"Beth an' Daryl don't sound like prison names."

He looks at me. It was his idea to sign the note as The Prison Gang. He said people wouldn't try to follow a gang of prisoners. I had to admit it was a good idea. When I read what he wrote at the bottom, I felt my heart melt. I always knew he had a soft side, even if it had been buried deep down. Even if he only wrote it to make me happy. He reaches out his hand an' holds mine. It was nice to be back on this level with him. The fight we had earlier scared me.

I've never had a fight with a guy before. Jimmy always caved to me. Much's I liked him, I'd wished he was more challengin'. It gets borin' when someone just agrees with everything you say. Then there was Zach. He was fun to hang out with, he'd made me laugh a lot. If I had to be honest with myself, I never saw us goin' too far. Zach was a good friend an' someone to keep me company, but I don't think I ever coulda loved him.

An' now I'm with Daryl an' it negates any normal rules of bein' with someone. He's come a long way from how he used to be, but he still has a short fuse. He was so mad at me. I could feel the tension burnin' off his skin. I knew why he was upset, knew that he worried about me an' only wanted to keep me safe. But I don't like feelin' caged in or kept on some invisible leash. I didn't mean to scare him. I'd been standin' on the porch, like he asked, when Jesse approached me.

At first, I thought it was a walker. He was filthy an' didn't seem to walk too steady. But he got closer an' called out to me. I think I was just excited to see another livin' human. I ran out to him an' saw his dirty clothes, ripped an' lookin' too big on him. His hair was black as an oil slick an' fell just past his chin. I looked into his face an' he looked back at me with big green eyes. Eyes like Maggie's.

"You gotta camp here?"

His voice was raspy. I felt so terrible for him. Poor thing looked like he hadn't eaten in days. I nodded to him an' we walked back towards the house. I stopped us over by the porch.

"What's your name?" He smiled brightly at me. I returned it with a small grin of my own. I know I'm the last person anyone should be afraid of, but I wanted him to trust me anyways.

"Jesse."

"Well, Jesse, I'm Beth. You look hungry. When's the last time you ate?"

He didn't answer me right away. His eyes fell to the grass an' it reminded me of another shy person that I knew. I watched the beaten toe of his shoe kick at the ground. His hands were shoved into his pockets.

"Been stayin' in a house down the way for a while now. Ate some stale chips an' crackers there. Ran outta food two days ago, but I'd been too scared to come out. Thought I was gonna die in there."

His focus returned to the grass. It broke my heart. I was just about to tell him he didn't have to worry, that we'd take him in an' feed him up when I saw his head snap up an' he looked just past my shoulder. That's when I turned to see a very angry Daryl approachin' the two of us.

We stop just short of the others. I look to my side an' see Daryl take out his pack of cigarettes, thinkin' heavily before finally pullin' one out. He drops my hand, lights it up an' I see his whole body relax.

"When's the last time you smoked?"

He shrugs at me. Smoke billows outta his mouth like a chimney. "Last night when I went out to take a piss."

Well, that explains his temper. I'm not naive enough to think it was only fueled by a lack of nicotine, but I've seen how he gets on edge when he goes without. We make our way over to the van, the others are distributin' food an' water for the travel. I see him tryin' to smoke it quickly, either from the need to get as much nicotine as fast as he can, or so we can hurry to the van. I wouldn't know, I guess. I can't help but stare at him as he smokes.

He closes his eyes every time he inhales, his cheeks hollow. Occasionally, his tongue tips the cigarette between his lips before pullin' it outta his mouth to knock off the ash. I watch as he pinches the little stick of tobacco between his first two fingers, tappin' the end with his thumb. He draws his hand back to his mouth, scratches at his chin then seals his lips over it again.

Daddy always told me to never touch a cigarette as long's I live. Always said they put you in an early grave. I never had one, not just for my health, but for the fear of disappointin' my father. I think of how disappointed he mighta been had he known I drank that moonshine. Daddy always told me to never touch liquor, either. Daryl catches me starin' at him, pulls the cigarette from his mouth an' holds it out to me. No words are needed. He's offerin' me to try it.

I'd told him I've never touched one. Usually, we try to do whatever we say we haven't done. I look at the little thing in his hand, my own fingers tug gently at my necklace. I don't wanna think this is somethin' that'd break my father's heart. I look back up to Daryl. I've had a lot of firsts with him already. I'd like to think Daddy would approve of the two of us bein' together. Maggie did. An' Daddy thought very highly of Daryl. I reach my hand out an' take it from him. He gives me a small smile. To hell with all my stupid thoughts. I put it to my mouth an' breathe in. The smoke nearly chokes me an' I cough it out. He pats my back.

"Jesus." He takes it back from me. "Like this." He does his previous actions in slow motion. I watch him breathe out, put the cigarette to his lips an' breathe in. He holds the smoke for a split second before breathin' it into his lungs an' then he blows it out. "Here, try again."

I look around to make sure Maggie isn't lookin' over here. That's just what I'd need. When I see the coast's clear, I take it back from Daryl an' try it his way. His eyes are fixed on me, I feel like I'm under a microscope. But I do what he showed me. It really isn't so bad when you do it right. I don't even cough. I smile at him as I blow the smoke out. He takes it back from me, eyes holdin' mine as he breathes it in again. His lips pull at the corners, his mouth forms an 'O' shape an' he blows a perfect smoke ring just in front of me. I laugh at him.

"Show off."

He puts it out an' pulls me into the back of the van with him. Jesse sits across from us. I can feel Daryl tense up next to me. He must be nervous around a new person. But Jesse wouldn't be here if he was thought to be a threat. I feel like I should break the tension in here.

"So, Jesse, where're you from?"

He smiles warmly at me. His green eyes look brighter since he's eaten, his skin has a little more color to it. Poor guy. Outta the corner of my eye I see Daryl's set his bow next to him an' he's turnin' his knife over in his hands. He won't look up from there. He's so shy sometimes. Jesse clears his throat.

"I was born an' raised here- well, South Carolina. I'm from Beaufort County. Grew up in Seabrooke, right on the water. That's where my brother an' me stayed when this all started. Figured we'd survive offa fishin'..."

His voice trails off an' I know he's thinkin' of his brother. He looks tired an' so sad. I want to reach out to him, tell him it's okay an' that he's safe now. But I know how little the words help. Words will never be enough to make up for who we've all lost. All we can do is remember. Father Gabriel climbs into the van an' we all set off a moment later. He looks like he's gonna be sick.

I felt so let down when he'd confessed to what he did yesterday. I couldn't wrap my mind around a pastor turnin' his back on his people. I can't bring myself to hold it against him. We've all done things that weren't right. I realize my fingers are tracin' over the scar on my wrist. I look up to see Daryl watchin' me. His eyes flit from my wrist to my face an' he leans into my ear.

"Sing for me."

I smile up at him an' he gives me a small smile in return. It's quiet in here. Maggie an' Glenn watch the car ahead of us for any change in direction. Gabriel an' Jesse are both sittin' across from us. Gabriel has his knees pulled up, his head restin' on them. Jesse's head is hung back as he looks up at the ceilin'. I turn my lips to Daryl's ear an' whisper, "Nobody wants to hear me sing."

He turns to look me right in the eyes. His own eyes don't shift, but hold steady as if he's tryin' to tell me somethin' without actually sayin' it. I see his jaw tense up an' he brings his hand back to his mouth. Whatever he's thinkin', it's somethin' serious. I wait on bated breath. He closes his eyes, an' I just make out the small sigh he lets out. He leans into my ear again, his voice ticklin' my skin.

"I wanna hear you sing."

My heart beats furiously at the words. I'd thought he only asked me to sing before to break the silence. I try not to sing in front of him because I thought he honestly didn't like it. But he just said it. He wants me to sing. I think of all the songs I know, run through my head the mood of this trip. I look into his face an' remember the first song I sung just for him. He'd told me he wanted to hear it, an' told me it was beautiful when I finished. He loved it when I sung it for him the second time at the cabin by the lake. I give him my warmest smile an' start to sing.

"Amazin' grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind but now I see."

As I continue, I feel him lean in closer to me. I close my eyes an' concentrate on whatever it takes to make him happy. Whatever it takes to further pull him outta that shell.

I close my eyes an' focus on just her voice. She was singin' my favorite song of hers. She coulda picked any song in the world an' she chose that one. I open my eyes again an' see Gabriel's lips movin' to the words, a small grin on his face. But his eyes remain closed an' he don't make a sound. Maggie smiles back at her sister. When her eyes meet mine, she winks. She's startin' to grow on me more an' more.

When Beth let out the first few words, I saw Jesse's head snap forward. His eyes had raked over her an' he's still starin' at her now. I can feel my insides bein' clawed at. I hold my knife firmly in my grip, no longer turnin' it in my hands. When she finishes the song, a big grin spreads 'cross his face an' it takes all I got not to bash his skull into the floor.

"Wow, Beth. That was beautiful."

He's complimentin' her on her singin'. I try to tell myself that's all he's doin'. He can't be so fuckin' blind that he don't see us leanin' against each other. Then I realize we haven't done anything to show him what we are together. I place my lips on the warm skin of her cheek, inhale her scent an' trail up to her ear. "Beautiful."

She looks me in the eyes, her cheeks flushed. That beautiful heartbreakin' smile splits her face an' I can't fight the urge to have my lips on hers. It's a quick, possessive kiss. Just enough to feel her lips on mine, an' just enough to show that boy all he needs to know. She leans into my side an' I wrap my arm over her shoulders. I glance over to Jesse an' his eyes are on the floor.

"Why are they pullin' off to the shoulder? Glenn, pull over behind them."

"What's goin' on up there?"

Maggie turns to me as I feel Glenn veer off. I turn to see the others are right behind us. She shrugs. "Rick an' them are stoppin'."

We come to a stop an' we all get out. Rick walks back to us, head lowered an' his hand rubbin' hard at the back of his neck. He lets out a heavy sigh. "That's it. We're outta gas. We'll have to split up between the others."

Glenn checks the gas on ours. "We're just under half a tank."

Abraham, Rosita an' Eugene climb in with us. Rick an' them head to the van behind us. It's a tighter fit now, but it ain't bad enough to complain. Better than us walkin', an' it's only a matter of time 'fore we're doin' that. Beth's moved between my legs, her head rests against my chest. I glance over to Abraham when I notice the thing in Eugene's hand. I nod to it when he catches my eye. "What's that?"

He almost looks nervous. Like he hadn't meant for no one to see. I make it out 'fore he tells me. "S'that a walkie?"

"It is."

Now Beth's starin' at it, too. Abraham clears his throat. "Eugene keeps it on him. It's his way of keepin' tabs on DC. Same time everyday he steps to where he gets signal and listens in. How we know they're still holdin' up."

I try to work through what he's said. We've been out here thinkin' it was all some damn suicide mission. I'd thought we was wastin' our time tryin' to travel up the east coast lookin' for some sanctuary up north. If Eugene's been listenin' to some broadcast everyday, that means there really are survivors up there. I take a deep breath.

I got a million questions racin' through my mind, but the knowledge that we ain't headin' to a dead fuckin' end makes me feel better. I feel my muscles relax an' I let out my breath. Beth's head falls to my shoulder, her own breath warm against the skin of my neck. I think of the life we can have together where we're goin'. If there really is some fuckin' safe haven up there waitin' for all us, it could mean more than just havin' food an' shelter. My whole life's been nothin' but livin' to survive. I think back to what Beth said in them woods by the lake. She wants more than that. For the first time in my life, I realize I want to do more than just survive. She'd give me the chance to have that. I close my eyes an' drift off, carelessly hopin' for more than I've ever had.

I look at the two bikes. Fuckin' crotch rockets. I rode one back in the day when I was a dumb kid. They ain't the same as a motorcycle, but they gotta work for now. I fire one up an' check the fuel gauge. Almost full. I don't wanna think of what mighta happened to the person that left it here like this. The other's just as full.

I hop on one an' ride it the few yards back to the two vans. Rick steps out from behind one an' watches me pull up. He looks exhausted. We're almost outta gas in them fuckin' vehicles. Won't be much longer an' we'll be on foot again. Abraham finally agreed to settin' up camp here tonight, we have the protection of the surroundin' vehicles on the road.

"You sure 'bout this, Daryl? It can wait 'til mornin'."

"We need the supplies. That kid says there's a store up the road a little further. Waitin' for mornin's only gonna slow us down. 'Sides, there's another bike over there. Anybody that can ride it goes with me."

Rosita gets up from where she sat. She eyes the bike I'm set on, rakin' her gaze over the white paint. She clicks her tongue an' raises her eyes to me. "You know how to handle that thing, Robin Hood?"

I roll my eyes at her nickname for me. The girl's such a smart ass. Rick tells her how I spent the better part of the last year an' a half on two wheels. I kick the stand down an' go to the others. Beth gets up when she sees me an' walks over to the bike. Her hand runs 'cross the seat. "I'm goin' with you."

She holds her head high, as if challengin' me to tell her she ain't goin'. I almost laugh at her. I wasn't plannin' on leavin' her here where Jesse could try gettin' to know her any better than he needs to. It's crazy, I know there's risks. But there's always gonna be risks. He looks at the two of us, still smilin' that dumb grin. I head to the back of the van an' reach in one of the bags. When I find the coat I pull it out an' walk back over to her.

She's standin' next to the bike, eyein' it like it's a damn wolf. I see her messin' with her necklace, the charm falls just at her chest an' I have to force myself to inhale. She seems to really like that thing. I can't fuckin' believe my luck at findin' it. Someone musta finally been on my side. I clear my throat an' hand the coat to her.

"Found this on my run with Maggie earlier. Ain't exactly girly, but figured you'd want it when we go huntin'."

She takes the coat from my hands, a big smile flashes over her face. She holds the camouflage up an' laughs as she puts it on. "It's a little big, but it's really warm. Thank you! Do I look like a dangerous hunter now?"

I stare at her. Those tight, ripped jeans are tucked into her boots with my flannel over her tank top. The necklace hangs down between her breasts an' now she's wearin' a coat I'd given her. She looks too fuckin' beautiful for words. I feel like she could bring me to my knees just to make her smile like that all the time; just for me. I swallow hard an' nod at her, handin' her the helmet I'd found on the seat.

I throw my leg over the bike an' help her get up behind me. Rosita comes over to us an' Jesse's with her. He looks just past where we sit. "Well, guess I'm going with you. I'm the only other person here that knows how to work one of these." For fuck's sake.

Damn my fuckin' luck. Him an' Rosita walk towards the other bike while Beth an' me follow. Slowly, we make it over to there. I readjust the straps on my pack as they climb on the bike. Jesse hands Rosita the only other helmet. Means there was at least two people together on these bikes. I try not to think of 'em.

He nods to me as I pull in fronta him. I feel Beth's legs an' arms tighten 'round me an' have to force myself to concentrate on not puttin' us through a fuckin' guardrail. I'd often let my mind run loose thinkin' of what it woulda been like to have her holdin' onto me on the back of Merle's bike. This was close enough, an' much better than any fuckin' fantasy.

We fly down the road. I hadn't meant to go this fast, thinkin' what could happen if I lost control or we ran into trouble. But Jesse seems to have a real adrenaline rush. He's whipped between cars an' shit like he does this all the fuckin' time. I gotta admit, I'm impressed at how he handles it. I see the sign ahead for the store an' speed up to get just behind him. We take the exit an' find ourselves in the parkin' lot in no time. I climb offa my bike, helpin' Beth off. The girls take off their helmets an' look at the store in fronta us.

"Think this place really has anything left, Robin Hood?"

I adjust the straps to my bag, pullin' 'em up my shoulders. I take my handgun outta the holster, make sure it's loaded. Beth checks her own gun. I turn to Rosita. "Worth checkin' out."

"My brother an' me never made it this far. I figured the same thing: worth a try."

An' we set off through the empty lot, makin' our way to the store. We don't needa say it. We're all thinkin' of what we might run into in there.