I was listening to Reba McIntyre and Kelly Clarkson. Hence the title. What gives you guys' inspiration? How do you like the story so far? Please comment and review.

Chapter 4: Because of You

We didn't get a peaceful night's sleep that night.

The growling and banging from down the hall didn't allow that. The sunlight peaked through the windows with broken miniblinds. It was then that we heard the board that was holding the gym door buckle and break.

Hoards of the undead were charging down the hallway. Nearing the classroom that we had slept in. Just wood and glass separated us from them. Glenn pried the window to the classroom open just as the walkers charged the door. He ushered Lori and Hershel out first followed by Beth and Carl. Glenn and Maggie quickly followed. Rick, Daryl, T-dog, and I raised our weapons to cover them as they raced for the vehicles.

The shots from Rick's python hit one after one. They kept coming. An arrow from Daryl's crossbow zoomed past my head and hit a walker between the eyes and it fell on the floor. We made our way to the window.

"Go!" I yelled to T-dog as I snapped my bow, hitting another walker. He was out the window quickly. Daryl and Rick pushed me out the window after. I landed with a thud on the ground. Glenn had pulled the truck into the grass.

"We're not leaving them!" I yelled at Glenn when he pulled out. I started Daryl's motorcycle and pulled it up to the window. Daryl jumped out the window and climbed on behind me.

"Where's Rick!" I yelled over the roaring of the engine. He pointed to the window that Rick was climbing out of. Rick jumped into the SUV that T-dog was driving and we raced off.

Daryl still behind me, we continued down the back roads. After several miles we stopped. I could barely reach the ground when we stopped. I wasn't really sure how I was able to keep the bike upright for the ride. Daryl kicked the stand down and quickly climbed off.

"I ain't riding bitch no more," he said to me. I couldn't help but smile.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and said, "I'd much rather be holding on to you anyway. Was it really that bad?"

"Not that bad," he said, "I only almost fell off five or six times."

"It wouldn't have been that bad if you would hold on," I said as we walked to the front of Rick's car.

"You looked awfully cute on the back of that bike, man," T-dog joked. "Maybe we should find you a pink helmet." I laughed.

"Shut up!" Daryl said and gave T a look that could kill.

"Teddy, pointed out these storage units," I heard Rick say pointing to the units that were fenced in before us. Glenn climbed the fence.

"I can't figure out this keypad," he said. "I don't know if I can open the fence with out power."

"Let me try," I said as I climbed over. "Stop looking at my ass," I added looking at Daryl. He just smiled.

I was able to short circuit the keypad, allowing T-dog, Daryl, and Rick to pull the gate open. The vehicles were brought in and parked. Glenn and I were able to pull the gateway shut.

"Stay here, "Rick ordered as he and Daryl went scouting around the lot. No signs of walkers. The entire lot was gated. No signs of any breaches. We could hole up here for a while. Maybe even through the winter.

With Dale's bolt cutters the doors to a few units were opened. The door to unit 587 opened with a thud. Inside were several garbage bags, a few duffle bags, some suitcases, and boxes lined one wall. The other was lined with a complete arsenal.

The found a bunch of bedroom furniture in another unit. Some kitchen gadgets in another. Carl found the most interesting find. Inside the one of the larger units was a replica of the Delorian driven in Back to the Future. We ooed and awed at the car for several minutes. Then back to work.

We spent most of the rest of the afternoon organizing some units for us to sleep in the next day. We had enough old mattresses for each of us to get one. We were even able to set up a luxury sweet with a king sized bed. We set up one to act as a dining area.

"That's the last of the meat," Carol said as she served us our dinner of potted meat and canned green beans.

"I'll go huntin' tomorrow," Daryl said stuffing his face.

"I'll come with you," I said.

"No, you stay here," he responded. He was acting weird. Even for him.

"You can't go alone," I stated.

"Dog, you wanna go with me?" he said. I couldn't believe he didn't want me to go with him. We'd hunted tons of times together. T-dog nodded in agreement.

"We better head to sleep so we can get an early start in the morning," Daryl said to T-dog. He left me sitting there alone. I gave Maggie a worried look. She shook her head to tell me not to worry about it. I couldn't help it.

Rick was standing guard as usual. Lori, Carol, and Beth took one storage unit. Hershel, Carl and T-dog took another. Glenn and Maggie took the sweet. I found Daryl sound asleep in the boys' unit. He didn't welcome me in his bed as normal.

"I just want to sleep, alone," he said to me, turned over, and stretched out. It hurt that he was pushing me away again.

Maggie was the only one of the women since Andrea died that I trusted with the secrets of my heart. Carol would take everything that I said and use it against me. And after Shane, I just didn't know if I could ever trust Lori fully. This night I couldn't interrupt Maggie and Glenn. They needed time for each other.

I found myself turning to Rick again for comfort. I brought my blanket with me and climbed into the bed of the truck with him. I sat down beside him.

"You cold?" I said offering to share my blanket with him.

"Not really," he responded, "You should be inside it looks like it's going to freeze tonight."

"It seems to be colder in there," I said softly. I sat down on the tailgate and pulled the blanket tighter around me. Rick sat beside me. We sat there together silently for a moment.

"I'm sorry," Rick said.

"About what?" I yawned.

"Everything, Shane," he started, "just everything."

"Stop it," I said to Rick sternly, "I don't blame you. I never have. "

"I know you and Shane were close," he said.

"We were," I answered, "But he had a gun to my head. That changed our relationship status. Shane was out of control. He would have gotten us killed. Or killed us." I laid my head on his shoulder and whispered, "It's because of you that I'm alive at all. That any of us are. You've done more for me than he ever could." I yawned again and felt my eyelids grow heavy.