As soon as Andrea walked into the crisp morning air, she knew it would be a painful day. The crystalline shining on the grass on a cool morning awoke her to reality. It really was an odd feeling being cold… and Andrea hated it. Growing up in Jacksonville taught her that anything below fifty degrees was bad. She laughed at the thought of what a winter would be like in Washington, DC. What it would be like to be in snow, dare she say it. The thought literally chilled her to the bone. As she walk over to the burned out fire pit, Andrea immediately set to work gathering her tinder. She scowled as she saw that they were out of wood and she immediately brushed her hands on her jeans, ready to depart into the woods. She first walked to get her rifle. It was still laying on the ground from yesterday when she had tossed it aside. Andrea grimaced as she cleared the chamber again and began viscously stabbing her finger inside for that one stubborn bullet. Little to her knowledge she had an audience. Abraham was watching her with one of his infamous smirks. "Let me see it Andrea." Andrea clutched her "baby" closer. "No, I've got it. No problems here." Abraham shook his head, the smirk remaining and she was suddenly tempted to hit him in the head with the butt of her rifle again. He sighed at her response as if the conversation now bored him. She passed him the rifle and with one swift hand motion later, it was ready to go. "Thanks, Abraham." Andrea swallowed her pride in that moment as she took it back and began inserting the rounds inside the chambers. He nodded and watched her, curiously. "Where the hell are you going?" Abraham raised an eyebrow as Andrea was near the trees again. Andrea sighed and explained, "We need firewood. I wasn't going to go far… Just head in, get some sticks and come back." Abraham sighed and flexed his arms, "I'm coming with you." Andrea quickly shook her head no, "Why?" Abraham huffed at her never ending questions. Rosita was never like this, she just accepted everything he said. "Well maybe because we don't fucking need any more people dying… And no fucking offense, but the last thing we need is you fucking killing yourself or something cause then he'd /lose his mind./" Andrea raised an eyebrow at him as she began walking, her hand going to her hip to check for her knife. "Who are you talking about? Dale's gone Abraham." Abraham chuckled dryly as he looked at her, "You really think that's who I'm talking about. Damn Andrea… I thought you were a lawyer, use your head." Abraham shot her an "I can't believe she doesn't realize he loves her look." Andrea shrugged as they delved deeper into the trees. She already had a small bundle of sticks, Abraham two logs. She tried to change the subject, "How much farther to Washington?" Abraham sighed and spoke up, "Not too long. Thank God." He quickly looked away as Andrea tried to help the flow of their awkward conversation. "Why did you join our group? Wouldn't it have been easier with less people?" Abraham shook his head no as he tried to think of the right words, "Safety in numbers… Right? Besides, Eugene can't shoot for shit and Rosita… Well she's getting better, but she's still not there yet. Your group is strong. More for protection than anything." Andrea swallowed at his words. Wasn't that what it all came down to? Who or what could provide you the most protection. She thought about when she felt most safe, her mind going back to warm summer days with Amy at her side. /Amy/, it even hurt to think about her lost sister. Her one job was failed with her: protect Amy. She died because of Andrea. Andrea remained silent the rest of their scavenging walk, not that Abraham minded as silence often suited him. She couldn't help but think there was something wrong with her as she thought about how safe she felt last night… Safe, secure with Carl and Rick at her side. She tried not to over think it, but he asked her to come… Did he not? What did that mean? Was it about Carl? About their friendship? Or something more? She couldn't shake her nervous feeling as she arrived at the camp with Abraham again. Rick instantly shot her a look as if he was worried about her. She nodded a tiny bit and sighed. Could she tell him not to look at her? Was that actually a thing to say, "Hey…so I know we spend 75% of our day together, but can you stop looking at me because well…. sometimes I feel like there's something more and I know neither of us will admit it because we are too damned stubborn…" Andrea ducked her head as she walked to the pit and began building the fire. She barely raised her head from the project as she finally struck the rock in just the right way. She smiled, feeling accomplished at her task. She rubbed her hands for warmth as Carl walked over to her and sat down.
"Hey Andrea." Carl spoke softly as he adjusted his infamous hat. Andrea tilted her head to him with a genuine smile as she playfully pushed down the rim of the hat. "Hey kiddo. How did you sleep?" Carl suddenly crawled into her lap, taking her by surprise as he wrapped his tiny arms around her. She soon draped her arms around him in return. "Good. Did you stay with me like you promised?" Andrea nodded, thrilled now that Rick had invited her back, even if it was just to make Carl happy and at ease. She kissed Carl's forehead as she held him. "Of course I did… Hey, I've got an idea… Why don't you go get your father and see if we can take a day off of travel to help teach you how to shoot?" Carl's toothy grin raised his cheeks as he hugged Andrea and ran off, calling loudly for Rick. She hoped he wouldn't be mad at her. After all, she basically promised the kid something without even mentioning it to Rick. As she stood from the fire and began preparing breakfast, she felt a familiar hand move to her lower back. Rick was standing right behind her, his hand there, and just his hand.. was making her head spin. She tilted her head back to him and bumped her nose with his. One inch different and their lips surely would have met. Rick spoke low, so only she could hear, his hand still firm on her back. "That was really great of you to offer Carl something he has wanted for so long…. It's a really good idea…. but we don't have the ammunition to waste or a place to go…So I'm sorry." Andrea's face immediately dropped and she moved away from his hand. "Why the hell not? Just a round or two. It will benefit the group later." Rick quickly shook his head as his hand fell to his side. "No Andrea, DC is our priority…. Eugene has the cure." Andrea ducked her head to avoid looking at him. She didn't believe in the cure, but she would damn sure follow Rick anywhere…. He sighed as he backed up and began walking away, "I'm going to go tell Carl." Andrea sighed with relief at that as she moved to the food bins and took out a huge packet of dried fruit. She immediately began getting breakfast portions ready as she waited for Rick and Carl to return. Carl of course was the first one back, running to her.
"Why can't we go?" Carl batted his big brown eyes up at her as he grabbed her around the legs, holding her immobile. Andrea wished she could disappear and take it all back, "We can't go because…because well we don't have enough bullets." Andrea frowned at her crappy explanation as Carl loosened his hold and ran off in a pout.
Andrea shook her head angrily as she kicked a pile of dirt. "Damn it…" Rick frowned at Andrea's words as he sat by the fire, raising his hand to warm it. "He'll be alright." Andrea sighed as she sat down and passed him a fruit packet. She of course opened it first so she wouldn't have to watch him struggle. "You don't understand Rick. I've never disappointed Carl and I don't want to start now. I want to make him happy…" Andrea didn't even notice Rick's eyes on her as she spoke. He was staring at her, and he was being rather blatantly obvious. He cleared his throat and turned away, silently eating his fruit. He didn't know what to say, and neither did she. Instead they carried out the silence with each other, eating their makeshift breakfast. They continued stealing glances, maybe that would be their thing. Secrecy. Andrea frowned at the thought as she wanted everyone to know…. She shook her head as she stood up from the fire and walked away, her words cold now, "Pack up…We need to go." Andrea sighed as she walked off, feeling like Rick had somehow wronged her and led her on. She went to her tent and immediately began packing her bags. She wanted to leave, move, so she could forget everything that had been happening.
Rick of course stared blankly as she left. He found her to be the most confusing and yet beautiful woman he had ever met. He couldn't deny his attraction to her. It was like they were magnets… drawn to each other. He knew his feelings for Andrea although she seemed to not know hers. He sighed in frustration as he stood and walked after her. He was going to be cold. Being cold would help him detach from her. He couldn't love her anymore if she didn't love him… and even if she did love him, he couldn't lose her too. He just couldn't tolerate the idea of losing Andrea, a life without her. Rick sauntered over to her tent and ducked inside without giving her the privacy he normal would, because he was angry. He nearly froze, his hands going clammy at the sight of Andrea changing. Although it was just her back, he couldn't deny that he was ready to move her on the ground at that sight. She turned back to him and screamed, beaming her balled up shirt at him, "Get the hell out right now!" Andrea's eyes widened in horror at Rick as she bent over and reached for her clothes. Rick tried to look away, but he couldn't, "I'm sorry!" Rick nervously laughed as he ran from her tent, his pants practically weighing down to his ankles. He still had the balled up shirt, and the thought made him laugh as he threw it outside her tent.
Did he just laugh? Andrea shook her head angrily as she dressed. Rick Grimes saw her practically naked, got a boner, laughed, and left. In what world was that morally acceptable? Sure, it was an apocalypse and everything seemed to go ninety miles an hour but this… This was too far. She screamed in her pillow as she packed, wishing that the past ten minutes would never have happened, but of course, it did, and nothing could change that.