I didn't know if I should go talk to Daryl right now or if I should wait until later tonight. I finally decided on waiting until tonight when I sneak out to his house. I'm not looking forward to telling him about Michonne, that's for damn sure.

I was real quiet at dinner that night. I was feeling real nervous about tonight, I couldn't even swallow my food. "Abby?" My dad said. I looked up at him from my plate of food. "Why are you so quiet?"

I hesitated. "I don't know." I shrugged.

"You feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I sighed. "I guess I'm just not hungry." I glanced at Michonne, we shared a look.

"Maybe it's cuz you have your period." Judith said loudly and giggled. I gave her an annoyed look.

"Judith." Michonne scolded her. "Don't say that."

"Why not?" She tilted her head to one side.

"Because some people don't wanna talk about it." I said to her. "That's private business. What if I told everyone that you're a bed wetter?" I cocked an eyebrow and smirked.

"I don't do that!" She yelled.

I scoffed. "Alright. Tell that to your bed stains."

Judith crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her face twisted and turned red. I knew exactly what was about to happen. "Mmm…" She started crying loudly. She got up and ran to our room crying.

I looked up and smirked at my dad and Michonne. They were both giving me looks. "What?" I said and sipped my drink. "She was asking for it." I laughed.

"And you're supposed to be the mature one." My dad said and looked at me with raised eyebrows.

"I am the mature one…sort of." I smiled smugly and leaned back with one leg on the bench seat.

My dad looked at me for a second, then called Judith. "Judy, come back out here and finish your dinner. It's okay." I heard a commotion in the back and then she came back into the room. She stood there giving me an angry look with her cry face. I almost laughed but I knew that would just make her more mad. Just then, she smacked my leg. I was surprised but didn't react to it. So, she did it again. I put my leg down. "Now you can go to your room." My dad said to her. She looked at him in surprise. "We don't hit each other." He scolded her. I wanted to smirk but I hid it.

"But, daddy, she—

"Go, Judith." He pointed. She was just standing there. I was wondering why she wasn't listening. When I looked at her face I realized it was because she was embarrassed. I started to feel bad.

"Dad, it's okay. It didn't even hurt." I said.

"It doesn't matter." He said to me. "You and Carl got in a lot of trouble for fighting when you two were little, so the same thing is going to happen now." He turned to my sister. "Judith, wash her plate and then go to your room." He said seriously.

I could tell she was at her breaking point. She had a brief temper tantrum but eventually washed her plate. Then, she turned to everyone else. "Judith, go." He pointed.

She started crying again. "You love her, but you hate me!" She yelled then ran to our room. I noticed she left the door open.

I looked at my dad with raised eyebrows. He sighed. "Where did she hear that anyway?"

"I told her." I shrugged. "She asked me what it was, so I told her."

"Don't you think she's a bit young?"

"No." I gave my dad a stupid look. "I was younger than her when I found out about it."

He sighed again. "Well…are you feeling okay?"

"I was but now I'm starting to get cramps." I put the last of my dinner in my mouth. "I'm gonna go lay down for a bit." I stood up taking my plate to the sink. I was about to wash it.

"Just leave it." Michonne said to me. "I'll take care of it."

"Are you sure? I can do it."

"No, that's alright. Feel better." She said.

"Thanks."

"What?" I heard my sister yell from our room. "I have to wash my stuff and she doesn't? No fair!"

"Judith." Michonne scolded.

I sighed. "Kids." I said to Michonne. She kind of smiled. "Well, I'm going to lay down now." I didn't get but one step when my dad said something to me.

"Abby, please don't bother her." He said making me stop.

I gave him a surprised look. Me bother her? I think it's the other way around. Then, I got annoyed. "Wow, dad. Really?" I gave him a look. "Okay." I walked away into our room. I closed the door and laid down.

"I don't want you in here." Judith said. I ignored her. "I said, I don't want you in here!"

"Well, too bad. I wanna lay down."

"Well, go lay down somewhere else. I would but…I can't." She said angrily.

I scoffed. "Don't feel so grown up now, do ya?" I teased her.

She shot me a glare. "I hate you!" She rolled over facing away from me.

"Yeah, I know." I said calmly.

"I hope you die! I wish you would've died and not Carl!"

I was so surprised she said that. "Thanks, kid." I said. "That's real nice."

"It's you not me." She said childishly.

"I don't hate you." I looked at her wide-eyed even though she couldn't see me. "I'd never say that to you." I sat up with my legs on the edge of the bed. "But I'll leave you alone then." I slipped my boots on and left the room.

I decided to go for walk after that. I know my sister is just a little kid and she doesn't realize what she said or even mean it, but…it still kind of hurt. Children can be cruel. I sighed while walking. I remember thinking that before back at that cottage with Daryl.

I ended up by the "shop" at the front of the park. I decided to look around to see if there was anything in there that we needed back home. I think we are almost out of hand soap so I grabbed one of those. And Michonne said something about dish towels so I grabbed a few of those too. There was actually a bunch of items in there that I could take but we had to be generous, so I only took what we really needed.

When I was done with my shopping, I took my stuff up to the front. Bill was working there today. "Hi, Abby." He greeted. "How are you today?"

"I'm alright. How about yourself?"

"Good." He pulled his notebook to him. "So, soap and towels?" He pointed at them with his pen. He wrote them down in the notebook along with my name. We are supposed to keep track of everything that's taken from the store.

I looked up just then and spotted a bag of candy sharks. Judith likes them. "Let me get one of these, too. My little sister likes them."

"Okay." He wrote them down. "Alright. You're all set." He smiled.

"Thanks." I smiled back. I took my stuff and left.

As I was walking, I heard someone call me. "Hey." They said. I looked around. Finally I spotted a man leaning against a fence.

"Oh." I said. He started making his way over to me. I realized it was that guy from before. Brian? I think that was his name? What the hell does he want? I don't want to talk to him.

"Hey, Abby, right?" He smiled. I nodded. "Did you find anything else out about Shirley's trailer?"

What? I gave him a weird look. "Uh…no." I let out a small laugh. "Not to sound rude but…I didn't know I was supposed to. That's why I gave you their name's."

He just laughed. "Well, I haven't gotten a chance to talk to them yet. I saw you here and thought I'd ask. What a coincidence that I was just thinking about that and then, here you are." He smiled. I nodded. There was a brief pause. "On another note," Brian started, "I couldn't help but notice how stunning you look. Have you ever considered dating an older man?"

My jaw almost dropped open. Did he really just say that? I was so creeped out. I wish my daddy was here. I just wanted to get out of this conversation and run. And, so, I said the first thing that came to mind. "I have a boyfriend."

He gave me the smallest smile and nodded. "Figured as much." He looked around briefly. "Well…if things don't work out with you and your boyfriend and you ever consider dating an older man, please consider me." He smiled creepily. I had no idea what to say to that so I just gave him a quick sideways smile and nodded. Then I turned and beat it out of there.

I arrived back home. My dad and Michonne were sitting at the table talking. They both looked up when I walked in. "Hey." I said and sighed. "I got some stuff." I put the items on the table.

"Oh good. You got dish towels." Michonne said. "Thank you." She picked them up and folded them. "And hand soap."

"What's the sharks for?" My dad asked.

"Those are for Judith." I answered.

"Oh." He smiled. "Well, that was nice of you." I just gave him a small smile, then sat down. I was acting strange and I knew they could tell. "Something wrong, baby?" My dad asked me lowly.

I hesitated, then kind of laughed. "An old, creepy man hit on me on the way home."

My dad raised his eyebrows. "An old man?"

"Not like an old man, like an older man." I stated.

"Like how old?" Michonne asked.

"Like fifty." I scrunched my nose up. "He wasn't even hot though, like if he was, I probably wouldn't even have cared. But he was old, gross and creepy."

My dad and Michonne laughed. "What was his name?"

"Brian."

"Wait, he didn't do anything to you, did he?" My dad asked more seriously.

"No. I mean…he was nice…but he was creepy too." I said. They laughed again. "You're gonna have to start walking around with me again, daddy. Guys never bothered me when you were with me. You scared them away." I joked.

My dad laughed. "If you want me to go places with you, I will. I'll keep those creepy older men away from my baby." He smiled.

Way later that night after everyone went to bed. I left and headed to Daryl's house. I really didn't sneak out that night, I kind of just left. I mean…if one of them questioned me, I could just say I took a walk or something. I really don't think they would even care. Michonne already knows anyway.

I knocked on Daryl's door and waited for him to answer. It didn't take long. "Hi." I smiled sweetly.

"Hi, baby." He stood aside so I could come in. "How ya feelin'?"

"I'm fine." I smiled. We stood there for a minute. "Oh, I, uh…brought over my bag of condoms." I held it up. "I figured…they're probably safer over here."

"Alright." He nodded. He took the bag from me and set it down. "C'mere." He pulled me to him making me giggle and kissed me hard.

"Well, hello." I said once we pulled apart. "Is it my birthday or something?" I laughed. "You miss me?"

"All the time." He started kissing my neck. It was really turning me on. My breathing quickened. Just then, I realized what he was doing.

"Hold up. Freeze, Romeo." I stopped him. He gave me a weird look. "I know what you're doing. You're trying to convince me to have sex with you. Well, I already told you, I'm not doing that right now. I can't." I crossed my arms over my chest.

He sighed. "I figured it was worth a shot."

"Yeah, I know." I raised my eyebrows and laughed. "Well, we can do what we did last time." I smiled. He just looked at me. "Drop your pants." I laughed.

We laid together on Daryl's sofa and just held each other. I played with the hair on his chin. I don't know why but I just really liked that. He seemed like he liked it too. "This is nice." I smiled. "I just love being with you."

"Me too." He kissed my forehead. I grinned warmly. He makes me feel so nice. He's the only man for me. My older man. I almost gasped just then because I remembered about Brian. I have to tell him again.

"Oh yeah. Remember that guy that hit on me the other day?" I asked him.

"Yeah?" He asked roughly.

I almost laughed. "I saw him again today. You were right about him."

Daryl sat up a little with me still on him, so I had to get up too. "What do ya mean?"

"Well…he told me I was stunning and asked me if I ever considered dating an older man." I giggled. "I told him I had a boyfriend and then he was like, if things don't work out, and you ever consider dating an older guy, please consider me." I made him sound more desperate than what was true. "He was creepy." I finished. Daryl looked angry when I looked at him.

"Imma kill 'im." He finally said. "You better hope I don't ever see him around cuz…you won't be seein' him anymore."

I laughed. "Daryl, he was nice. But a little creepy. And you don't even know what he looks like."

"Well…if he bothers ya again, just tell me and I'll take care 'a him." He said roughly.

"Okay." I rolled my eyes.

"Don't roll yer eyes at me. I'll have to put ya over my knees." He joked. I was glad he was back. I laughed and then we kissed each other. I touched his face and smiled.

"Hey, you hungry?" Daryl said randomly. "I got some leftover stew."

I blinked at him. "It's like past midnight." I let out a small laugh.

"So? I'm hungry."

I shrugged. "Okay. Yeah, what the hell." I laughed.

Daryl and I sat at the table and ate our late night stew. I'm not used to eating this late, unless it's a snack. I have to admit, though, it tasted very good. Daryl sure is a good cook. "This is good." I told him.

"Yeah? Ya like it?"

"Mhm." I nodded. "You must be good at cooking."

He shrugged. "I'm alright, I guess. I'd rather have some of your pancakes."

I giggled. "Yeah, right?" I shook my head. There was a brief pause. "So, do you always eat this late?"

He shrugged again. "I just eat whenever I feel like it." He said with a mouthful of food. I smiled. I always have a good time when I'm with him. I just want to move in with him now. I'm going to make a hint.

"I hate having to share that small space with my sister." I said out of nowhere. "I have like no room for anything." Daryl just looked at me. "It's so frustrating."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." I rolled my eyes. "…so…could I maybe move some stuff over here?"

"Sure, yeah, if ya want." He shrugged.

"Really? You don't mind?"

"Nah. I'd like to see you more."

I smiled at him sweetly and kissed his cheek. We were quiet for a minute. "So, speaking of my sister, you know what Judith said to me today?"

"What?"

"She got mad at me and said she hopes I die." I raised my eyebrows. He turned his head quickly to look at me. "Yeah." I nodded.

He didn't say anything for a minute just looked to and from me and his food. "She's just a kid. She don't really mean that." He shook his head.

"Oh, I know. But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt." I widened my eyes. "I'm pretty sure I never said anything like that to my parents or brother. I've never said that to anyone." I looked down. "And to think I rewarded her with candy."

Daryl snorted. "And you called me a pushover?"

I laughed. "Yeah, I know." I sighed.

We finished our food and I took the plates and stuff to the sink and started to do them but Daryl stopped me. "Don't do the dishes." He said. I turned and gave him a weird look. "Ya don't need to. I'll take care 'a that in the mornin'."

"Alright." I smiled. He kissed my forehead, then reached around me and grabbed a toothpick.

"Oh yeah, what ever happened with Michonne?" He asked me while picking his teeth. I froze just then and felt all the blood drain from my face. I completely forgot about that.

"Uh…well…she did ask me about us." I said nervously. I could hear my voice shaking. Daryl looked at me when I didn't continue. He was waiting for an answer. I nervously bit my lip and tapped my fingers together.

"And?" He pressed.

I swallowed hard. He's gonna flip out. I took a deep breath. "She knows."

He stopped and just looked at me. "What?"

I started shaking my head. "I know you didn't want her to know but…I had to tell her."

He stood up so quickly that it scared me. "Ya had to, huh?" He yelled. "Ya really couldn't 'a just said no?"

"Daryl?" I knew he would be angry but I didn't think he would scream at me like that. "You don't understand, you weren't there."

"Damnit!" He spun around. "I told you not to!"

"Daryl, I know you're mad but…she told me she won't tell my dad. She understood. It's okay." I spoke softly.

"No, it ain't okay!" He yelled in my face. "One thang! I wanted one thang from you and you couldn't just fuckin' listen!"

"Daryl." I touched his arm but he pushed me away. "I'm sorry. I don't get why you feel so strongly about this? I get it with my dad but why everyone else?" I looked at him sadly. He just glared at me. I had a scary thought just then. "You're embarrassed of me."

He gave me a stupid look. "Don't go there. Ya know that ain't it." He sounded more irritated now.

"No, I don't know that. And it sure seems like you are if you don't want anyone to know about us." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"That ain't it." He enunciated each word.

"Then why?" I snapped. "Tell me why?"

He got up and came close to my face. "Because yer a little girl!" He yelled. "Yer a little girl and I'm a man! You cain't see it my way!" From my point 'a view!" We just stared at each other. He finally backed away. There was a long, awkward silence between us.

"I'm not a little girl." I finally said. "I may be a lot younger than you…but I'm not a little girl." I leaned against the counter. "I had to."

"You didn't have to do nothin'." He spoke quieter but was still angry as all hell. He sat down on the couch. I stared down at the floor feeling somewhat guilty.

Another long silence passed. Finally, I looked back up at him, he was looking right at me. "Get out." He said roughly but quietly.

My eyes widened a bit. "What?"

"I said," he got up, grabbed my bag, dumped the condoms out and shoved it at me, "take yer shit and get the fuck out." He stared at me with intense eyes. I could tell he was still angry but his expression almost looked blank. I just looked at him in disbelief. He's really kicking me out? I waited to see if he was going to change his mind, but he kept that look. I realized he was serious.

I turned slowly and walked to the door. I took my time in case he wanted to stop me. He never did though. I grabbed the handle of the door and opened it, then opened the screen door. It made a loud, squeaky noise. Once I walked down the stairs, I knew he wasn't going to call me back, so I left.

It started pouring as soon as I left his yard. Really? Could have done without that! I just tightened my hoodie around me and cried. The thing was, I didn't want to go home, I needed to find somewhere else to go so I could cry. Somewhere that was also out of the rain.

I ended up by the clubhouse. I sat under a pavilion and just broke down. Did Daryl just breakup with me? I sobbed. Surely, he's just angry at the moment and he'll get over himself. He sounded pretty mad though. Almost like I betrayed him. I started crying harder. I feel like I did something wrong.

I just laid on a picnic table under a pavilion in the rain at who knows what time and cried my eyes out.

I was feeling pretty depressed. I wasn't crying anymore but I felt numb. It was a long time that I laid there. An hour? Maybe two? I figured it was time for me to go home, the rain stopped so it was the perfect time.

I walked home not feeling myself at all. It was like I was this completely different person that I didn't like. I like who I am when I'm with Daryl. But this person that's not with him, I didn't like at all. The thought disturbed and depressed me even more.

I went into my room as soon as I got home. I took my wet clothes off and got under all my blankets being careful not to wake up my sister. I was freezing. I shivered. I hope I can get some sleep tonight.

Just then, I heard it start to rain again. I looked out my window and watched the raindrops slide down my window. Huh. I thought. Window pane. More like window pain.

I opened my eyes and it was morning. I guess I must have fallen asleep, I don't remember but obviously I had to have. The first thing I thought about was Daryl and my depression was back.

I heard the others having breakfast but I didn't join them. I just laid there. They tried to get me up but I didn't budge or even tell them what was wrong.

I laid there all day. I got up once to use the bathroom but that's it. I went right back to my original spot. "Abby?" My dad knocked on the door. "You gonna come eat?" I couldn't do anything. Definitely not eat.

"No." I said weakly.

"Why not?"

"I just…can't."

My dad stood there for a minute, then I heard him sigh. "Alright." He walked into the room and closed the door. "What's goin' on?" He sat across from me on my sister's bed.

"I can't tell you." I wanted to tell him so badly though. I started to cry a little again.

"Why can't you tell me?" He spoke softly.

I sniffled. "…it involves a guy." I admitted.

My dad seemed hesitant. "…not that guy from yesterday?"

I gave him the stupidest look. Is he serious? "No, dad. Not that guy." I said angrily. "And don't ask me who it is because I'm not telling you."

There was a slight pause. I heard my dad sigh again. "Okay. So, what happened?" He looked at me closely.

I breathed a little heavier thinking about last night. "We had an argument. I just don't want to talk about it."

My dad nodded. "Okay." There was a brief pause, then he got up and came over to my side and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'm here for you if you change your mind."

I'm glad to hear those words even though I can't tell him. I wish I could. That made me even sadder and I started sobbing. I moved my position and laid my head in his lap. He played with my hair and just let me lay there and cry.