Thanks again for the reviews/alerts! You guys are awesome. Again I will try to update as soon as I can. I wrote this one a little longer than the last two so I hope you enjoy.
I really don't know what is wrong with me anymore. Near death experience or not I realized a full minute after kissing Shane that I shouldn't have done that.
Without even looking at the dead walker behind us my dad marched over and started leading me away from everyone. He pulled me into his tent and glared at me. I had never seen him looking so upset that it was almost laugh worthy. His had a vein on his forehead that looked as if it was going to explode at any second.
"In my defense I almost died." He still continued to glare. "You know your other kid was out playing in the woods so save the yelling for him too." I glared back at him. "It's not like I fucked him! What I did is better than what I am going to do to Carl. He better hide because I'm going to kill him for running away like that."
"Do you have any shame?" he asked.
"Why are you making such a big deal?"
"Everyone saw you two."
"Nobody saw," I said quickly. He was still glaring. "No. No, they came after. Shane was the only on that came."
"He was just ahead of everyone else. Me and Daryl were right behind him when Carl came running."
Daryl.
That word alone made me realize what an idiot I am. I was only happy to be saved that I didn't think of what consequences came with my actions. Daryl was never going to talk to me again and my dad looked as if he would drive me away with Randall and leave the two of us alone to fend for ourselves.
I felt angry at myself. I had finally gotten Daryl to stop being an asshole for five minutes and I completely ruined it in five seconds. He is surely going to distance himself even more from the group and from me. I knew deep down that he had to at least enjoy my company a little bit and now that was all over.
I felt my eyes starting to burn. "It's all Carl's fault. He said you told him he could go play in the woods. They wandered and found a walker. They left me alone when they know I can't run."
"When are you ever going to admit your faults? All I hear coming from your mouth is accusations. I never told Carl he could leave the campsite."
"So because he left it's my fault?" I asked. "I'm not his goddamn babysitter. He's the one that came running out of breath looking for me. How was I supposed to know he was going to drag me out there to show me a fucking walker?"
"Stop swearing. If you would only listen to me you wouldn't be in this situation. I told you to rest and you don't. You always used to throw in my face that you're an adult but you act like a child. If that's how you're going to be I'm going to treat you like a child. You're not going to leave this tent at all until you can actually run."
"Please don't do that Dad." I started thinking about Daryl more now. I wondered if turning on the waterworks would soften my dad up. I stopped blinking hoping that would make my eyes more watery and it actually started working. "You can't keep me locked in here. I'm sorry Dad. I thought he was the only one that cared."
"Nobody will ever care for you as much as I do," he said raising his voice. "Shane doesn't care about anyone but himself. He's incapable of even loving anyone so just stop throwing yourself at him or the next person that will be left behind will be Shane. I don't care how long I've known him but I will kill him myself if he even looks at you again."
"Do whatever you want," I told him quickly. For the first time in a while I finally realized that everything my dad said about Shane was a lie. If Shane didn't really care for anyone he wouldn't have brought Carl and I out of the city like he did. He wouldn't have bothered saving me even after the many arguments we had gotten into but I was not going to argue with my dad when he was pissed.
He furiously ran his hand over his hair and walked out of the tent. I sat on his cot and stared at the ground. I felt miserable. My leg still burned, my head was pounding, my heart was still beating fast and all I wanted was for Daryl to hold me close and make it all go away.
I don't know what made me more disgusted in myself; the fact that I wanted a guy to hold me to fix my problems or the fact that I ruined anything more with that same guy.
I spent the rest of the day in the tent by myself. My dad kept Carl away from me all day and I was glad for that. There was nothing stopping me from strangling him. I didn't even care to hear that he ripped his stiches and was back inside Hershel's house resting again. It served him right playing games like that when he was the one who should be resting.
The day was getting to me and time was passing by extremely slow. If I was supposed to be taking it easy and stay in this tent all day long then I was going to take advantage. I got comfortable as much as I could on the cot and fell asleep.
I woke up twice and both times I didn't feel like it was time to wake up yet. I continued sleeping as long as my body would allow and by the time I woke up for good the sun was shining brightly. I assumed it was early the next day.
The tent was empty and disobeying my "rules" I walked out of the tent. The group were all gone and the only one around was Dale. Exchanging as few words as possible he told me they had all gone down to the shooting range again.
I was going to ask if Daryl went with them but he came out of the RV at that same moment. He glared at me once and started walking away without saying a word. He was obviously pissed. It wasn't all just make believe in my head. What was that supposed to mean though? Did it mean he cared more than he admitted? Was that even a good thing anymore?
I stared at his retreating back and thought that going after him wasn't a good idea; especially if there were no witnesses around. His glare alone told me he would probably stab me with his arrow and I wasn't sure if that was the way I wanted to go down. After yesterdays near death experience I no longer wanted to opt out. Dying that way wasn't a way for anyone to die.
Without even trying so much as breathing in front of Daryl I went back into the tent. I spent the next six days in that tent avoiding everyone and keeping to myself. Glenn tried getting me out twice and spent half the day with me reading one of Dale's book but he eventually gave up and left to spend time with Maggie.
During the early afternoon on the sixth day I started pacing around the tent and my leg was finally feeling almost 100% better. I changed into some decent clothes for the first time in almost a week and left the tent.
Dale and Carol were both sitting down at the picnic table and I had managed to completely avoid them. I had no idea where I was going but when I reached the barn it felt right. I was trying to open the barn door and I realized it had a padlock on it. The sight of the padlock alone made me roll my eyes.
I started walking around the barn and found a ladder that I quickly started climbing. I walked around the top section of the barn and saw Randall was still sitting in the same position that he was last week. I found another ladder that led me down and I started walking up to him.
He was still blindfolded and his arms were behind his back tied up. His head jerked in my direction as soon as I started walking closer. I crotched down in front of him and he tried to lean back. I pulled down his blindfold.
"Aren't you a site for sore eyes?" Instead of untying the blindfold I pulled it off which caused him to groan. "What'd you do that for? I was complimenting you. The other guy that comes in here is always pushing me around. I barely moved from this spot in a while. I can barely feel my ass anymore."
"Have you been eating?"
"One meal a day," he said. "They serve prisoners more meals than what I've been getting here." I noticed a bucket and a half empty bottle of water lying a foot away from us. I stood up and grabbed the bottle and put it to his lips. He drank greedily and I almost felt bad for him.
"Have you been untied at all?"
"Once a day to take a piss," he said. "Also one hand to eat." He smacked his lips a couple of times and I put the bottle back to his lips. He finished the water quickly. "Thanks for that. You're not like the others."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked as I threw the empty water bottle to the side and sat in front of him. "Who visits you?"
"I haven't seen anything or anyone since I've been here so I couldn't tell you. I just know a couple guys came in here. They were dicks. A chick came in once too. She was alright. Why are you in here anyways?"
"Everybody's doing their own thing," I told him, "And I'm kinda just there."
"And these people are your group?" I nodded my head and he cocked his eyebrow. "Doesn't sound like much of a group. You and I should get out of here." He winked which caused me to roll my eyes.
"And go where? We won't get far just the two of us. Do you have a group?"
"Well…. Kinda," he admitted. "I mean, I had a group. There were a lot of us and well some people wandered away and we've split up looking for 'em."
"I heard you got left behind by people from your group. They don't sound like very nice people to want to go back to."
"I didn't say I wanted to go back to them," he said.
"You don't have any family? Or friends in your group?"
He looked around the barn before answering the question. "I have two brothers."
"So they must be worried about you."
He looked around again and then at his legs that were crossed in front of him. "Probably not. One of 'em is dead… probably."
"What do you mean he's 'probably' dead? You don't know for sure?"
"He went off hunting almost two weeks ago," Randall started. He shook his head and laughed, "Dumbass didn't even bring a gun with him. Anyways, I haven't seen him since. We went looking for him and that's when we crossed paths with your group."
Randall unknowingly just told me that the man I shot was his brother and his group is people we should be afraid of and hope to never cross paths with them. I felt like telling him his brother was dead and what I did to him but that wouldn't make me feel better. I hated reliving those days Sophia and I were away from the group and being near Randall brought up all of those memories.
"He sounds like a dumbass. You know if you continue talking about your group that 'dick' you keep talking about is going to kill you."
"They wouldn't have kept me tied up so long if they're going to kill me, Princess. They're probably going to let me go right?"
"And if they do? Are you going to go find your group?"
"Well I do have one brother still alive," Randall admitted. "So yes, if I'm freed I will go looking for them unless they find me first."
"Your group left you for dead though. How do you know they're going to come looking for you?" He shrugged his shoulders and I realized why whenever I did that it annoyed my dad. "Don't shrug your fucking shoulders. I asked you a question, idiot."
"I don't owe you any answers little lady. I said enough in exchange for that water." My head turned towards the barn door when from the outside I heard someone fumbling around with the lock. I decided to stay put because I wouldn't make it in time to run back up and there were very little hiding spots. He sighed and looked at me with a smirk on his face. "I would give you more answers if you'd help a buddy out with his situation down below. It's been awhile since I've seen a pretty lady and had a decent fuck."
"You're a fucking pig," I said standing up finally. Just as the barn door open I leaned forward and spat in his face.
"Whoa… That ain't lady like. How did you get in here anyways?" Shane asked.
"Ah, shit," I mumbled to myself. Shane was the one person I was trying to avoid all along. I should have known he'd show his face sooner or later. "Um."
He walked closer to where I was standing and glared down at Randall. "What did you say to her, asshole?" When Randall didn't say anything Shane kicked his bad leg which caused Randall to howl to pain. He turned to look at me while I stared at him with my eyes opened wider than normal. "How did you get in here?"
I pointed to the ladder and looked down at Randall who was trying to comfort his leg but couldn't. I started walking out of the barn before Shane stopped me to say anything else. I had to get away from the barn before anyone saw me leave and went running to my dad about it.
As soon as I got a good distance away I saw him walking towards me. "I stood in that tent for a week Dad. You can't make me go back in there."
"I'm not going to make you go back. You all healed up now?"
"I can walk without a limp… so that's good news, right?"
"That's good. Now how about you go eat something? You barely touched the food I left you."
"Have you talked to Randall?" I asked. "Has he said anything about his group?"
"He hasn't said much. He's just been pleading for nobody to kill him and swears his group won't come looking for him."
"Well, he just told me they will come looking for him. You might as well just kill him."
He looked taken aback and furrowed his eyebrows. "We are not killing him." He looked behind me and then back at me. "Were you in the barn? With Shane?"
"I was in the barn first and then he came and then I left." I saw his jaw clench and he bit down on his bottom lip. "Nothing happened!"
"I believe you. Now go keep an eye on Carl and behave. He feels bad enough for what happened."
I scoffed loudly, "No way. He's the reason why nobody wants to talk to me and you hate me so much."
"Everyone's worried about you. Nobody hates you, especially not me. Just watch your brother."
"Where are you going? Off on another get yourself killed adventure?"
"We're going to take care of the Randall problem. He's going to be left far away and his group isn't going to find us. They left him behind, you need to remember that."
"He has brothers," I blurted out. "He said they're alive and will look for him."
"He's just trying to make you more scared than you already are. He doesn't have brothers and if he does they're not alive."
"Well for your sake I hope you're right."
"I'll be back soon," he told me. "Just please work it out with your brother, eat something and stop being so antisocial." I started walking away from him frowning to myself when he called out my name stopping me in my tracks. "You know I love you, right?" I nodded my head and continued walking towards the campsite.
Carol and Dale were both still sitting at the table and I went to sit down on one of the chairs. Within seconds the door to the RV opened and Carl and Sophia both came out slowly. Carl grabbed one of the chairs furthest from me while Sophia stood behind him.
"Hi," Carl said in a low voice. I continued to glare at the two of them.
"You look pretty today," Sophia piped up.
"Stop pretending to be nice," I told them.
"We're not pretending anything," Carl said. "We're just being nice people, unlike you."
"You left me behind, asshole."
"I'm telling Dad. He said you were going to be nice."
"I want you both to promise me that you won't ever do anything like that again. If you want to play you play within someone else's view. What if that piece of shit got free when I wasn't there?"
"We outran it," Carl said. "So it worked out."
"Promise me Carl. Dad will flip his shit if his favorite child got bitten. And Sophia, all your mom has is you so I want you to promise me too."
"Promise," Sophia said. She nudged Carl who just nodded his head.
"Good, now I'm not going to have to kill you two." Sophia looked taken aback while Carl just laughed. He was so much like me when it came to taking things seriously that I couldn't blame him for laughing and not agreeing.
"When's Dad coming back?" he asked.
"I wouldn't know. Don't worry about him." I stood up and looked at them again, "Dad said to watch you but you're old enough to do that yourself. Just stay in the RV. Or stay near Carol and Dale, okay?" They both nodded.
I was going to go back towards the tent when I saw Daryl walking out of the woods and towards his tent. I stopped walking as I watched him walk. I hesitated for a few seconds and finally grew some balls and followed him. Just before he walked in his tent he turned to see me coming.
"I don't have time for you right now," he seethed.
"I just want to talk to you for a minute."
"A minute is way too long to waste on you."
"Why are you being like this?" I asked.
He was holding his crossbow and threw it inside his tent. "Why am I being like what? I should have known something was up with you and him."
"That's not true. Nothing is going on between us. I just… he saved my life."
"I saved your life before," he told me. "You didn't do that."
"It was a mistake. I know that. It just happened."
He shook his head. "Mistake? Did your mouth mistakenly fall on his? It just magically happened a minute after I told you I didn't want to fuck you? Some coincidence."
"I'm sorry. It's just a stupid instinct I have. I thought I was going to die and he saved my life."
"You weren't in any danger," he snapped.
"Speak for yourself. That walker was drooling all over me and I couldn't run."
"I'm sure he was," Daryl said. "You would have probably fucked him if he were alive."
"Why are you being such an asshole? I'm trying to admit I'm not perfect and that it was a mistake and you keep throwing shit in my face."
"The only mistake was messin' around with you when you've probably fucked everyone in this group."
His words felt like a punch in the face and at the moment I didn't know which of us deserved a punch in the face. Sure I messed up but it's not like we are even a couple for him to get so upset with me.
"Why are you being like this? I didn't even stick my tongue down his throat. It was like kissing a grandfather or something."
"Why don't you just take your skinny ass legs and use them to walk away. I've had enough of listening to your excuses. Whatever we had is over with. Have fun with the bald-headed asshole."
"I don't want anything to do with him," I told him. "Don't be like this. It was a one-time thing and it's never going to happen again. I'm…sorry."
"You're not sorry."
"Yes I am. What do you want me to do? Do you want me to beg? Because I will fucking beg for you to stop being such a dick. You know that I don't like Shane. I'd rather get my face eaten off than to do anything more with Shane than I already have."
And I really did mean what I said except I won't ever tell Daryl that I had done more with Shane than just a little kiss.
"You had six days to get over it," I said. "What's the real reason why you're so pissed? Is it because I took so long to apologize or is it something else?" He continued to frown at me but this time he turned his back and was about to walk into his tent. "Fine, asshole."
I turned away, completely fuming at both Daryl and myself. It wasn't my entire fault. It was just a stupid instinct. I was still angry at Shane for gripping my arms so tight and refusing to let go. I had a huge list of reasons to be upset with Shane but I still kissed him.
I was actually hoping that Shane got left behind with Randall so I'd never have to see him again.
I stomped my way back to the RV to check on Carl but both he and Sophia weren't in there. I didn't think I missed them outside but when I went back outside they weren't anywhere to be seen. I started checking tents and gave in to talking to Carol.
"Have you seen the kids?" I asked her. Her eyes widened which meant she had no idea where they were. "Little fuckers." I quickly went back into my tent and grabbed my gun that I hadn't bothered carrying for a while. I checked to make sure it was loaded and left the tent.
"You don't think they went back in the woods, do you?" Carol asked.
"Knowing Carl they probably did," I said.
"Let me get Dale. I don't want you going in there alone."
"Send him after me," I told her as I started walking away from her. "I got a gun this time. I'll be fine."
I walked quicker and kept a tight grip on my gun. I was actually thinking about shooting Carl in the face for disobeying me and being a selfish brat. How hard was it to stay in an RV? It was a lot better than sitting in a hot tent all day. I hadn't even been with Daryl that long and Carl had already run off.
I made my way into the woods and kept an eye out for ways to not get lost. I walked in a straight line listening for voices or sounds but didn't hear much. I walked a little further in and noticed I was in the same area as I was last week where Carl found the walker.
"Carl, where the hell are you?" I said out loud.
I heard some noises up ahead and started slowly walking in that direction. I walked straight and noticed at least four walkers bent down on their knees with their hands digging into something in the ground. I couldn't get a good view of what they were eating and I started thinking whether or not if it was a good idea to shoot them at this moment. It was four on one and I wasn't a fan of those odds.
I took a step closer and heard their "meal" making noises that sounded close to a dog whimpering. Whatever they just killed was still alive. Not only did I have to kill them but I had to put down an animal. Disgusted I raised my gun and shot one.
The gunshot caused the rest to look in my direction. As soon as they moved I saw what they were eating and I froze with my gun stuck out in front of me.
