Shmurrrrrr...

I DON'T OWN THE WALKING DEAD!

Note: This takes place two weeks after the cabin group arrives.

29...

Push.

30...

Push.

31...

Push.

I grunted as I counted with each push-up I did. Sweat beaded up on my forehead and dripped down my neck. I was in my mobile home, exercising on the cool marble floor. Though the space was rather small in the kitchen, I liked working out in there. It gave me privacy, security, and a sense of healthiness. Fitness was a part of survival now. If you were all...heavy and slow, trying to run from a herd of the Lurkers, you wouldn't get very far...

I've learned that the hard way.

Suddenly I collapsed on the marble floor, panting with exhaustion. "God..." I muttered in between gasps, slowly and shakily sitting up onto my bottom. I glanced at the little clock on the nearby nightstand in the bedroom section to see the ticking time: 10:50 PM. "Great."

Huh. 45 minutes on the clock ain't too bad. Guess I'll need to add fifteen more just to see how long I'd last.

My hand patted the counter above me, feeling a book-like object. I took grip and brought the object down to see my worn journal. It was worn with age; Black leather cover, yellowed pages, a broken buckle on the front. My great-grandfather Carver gave it to me for travelling, to record the places I'd been. Instead I read the pages that withheld his adventures to my own.

Grabbing a random pen on the floor, I flipped to a blank page in the journal and scribbled down my activities I'd done for the day.

Grandpa,

I haven't been writing in here much in the past few weeks. That's because I've been so busy with your grandson's community as Second-in command. It's a hard job, Gramps, especially since Luke and Dad are starting to butt heads over things. They're both natural leaders, I guess. Dad's becoming more and more stressed; I can just...sense it. He's going to snap one day and kill someone. I'll have to start interfering.

On other matters...you know that guy I sometimes write about? Nick? Yeah, he's been staring really weirdly at me for the past few days now. I know he is. But whenever I look, he turns away. Isn't that weird? Yeah, and Toby's been bothering me with his stupid sexist jokes. I don't see why he's not going gay for Troy!

I don't know. People are coming in everyday...Most of them go to Mom's preaching on breaks. I guess God's their hope now. I don't want to say it, but I personally think it's bullshit...I don't see why Momma's even giving them hope on God renewing the world...Will I go to hell just by writing these words? For insulting God's methods? Pete and Marie (HA! PETE TOLD ME HER FIRST NAME'S SHEILA!) are both Christian, so that kind of makes Mom pretty oh-happy-happy-joy-joy.

Speaking of my parents, I think they're finally starting to get along...They're seen together more than ever; Holding hands, kissing cheeks, going into each other's tents (EW, THAT'S GROSS!) sometimes, they're eating food together (ACTUALLY SITTING TOGETHER!)...I think this is a good thing...My mom's off of the drugs, and I see her existence getting better each day. I know this is all probably not a big deal for a 23-year-old woman, but...I love my parents. Even though they can both be assholes sometimes, I don't know what I'd do without them...Wouldn't you think?

I have to go get some air. I've been working out hard tonight.

-T.L.C.

I placed the pen inside the journal and then I closed the book shut. The journal was all I had left of my Great-grandfather Carver. His name was Wilson...So instead of saying 'Dear Journal,' like most girls, for me it's 'Dear Grandpa.'

After getting up to place my journal in the drawer beside my cot, I grabbed the plastic bottled water from the square kitchen counter as I marched out of the mobile to catch some air; The atmosphere inside was a bit humid and reeked of sweat. Once I was outside, I uncapped the bottle and drank a sip, feeling the night's cool air drift on my body and slowly removing the excess body heat from inside the mobile. I'd left the door open, figured I'd let it all air out.

Sitting on the concrete ground, I sighed as my back rested against the hard metal surface of the mobile. My mind just wandered elsewhere as I observed the camp from what I could see from a distance: A few bonfires, The tents scattered about. Lord, how did we get here...

"Hey."

I turned my head to see a redheaded woman slowly approaching me, almost shyly. After a moment, I realized this was Bonnie, one of the newly residents. She was a tall and very skinny girl; Bright red hair pulled into a ponytail, Baby blue eyes, a thin face, thin physique. She almost seemed anorexic in my own personal opinion. She seemed to be very tired with the light bags under her eyes. There were also light wrinkles around the corners of her eyes. Huh...She didn't look any older than 25 or so.

Maybe she was that low on sleep...?

I greeted, "Hello...Bonnie, right?" To this, the redhead nodded. "Yeah. I don't need to ask for your name; Everyone here knows ya." She explained, trudging closer. I shrugged, gently scratching my neck. "Can I sit here?"

My head perked up at the sudden request, but I nodded anyway. Bonnie quickly sat down, seeming almost eager. "Thanks! It's pretty awkward when you have to lay in a tent a tent next to complete and utter strangers as neighbors." She brought her knees to her chest, a bright smile upon her features. I took a sip of my water, awkwardly turning my gaze away from her.

"You have your parents together." Bonnie suddenly pointed out. I glanced at her in surprise, placing my bottle on the concrete beside me. I crossed my arms. "Yeah," I confirmed, "I do. But they're not...well, it's a bit complicated."

"How?"

"Uh...They're divorced. My stepmom and half-sister got separated from us the day crap happened. They were out shopping, and then one of those things popped up out of nowhere during a visit to my Dad. We packed up whatever we could within a few minutes and pilled up in the car. Then we drove." I explained, staring down at my lap. "Now..I can't help but feel we should've gone for them first."

Bonnie had a frowned eyebrow. "I'm sure it wasn't your fault." She assured, resting a hand on my shoulder. I shrugged it off, sighing tiredly.

Deciding to change the subject, I cleared my throat. "You got any family around?" I inquired curiously. If she knew about my history, she had to tell me hers. "I saw you with a group of people. Are they-"

"No." She interrupted curtly. "My family's dead."

Her somewhat rude response momentarily shocked me. Maybe I was like that, just moments before. I guess I should be nicer..."I'm sorry." I apologized softly. "I really am."

Bonnie sighed, running a pale dainty hand over her face. "...Mama died when I was thirteen. Daddy wasn't around much, so I had to live with my uncle Dewey until everything happened. He died right in front of me." She whispered, hints of tears in her eyes. "...And I let it happen."

Wow...This girl's been through more than I can imagine. "Oh my...I-I don't know what to say...I'm sorry."

"It's alright. As horrific as this might sound...I was relieved." Bonnie mumbled. "He got me into drugs and men, and...it just got worse. That day was kinda my savior, in a really strange way. If he hadn't died, I don't think I'd be alive from all that...stuff I was on."

THIS GIRL WAS ON DRUGS!?

"Y-You're on Drugs...? M-My dad doesn't allow-"

Bonnie's head snapped up and she frantically shook it, her sky-blue eyes widening immensely. "No-No-No! That's not what I meant! I'm off of them now, I promise! I promise." She explained quickly, her voice high with urgency. "I ain't on that stuff anymore...I quit a while back."

That filled me with relief. I couldn't have any...junkies around me. Too many had tried to persuade me to try Marijuana or Heroin in the past...one of them being my own mom. "G-Good. Sorry, My mom...My mom had a rough time with that...after I was born. I guess it started out when she and dad first conceived me. I was five years old when Dad finally found out she was getting high with me in the room. He and mom haven't gotten along since."

Bonnie clutched her chest in relief, wiping her forehead free of the stressed misunderstanding. "Whew. Drugs ain't a good way to express your troubles. Once you start, it's very hard to stop." She advised. "Heroin is especially dangerous."

I gave her a look. "Every drug is dangerous." I reminded matter-of-factly. The redhead looked down at her covered arms. "...I know, but..."

My hand rested on her shoulder, catching her attention. I gave the gentlest tone I could muster, "As long as you don't use them again, you'll be fine." I assured. Bonnie blinked at me, eyeing me. Then her thin lips curved into a smile.

"I know. Thanks."

"Well, well, well, ladies~..."

Bonnie and I turned our heads to see Tobias stumbling toward us, a stupid smirk on his face. I reacted immediately; Standing up and stepping in front of the redhead. My hand brushed against the Swiss Army knife in my pocket, ready to take it out at any time. "What do you want?" I lightly demanded, grabbing hold of the knife without him noticing.

I heard Bonnie get up behind me. "Who's that?" She whispered to me.

"That's-"

I was interrupted by the man himself; Arrogantly throwing his arms out, as if he were expecting a hug, he chuckled and licked his lips. "MY name is Tobias, sweetheart. You must be...?" He trailed off expectantly, making googly-eye at Bonnie. I heard her scoff in disgust.

"Ain't none of your business, mister." She remarked, her accent strong. Tobias's smirk only grew wider. "Oooh! We's got ourselves a southern girl? How...ravishing." He drawled, taking a step closer. "I bet that ass would be so-"

"Hey. HEY!" I exclaimed, taking out my knife. Tobias stopped talking immediately, the smirk never fading. "Get out of here." I ordered, my knife aimed at his neck. After a moment of unmoving silence, I growled and picked up my radio from my waist. "You see this?" Now his smirk was fading. "Just one little buzz to my father...just one more toe, ONE little step out of line, and your ass is GRASS." I threatened.

Tobias held his hands up in surrender, slowly backing away. The smirk returned. "Oh, Tessie, Tessie, Tessie...You ain't the girl I knew. Heh, I guess that's a good thing." He said, continuing to back away. "I'll see you," he gestured to Bonnie, "later...G'night, ladies."

With that, he turned and walked away. Once he was out of sight, I sighed a breath of immense relief, dropping the talkie and the knife on the ground as I leaned my back against the mobile with my head in my hands. "God...!" I mumbled, breathing in slowly. "God, god, god, god."

I felt a hand on my shoulder, Bonnie's hand, and heard a mutter of consolation. I stood up straight, clearing my throat as I picked up my dropped items. "Sorry about that." I apologized, forcing myself to chuckle. "He's just the one I can't be around...I advise you not to go near him either."

Bonnie frowned, removing her hand from my shoulder. "Did he...?" She questioned. I closed my eyes momentarily, glaring. Then when I opened them, the redhead's face was scrunched in concern. "It's easier to make a deal with the devil when you're not the one paying the debt." I muttered, placing my knife in her hand.

Bonnie raised an eyebrow in question as she stared down at the object in her hand. "Tess?"

"Keep that with you if he comes around again. You'll need it." I advised seriously as I stepped up into my mobile. "And don't forget to put it under your pillow before you go to sleep."

With that, I closed the door and locked it, sighing. What a night...

When I laid on my cot in my silken pajamas, snuggled in my blanket, I stared out the open screen window above me. The cool air vented into the mobile which gave me more reason to stay warm in my blanket. I was safe, at least in here. I liked it...I truly did.

It was quiet...Very quiet...it somewhat made me relaxed. Heh...

I let my eyes droop, the drowsiness consuming me. "Mm." I hummed before I entered a dreamless sleep.

WELL, That was a boring chapter :/

So, nothing really happened except for Bonnie and Tess bonding :3

We know a bit about Bon-bon (MY HEADCANON MINE *HISS*) and Tess's backstory with their mothers. So, derp, at least I updated, eh? IT'LL GET BETTER I PROMISE!

So, review on this HORRIBLE chapter, and I'll be sure to use any ideas I can put into a chapter.

YOU DECIDE!

7+ reviews? Pwetty Pwease? :"3 I'm horrible...

Reminder: There WILL be Nick/Tess bonding. Just...I NEEDS IDEAZ FO' HIS DAMN INTRODUCTION.

BYE Lurvies!