Carol placed the book down and sat up slowly from the chair, pulling the blanket on floor, off the chair. They steadied their steps to each other, eventually closing the everlasting space between them. Daryl's shirt had been completely unbuttoned but he was still wearing it. She gently placed her finger tips on his chest, working into flattening them. She slid her hands up his shoulders, under his shirt and combed it off. The shirt was hanging off of his arms but the vest was heavier and fell to the floor. Daryl smoothly shook his arms to allow the shirt to slide off all the way. Carol brought her flattened palm up to his neck and slid it to his face, cradling his cheek. She stared into his eyes, unsure on where to go next.

Daryl cupped her cheeks and slouched down to kiss her. They both held each others face as they kissed, learning each others rhythm. Carol took Daryl's lead surprisingly and they stretched around each other. Daryl lightly grasped the bottom of one side of Carol's shirt, he brought his hand off of her face to grab the other. He started pulling up the shirt and Carol stopped kissing him, she waited for her shirt to be completely off, waiting for him to to back away but he didn't. She held on to her stomach trying to hide a few stray scars, there was one big one but other then that they were tiny. Daryl gave her a half smile. "That ain't so bad." Carol stopped covering herself as Daryl turned to show her his. "Um... Just don' touch them okay?" Carol nodded, seeing the severity of his scars.

They resumed their synchronized kissing. Daryl undid his belt and whipped it at the floor, he didn't notice Carol shudder as he did.
He pulled Carol closer to him, with his hands on her hips. He turned her around to undo her bra and his eyes widened at the deep scars that all went in the same direction down her back. He caught her reflection in the candle lit room window. She watched his reaction. Daryl softened his look but stopped the task at bay. He wrapped his arms around her. "You have ta' be ready too, and yer not." Carol sighed in his arms. She felt like she was going to cry but she didn't allow the tears to fall. She hugged Daryl, he placed his head on her shoulder. SHe brought her mouth to Daryl's ear.

"Thank you."

Her dark locks fell around her face, framing her beautiful facial structure. She sat against the red fabric passenger seat, it was late and she just wanted to go home. He got back in the car after filling the tank, he didn't bother putting on his seat belt but she did.

"Ed take me home please, my dad gave me a curfew and I only have ten minutes." Ed rolled his eyes.

"Live a little you spoiled daddy's bitch." He spat. Carol shook her head and Ed gave in, driving down the main road to her house.

"He is going to kill me Ed." She pleaded. Ed stayed silent. Carol grabbed her hair clip, pulling her hair out of her face. She put her glasses back on and readied herself to go inside. They were two blocks away, the street lights had already come on and the light sky had faded into night. Ed pulled into an alley, two houses away from her house. Carol sighed at his laziness to drive up two houses but she unbuckled her seat belt. "Goodnight Ed." She reached for the handle to open the car door but Ed snatched her hand.

"Ain't no appreciation for me drivin' yer fuckin ass around everywhere?" he asked slyly. Ed moved his body to Carol, smashing his mouth against hers.

"Ed what the hell?" He climbed on top of her and dragged her into the backseat. "No, Ed... I am not ready... Please..." Ed tore at her nylons and brought his hand up in between her legs. "AHH!" She screamed. She wiggled herself into an upright position and banged on the back door window. "HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!" She cried. Ed grabbed her by the neck and hair, pulling her back against the seat. Carol started crying and shaking.

"Yer askin' for it Carol, wearing that skirt, dressin like you got somewhere to be." He brought his face to hers. "You want it." as Ed held her down with one hand he unbuttoned his pants with another and she continued to scream as he shoved himself inside of her, not giving her fight up until the very end.

When he was done he opened the car door, shoving her out. She fell against the rocks and dirt in the alley. Her nylons were torn up and clothes had been ripped. The clip had broken and her hair was tossed up, with her makeup running. She pulled herself off the ground and slowly walked back home.

She cautiously walked in the door, her dad was drunk on the couch, watching static on the T.V "Your late!" He yelled. He took one look at her, seeing the tears streaming down her face. "You slut... You gave it up!" Carol stormed into the kitchen grabbing scissors and stormed back to her room, ignoring her fathers babbling.

She slammed her door at the top of the stairs and stabbed a hole in the door after it had shut. She fell weak to her knees and landed on the floor. She slowly brought her face off the ground looking in the body length mirror. She yanked the scissors out of the wall. She grabbed a chunk of her hair and started cutting it off.

Carol's eyes opened, it was still dark out. Daryl was sound asleep beside her. She needed something to drink so she crept off the floor, careful not to wake him and left the room. She lightly walked past the closed office doors and turned by the cubicles. It was hard to see in the dark but she made it to the lunch room. Her eyes were as wide as they could go and all of her senses were heightened. She grabbed a half empty water bottle and took a single sip. She heard breathing coming from the far corner in the room.

"Who is there?" She called out.

"Rick." Rick answered with no hesitation. His voice wasn't jagged and he didn't sound tired.

"What are you doing Rick?" Carol held her arms in front of her so she wouldn't bump into anything. She followed the sound of his breathing and sat down where she thought was in front of him. "Rick? Everything okay?" Carols hands searched for Rick's body and he grabbed his hand that was rested on his lap. "Why aren't you in the room with Lori?" She heard Rick sigh.

"Lori doesn't want me there." He answered matter of factually.

"I know we feel people don't want us around anymore... Most of the time that's not true." Carol heard Rick chuckle.

"I'd like to believe that." Rick wet his mouth drying to bring life to his dry throat. "However she said it outright. She doesn't want me in that room with her, and all the others are taken." Carols expression grew angry, he couldn't see it but he could tell by the immediate tension he felt in her hand.

"Unbelievable." Carol rolled her eyes. "You get us to this place that is filled with food... Private rooms and you don't even get a single one." Rick started laughing. "What's so funny?" she demanded.

"Isn't this how most divorces worked before? What's hers is hers and what's mine is hers aswell?" Rick finished the end of his sentence with a chuckle.

"Oh Rick... Okay get up." Rick didn't get up with her.

"I don't have anywhere to go." He pointed out. "I'd go to Andrea's but I don't want to make things worse... If they could get any worse."

"I see." Carol said while thinking of another solution. "You will sleep in my room tonight, I'll go to Andrea's." She couldn't see his expression but she knew it was argumentative.

"Thanks Carol... But if Daryl wakes up next to me he might punch me or something." Rick laughed. Carol wanted to argue but she knew he was right.

"Want company?" she asked hopefully. Rick stood up and hugged Carol.

"If Daryl wakes up alone and finds you here he still may punch me." Rick joked. "Its okay, but thanks for the talk." Carol shrugged and guided herself out of the windowless pitch room.