AFTERNOON

It all went downhill in the afternoon.

One of her new fake housewife friends Lola came over and asked her to join them for a tea with the newcomers. Carol thought it would be wise to go and check the girls out: the general opinion was that they were no threat, but she knew just how easy it was to underestimate a woman in this new world. They were alone together when Daryl found them and they had somehow survived – meant they were made out of steel not marshmallows and anyone who didn't get it was an idiot. So she went – she had to, she had a job to watch over her people.

Once at Lola's place she was introduced to Anna and Claire and some tea. As they exchanged pleasantries she checked the women out. Both in their late twenties – early thirties. Anna was shorter and looked stronger of the two, her body compact and lean, her moves measured and smooth. Carol imagined she'd be quick on her feet and good in combat. Probably good with a knife. She was wearing tight black pants and a top that hid nothing and went well with her tanned complexion and raven hair. Couldn't have been too safe travelling in that attire, practical but too sexy, the Neagan man's attack only confirmed that. Claire was a tall lean redhead, her face still held traces of childish naiveté, but her hazel eyes were deep and sad. Carol thought her eyes looked just just like ones of those deers Daryl chased after day and night. The thought was somehow disturbing.

"So, Carol," Anna started and set her teacup on the table. "You are from that outsider group that joined Alexandria and saved everyone's asses?" Carol figured that between the two girls this one did all the talking – the redhead was just sitting there, staring at her with her doe eyes, but her body language betrayed her immediate interest.

"Yes." She offered a warm smile and elaborated, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly "But I am more on the household side. No big cool battle stories from me."

"That's not what I was getting at," Anna said. "So… You know Daryl well?"

"I suppose so." Carol made sure her smile was still warm and played the surprise up a bit, even though her insides clenched with the dread of imminent girl talk.

"They all say he's a wild cat." Anna smirked and studied the mask Carol held carefully in place. "Comes and goes and all."

"Anna!" the redhead, Claire, finally spoke up. "Stop it!" she shifted uncomfortably in her chair, shooting daggers at her friend.

"Why, I'm just asking!" Anna stared on into Carol's eyes. "So is it true?"

Carol found herself repeating her "I suppose so." From before. "May I ask why the interest?" She asked sweetly and the whole roomful of women giggled.

"Well he did save us." Anna sighed. "And then this one," She motioned to Claire, "got all dreamy and big-eyed and…"

"Shut up, A!" the other girl covered her face, blushing a deep shade of red that only redheads had the misfortune to possess.

"It's ok, honey," Lola's voice was dripping with honey as she reached out to pat the girl's knee. "Dark and brooding and mysterious – we've all been there. Nothing to be ashamed of."

Carol almost felt bad for the red-faced girl. Almost. Not quite. And then Anna spoke up again.

"So mainly I was wondering whether you know if he's shagging someone or like has a girlfriend?" Carol stared at the girl dumbly, trying to get it in her head that she was really in the middle of that conversation while being in the middle of zombie apocalypse. "Or a boyfriend?" Anna offered helpfully. "You never know nowadays…"

"Er…" Carol worried that her warm fake smile would not hold, but it seemed to be firmly in place. "We're not that close and he is very private so I'm afraid I can't help you." Faced with three disappointed stares she shrugged: "I mostly just cook and do laundry and run when I have to. And he's mostly off. So I'm not a good spy in this case."

"But you don't know of anything like that, do ya?" Anna pushed.

"No." Carol offered another weak smile, hating herself for it. She wished she told them he way gay and going Morgan. Or Rick. Or anyone really. But it was too late.

"See!" Anna beamed and clapped Claire's shoulder. "Told ya he's available."

Claire looked up, defeated. "Thanks, I guess. It's not like he's available to me you know."

"Shut up, he carried you half the way here. A man doesn't do that unless he wants to get a feel." Carol felt her breath catch in her throat.

"Or unless you can't walk on a sprained ankle like me!" Claire protested stretching out her leg that did look swollen.
Anna sighed "Stop pretending like you're not interested."

"I didn't say that." Claire mumbled and the silence fell over the room.

"So." Lola was clearly enjoying the gossip. "How do we go about taming the wild cat?" Carol had to physically stop herself from rolling her eyes when Lola went on. "Carol, why don't you invite the girls over for dinner at your place? He saved them and you are friends now so it wouldn't be suspicious."

Anna nodded enthusiastically "And we could sit Claire next to him. And you could work it from there."

Claire looked very embarrassed, but her doe eyes settled on Carol with hope.

"I… I don't know, we kind of have a festive dinner tonight…" she mused. "But hey, even better." She finished with a fake enthusiasm knowing there was no way out of this one.

"Great, we'll come over then!" Anna smiled at Carol and Claire.

"Thank you." Claire said shyly and added: "We should really get some rest before then, it's been a rough couple of weeks."

"Sure, I should get going." Carol all but jumped up from her chair. "Time to start on that dinner."

She swore under her breath all the way back from Lola's house. This was ridiculous and stupid and for some reason the thought that she could actually enjoy Daryl's suffering at dinner didn't cross her mind once.