Chapter Two

Naive

A/N: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Remember to leave a review (:

Two days had passed since Carver had found me, and I had learnt many things about my new friends. Carlos had a daughter named Sarah, and he tried desperately to keep her away from the blood and gore that was the zombie apocalypse. There was a girl named Rebecca, and she had a husband named Alvin. Pete, Nick's uncle, was a sweet man. He would tell me and the others stories about Nick that would embarrass him, which of course made me laugh. But then there was Luke. Luke didn't have family left. He was like me. But I knew, better than most that family doesn't stop with blood, it starts with love. And I could tell that this group was woven with love and compassion through and through- just like the group I had been a part of.

It was difficult adjusting. I was so used to being by myself I forgot what it was like to be social. I would spend a lot of time on my own just staring at the trees, waiting for walkers to strike and tear apart the small shard of remaining hope I had left in me, but it never happened. There were always at least five or so people on watch at different ends of the camp, it was nice to finally feel somewhat secure after running for so long.

"Tasha?" I looked up to see Luke standing a few feet behind me. I smiled slightly at him before turning my back on the forest. "Hey." I said shyly, holding my sketchpad tight in my hands. "What's that you got there?" He asked as I began to walk with him. "Oh." I grinned. "It's my sketchpad. Drawing calms me down." Luke chuckled. "Can I take a look?" I looked over at him wearily before handing him my sketchpad, shyly. I never liked when people looked at my drawings, I always felt that I wasn't that good of a drawer. I walked over to the table and sat down while Luke stood a few feet away flipping through my drawings. I felt almost childish when I drew, knowing perfectly well the world we lived in didn't incorporate drawing as a daily activity, but it kept me calm when I was upset or nervous.

"Tasha- these are really good." Luke said astonished as he set my sketchpad in front of me before taking a seat beside me. "Thanks, but I don't really think so. They're just sketches. I have to put so many little sketches on one paper just so I don't run out and it just looks jumbled." I began to rant, but stopped myself. Why was I acting like Luke and I were best friends, or something? We just met. He's practically a stranger, and for all I know he could be a killer. I sighed as I took a sip of a juice box, looking down at my food. I can't. Get. Attached! I can't, because when you get attached, and they're ripped from your life you fall apart. I set the food aside as I set my sketchpad and began to draw while the others talked and ate.

Everyone left after a while. Sure, people tried having conversations with me but it always ended with me going back to my sketches. I was on edge. I didn't want to care for any of these people- I didn't even want to like them... But I do. They just seem so sweet and kind... But maybe I'm just naive. Maybe I'm still too kind hearted to see the darkness in everyone.

I was sitting by a rock again, staring at the forest. I was still waiting for walkers to attack and ruin everything. I was waiting for the last ounce of hope left in me to be ripped from my heart. I sighed as I stood up, turning only to find Nick staring at me. I tried to put a smile on my face, but it faltered. I was thinking back to my friends I had lost and it was becoming hard to keep it all in. "Hey." He said quietly, his eyes staring at mine for a few moments before I looked away. "Hey, Nick." I replied, rubbing the back of my neck shyly. I was never good at talking to Nick. I always felt like I'd screw up my words and look like an idiot.

"How are you?" I blinked for a few seconds before laughing. I managed to smile as I walked over to him, putting my hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "I'm fine, Nick." Nick grabbed my hand, causing me to step back a few paces. "You know you're not." I sighed, pulling my hand from his grasp. "What difference does it make? Everyone's not fine. It's just how the world is now." Nick squinted at me, folding his arms across his chest. "What happened to the people you were with?" Nick asked after a few moments of silence. I was taken off guard, and I felt sadness slip across my face. Nick seemed startled by this because his expression turned to something different- almost like he was afraid. "You're the first person to ask me that." I smiled slightly. "Don't look so terrified, I'm not gonna hurt you." Nick chuckled nervously as he stared at me. I couldn't look at him, though. Not with all the memories flowing through my head.

"I was with a couple, and a little girl." I took a deep breath, trying desperately not to feel anything at all. "We were together for a few months. One night we got attacked by walkers..." I cleared my throat, trying to erase the sadness in my voice. "We got separated in the ruckus." My voice trailed off as I thought back to Christa, Omid and Clementine. I wondered if they were still alive, if I would ever see them again. "At least I can have some privacy now, they never let me go off on my own." I joked, pretending it didn't bother me. I didn't want someone who was practically a stranger to know how vulnerable I really was.

"I shouldn't have asked… I'm sorry." He said quietly, placing a hand on my shoulder."I know what it's like to lose people. It's happened to everybody at one point." "It's alright." I replied, nodding in agreement. I couldn't quite understand what it was, but somehow Nick's hand on my shoulder felt comforting.

Things were different now. The more I tried to seal myself away from these people, the more they would come and force themselves into my hearts. Whenever I would sit away from the group Luke and Nick would always come find me and talk me into sitting with them. I assumed they were best friends before this all happened but I never said anything. I was quiet most of the time they'd talk to each other, but I listened very intently. All my life, I was good at listening. It helped me understand who people were and how they acted so I can adjust myself accordingly. But now I normally just said what I thought. I've been with these people nearly a week and I already felt too close to some of them.

"Tasha?" I looked up from my plate to see Luke standing in front of me. I hadn't even realized how late it had gotten. "Hey." I smiled, shutting my sketchpad before standing up beside him. "I wanna show ya something." Luke said as he grabbed onto my hand and pulled me along beside him. I couldn't help but to hold his hand back. He took me to a cabin just on the outskirts of our camp. Luke grinned at me before climbing up the ladder, indicating me to follow. I did slowly, afraid of heights. Luke covered my eyes as he pulled me over to him. "Lay down." He instructed, causing me to shake my head slightly. He chuckled. "C'mon, just do it." I sighed as I managed to lay back while his hands still covered my eyes. I felt Luke lay beside me before uncovering my eyes.

"Wow." I muttered in disbelief as I stared up at the sky. There were thousands of stars, and you could see them all so clearly. Even the moon was high in the sky. "I thought you'd like it." I could feel Luke's grin on his face. I turned on my side to stare at him, not realizing how close we were. I smiled shyly at him. "Thank you, Luke... I haven't seen anything like this in a long time." I froze as Luke moved his hand to my cheek, slowly stroking it. I felt a blush creep onto my face as I looked away. Don't get attached. Don't look at him.

I couldn't help it though. Luke's fingers slowly pushed my hair away from my face while his other hand grabbed the side of my face, pulling me closer to him. I knew I should've stopped it, I shouldn't have let myself get caught up in the moment... But I did. Luke slowly leaned up, his lips lightly brushing against mine. He pulled away enough to stare at me, waiting for me to say something. I managed to smile before leaning down and kissing him slowly. Luke's hands moved to my waist as we sat up, holding each other close. It felt wrong, deep, deep down... But I didn't care. I wanted to be reckless for once. When we pulled away, Luke hugged me tight, rubbing my back soothingly. My thoughts drifted to Nick. I wasn't sure why but I wondered what it would be like to hug him. What the fuck, Tasha? Don't get attached to him. Don't get attached to Luke or Nick! The voice in my head drifted away as Luke began to kiss my neck. I sighed contently, pulling him closer. For the first time in months, I felt that maybe I could find love again.

I woke up the next morning lying next to Luke. We didn't have sex, or anything... But it was nice to wake up to someone holding me close, almost protectively. I sighed as I pushed myself up, smiling down at him. Luke smiled back, running his fingers through my hair. "You should go before people suspect anything." Luke chuckled kissing my cheek before standing up. "I'll see you out there."

When he left I laid back down, trying desperately to forget about the guilt I felt inside. Some part of me deep, deep down knew what I felt for Nick, but the rest of me pushed it away. I didn't want to hurt Luke, because I did have feelings for him. But Nick was always in the back of my mind.

"Damn it!" I mumbled as I covered my head with a pillow. I had been trying to push away the guilt in my heart, not only the guilt of kissing Luke while having feelings for Nick, but for having feels for any other man but Ben in general. I never got to properly grieve him- we were always running after he died. I sighed, realizing I was allowed to have feelings for two guys at the same time, as long as I only acted upon one. But little did I know, it would cause me even more pain.

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