convinced me of it otherwise.

It was first period, and Daryl was keen to walk me to my first class. Guess he still doesn't trust Daniel, but that would be a blessing on both our parts considering my brother is growing that way as well.

Earning a few stares from people who might have seen Daryl, or because my jacket just smelled of pure tobacco. Either or.  Taking my regular seat in the back felt odd now, besides Shawn who's  been distance ever since...the party must have ended his liking for me and moved back to the other girl he liked before me. Not like he would tell me anything more.

It felt odd talking to him, even the simplest of things. Even him copying the notes from the first ten minutes of the class did I feel like he was watching me, and I did catch him twice. So it wasn't a matter of being paranoid, it was a matter of just being.

"You enjoy yourself at the party?...Heard you walked off with Dixon before the fun began." Biting my lip was I initially screwed, it sounded like he knew. But he was one of the many few who took Merle's little gift of coke. So turning the table did I just mention it the slightest bit.
"And you were completely gone before midnight..." He snickered, fairly loudly considering we were whispering in the back of the classroom. Making the few closest to me look back, even gesture the bit of confusion on what party we were talking about. 

If it wasn't obvious enough as is.

"Dixon's know how to throw a party...When'd you leave?" Looking up at the ceiling of the classroom did I try and pull a random time out of my ass, how was I suppose to know any sort of relation to it being morning or afternoon.All I remember is Daryl joking about drinking expensive coffee that morning. "Next morning, I think I saw your car still there." He nodded along, and by the time the teacher assigned us textbook work. We were at a steady pace in returning to normal. 
There has to be something else wrong here, it can't just be him liking me be the entire problem.

"You alright?" The question rang in the back of my mind for a few seconds before the voice said my name. Making me turn to look, I was in Law class now. Sitting right beside Ryan, so I offered a simple smile and nodded. Everything was alright, just wish I knew what wasn't alright with everyone else...He was so into the conversation, all I asked was the simple question of how his week was and he went into such detail. This was a hundred percent more eventful than mine, unless you count Christmas day. 

The only people who know about it would be Maddie, Daryl, and Shawn. Just because Jarod needed to call around and ask where I went, and whatever idea that I went to his girlfriend for help is completely out of the question. Didn't go to anyone for help let alone Daryl, he was just the one to find me.

Trevor, as I heard about over the weekend at the party, was stuck at home on house arrest. Only allowed after school every other day, I don't remember what he did, but it was bad enough to get him this sentence. Even made it extended when he tried to leave the boundary lines.

Returning back to the class discussion, did I make it in time before the teacher put on a documentary. Boring or predictable enough to make people moan and groan in disappointment, to be honest, I didn't really care. The essays on summarizing this program are what keep all our grades up, and I cannot fail this subject.

I can't fail the subject I want to pursue in.

"So...There's this dance next week...And I was wondering if you would go with me...To the dance?" He stuttered the entire sentence, perhaps it was my instant look over towards him to see what he's staying and give my full attempt this time around. But the subject matter itself was a twist to it all, a dance? Did he just ask me to go to a school dance?


"I don't...I'm sorry...But I don't do school dances..." The denial had him nod down to look at the floor, acting as if he was looking for something. He gave the instant 'I understand' phase every denied guy might do. There was already the military ball that I am forced to go through and that is one hundred percent worse with long gowns and...Ugh, I can't prepare for that. One month to prepare.


The rest of the class we didn't talk, and when he was the first one out I knew how badly this will effect Jarod. My instant reaction of a no clearly offended him, but I wasn't about to forget the fact that he left me alone with a group of girls while he played beer pong at the other side of the house.

Ryan wasn't the type of person to just go off and tell though, but maybe he did ask my brother all things considering.

So lost in thought did I not even notice Daryl just standing behind my locker door until after I closed it. Making me jump in sheer shock at him being there. His arms were crossed making the jacket look ill-fitting at his arms, and while his wide eyes held so many questions, he decided to go with one.

"What's got ya so jumpy?" He asked, and as I began walking to leave the school. Did I see the cause of all my problems right on a colorful board that Maddie no doubt had help in doing.

 "Ryan asked me...To go to that." Was all I said, nodding my head forward so his eyes could connect to what I was looking at. The all too cheery sign sparked the littlest bit of distress in my heart, especially if he says anything in the mist of going or not going.
"What'd ya say?" He continued to read the board up until we passed it thoroughly, and he opened the door for me in the same moment as well. "'I don't do dances,' shitty excuse if I ever heard one." The laughter that came from my friend, is he my friend? What is this? What are we even doing? 
It's Friday and we're smoking and drinking at his house, no doubly going to slip on telling him anything. I already made him uncomfortable at my house that one time, I don't want to steer in that direction again...

"Can't ride no bike in a dress anyhow..." His joke was out there, but I still laughed as I pulled over my helmet. With my bag already in the small leather compartment did a thought begin to appear in my head. "You want to drive?" I asked, he didn't respond right away, so instead did I just scoot myself on back to make room for him. Holding out the keys towards him until he was reluctant to take them. 

In the first second of him being in the first section of my bike, did he not give me a chance to hold onto his waste. Instead he called back the time where I placed his onto mine, he even whispered the exact same words of, 'Not about to have you fall on off.'

My laugh was muted by the roar of my engine just starting up, and he was quick to put it into motion as he took the road into view. And before I knew it, we were on the way to his house.  "Don't like Ryan all that much neither, let that bastard sneak ya drink...I don't trust 'im." When he yelled out his opinion on the subject once more, I just squeezed onto him tighter. Allowing him to know that I heard his words.

In the time that it took us to get to his house, I already had a few questions lined up. Especially when we got off the bike, barely moments in did I already feel it burn in the back of my throat. "Merle home?" He turned on back and shook his head, shifting the jacket back onto his body a bit more correctly as he waited for me.
"Nah, he's out at a few parties. Comin' back in a few days." I nodded along, even when the smile escaped my reaction as he took his arm back over my waist again. Pulling all the bit more closer to him, he motioned for me to take the yard chair over in the corner as he went to find the other one.

Only thing is, I found both. Along with a crossbow.

Normally I assumed that he and his brother hunt with both rifles, or maybe that was just a very loud assumption that I didn't have a place to think. "Find em?" He questioned, but I took a hold of the hanging bow. Weighing it up and down as it fit so perfectly in the crook of my arm, but the second my name fell short of his breath, did I jump again.
"Sorry...Sorry." I flinched, placing it back on the hook of the wall before grabbing both chairs. 

He too slid his way into the shed pointing off to the weapon. "Ya ever fire one before?" I shook my head in an instant. "Not much to shoot at in Connecticut."
"Gotta hunt somewhere..." He took ahold of the bow like it was nothing, and in that time frame did I manage both of the chairs as we both walked out side by side. "Why do you hunt with it?"
"Cheaper...Ain't gotta keep buyin' ammo, only when the arrows break." He was quick in sharing the reasoning behind his bow as well as setting down the two chairs by the unlit fire. 

Did he lead me to the back of the house and through the woods the smallest bit, obviously where one might go to practice. 

"Funny how ya don't wanna go to no school dance, rather be out here learnin' this." Throwing the hood of my sweater under my jacket over my head, trying to keep my poor ears from freezing did I look on behind. Trying to get the sense of how far into the woods we're going. 

"...I trust you..." I mumbled, but the lack of leaves crunching had signaled to me that he too stopped walking. His smiling only told me that he heard, but he didn't respond. In that case, did I hurry on towards him, making sure to keep a steady pace beside him.
"You ever shoot anythin' before?" Daryl's question was vague, did he mean at a specific target or weapon of firing. This could go one of two ways. "Target practice yes, friends were into all that stuff."
"Anythin' worth talkin' bout?" His interest was surprising, so I told him. The pistol that he had on him while we were out by the lake was one of the mere reminders of it. 
Probably wasn't the same model, but close enough in comparison. Along with the rifle and a shotgun. "Bet ya they were huntin' too. Nobody just got a gun for show."
"Tell that to my stepdad." That made Daryl stop dead in his tracks as well, but I guess he saw something that caught his eye.

"Comere...Wanna show ya somethin'." Backtracking to his position did he point to the ground before bending on down, he took hold of my hand to follow in pursuit. Touching the smallest little tracks that I couldn't even believe he saw under all the leaves and branches.

His eyes were designed to understudy every bit of detail, and what isn't to love about that? So I took a closer look and followed the given pattern between the grass. Trying as best as I could to follow it through without stepping on the initial trial. "Got an idea whatcha trackin'?" He whispered, and I nodded looking on back to him as I made my way down the little-wooded area. "Don't touch 'em trees, leaves ya scent."

Holding my thumb way up high into the air did I swear I heard a chuckle, but it was difficult not to get any help from the surrounding trees, much less follow the trail of the-...I lost the damn trail.

"There was a turn...Musta got spooked. Come on, head on back." He was gentle, I give him that. Nor was he mad that I completely lost my way, and as I was about to touch another tree, did he offer his arm on up to help me with the sudden climb back up.
"Did good, gotta work on walkin' quieter."

Letting my noise stuff on up as he just allowed me to laugh into his side, all while continuing to walk. I never suspected him to be a bowman, sort of ironic. But good thing I eyed it, I was learning something new. And this was valuable, whenever I might find a use for it in my life. "How do you walk quieter?" Was my question, trying to keep it quiet all things considering. Making him point to little things like stones and twigs. "Shit like that echoes, scares game away." It was a constant for me to look down where I was walking, how he did it so flawlessly made me think it was a mind trick. Instead, did I manage to plan my way of walking before getting there, allowing me to keep open eyes to everything around me.

Even when we made it to an open little area with targets.

"Can I trust ya holdin' this?" Him taking out the gun out of his back pocket alarmed me once again, why did he have it on him? And when did he find the time to hide it? Taking it within my grasp do I hold it as my friend instructed me all that time ago, but that made Daryl laugh at it.

"Ain't no cop Blake, if you gotta hold it on high. Make a quick shot, one hand, up and at 'em." 
He took it from my hand, one motion from pointing to the floor before rising it back up to the target. And by the way his one arm angled down the round circle before us both, I'd suspect it would be a dead shot, even if he didn't look.

Handing it on the back, did I scold myself for taking it with two hands. But ending it with one, when he was setting up the bow, however, I did check to see if the safety was on, I'm not a cop. I'm just overly cautious at the moment.

"Said ya shot a rifle, same length. The same angle, got a scope. Just gotta aim for the target and...Gotcha self a nice piece of venison for dinner." I chuckled at his enthusiasm, silly little smiling when this was so buzzer. "You come out here a lot?"
"Got nothin' much else to do. Don't wanna bother ya when ya got school work." 

He sighed down to himself when he mentioned the bit about bothering me, even lowered his head as if he didn't want to mention it. "Can't bother me Dixon." I said, raising my voice as he gone the decent distance to retrieve the shot arrow. Removing it from the makeshift target, it was more or less a painted hay bail. Nothing too fancy about it, but when he handed off the bow towards me, and took the offering hand at the pistol I began to shake my head.

"Comeon, got faith in ya to make the shot. Don't tell me ya scared." Squinting my eyes at his sudden twist of words did I hand him back the pistol and took hold of the bow. But now it felt a hundred times heavier than I thought it did before, back in the shed. 

"Ah ah ah." His open hands motioned as his warning sound rose to halt my every muscle. Standing before me with a freshly loaded bow, did he spread my given legs apart. Coming to the completely other side from where he started at, taking my wrist ever so gently did he pull it on up. Making sure my hands were placed in both the correct spaces as he compacted it into my hold.

My elbow was risen to a high extent, making it seem odd how high it truly was. But I assume it was correct given the fact he didn't move it down any further. "Aight, y'all set. Fire away." He moved back up, getting a better view of my first shot. But the second his body left, my compact position came undone and I had to battle to keep it in form. And before long, I managed to steady myself to fire it straight to the bail.

It wasn't a bullseye like his, but it was in the general area of the circle. I smiled at my personal victory, but the sarcastic clapping sounds beside me ruined my moment. Swatting my hand towards him as playfully as I could do as he continue to chuckle his way on back over to the given arrow. "Nah nah, Blake that was a good shot." Him giving the bit of an effort to hurry on back did he take hold of the bow.

Placing the end to the ground as he placed the arrow into his mouth to pull the wire back on up. It looked as though it was heavy, but I guess the force needed to be strong in order to fire the ammo.

As he locked in the colored winged arrow, he handed it on back to me. "You got something planned Dixon?" I asked, bringing the bow back into my original stance as I pulled it up before me. Remembering to angle my elbow like it was so drastically shown, and before I knew it. I was ready to pull the trigger. 

Hearing the initial whoosh of air that was let loose before me, was different than a fiery blast I'm used to when pulling a trigger. I can see why he likes it, it's quiet. And like he scolded me for stomping too loudly did I make the connection that silence was key. "Think there's a hunter in ya, just gotta dig deep." Taking the beginning few steps to get my arrow did I return to him, he offered out his hand once more. But I just shook my head, letting my foot careful stable the weapon.

The arrow too found it's way hidden in my mouth as Daryl chuckled above me. "Think ya can manage?" He joked, letting my fingers hook the wire cable and pulling it back to the clip was I in fear of not being able to hear the signal that it was alright to let go. Nor was I sure that I was giving it enough strength.

Sure enough, it clicked. Letting my sigh on backwards as I smiled up to my teacher, pulling the arrow out was I in favor of the growing smile he had on his face, for it continued to grow.
"Look at ya, fire a couple more...Call it a day." I nodded, rising to my position beside him once more. And the given few times he corrected me, it was the damn elbow giving me the hardest time. It was only because my arms weren't strong enough to hold it without fumbling down, however he knew that. 

He went on over to the small shed, right behind the given target. And returned with the rifle in hand. "Gotta bring it back on in the house, Merle forgot to clean it." Nodding did I take the given arrow and place it underneath the barrel. Almost like an attached quiver if that is even the damn.

As he was about to take the bow from my hands did I shake my head, strapping it up and over my shoulders like I assume he was going to do. 

My hood still covering my head, was I still keen on learning how to walk slower. And every so often would I see the man before me turn to look back, guessing I am getting the hang of it.

But what shocked me even more, was when I looked on up. My eyes spotted something more in my given peripheral, making me remove my hood from my head to turn and look. 

And there stands the deer from earlier, and in that moment did I not know what to do. Daryl was still moving, not knowing whether or not to check on him. And instead, did I slowly but surely remove the bow from my shoulders. Letting it rest on the ground as I managed to pull the cable on up with a silent click. 

The deer did nothing more than eat on the small patch of grass it managed to find. With my knee now at rest on the ground as well, did I remove an arrow to move back into the cable's area. 

Turning around did I see Daryl come to a stop in walking as well, and as he was about to shout. Did I put my finger to my lips, motioning before me. And seeing as he was scanning the area.

He too saw the deer.

Rushing on over towards me did knee down beside me. He didn't say anything, not a word. His hands just took control over the bow, trading it for the rifle as he continued on forward, walking down close to the ground ever so slowly. The weapon somehow always at the perfect angle and never at a wrong, and in that moment did I remember. 'not the neck, not the legs, gotta be the heart.' Is what he said beforehand, when we were just prating at the target. But I didn't get the opportunity to shoot at the deer, perhaps one day. 

Just the sheer amount of shock that came from his eyes when he saw what I was doing and why I was doing it. I smiled as had he finally come to a stop, and the familiar sound of air rushing past meant he fired the shot. "Blake!" 

He yelled, and I had no intention of firing the gun in my hand. But the thing was getting away, so as quickly as I could did I fold the strap around my arm for a firm grip, lining the running deer as the bleeding target laid it's open wound out to me. Did I fire the shot, a little before so it could have a chance at being generally close.

And as the backfire had the rifle blair in the air, did I retain it.

But the deer...Not so much.

Seeing it fall down to the ground, did the rush of my heart continue to burst as I saw what I managed to do. It wasn't killing the animal that brought the idea to mind, but the complete action of me doing what I just did shocked me entirely. 

With the rifle again, over my shoulder did I manage my way through to get to the animal. Seeing as how Daryl already beat me to it, seeing the no longer living animal down on the ground. Bleeding out, did I knee down right beside him as he just held the broke arrow in his hands. "Shit...I broke your arrow, I'm sorry I-"
"Don't give a damn bout no arrow...I wanna know what fuckin' luck brought him here to the house. Christ. I'm takin' ya huntin' next time." 

The amount of silence he had given me until I spoke had me worried, but the way he laughed and turned the entire thing into a damn joke had us both sharing a laugh. "We gotta work on ya aim more, don't think ya hit anythin' too important." 

Itching the back of the neck was I unsure of what to do now, or how valuable this thing is. It's got horns, it's pretty large, it's just the mystery of getting it closer to the damn house. 

"Alright, gotta call my uncle. He'll take care of this one...We just gotta get it closer to the house." Nodding, was he looking around for something. Until he let his bow down onto the ground beside me, grabbing the decent size log bringing it closer. "Can ya run back on over to the shed, grab the rope. It's by the...The fishin' gear." Removing the rifle from my shoulders did I make the effort into running towards the shed. 

Finally making it back did I have trouble seeing in the dark of this shady little structure, taking out my phone helped in the littlest bit. But it was the window in the back that shined the most to the cement bucket of fishing rods, and right beside that was the given binding of ripe. 
Grabbing that, in hopes no spiders found it as a decent living area. Before shutting the shed and returning back to Daryl, who still couched down. In complete awe of the kill.
"Find any more damn deer out on your way back."
"I didn't know if I had to shoot it." As I kneed back on down beside him, as he untied the rope to make the decent size. Did he begin to feel around for his knife. 
"Nah, Merle and I we whistle. Just a quick little second, doesn't spook 'em." He continued to explain, so the next time I will be able to get his attention. But when he finally sighed did I reach into my other pocket to reveal my given knife. 

"Always carryin' this thin'?"
"Yeah."
"Ever needa use it?" There came a time when I felt threatened, and I held it behind my back in preparation if the said man was going to come closer to me. But he didn't, so my answer was a clear-cut 'almost,' in regard to his question.

As he tied the legs of the deer to the log, binding it with rope. Did he make it easier to carry, but worrying considering how heavy and how we are going to have to walk. "Aight, don't want no blood on our jackets." He was very serious in providing the warning, making me chuckle as I took the end of the deer. Throwing it the good ways over my shoulder, the problem was. He was the given few inches bigger than me, so it faltered down at an angle. 
Good thing I got the end.
 

"Was that what the bow training was? You want to take me hunting?" I saw his head turn back towards me, to see how I was doing or to see my reaction to my own question. But instead, did I practice with my stomping nosies, awaiting his response. "Not as long as me and Merle. Maybe a good two, three days. Ain't nothin' big. But ya did good today, must be ya perfume. Smells too good to be on out here." 
I snickered, trying to hide it in my shoulder as we continued to walk. Thinking he was gleaming with content at this massive win for the day. He didn't even have to go hunting to get this one, it just stumbled too close to the house.

But this new feeling of killing didn't sink in until now, and I had to remind myself that it was going to die no matter if I shot it or not. This was just a quicker and easier death than it suffering from Daryl's arrow lodged inside of it.

"What's your uncle do with it?"
"Knows a guy, sells it. Not much of a process." Nodding along was I soon out of breath, luckily we made it to the given gravel driveway to allow up to set it down on an elevated surface. Letting it just hang on to log in the given air. 

"Wanna beer?" I was quick to respond, almost like a groan if you will considering how much I craved any sort of drink.

He hurried off to the house to grab the six pack, and before long we were at the given lawn chairs we were meant to sit by hours prior. But now we had the added bonus of a deer just bleeding out behind us, and the well deserved drink along with it. "Deserve this one, booya!" We cheer the bottles together before I took the decent gulp of the drink. Letting the cooling relief just sink on in, especially since the chair was just stationed perfectly with the fire pit.

This was perfect. Utterly perfect.

"Think ya want ya knife back?" He questioned, making me rise up. Patting my pocket as if I thought I had it on me the entire time, he was so focused on transporting the deer he must have just slid it back into his pocket.

He was quick to give it to me, guess he knows it's the 'sentimental value' on one particular thing in my life. "My 'sisters'...We all have one. Engraved our names...Thought it was something we could do for one another."
"That's better than bracelets." He chuckled, I didn't even know he was ready to smoke up until now. His voice turned into a mumble simulating the addition of a cigarette in his mouth. 

Ultimentally, I was content with my beer.

"When ya turnin' 18? Buy ya own cigarettes?" I huffed out a laugh, just thinking how much I'll be able to do by then. Cigarettes are one thing, my idea of tattoos is another.
"I'm counting down the days...It's next month." The rising grin on his face indicated something, making me just question it further. "Got that look on ya face, I know that look. Had it too."
"Which was?"
"Plannin' on gettin' any ink?" Taking the given sip did I try to deny it, but just nodding along without his moving gaze would he think it was stupid.

"I know a good guy if ya serious, right outside Atlanta." Again did I nod, probably needed to start that scheduling if I was actually in favor of it. The idea in my mind was simple, but it was if I wanted to add more subtract from the given design.

All matching the one I drew on my bike.

"Did you call your uncle?"
"Yeah, he's on his way. Yellin' on in the phone 'how the hell ya manage that?' Gotta story to tell Blake." I never met another one of Daryl's family members, and to think meeting his uncle out of everyone. Not his father or mother, or anyone of the sort.
"Merle's gonna shit his pants when he hears this." The excitement he was still feeling was a change, especially when he managed to smile every second of every minute. However he maintained that was another added benefit to the cause, he looked more than happy right now.

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Date Posted: 01-26-18  // Time: 4:11
Word-Count: 5557
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