Now she felt like an asshole. Logan tried to warn her but she didn't listen. Cathy pretended to be nice but from what Carol gathered she was a twat. An end of the world twat. Who even aspired to live this long only to be a bitch at the end? Why not make friends or anything other than drama.
She was starting to sound like a hippie. Which again just reminded her of her grandmother. She needed to approach Maggie with the idea of going to get her and if she'd be welcomed back for just leaving. She needed to prepare and if they'd help with that or if she was on her own. She also needed a map. She hadn't come this far north in a long time. It almost made her sick. Of course they kept in touch but it wasn't the same.
What she wanted she wasn't sure was doable. What if she got there only to find that she was dead. It didn't help her in the slightest that while these thoughts were coursing through her head this woman was droaning on about flowers of all things. She wanted to plant flowers. Of course the bees, the bees!
"Cathy, why do you need my help with this?" Carol questioned. "You've been here longer."
Cathy pursed her lips but quickly hid the look. Her eyes betrayed her. She didn't like being questioned.
"Everyone is supposed to pitch in Carol. Everyone."
Carol stared at her for a moment and chose her next words without a care. If Cathy wanted to be a two faced twat waffle then she was going to just ruin her image of Carol quickly.
"Yeah, I'll something more meaningful to help with." Carol replied in a mimickry of her grandmothers I've had enough of your shit voice.
Cathy was talking and paused dramatically. Mouth gaping open and staring wide eyed. "Excuse me! Flowers raise moral."
"It's about to be winter." Carol stated. "Nothing is going to grow."
Cathy mimed talking and even raised her hands before stomping her foot and storming off in the direction she could see Maggie. Sure enough she was over there waving her hands and making herself look like a idiot and probably crying about Carol herself. Let her if they had a problem with her not wanting to plant fucking flowers in the winter then she would leave.
"Not making friends I see." Merle laughed.
Carol paused. This was the first time they'd spoken to her since she made Logan mad. It'd been a week of Logan pretending she didn't even exist and Merle just watching it happen. Daryl was always busy or doing something for someone. The man was run ragged from what she seen. IF he wasn't dodging someone. Mostly the women here she realized.
Like flowers in the end of the world she supposed a man who could take care of you was rare too. Who would have guessed that. SHe was sure Daryl would hate being compared to flowers.
"No, not really." Carol huffed.
"Want to do something useful." Merle was already walking away.
Carol chased after him without a second thought. He was headed towards Daryl. They walked right by queen of the dead flowers and Carol realized she really was geting cynical. Who cared the woman was annoying and it wasn't like she was saying these things outloud.
"Some of them you are." Merle laughed.
Carol's face reddened and she glared at Merle.
"You were mumbling about dead flowers." Merle shrugged.
When they got to Daryl which turned out was at the gates she realized they were packed to fight. He looked to her and then to his brother.
"What's going on?" Daryl questioned with a quick raise of his brow.
"We're bringing Georgia here."
"Okay." Daryl nodded and threw a leg over his bike. Merle done the same thing and Carol stared. Where was she supposed to sit.
Daryl glared for a second and then sighed heavily. Merle guffawed and signaled for the gates to be opened. Rick was at them and smiling heavily. Carol inched over to Daryl and raised her own brow. He motioned for her to get on and slid her a knife and a gun. At Least he was chivalrous in the end. The bike thundered to life below her and she grabbed onto Daryl quickly. He grunted as her thighs gripped his hips and he looked back at her over his shoulder.
"Lighten up." His voice was rough.
He stared at her for a long second before something behind them made sneer in distaste. He sighed and then they were out the gate with Rick waving them on. He winked at her as they passed and she knew without a doubt she'd been played by Merle. What the play was she wasn't sure but she had a gun and would shoot him if needs were there. His own brother providing the ammo for salt in the wound.
The ride was peaceful and she realized it was along Old Norton Road. The same one they used to come into Appalachia. The trees shading still with their changing leaves. The wind in her hair and the feel of the pavement rumbling beneath her. It was exhilarating. She'd fight Merle for this and thank him too.
When they came to a stop she realized they were in another shopping center. It was smaller and quite a few stores still that looked intact. It was enough to get her blood pumping. It was then she realized a truck was here as well. Logan hopped out with a man she'd seen around but didn't know too well.
"What's she doing here?" Logan snapped.
"Logan." Daryl's voice warned as he killed the engine. "Manners."
Logan's mouth snapped shut and he eyed her before looking at his dad again. Something changed in his face and he relaxed. SHe guessed if his dad wasn't going to bitch about her then he wouldn't either. How charming.
"So are we here for anything specific?" Carol asked climbing off the bike, using Daryl for balance as she did so.
Her thighs were sore and she felt a little shaky. He seemed to read this and hid a smile. She almost wanted to say something snarky but his smile caught her off guard and she liked the way it turned his solemn features into something more...something she wasn't sure she wanted to name but it was there nonetheless
"We'll clear store by store till we get the trucks full." Merle started ordering them about. "Logan you got the keys for the other truck still?"
"Yes Sir." He stepped forward swinging them around a finger.
Why couldn't she had rode with one of them she wondered. Oh yeah because they'd left before Merle and Daryl. How convenient. She was tasked with sticking with Daryl. Merle and Logan seeming to split off together while one person stayed with the vehicles keeping watch.
Daryl paused before they entered Belks. He sighed slightly and his face reddened. "I don't know what is needed as far as women's stuff. We thought you might have an idea after having went through it recently. Grab anything you think is needed but keep on guard. Stay close."
Carol's face split into a smile. Bras! A possibility of fitting bras. She didn't even care that some random man was with her and going to see her getting giddy. She grabbed everyone she seen and panties. Daryl was holding bags out for her and his face was redder than she'd ever seen anyone's in her life. He just kept his mouth shut and watched her work. When they made the drop at the front of the store she realized her bags from before were gone. Daryl pointed to the man that was at the truck and seen him tossing it inside before he drove to Merle's store and done the same. They were making good time.
"We'd almost cleared this entire place." Daryl said quietly. "The shopping center I mean."
Carol paused as he slung a back up on his shoulder and unholstered a gun. He was guarding her and him both while packing the bags. It made her feel guilty. Not that he wasn't doing the same thing as her. He'd caved and eventually drug out massive trash bags she was unsure where he got them. They were thick and green and stood out. He was dumping whole bins of clothes, panties, bras, socks and anything else he could get his hands on into it. He heaved it over his shoulder and looked at her. She unholstered her gun and got to run point as they made their way through the dark store. She was surprised to not see any walkers.
"Where are the dead?" Carol whispered.
Daryl dropped the bag and swiped at his forehead. He pointed to the side and she seen bodies just laying. They'd cleared this ahead of time. Smart.
"Take no chances." He shrugged. "My kids here."
Carol smiled at that. He was charming in a silent type way. She could tell he was shy and it was making him nervous to be away from his kid. He kept looking to the store Merle and Logan were clearing.
"All clear." Carol said.
Daryl nodded and whistled, his hand went in the air and he made a circle with his hand before he caught her attention. "Are you up for another store or are you done?"
The sun was starting to set by the time she realized they cleared out the men and women's sections. They'd even took the boots and shoes. It was a boon for sure. THey had plenty but if they kept taking in survivors and if people did have kids...if this place prospered they needed this stuff.
A loud whistle ripped through the air and Carol seen walkers coming around the bend in the hill. They were between them and the vehicles. Carol felt her pulse pound and she pulled her gun. Daryl shoved her hand down and they backed inside slowly. They hadn't noticed them yet and she realized her almost mistake.
Adrenaline raced through her when she realized Daryl was watching Logan climb in a truck alone followed by the man Daryl named Shane. Merle stared long at them before he finally got on his bike and was gone too. They were leaving them!
"Calm down." Daryl whispered.
They watched through the foggy glass as some walkers followed the trucks. Merle road circles till he got mores attention but some still lingered. Carol watched them for a minute before watching Daryl.
"What do we do?"
"Wait." Daryl stated. "We wait. Then we run for the vehicle but it's best to wait till morning. We can't see everything on the road now and they'll be following them."
Carol's heart raced the first time without walls in two weeks and she felt sick. Daryl didn't seem nervous instead he was looking around them. The doors stood open from where he'd forced them before. It'd been loud then and she imagined it'd be the same to undo what he'd done before. Instead he moved into the store and stared at the ceiling.
"Come here for a minute, Carol." He looked at her and flushed. "I'm going to lift you into the ceiling."
"What about you?" She nearly hissed.
"I'll follow."