Walking Dead: Building Your Own Hope

Next chapter of my Walking Dead story, enjoy.

Reviews

Boris Yeltsin: Thanks and yeah, wonder where he gets that from (sarcasm most definitely implied ;))
Parent12D: Thanks, glad you liked it :) Yeah, it's looking like a nice set up with everybody having fun but of course with problems (side note technically homecoming rather than prom but yeah), but Ron, yeah, clearly the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, so Enid may actually still be in trouble. Well, considering the figure mentioned a previous model, now who was subjected to a kidnapping and photography session again ;)
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.


Season 1: Episode 4

Beth let out a slow breath as she finished gathering up what she needed for school. After returning home from the hospital and spending quite a few days at home recovering, she was ready to return.

"Are you sure about this, Beth?"

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, looking over at the door where Hershel stood, looking concerned, as he had since she returned from the hospital.

"Yes dad, of course I'm sure. It'll just be harder if I keep putting it off." She replied.

Hershel looked like he was about to say something else but seemed to think better of it and left. Beth sighed again, shaking her head. She knew her father meant well but he was so cloying, she felt trapped here.

'Honestly' She thought. 'It's not like I'm some porcelain doll dad.'

Shaking her head she finished getting ready, left the farm and went to catch the bus to school.

XXXXX

Not that Beth was under any illusions about what awaited her at school, she never the less, felt almost overwhelmed. The moment she stepped through the doors, she felt like all eyes were on her, then the whispering started.

'Urg, great...well, not surprising.' She reminded herself.

So, steeling herself against it, she continued further into the school building and headed for her locker. Even there however she found no reprieve for two girls she knew from her classes were standing nearby and instantly approached her.

Stephanie Gallows immediately burst out. "Oh my God, Beth, you're back. But after everything..."

"I'm fine Stephanie." Beth replied hollowly, not wanting to deal with her right now.

But Stephanie and her friend Julianne clearly didn't get that.

They both remained crowding Beth at her locker.

"Wow, you actually came back so soon?" Julianne was saying. "But, we heard something...horrible happened."

Stephanie nodded. "Yeah. What really did happen, I mean-"

"Hey, why don't you just leave her alone."

They all started and turned to see Brian approaching, glaring at the two accosting Beth.

Stephanie blinked and tried to regain composure. "Hey, were just-"

Harassing Beth when she clearly doesn't want to talk." Brian cut her off. "She didn't come here so you could get gossip. Now just leave her."

Beth smiled a little at that, especially seeing the disgruntled looks on the girls faces as they left. Watching them leave Brian sighed before turning to Beth.

"Sorry about that." He said. "I just can't stand people like that."

Beth nodded, smiling wider. "Yeah, me neither, thanks."

"No problem. So...how are you?" Brian then asked.

She noted his tone and felt relief. He was treating her normally and it was a genuine question and she was grateful for that as she answered, honestly.

XXXXX

When Beth followed Brian to join the others at lunch, she was even more relieved, none of them questioned her about what happened, instead just welcoming her back and making sure she was doing alright in class. Not only that but the sharp glares of Carl, Sophia and Enid, who was sitting pointedly away from Ron much to his frustration, was enough to deter any would-be harassers. They knew after all that those three would be more inclined to react physically than the others and didn't want to push their luck. It was then Beth noticed that there was someone new, sitting alongside Enid with Sophia, a bright friendly looking Hispanic girl.

Seeing Beth's gaze, Sophia made the introductions. "Beth, this is Eliza Morales. She started, um...the day you were found."

"Ah, I see."

Eliza nodded and smiled. "Nice to meet you."

No doubt being knew, Eliza would be confused and curious about what had happened, but to Beth's delight she didn't ask, she simply helped the others in making her feel welcomed back.

Indeed it soon became clear that many were disappointed with Eliza, having found her feet in school after a few uncertain days, choosing the group as her friends, namely the 'cool' kids who no doubted wanted the beautiful Latina teen to join them and not their usual victims. But that was not currently on Jamie's mind as he began to wonder and doubt about himself. He was still not sure about Laurel's invitation to Homecoming, even if he now realised what she was blatantly doing was flirting.

'But, do I feel the same way, I do find her attractive but...' He fretted. 'It's like I...I always thought I was, but now...'

He had to consider a new possibility, one that actually shocked him as his gaze turned to Carl and he felt something, warm and soft.

'Okay, whoa, there it is again.' Jamie noticed. 'Am I...Am I actually, bi?'

He bit his lip, lost in thought, wondering.

He was jolted out of his thoughts by a playful nudge from Laurel.

"Hey, you awake there?" She teased. "Lunch is over, c'mon."

He quickly got to his feet, flustered. "Uh yeah, sorry."

She just smiled and as they began to walk away she spoke up, her voice.

"Listen, Jamie, sorry if I was so...forward with inviting you to homecoming. I get that it's tricky for you, doing stuff like that." She reassured him.

Jamie just smiled, thankful. Overhearing this, Carl watched them go, a sinking feeling in his stomach.

'Laurel asked Jamie to homecoming? Urg great, there goes my...no what am I thinking, I never had a chance.' He chastised himself. 'It's clear now, I really do have a crush on him...but there's no way he'd feel the same and besides, he'd be better going with Laurel, right?'

He sighed, shaking his head and going to his next class, heart heavy with the realisation that he'd finally sorted out his feelings and sexuality, now knowing he liked boys and liked Jamie in particular, but he was sure now he'd missed his chance.

XXXXX

Seated at his desk in the police station, Rick let out a slow careful breath as he picked up his coffee mug. On the desk before him lay the case file on Beth's kidnapping. It was worryingly sparse.

'There's very little in the way of evidence or anything like that.' He thought concerned. 'But there must be something, some detail I overlooked...'

He grimaced as he took a sip of the coffee and tried once more to read through the files.

"Rick."

He looked up sharply to see Shane standing there, watching him, concerned.

"Shane, what-?"

He shook his head. "Rick, you're exhausted, you pulled an all-nighter, there's nothing more you can do with this right now."

"We can't let this guy get away, Shane." Rick insisted. "What he did to Beth Greene...what if there's others...?"

Shane shook his head again. "Won't matter a damn if you burn yourself out and leave yourself unable to do anything. Think about yourself, think about Lori and Carl...you need to go home and get some rest."

Rick heaved a sigh and swallowed the last of his coffee before closing the file.

"Maybe you're right." He admitted at last.

So the two left the police station, Rick hoping that maybe, after some rest, he would manage to find something that gave them a clue, no matter how small.

XXXXX

Another day of school had come and gone. And walking home from school, side by side was Andrew and Marissa. Today seemed okay for the most part. But there was no doubt that there was plenty on their minds.

"Well...uh, Marissa," Andrew coughed shyly. "T-Today was a good day, wasn't it?"

"Hm? Oh yes," Marissa realized Andrew was talking with her and then said. "I guess you could say it's been decent."

"I am a little concerned about Beth though," Andrew sighed. "She had just returned to school for the first time since her kidnapping. But...from how she's been acting, I don't know if she was ready to be in public around people in her age group yet, even when we weren't cloying and keeping people from harrassing her."

"I know what you mean Andrew," Marissa looked at him with those beautiful eyes of hers. "But at least she's safe. She has her family to help her through this tough time. As long as we keep doing what we've been doing, she'll be okay."

"I guess you're right," Andrew nodded slowly.

"I mean, I wouldn't be happy if she had suffered the same fate that succumbed to Osman II," Marissa said, sounding a little sad as she shook her head in empathy for him. "That poor poor boy..."

"Y-Yeah," Andrew gulped, feeling fuzzy inside from hearing her gush about Osman II. "That wouldn't be good at all."

"No it wouldn't, Andrew," Marissa shook her head as they were still walking back home.

They didn't say another word as they continued to walk home. As they were doing so, Andrew was starting to grow a noticeable attraction of some kind towards Marissa. It's as if some unspeakable feelings were starting to surface. Just taking a quick glance at Marissa's figure, not to mention her beautiful facial expression, got him feeling nice and warm inside.

'Wuh...Why am I feeling this way...' Andrew thought. 'Why am I feeling these warm fuzzy feelings for Marissa...?'

Shaking those thoughts aside, Andrew decided to focus on what was in front of him until they reached Marissa's house.

It didn't take long for them to reach Marissa's house, as they decided to part ways for now.

"Well, I had a wonderful time today," Marissa smiled warmly at him as they were in front of her house. "Thanks for walking me back to my house Andrew."

"Yeah. Anytime Marissa," Andrew rubbed the back of his neck out of flattery. "That's what I'm here for."

Marissa couldn't help but giggle at how he was acting. Afterwards, she then gave her farewell to him. "Well, I hope to see you tomorrow, Andrew."

"Me too. See you tomorrow Marissa," Andrew returned his farewell. "Goodbye."

"Right. Goodbye."

With that, Andrew and Marissa parted ways as Marissa walked towards the front door of her house while Andrew wandered off, heading back to his house. As soon as Marissa was inside her house, Andrew turned around towards what was in front of him.

Those thoughts that he had before were coming back. It's as if something inside of him was trying to bring him and Marissa closer together. But that couldn't be possible, could it?

By the time Andrew made it back to his house and got back into his room, he had come to a stunning revelation. These feelings that he was feeling weren't just a hormonal phase, nor did they feel platonic. No, these feelings were more along the lines of being...romantic. Just coming to the realization got Andrew all wide-eyed as he blushed profusely.

'Oh...OH MY GOD... IT'S...IT'S TRUE!' Andrew yelled mentally in his head. 'I...I have a crush on Marissa...I'm...I have romantic feelings for her, and...I'm in love with her...'

Andrew could only stare at the wall as he was letting these thoughts float around in his mind.


End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.