Rick had an announcement the next morning. Daryl and Carol had scoped out an outlet mall a couple miles from the church. Everyone was going including Tyrese and Judith. He said depending on how long it took to clear it out they may stay overnight and head back to the church the next day.
Beth looked to Tara and knew they were thinking the same thing. A night spent in close proximity to Daryl Dixon was just about as desirable as making out with a walker. Beth recalled the conversation she had with him the previous night to Tara over breakfast. He shot her fleeting glances every so often. They both ignored him.
The lack of their attention made his blood rush through his veins. How could she just ignore me? After everything they've been through. His thoughts came through choppy. Beth was wrong. He had the right to be mad at her- he loved her. Look at them, sitting there judging him. The girls sat close, laughing at something one of them had said. Laughing at him, Daryl thought.
His glass came down a little too hard on the table. The glass shattered, slicing his hand. He flicked his wrist, tiny flecks of blood splattered over the table. The pain translated to anger, "Mother fucker." He punched the wall on the way out of the chapel. Everyone turned their attention back to themselves.
Beth kept her eyes down at her plate during the scene. Tara elbowed her playfully, "You sure do know how to pick them." "Yeah," Beth said looking down again, her lips in a thin line. Feelings conflicted inside her- half of her wanted to laugh at the immaturity of the situation. The disturbed part of her wanted to follow him and make sure he was okay.
She didn't speak throughout their preparation. Tara knew Beth hadn't slept the previous night- the gloomy blonde had matching circles under her eyes. A thick layer of clouds diluted the sun, dulling its sharp gaze. Empty fields stood on each side of the narrow road. Tara and Beth walked side by side. She'll admit it- Tara purposefully brushed her hand against Beth's several times. She stared straight ahead, not noticing Tara's advances.
Tara gave up, her steps falling behind. Beth continued to stare down the road. A blanket made her limbs heavy; an invisible veil covered her face. Her head pounded with each step, her thoughts jumbled around. She couldn't think of Tara without thinking of Gabriel. She had to tell her the truth. Her mouth was dry.
Rick whistled from up ahead. Tara jogged to catch up to Beth. They reached Rick and the others. "There's too many of them to fight, but if we hide they should go right by." They were surrounded by abandoned cars, most of their doors already open.
Tara spotted a minivan with dusty windows, she pulled Beth towards it. Tara used a cloth to clean the window of the layer of dirt. It faced another vehicle. Carol appeared with a single finger held to her lips. Not a second later the first walker bumped into them, jostling the rubbish on the floor. From the sounds of quiet scraping and groaning, it was apparent the walkers traveled slowly and they were going to be here for a while.
Tara kneeled in the middle of the floor, where she could see out the window. Carol sat cross legged, her eyes shut. Her shoulders moved with each deep breath. Daryl's crossbow lay next to her. Tara stumbled forward, landing face first in the wasted paper. A morbidly obese walker must have power walked right into their van- knocking Tara on her ass, or so to speak. She got to her knees and brushed her chest off. Beth sat near the back of the van, staring straight ahead. She hadn't even noticed the fatty. Tara waved her hand in her direction, "Hello, Earth to Beth?"