2

I woke up at the sound of a scream. Startled I made my way out of the room I shared with Maggie to Beth's room. They were sleeping; Effy was curled in the blankets just like the little blonde. I thought for a moment that maybe I had a nightmare but that thought was ripped off of my mind when I entered the kitchen.

Patricia was sitting on a chair crying and sobbing like a desperate child. Maggie had an arm around her comforting the old woman. Hershel was there too and was the first who noticed my presence.

- Is your sister okay dear?

- Yeah, she's sleeping - He gave me a sign with the head and we got out to the living room.

I sit on one of the couch wrapping my arms around myself to keep me warm. The night was cold I think it was 3 or 4 in the morning. Mr. Greene just stood there looking at the painting on the wall.

- What's going on? - I asked after a moment.

- Otis, he went out to find some medical supplies for the boy - The old man paused catching his breath - He didn't make it.

- Oh God - I had to catch my breath too - What about the boy?

- The boy will be fine, we did the surgery and he should be waking up tomorrow. He needs rest of course.

- Effy is going to blame herself about this, can you please talk to her?

Hershel gave me an understanding look, I have told him about how unstable Effy could be and he was one of the most worried about her mental health, and that was helping because she was starting looking at him like a father. Not like our father of course, no one would replace him.

- I'll talk to her, she will be fine too.

The old man said his goodnight and left to rest. I stayed in the couch for I don't know how many time, I was falling asleep when footsteps startled me, looking up I found an Asian guy walking and trying to tip toe out of the living room, he looked at me with a worried face and stood there.

- Sorry, didn't want to wake you up.

- I wasn't sleeping; you're part of the boy's family?

- Carl? Oh no, no, I'm part of the group - He was nervous and that made me smile - I'm Glenn by the way.

- Well hello Glenn by the way, I'm Mary.

- You're Maggie's sister?

I couldn't answer; I haven't noticed when Maggie walked in the room.

- Yes, she's my sister too, do you need something? - She asked him with a rude tone. That surprised me; Maggie was kind most of the time.

- No, no, I was looking for the kitchen to drink some water - He said looking at the floor, the Asian guy was flushing like a teenage boy and has to contain a grin.

Maggie pointed to the door and he just nodded getting out of the room.

- That guy is going to fall for you.

- What?

- Come on Maggs he was practically shaking when he saw you - a chuckle escaped from me.

- You need to sleep.

- He said there was a group, are they going to stay here too?

- Dad hasn't told me anything about it - She whispered.

- Now you need to sleep, go on sister. - I joked while she pointed a middle finger to me and left me alone.

I think a have slept one or two hours when the harsh sound of a motorcycle wake me up. I was tired, my neck was hurting for sleeping in the couch and my feet were freezing for wearing no socks. God I needed hot chocolate and a couple of toast with butter.

I hated funerals like really hated them. So, when Beth told me about The little funeral that was going to take place for Otis I couldn't find a way to get myself out of there. I was kind of stuck, It was sad, looking at Patricia crying again and then this guy Shane, the one who went with Otis to the town said some random words about the last moments of Otis's life and that only made her cry even more.

I hated funerals.

I was making my way out of the bathroom, and wearing some fresh clothes, my favorite pair of jeans and nirvana black t-shirt. I walked to the kitchen and started cooking breakfast. What I said before? Oh right, toast with butter, berries and hot chocolate.

Sometimes you can't explain many things, or why something is happening. But sometimes, things were supposed to happen at the right moment in the right place. Being so concentrate on the cooking and my own thoughts I didn't noticed the man standing in the door frame.

- What the Fuck! You scared the shit out of me. - I almost threw the jar with chocolate. He had a James Dean look, I couldn't tell but I think he was is his late thirty, the man was covered in dirt, wearing a sleeveless shirt and ripped blue jeans, his hair was dark blonde I think for the sun and the cherry on the pie was the crossbow hanging on his back. And the other cherry, is that he was looking at me with an annoying expression on his face, but his piercing blue eyes were expressionless.

- That's lot of swearin' for such a lil' mouth - He said with a southern accent and a raspy voice.

- Sorry country boy, but you sneak up on me and scared me to death. - He looked at the floor like he was ashamed of something, okay this guy was weird.

- I'm lookin' for Hershel - He said after a moment.

- Must be sleeping right now, But I can go and wake him up. - The country man just nodded still looking at everything in the kitchen but me - Want a cup of hot chocolate?

I didn't wait for him to answer the question and served a cup for him. He took the cup and drink finishing the chocolate within seconds.

- Thanks...

- Mary - He just nodded when I said my name - Are you going to tell me your name or do I need to give you another cup?

And then I saw it, the slightest of the smiles, it was just a small curve in his mouth but I saw it.

- Daryl.

- Well, hope you liked the chocolate Daryl, is there more of your people out? - He nodded - Then I'm going to need another jar.

I smiled at him and he nodded again and left. Well, that was awkward.

They were good people, the kind of a leader Rick, was the father of Carl and husband of Lori, Dale the funny old man with the hat, Andrea a blonde woman who recently lost her sister, T-Dog, Shane who made me cringe with the way he looked at me. I've already met Glenn who went on a run to the town pharmacy with Maggie, I couldn't help but gave Maggie a raised eyebrow and she just ignored me. Carol was a kind woman just like her daughter Sophia.

And of course, the crossbow country man with the southern accent, Daryl. He made his camp apart of the group, with a tent and his motorcycle nearby.

To be honest I could feel a little tension between all of them, I didn't like drama, not at all, and come on, we're in the middle of a world disaster, and we shouldn't be fighting between us but against the monsters. And another thing, they called the monsters "walkers". That was a better name than me calling those things "monsters" but anyway; those things didn't really have a scientific name.

I almost forgot they all loved the the hot chocolate. Good that I made another jar.

Beth helped me in the kitchen setting plates with the last night lasagna that we all forgot to eat. I had to thank her for put the meal on the fridge, wasting food wasn't something we had in mind.

I took a plate and made my way to Beth's room, Effy was awake, reading a book and raised her head when I opened the door.

- Hey.

- Brought you lunch - I left the plate on the night table and kiss my sister on the forehead, she smiled at me and started to eat before I left the room.

I came back to the kitchen and found Beth setting another pair of plates.

- That's for us?

- I didn't count right, I think there's someone without lunch in the group out there - she giggled at her. I took one of the plates and got out of the house.

The group was settled now; the RV was parked and surrounded by four tents and a camp table and chairs. Carol was out reading a book to Sophia.

- Who haven't eaten yet?

- We all have honey, that lasagna was amazing. - Said Carol.

-Thank you.

- You made it? – She asked me surprised. I felt a little shy, they were all looking at me now, and sorry but I didn't like that kind of attention.

- Yeah, not a big deal.

- Daryl hasn't eaten yet, he was out hunting - the little girl said, looking at me with big hazel eyes.

- Oh okay

Walking towards his little camp, I realized that I haven't seen the little boy since the morning when I brought him breakfast. Something else to do after bringing lunch to the grumpy country man. Daryl was sitting on a trunk doing I have no idea what with his crossbow. He didn't glance at me, not even when I sit beside him but with a considerable distance.

Now, remember when I said that our first encounter was awkward? Well this was worst. I put the plate on the space between us and looked at him with tilted eyebrows.

- Brought you some lunch - I said and stand up immediately to get myself away from that place. The slight touch of rough fingers on my wrist stopped me in my tracks.

- Yer not one of the farmer's girls.

I stared at him in shock. How the hell do he knew? We haven't spoke more than a couple of words in the morning, and Beth assured me that Maggie told everyone that Effy and I were their sisters too. How this man did found that it was a lie?

- Please don't tell anyone, the Greenes are just protecting my sister and I - For the first time he glanced at me directly, his ocean blue eyes shinning with something that seems to be curiosity and worry.

- Ain't my problem, girl – He averted his eyes to his crossbow again and I turned around to leave – Thanks for the fancy food.

I smiled at myself and continued walking to the house.

Chapter 2 :) what do you think?