Seven
"Jo May!"
I snapped to when I heard my voice, Daryl was stomping towards me, "What?"
"The door is open," he snapped, "Let's go!"
I was so lost in thought that I hadn't heard or seen the door open; Daryl pulled me up by my arms and practically dragged me and our things out the door. We all blinked against the sunlight pouring through the windows. Daryl sheltered me as Shane shot at the thick glass. I kept my arms wrapped around him when we straightened up, I wasn't letting go this time, "What about Jacqui? Or Jenner," I asked, staring back at the long, dark hallway.
"They ain't comin'," Daryl snapped.
Rick grabbed the grenade from Carol and we all ran behind the corner. I felt like a child, being hauled around by Daryl, one arm around my waist, one holding his crossbow. He was weighed down with our bags and all I could do was cling to him.
The grenade went off and my ears rang. We flew out the window and to our cars, Daryl, Shane and Rick shot down walkers that were coming at the building after hearing the explosion. Daryl threw me into the truck and then came around and jumped in the driver's side, on top of me. I wrapped my arms around him and waited for the explosion. As the self-destruct flames roared around the cars, Daryl looked down at me. I put my hands on either side of his face, "Thank you," I said, and then I kissed him. And for that moment, when he held me back, kissed me back – I wasn't concerned with anything or anyone else, just Daryl.
Daryl sat up and turned on his truck and I scooted close to him, he put his hand on my leg and I put my head on his shoulder. We pulled away from the CDC and I turned back to see the black plume of smoke, the building was being surrounded by walkers; I thanked the Lord they wouldn't find anything.
Then, I looked back to the open road and then at Daryl. He was smiling. He looked at me and I smiled back. He gave my leg a pat and gave the truck a little gas and we roared to our next destination.
Daryl scavenged around with a string of gas cans, filling them up, "I think it's best if we take Merle's motorcycle from now on," Daryl said as we walked back to the group of cars, "Put our stuff in the Winnebago," he said, pouring some gas into the motorcycle that he, Rick and Shane had unloaded.
I strapped the other gas cans to top of the wagon that Rick drove and stood next to Lori and Carol as everyone got ready to go, "You should ride with us, Jo May," Lori said, "Motorcycles are not safe."
I looked up at the sun; I could feel my pale skin baking in it already, "I'll be fine," I smiled. I lifted the black t-shirt up over my shoulders, leaving on the black tank top underneath, "I'm gonna get me a tan, I think."
"Come on if you're comin'," Daryl called, starting up the motorcycle. It rumbled loud and clear. Everyone else walked to their cars and got in. Daryl held my hand firmly while swung my leg over and got comfortable on the bike, wrapping my arms around him. He twisted the throttle and we took off down the empty highway. One good thing out of this walker apocalypse is that the highways were always clear. For awhile.
Daryl and I both hopped off the bike and walked toward the smoking Winnebago, "Dammit," Daryl said, "Can't we just ditch this piece of shit?"
"No, Daryl," Dale said, giving him the evil eye.
"Let's go scavenge up some junk," I said, looking at all the cars.
"No," Lori said, holding onto Carl as usual, "These are people's things. We can't just take what we want."
"To be honest, Lori," Dale said, "I don't think the owners will come back looking for their beef jerky."
I ventured off with Daryl at my side, wielding his crossbow. We walked carefully and quietly. I stopped at a shiny black sports car with pink flower decals on the back window and opened the door, "Nothing we need in there," Daryl scoffed at me.
"Oh hush up," I said, I giggled when I found the makeup bag – no girl I know would let the impending apocalypse stop her from looking pretty. I turned and sat on the driver's seat with my legs out the open door.
"You fer real, Jo May," Daryl asked, leaning on the side of the car and looking down.
"Dang," I said, looking into the bag, "She had good – expensive – taste, I'll give her that! I'm definitely keeping this, here you carry it," I said, holding the pink bag up to him.
"Kiss my ass, Jo May," he said, walking away. I followed him, we scavenged a few more cars but, everything good had been used up or taken already. Daryl and I headed back to the Winnebago and I slipped my arm around his. He held it tight to his side, like a gentleman and lady.
"Wait till I get all this makeup on again, do my hair a little," I giggled, "You'll -."
The smell hit me hard, Daryl and I stopped dead in our tracks. Rick motioned for us to get down but, Daryl was pushing me under a car before it could even register. He slid under with me and put an arm around me and almost lay on top of me as we watched the dead walk by. I had to put my hands over my mouth to keep from making any noises. Daryl held me tighter as I began to shake. The smell was so strong – I wanted to bury my head in Daryl's shoulder but, I was afraid it would be too much movement. Daryl read my mind and held my head against him, "Just close your eyes," Daryl whispered in my ear, so close I felt his lips against it.
After a lifetime – they were gone. I relaxed on the hot pavement, "You okay," I asked Daryl, turning my head.
"Yes ma'am," Daryl said, scooting out from under the car, "Stay put till I tell you it's safe."
I nodded at Daryl, watching his boots silently walk away. I heard screams, someone shouted for Sophia. I panicked and scooted out from under the car. I looked one way and saw the camper, looked the other and saw a walker, stumbling dangerously close to me. I screamed and fell backwards and scooted on my back, cutting my hands on broken glass. The zombie looked like it had once been a housewife. She wore white flats with what was once a pink shirt and khaki pants. She was missing half of her face and her blonde hair had been halfway ripped out, "Help me," I screamed as she fell down and crawled at me now, grabbing at my ankles.
