We decided to all take one car. It was safer than splitting up. Merle sat in the back seat, and Daryl and I in the front. He drove and I leaned my head against the window. It was open just a crack, and the breeze was cool despite the hot weather.

I closed my eyes. I knew I had to tell him. I just didn't know when - or how to even start. I hated myself, but I knew I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if he did fall in love with me, and I didn't return the feeling.

I yawned. Vivid dreams and fantasies were keeping me up at night.

'Yenno, I was just about to say yer lookin' damn tired, girl.' Daryl turned his head sideways and looked at me.

'Can't sleep none too well lately.'

'Didn't sound like ya'll was doin' too much sleepin'!' Merle mused from the back. Daryl shot him a look in the rear view and Merle chuckled.

I rolled up eyes. The gentle bump of the car on the gravel road was relaxing. Slowly I felt myself drift off to sleep.

'Hey? Jolene? We're here.'

Daryl shook me awake. I rubbed my eyes under my glasses and undid my seat-belt I stepped out of the car, took a quick glance at the empty parking lot, and proceeded to stretch away my grogginess.

'Thought ya said it'd be packed, Merle.' Daryl spoke and his voice remained low. He didn't want to attract any unwanted attention, I'd assumed.

'I didn't say nothin' but a 'maybe'.'

'Man, whatever. So far, yer wrong.'

'Oh shut the hell up.'

'Look ya'll, we gonna do this, or what?' I put my hands on my hips.

'I'll lead.' Merle looked at us and Daryl nodded.

Weapons pointed and loaded, safety off we strolled into Walmart as if we were going grocery shopping and our lives depended on it - because it did.

Daryl shot me a glance as we walked into the dimly lit building. Bodies of the dead lay across the floor, and down almost every aisle. Blood stained the white tiles and splattered along the checkouts and most shelves as far as I could see. It was quiet, all for the hum of the florescent lights that lingered due to what I assumed was emergency power.

I nudged a body with the toe of my boot. 'Should we check the bodies?' I hadn't really wanted to, but if we needed it, I would.

'Should just focus on the aisles.' Merle called back to me, and I realized I had fallen behind. Daryl wasn't too far up ahead, but I saw noticed his slow pace, and the glances back in my direction. I smiled at him to put him at ease, but he didn't smile or smirk back. Of course, I could take care of myself; he'd taught me a few things, needless to say, but I started off a decent shot and worked my way into being able to hit a bird in between the eyes from a mile away with both his and Merle's help.

Daryl turned down an aisle, and I decided to follow him. There was more left than we could have hoped for. I slipped off my pack and began piling in the items that lined the shelf - 2 boxes of granola bars, 4 cans of tuna, 8 packages of 'Sidekicks' alfredo noodles, a bag of vegetable crisps - the items grew more abundant as I thumbed my way through the aisle.

'Do you see all of this stuff?' I asked excitedly. 'There's enough to keep us fed for quite some time!'

He smiled lightly and I knew he was worried about something.

'Daryl? What's wrong? You should be happier. There's nothing around here. This place is dead quiet. And even if there was, we'd be able to make it out in time. Don't worry.'

'Ya talk in yer sleep.' He muttered.

It felt like I had been punched in the stomach, or hit in the face. What could I have said? I knew it was something bad, but what?

I played stupid. 'What do you mean?'

His back was turned one second, the next he spun to face me. 'Ya kept sayin' something about 'Not him, please. Keep him safe, please.' and I thought it was me you were dreamin' about.'

Again, like an idiot - I played completely clueless. 'Who said it wasn't?'

'You did.'

We stared at each other in silence, and I had wondered what I said. Before I could ask he spoke, 'You just kept on saying, 'Don't love him. No. Daryl, no.' Wonder what that means?'

I reached out to touch him, and he pulled back as if I would burn him. Who was I kidding - I'd already had.

'Daryl - if you'd just let me explain.'

'I think I heard enough.' He turned away, clearly hurt and angry.

I let out a deep breath. Why couldn't I had just told him? Things would have been so much simpler. I trudged forward and focused on the task at hand. I loaded up a few bottles of 'Smart Water', and made my way towards the clothes. There wasn't much left, but I had found a few things - a pair of black jeans with rips in the knee, a pair of denim shorts, a few pairs of panties and a bra, a pack of socks, a yellow t-shirt with the back made of lace (it wasn't very practical, but it would suffice), and a pink tank-top. I stuffed the items into my bag and then looked around. The boys were no where in site.

Fumbling with my gun, and my bag, I decided to go look for a holster. I walked past the pharmacy on my way there and loaded up on whatever I could find. A bottle of 'Advil', a box of allergy medication, a container of 'gummy' vitamins, and a box of 'Barbie' band-aids.

I continued my trek over to the outdoors section.

CRACK.

I stopped dead in my tracks and spun around. 'What the hell was that?' I whispered. When I didn't hear it again, I continued walking slowly, listening and looking down every aisle. When I got to the cabinet, I found it unlocked - actually, it had been busted open. Glass crunched over my boots as I stepped closer and saw a holster that God must have left here for me - light pink camo print etched arcoss it. I was in love.

In the moment of pure bliss, I didn't hear the second 'CRACK.' I didn't pay close enough attention, and I should have. Because what was about to happen, was about to leave me alone.