AN: REVISED

5: Light Conversation

I tried to get back into my routine that night while Daryl watched some movie on the television. My family kept creeping into my thoughts, so I kept on smoking. Just to try to numb it. Just to try to keep it all at arm's length. In-between bowls I I tried to study, but I couldn't concentrate at all so I opted to do yoga instead. I figured it might help clear my mind of everything.

"I had you figured as a hippie," his voice didn't startle me now, for whatever reason. I think it was he'd had every opportunity to kill me already, but he hadn't. Hell, maybe I didn't care anymore.

I calmly looked up from wheel pose, straining as I spoke, "You think I'm a hippie?"

He almost laughed, "I don't think, I know."

I came out of the backbend and sat in full lotus, cracking my neck to either side. "Well, you're wrong."

He looked over at the table beside my armchair that was currently housing my pipe with an arrogant expression.

I let out a deep breath, "It helps."

"Helps what?"

I sighed, "Don't worry about it." I pointed to the screen. "Just be good and watch your movie." He did as I said for a while, and I finished up my routine of asanas before sitting in my chair just in time to catch the final scene. I didn't really register what was happening on the television screen; my mind was still circling back around to my family. I have never really talked about what happened to myself, let alone another person, hell, not even one of the undead. I guess I was just too afraid of the judgments that would be involved, and it was like, if I said it then it would be real. There would be no escaping it. I slouched, pulling the pipe over to smoke some more as the movie finished. I looked over to see him lying down still watching the screen as the credits rolled. I got up and went to turn it off. I don't know what came over me, but I suddenly had nerve. Little old Annie had a set of stones now. "So, do you really want to know?"

He sat up, but didn't sound all too interested as he replied, "I guess."

"Too bad," I laughed, "But I'll tell you something. Everyone lost everything, right?" He nodded as I plopped down into my chair. "Well, I did a lot more than just lose everything." I held out the pipe to him and he came over and sat at the foot of my chair as I handed it to him. "That's why you don't like me, huh… because I don't fly the confederate flag."

He didn't look up. "Who said I don't like you?"

"Just a hunch." I shrugged my shoulders as he passed it back to me.

"You can cook and you ain't stupid. That's better than most people."

I smiled slightly as I nodded to myself. "I'll take it." I slid down off the chair and sat next to him, and we began the sacred rite of the puff-puff-pass. "Having someone around is not as bad as I thought it would be."

"I'd think you'd like havin' company." I couldn't keep myself from thinking that it was nice just having something to look at for a change, not to mention something that looked halfway decent, too. I laughed at the thought and he turned his head to look at me. "What's funny?"

I shook my head casually as I exhaled the words mixed with smoke, "I just thought of something stupid."

"I could use a laugh."

I shook my head more. "It's stupid, it's stupid, but I'll tell you." I ashed the bowl and set it on the side table. "I was just thinking that it was nice to have something good to look at for a change." I laughed again and he joined me after shoving me slightly. It took me a while to calm down, but after we did there was a long silence. I sighed, "Well, I better get some rest."

"I'll try hunting again tomorrow, maybe find something better than squirrels." He stood up and extended his hand down to me. I looked at if for a second, then grabbed onto it. In the second it took for him to pull me up I couldn't help be think that this was the first human contact I had made in a very long time, well living human contact at least. I missed human contact. I missed it more than I thought I had, but now I knew. It almost felt like I had a friend.

"They may have been squirrels or whatever, but were delicious," I commented as we walked upstairs. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Meat hasn't been on the menu here for, for too long. Also, I guess, for not using my own rifle against me." I paused for a second, distracted by various urges brought on by being in the proximity of a living breathing human male. I picked back up again, snapping myself out of it, "And for hanging out with me. You're good company."

"No problem."

I opened my door. "Goodnight." He nodded and went into the same room he had stayed in the night before. I wandered over to my bed and fell into it. I checked to make sure the bat was in its place and let myself relax. Did I really offer to let his people to stay here? What was getting into me? It might be nice, though. I wouldn't have to wake up so early. It would probably be safer with other people around. Those two things alone would be wonderful.