CHAPTER 5
Later that night at dinner, the inevitable happened. It was Glenn who started it all; guess he figured she'd answer because he was leaving for the city tomorrow.
"So, Noel, tell us about yourself. You've been here for almost a month and we don't know anything about you!" Noel hid her annoyance and smiled. She figured she'd let the kid ask a few questions. No harm done right?
"What do you want to know?" She asked quietly.
"Where are you from?" This time it was Amy. "Not the south, I'm guessing."
"No." Noel answered shaking her head. She hated being the center of attention. Everyone was looking. But she hid her lack of comfort and answered, "New York. Manhattan." The survivors exchanged glances and it was quiet for a few moments.
"How do you get all the way to Atlanta?" Carol asked curiously.
"My family shipped my down here at the first sign of the outbreak." Her family had money and it was no secret that wealthy northern families shipped their wives and children down south were the population was more spread out. The group realized she was part of that 1% and she could already feel the glares of resentment.
"Well what did you do in Manhattan before all this? Work? School?" Glenn drew the attention away from her family's money and she silently thanked him.
"School." She answered, "I was premed at Colombia University."
"Wow. That's impressive." Lori responded. The others agreed. Noel looked over to see Daryl glaring at her with that resentment she knew was coming.
Great, she thought, another reason for him to hate me. She looked around and realized they were all still curious. Ugh, she thought, might as well give them what they want.
"My father was a college professor and researcher for the CDC. My mother died in childbirth so I spent my childhood following my father, going to his classes and learning along with his students. I graduated high school at 16 and then went on to Colombia." Noel explained as quickly and quietly as possible. She stood when she finished, "I'm beat." She mumbled as she walked away. She didn't really care to stick around for more.
Noel was on watch on top of the RV when she first heard the alarm. She looked down the road and saw the red sports car speeding towards the camp.
"Hey Shane! Incoming!" She yelled down to the brooding cop. Everyone had been worried about the group; they'd taken a lot longer then expected and the rest of the group was worried they wouldn't be returning.
As two cars entered the quarry, Noel remained atop the Winnebago to make sure that ridiculous alarm didn't attract anything dead and hungry. While watching, Noel quickly realized that Merle was not apart of the returning group but another man was. She hopped of the RV to hear what was going on.
Merle was left behind. Handcuffed to the roof. Rough, she thought, even for a bastard like Merle.
The new guy was Rick Grimes, Lori's husband. Awkward. I thought she was fucking Shane…
Noel refocused on the conversation when she heard Daryl's name.
"Have you giving any thought to Daryl Dixon?" Dale asked. "He won't be happy that you left his brother behind."
Noel retreated back on top of the RV as they continued their conversation. To be honest she didn't really care. The only thing that concerned her was Daryl's reaction. She knew he had a temper, she'd seen it when she'd mess with him. But this time, he was going to flip and she wanted to be watching safely from the Winnebago.
She didn't like to admit it, even to herself, but Daryl scared her. Shane and Amy were right to be concerned about her but she just couldn't find it in herself to care enough to stay away from him. She knew what he wanted; she could see it in his eyes when she'd catch him staring. The way he looked at her, she knew. And each time he would look away angrily, like it was her fault.
When Daryl did return he was furious. Noel had never seen him so upset. And it was hard to tell from atop the RV, but she was sure he was crying. She felt a twinge of sympathy for the crazy redneck.
When Dale came to relieve her of her duties she made her way over to her tent but a still fuming Daryl blocked her path. She wasn't surprised that he'd come to her. She was the closet thing to a friend he had here.
"Get yur shit. We're goin' huntin'." She nodded a headed for her tent. She grabbed a few good knives and her rifle and headed back out. Daryl was waiting for her at the edge of the woods. She studied him as she made her way over to him. This wasn't the Daryl she was used to, the one that would be furious then fine the next minute. This Daryl had anger written all over his face and Noel was scared.