Lauren woke to the smell of something cooking, the clanking of utensils, and the muffled sound of light-hearted chit-chat. Taking a moment to orient herself, she couldn't help but smile. She was with a group now. People were chatting over breakfast. This wasn't The Hunger Games, it wasn't all pure survival today. Hell, someone kept watch while she and the others slept!

This sudden burst of pre-walker normalcy and humanity was almost too much to take, and she brushed not-quite-there tears from her eyes.

She was counting her chickens before they hatched, she knew it. These people owed her nothing, there was no guarantee they'd let her in their community. They had enough mouths to feed. Sure, she'd brought that deer down but it may as has well have been Daryl. That was a man that had the hunting under control. He didn't seem the type to want help, either. Unfortunately.

What was him about him that made him so attractive? He was certainly nothing like anyone she'd been into before, or even known. He was being an ass, and he didn't care if she was around.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to be as useful as she could here. Indispensable, somehow. Now that she'd had a night among other people, great people... she couldn't go back to the solitude she'd known. She unzipped the tent and headed towards the group gathered near the food, a determined smile on her face.

DARYL POV

Daryl watched Lauren head from her tent to the breakfast area and join the others, swaying her hips unconsciously, her hourglass figure remaining despite the inevitable fifteen pounds or so everyone had lost.

She was smiling and chatting animatedly with Amy, Andrea's sister. They were about the same age he guessed, but he hadn't felt what was stirring in his chest toward the pretty blonde Amy. He forgot that bittersweet butterfly feeling existed, to be honest. It had been so long, he was unlovable.

This girl would just reject him. Who the fuck did he think he was? She's some fancy college girl, smart and beautiful. She could have anyone; why the hell would she choose him? He needed to clear his head. He grabbed his crossbow and headed towards the woods to hunt without a word to the girl that was invading the cells beneath his skin.

LAUREN POV

She sat next to Amy, the only girl about her age. Her sister Andrea asked about her life in the woods, and her life before the end. Lauren tried to answer questions semi-vaguely, and kept looking for Daryl, who had been acting as if she was invisible.

She had more important things to worry about, and she was right next to nice people for the first time in a long time. They were interested in who she was and her life. She wouldn't let some hick make her feel bad about herself now, she's not some silly teenager.

Lauren turned her head as a friendly, deep voice said, "Well good morning, sunshine." The smile on Shane's face was gleaming, and had a bit of a smirk to it that was adorable. "I almost convinced myself I dreamt you up," he added with a wink, making her blush.

Amy started giggling as Shane walked away towards Rick and Dale.

"I totally saw that blush," she said smiling. "He's kinda too old though, don't you think?"

"I don't think any of that matters anymore. I'm plenty old enough and this is the apocalypse, not like of we have a lot options," Lauren replied, half jokingly.

Somehow she found herself liking two very different options.