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Shorter chapter but that's okay.


Jesus, she cursed herself silently, why did I drink? A tiny voice crept into her mind, "because, Daryl asked you too." Finley shook her head, "Absolutely not" she said aloud.

"Absolutely not, what?" Maggie asked, confusion covering her beautiful features as she entered the cell.

Finley sat up, realizing how badly she missed a door with a lock. "Nothing. Just talking to myself."

"You don't look so good."

"Yeah, I don't feel so great either."

Maggie reached out without warning, checking Finley's head with the back of her hand. "You don't feel warm." Finley jerked away causing Maggie to jump.

"Oh. Um, sorry." Her eyes shifting uneasily, "Are you okay?"

Finley tried to give a chuckle but it came out harsh and unnatural. "It's fine. I just, don't like to be touched."

Maggie nodded, watching as Finley rose from the bottom bunk and began brushing her hair. "Well, I wanted to make sure you came down for breakfast. See ya in a few."

With that, Maggie strode from the cell before Finley could get a word in edgewise.


Finley stood in the breakfast line, appearing to stare at nothing while she was actually avoiding Daryl's gaze. She didn't even know if he was in the cafeteria but she knew she didn't want to find out. She ticked off the thoughts from her mental check list. Did she like Daryl? He seemed okay. Was he attractive? Definitely. Did he like her? Who knew? The same went for them being friends, who knew. She sighed externally. Did she want a relationship? She hesitated before rephrasing the question. Did she need a relationship during the end of the world? Definitely, without a doubt, no. It wasn't going to happen with him or with anyone else. Most of the people in their rag-tag community seemed okay. She had grown very close to Maggie and Glenn but at the end of the day, the only person she needed was Ben. Definitely.

Finley looked up; she was at the breakfast table. Apparently, she had been on auto pilot. She took her normal seat across from Maggie. She frowned at the vacant seat beside her, where Ben usually sat. He had moved further down the table which placed several people between them. Finley rolled her eyes before digging into her prepackaged muffin. Maggie gave her a sympathetic look, to which Finley shrugged. Ben was mad but he'd get over it. They were siblings, brother and sister; they were all each other had. He'd been mad before and he'd get mad again. Finley ate in silence; she couldn't wait to get back to bed. Since she went on the run yesterday, she was free today. Finley was finally broken out of her own thoughts by Glenn.

"Daryl, do you think you guys caught something?"

Finley tensed as Glenn's voice seemed to echo through the cafeteria. Finley concentrated on her muffin more closely. She peeked out of the corner of her eye, realizing for the first time that Daryl was at the next table over, only 4-6 feet away. He didn't respond, he just stared at Glenn and shrugged before returning to his muffin.

"No offense, but you look like crap and so does Finley."

Finley's head popped up; shocked as Glenn continued to stare at Daryl.

"Ya ain' exactly brigh' eyed and bush' tailed, china man."

Finley took that as her cue to leave when Glenn turned to Maggie, a worried expression on his face.

"Feel my head. Do I feel warm?"


Finley didn't notice him following her as she headed for the trash. Fear spiked through her like a javelin as Brandon appeared beside her.

"Can we talk?" He whispered intently.

"No."

As Finley moved past him, he reached out grabbing her arm in a light but firm grip. "Finley."

His face probably appeared cheery to everyone else in the cafeteria but Finley saw his eyes grow cold and his voice drop to a threatening tone. Her heart raced as she reacted out of instinct. She pulled his hand from her arm and slid under, twisting it behind his back as she slammed his head and torso onto a nearby table.

Daryl jumped up from his seat as the entire cafeteria turned to watch the scene unfold. Daryl glanced at Ben, who watched uninterested.

"Daryl…" Maggie said, dragging his attention away from Finley. "She's got it."

Rick chose that moment to walk up.

"What's going on?" He looked perplexed as everyone just stood still, watching.

"She doesn't like to be touched. Nearly jumped out of her skin when I felt her forehead this morning."

Daryl thought back to how she had jumped away when her foot hit his leg. Then his mind drifted to her breath mixing with his own and her warm skin under his calloused fingers. He shook the thoughts from his head and stood with Rick watching Finley whisper into Brandon's ear.

"I don't know how else to say it. Stay away from me. Stay away from ben. I don't like you and I never will. You're digging a hole that will be your grave. DON'T. EVER. SPEAK. TO. ME. OR. BEN. AGAIN." She finished through gritted teeth.

Finley stormed off leaving behind a silent cafeteria and a hurt Brandon. Daryl took off after her, ignoring Ben's warning.

"I wouldn't do that."


Daryl caught up to Finley, "Wait, Fin."

"Why does everyone insist on calling me that? My name is Finley. I don't know you people and you don't know me. Piss off!"

She turned on her heel and stormed off.

"Ungrateful bitch!" Daryl yelled after her before stalking through the cafeteria to head out of the prison.

Maggie, Glenn, Rick, and the others shared a surprised look.

Ben shrugged, "I warned him."