04. that no good dixon

It was Monday morning, the day Vera had been quietly dreading for the past week. Her first day at her new school had finally arrived, and with it came the uneasy weight of uncertainty.

School had never been kind to her. It wasn't the academics or homework that caused her trouble—it was the people. In her old town, being the daughter of a junkie mom and a deadbeat dad had been like walking around in a negative light constantly. The whispers, the stares, and the carefully avoided eye contact had all become a regular part of her life.

As she walked toward her first-period class, Vera couldn't stop the nerves from crawling up her spine. She knew how this might go. Maybe she'd survive the day unnoticed, maybe she'd manage to make a friend, or—worst of all—maybe she'd stand out as the weird new girl. Transferring in the middle of the school year was basically asking for it.

She sent a silent prayer into the universe, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

The classroom was already buzzing with quiet chatter as students filtered in, claiming their usual seats. Vera scanned the room quickly and slipped into an empty desk near the back corner, hoping to blend into the background. It wasn't much, but it was the best chance she had at being invisible.

<><><>

Daryl Dixon wasn't one to spend much time thinking about other people, but Vera Hill had managed to sneak into his thoughts more than once since they'd met.

He crouched low in the woods, crossbow in hand, scanning for any signs of movement in the underbrush. Hunting was second nature to him, and he welcomed the quiet solitude of the woods. It was a place where he didn't have to deal with the judgmental stares or biting comments that seemed to follow him everywhere else.

But this morning, his focus wasn't on hunting.

It would've been a stretch to say he liked Vera—he didn't even know her. But there was something about her that had stuck with him. Maybe it was the way she'd looked at him, her expression open and curious instead of wary and guarded like most people's. She didn't seem to look at him as "that no-good Dixon boy," and that alone made her different.

Still, he wasn't fool enough to think it would last. People always found out eventually. They'd hear about his dad or his brother, or they'd catch wind of the things people said about him around town. And when they did, they'd keep their distance, just like everyone else.

He let out a quiet breath, trying to shake the thoughts away. It didn't matter. He didn't need anyone to think differently of him. He didn't need anyone at all.

<><><>

The bell rang just as the teacher entered the room, her heels clicking loudly against the tiled floor. "Morning, everyone," she said, her tone brisk as she scanned the room.

A mumbled chorus of "morning" answered her, though most of the class barely looked up from their conversations. The teacher shuffled some papers on her desk before glancing at Vera. Her lips curved into a polite smile, but Vera could feel the weight of the attention settling on her shoulders.

"Vera Hill," the teacher said, her voice carrying just enough authority to quiet the room. "Our new student. That's you, I presume?"

Vera swallowed and nodded. "Yeah, that's me."

"Welcome," the teacher said, turning to the rest of the class. "I trust you'll all do your best to make her feel at home here. Isn't that right, class?" Her tone had a warning edge to it, and a few students mumbled their agreement.

Vera shrank back in her seat as the teacher moved on, her focus shifting back to the attendance sheet. The hum of chatter returned, but Vera kept her head down.

A moment later, the empty chair beside her was pulled out abruptly, and someone dropped into it with a thud.

"Hey," said the boy next to her, his voice bright and cheerful.

Vera turned to see a boy with curly blond hair and green eyes flashing her a broad grin. "I'm Jordan. So, you're the new girl, huh?"

"Yeah," Vera said cautiously. "Vera. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Jordan replied, still grinning. "So, what do you think of the school so far?"

Vera hesitated. "It's... alright, I guess."

"Give it a chance. It's not as bad as it seems," he said with an exaggerated wink.

Vera offered him a small, polite smile, but she wasn't entirely sold on him. Something about his overly confident demeanor rubbed her the wrong way.

The teacher's voice cut through the chatter, her tone sharper this time. "Does anyone know where Daryl Dixon is today?"

Jordan let out a quiet snort beside her. "Maybe he finally realized nobody wants him here and dropped out," he muttered under his breath.

The words hit Vera like a slap, and she couldn't help the flicker of annoyance that crossed her face. She didn't know Daryl well, but she knew enough to know he wasn't the person Jordan was making him out to be.

"Well, if anyone hears from him, let me know," the teacher said, clearly exasperated, before moving on with the lesson.

For the rest of the class, Vera stayed silent, barely listening as the teacher droned on. She ignored the occasional glances Jordan sent her way, her mind stuck on what he'd said, and where Daryl could have been.

<><><>

When the bell rang, Vera stood quickly, eager to escape the classroom and Jordan's unwanted attention. But just as she slung her bag over her shoulder, he appeared at her side.

"So," he said, his grin as wide as ever, "you need someone to show you around? I'm free if you want, could be fun."

"Thanks," Vera said, her voice polite but firm, "but I think I've got it covered."

Jordan's smile faltered for a split second before he shrugged. "Suit yourself. See you around, new girl."

Vera watched him walk away, a strange sense of relief washing over her. She didn't need someone like Jordan to latch onto, not when she was still trying to figure out where she fit in.

.