Another week had passed by and Carol was feeling much more at ease in the Dixon household. They had dinner every night; she had even gone grocery shopping and stocked them up on food. She'd been able to tackle the bathroom like she'd been itching to do. Everything felt normal, like everything was happening the way it was meant to. It seemed like things were finally looking up for her. Things were going good, for once in her life.

She should have known it wouldn't last.

It was on a Friday that everything started to fall apart.

All thanks to Ed Peletier.


Carol had stayed up late into the night, throwing popcorn at and watching movies with Merle and Daryl, even though two of them had school in the morning. Merle was being particularly whiny though, and Carol sympathized with him, realizing that he probably didn't have many friends, if any. Aside from that, she was beginning to genuinely enjoy his company, ever since they had their talk. She was nervous that she had shown such a vulnerable side to him; sharing some of her scars. She hadn't even shown Daryl her scars, but he was more familiar with her other scars, the emotional ones that carried weight.
The physical scars weren't nearly as bad as those.

The next morning she nearly thought about not going to school; she was so tired, but Daryl was going. According to his logic, if he was going, she was going to, so that they could suffer the school day together. He promised another hunting trip that weekend, which Carol was looking forward to.

She had been awake, thinking she'd be able to make it through the day, but as soon as she sat down at her desk in Mr. Peletier's, her eyelids began to droop. She couldn't help it, and he was just so boring. Who wanted to learn about this stuff this early in the morning, let alone ever?

She felt a poke in her side and her eyes shot open.

"Ms. McBride, please see me after class," Mr. Peletier said, before continuing to talk about numbers and crap that she had no interest in.

A bad feeling began to form in the pit of her stomach, and she looked over at Daryl, who wordlessly gave her reassurance. It was amazing to her, how much he communicated just with minor facial expressions, and how much those looks could affect her. He had eased the knots in her stomach, but they continued to form throughout the rest of class.

She almost thought about trying to sneak passed him; hoping he'd forget all about asking her to stay. She knew she was only trying to kid herself though. As creepy as he was, he'd for sure be paying attention. There was no escaping it.

Finally the bell rang, and to Carol it sounded like a death sentence. Desks scraped against the floor and backpacks were slung over shoulders and feet scuffled as everyone else was free to leave and go to their next class. Carol slowly gathered her things and walked up to the front of the room side by side with Daryl, who stood there waiting for her.

An annoyed look passed over Mr. Peletier's face, as he informed Daryl that he wanted to speak with Carol. Alone.

Daryl assured her that he'd wait outside the classroom for her and walked out as Mr. Peletier rolled his eyes and shut the classroom door behind him.

"Now Carol, you're such a bright student. I still don't understand why you're hanging out with the Dixon but obviously he's bad influence, as you've begun to fall asleep in class. I expect so much more out of you, Carol," he said reaching out to brush her hair behind her ear. Carol backed away, her senses on overdrive and her nerves going haywire.

"You're a beautiful girl, Carol and I hoped we could get to know each other," he said, leaning in touching his lips to hers for the briefest of seconds before Carol got over her panic and pushed him away, crying out in the process. Daryl burst in at that moment, tearing Ed away from her.

Everything after that was a blur.

Talking to the police…Daryl taken into custody for assault…Mr. Peletier temporarily suspended…Merle coming to pick her up….At the end of the day it all blended together.

They stayed at the police station with Daryl as long as they could before they were all but kicked out. Merle drove them home wordlessly, and the silence only hurt Carol more than she was already hurting. Once they were inside, Carol found the courage to speak up to him.

"I'm sorry," she said, trying not to cry, but failing.

Merle's face contorted into a perplexed expression. "For what darlin'?"

"For, for this whole damn mess. If it wasn't for me-" She felt liked a blubbering child before she was cut off.

"Aw, come here sugar," he said wrapping her into an embrace. "Don't go blamin' yourself. I'm glad you're okay. Don't blame my brother one bit for what he did. Just sorry I couldn't get a swing in."

Carol cried into his chest until her tears were gone, allowing Merle to comfort her. Oddly enough, he helped quite a bit. Although, once she was done crying, he made Carol swear not to tell Daryl about it.

They both ended up falling asleep in the living room, Carol on the couch and Merle in the recliner. Carol couldn't sleep in Daryl's bedroom by herself, knowing that he wouldn't be joining her. Instead, she had opted for stealing the pillow and blanket off of the bed, and wrapping up in a cocoon like she had the first night she spent there.

Merle stayed out there to keep her company, but she felt like he needed the company just as much as he did.

The next few days were spent much the same, brief visits to see Daryl and then back home again. The CDC reports were becoming more worrisome. There were rumors that people were coming back from the dead; it was like they were living in a dream after falling asleep while watching a horror movie. Merle kept trying to reassure Carol that everything would be fine, and that it'd be under control. "Everyone's gettin' their panties in a twist over nothin'," was what he had said.

Tuesday night, he'd be regretting those words.

"The president has declared a state of emergency; everyone is to evacuate their area and go to the nearest shelter set up-" the news reporter's words were cut off as a body came into view of the camera and attacked and bit her neck.

Carol gasped in shock, unable to believe what she had just seen. The camera loudly dropped to the ground, and then the screen turned to static.

Frightened, she turned to Merle who seemed just as shocked as she was.

"We can't leave him there, Merle," she whispered. "We have to get Daryl."


AN: Okay, short chapter, but hopefully I'm forgiven for all the chapters I've updated this week lol.

Thank you SO SO SO much for all the favorites, follows, and of course, reviews.

3333