Hey! Thank you so much for the reviews! I am so sorry this took so long to write. I've been really busy with my kids and work. I really don't like this chapter. I couldn't get into it, but I feel like I got the hook I needed to move the stroy along to a place that I feel connected to. So - bare with me! :) Read and Review. I need a Beta buddy too! 3
I felt like I was floating walking back home that day from school. Alex was walking ME home. I had eaten lunch that day with him. AK kept looking over and smiling at me so wide I thought her face was going to split open.
We chatted fairly easily, he told me about California. The ocean, he spoke of how he had only see it once, but it was beautiful. He told me about life before he came to our community, how the journey was hard. I told him it made me appreciate the relative easy life that I had, despite of the harshness of the world.
AK had gone on ahead of us. I know that I was going to get grilled by her later, but I didn't care. Alex and I walked side by side our hand brushing every once in a while. We strolled in comfortable silence. Everything was perfect – until I saw him: Daddy. He was unloading something from the back of his truck, and I knew instantly what was going to transpire and I knew that I was totally helpless to stop any of it. Daddy turned and looked at me, smiled and then his entire face did a 180. At the sight of the tall, blonde boy walking with me he furrowed his brow and pursed his lips together. I decided that the best thing to do was to walk straight up to Daddy and introduce them. I motioned with my eyes for Alex to follow me, and walked quickly. My heart was pounding and I was nauseous. I said a little prayer that Daddy wouldn't embarrass me, and before I could lose the nerve he was standing in front of me, hands crossed in front of his chest.
"Hey Daddy!" I smiled my sweetest smile at him.
"Hey Dixie." Daddy sighed. "Who's this?" He was still frowning. He looked so sad.
"Daddy, this is Alex Smith. He and his family are new here. Alex, this is my Daddy, Daryl Dixon." Dixie smiled and held her breath.
"Mr. Dixon, it's a pleasure to meet you." Alex smiled and offered my Daddy his hand.
Daddy took it, and to my sheer delight and surprise, he didn't crush it.
"Alex, is your Pa named Daniel?" Daddy asked
"Yes, yes. My mother's name is Diane. We found this place a week ago. It was such a relief. My mom and dad came down south to try to find my sister and her family. I've never even met her. Last they knew Sophia was living in Augusta. She was married and had a baby."
At the mention of the name Sophia, my Daddy blanched a little. He frowned and bit his thumbnail.
"Glad you folks made it here alright. I've got to finish this. Dixie, be home by supper. Nice to meet you, Alex." He strolled back to the truck and started hauling debris away again.
We walked in the direction of my house and Alex looked over at me.
"Did I do something wrong?" Alex asked. "Your Dad looked unhappy and just walked away kinda fast." Alex frowned.
"No, no, it's not you." I smiled and then looked at my feet. "I just, I had a sister. She is gone."
"I'm sorry" Alex stopped walking and turned to look at me.
"Yeah, I never met her." I looked at him and frowned. "Her name was Sophia."
