I was sitting in the RV listening to Dale share stories with Amy, Glenn, and Andrea. Lori and Shane were off somewhere, I wasn't sure where. Sophia and Carl were with Carol underneath a small shelter that Shane had set up. The sky was dark and nasty. I sighed as I looked out of the RV window.
I could see Cheyenne sitting with Carl and Sophia, and I could tell that the three children were listening intently to whatever Carol was talking about. I smiled at sight. They were still so innocent and sweet. I hoped that this new world wouldn't change them. Hopefully all of this would be over soon. I wished everyday for something to change. And everyday I was disappointed.
I stood and walked out of the RV. As I walked over to Carol and the kids, I felt a raindrop fall onto my cheek. I looked up at the dark sky and squinted slightly. Suddenly, raindrops began to fall all around me, on me. I smiled at the cool water sliding over my skin. It felt amazing in the heat.
I changed direction and walked over to my truck, sitting on the tailgate. Looking into the woods, my thoughts began to wander through my head. So far, this place had been a miracle in this awful crisis. I just wondered how long that would last. How long would we be safe here? I think Shane questioned that himself, I could see it on his face everyday.
The rain was pouring down on me, and I felt myself grin. Time to stop thinking about the bad. Just enjoy the rain, I thought to myself. The cool water made me relax. For once, I wasn't burning up in the searing heat of the Georgia summer. I figured maybe this was God's way of giving me a break. Thanks a lot J.C.
Something caught my eye and I squinted through the rain. I was preparing to grab my gun, when I saw it was only Daryl. He was trudging through the woods and broke out into the clearing. With a string of dead animals. A few squirrels, a...rabbit? I couldn't quite tell. His eyes caught mine, and I turned my head back Carol's way, seeing Cheyenne talking with a smile. She was doing better than I thought she would, considering the situation.
I turned my head back just in time to see Daryl standing almost right in front of me. We just stared at each other for a moment. His hard, blue eyes were glaring slightly. I began to wonder what I had done now? He always looked at everyone in the group with that menacing glare. I felt my head tilt slightly when the glare turned into a smirk.
"Seen my brother?" He grunted the sentence out. I shook my head as I spoke.
"Not since this mornin'." I replied, looking up at the rain that was falling from the sky. I was soaked, but I didn't care. I didn't care what Daryl Dixon thought of me.
Without a word, he stalked off to the tent he shared with Merle. He looked inside, and set the dead animals down, just inside the tent. Turning from the tent, Daryl walked around, looking here and there. When he realized his brother wasn't around, he walked back over to the tent, scooped up his catch, and stalked off toward the edge of the trees.
I rolled my eyes and hopped off the tailgate. I should really be more sparing with my clothes. But I just couldn't pull myself out of the rain. There was only a slight sprinkle now, so I walked to the driver's side of my truck and opened the door. I jumped back quickly, when I saw the knife, stumbling.
"Oh my God!" Shay cried, staring at me. "I'm so sorry, Spence... I was asleep." Her face was pale and she looked only half awake. Her eyes had dark circles underneath them. I frowned slightly.
"It's okay. I jus' need some clothes... Shay, are you all right?" I asked, staring at her worriedly.
"Just haven't been sleeping well." Shay admitted, setting down the knife and rubbing her eyes.
"Me either." I agreed. I smiled lightly at her. "But maybe this place is safer than we thought, ya know? Maybe it'll all be fine."
"I hope so." Shay said, looking out of the window. "Damn, I missed the rain."
"Probably why you were sleepin' so good." I half laughed. Shay actually broke into a smile.
"I guess so. Where is everyone?" She asked, looking around. She spotted Carol and the kids. "I see Cheyenne had no trouble making friends."
"Yea. Even though they're way older, they've seemed to have taken to her." I had observed this in the way that Carl and Sophia treated Cheyenne.
"Well, I'm up, I'm up." Shay mumbled, opening her door and climbing out of the truck. I watched out of the corner of my eye as she walked over to Carol and began talking to her. I set my sights back on my bag and grabbed some clean clothes. I looked around realizing that I really had no place to change. No place private, at least.
I sighed and began walking toward the small lake area. The place was somewhat secluded at this time, that I knew of. I walked down toward the water, veering off near the trees. I was pretty much away from the group, and sure no one would see me. I should have asked Dale if I could change in the RV, but I didn't want to interrupt them.
I grabbed the side of one boot, pulling it off my foot, hopping on the other as I did. Setting the boot down, I grabbed the other one and pulled it off. Taking another glance around, I pulled my jeans off quickly and slid on a pair of denim shorts. I turned away from camp, facing the woods, and took off my shirt. Reaching around my back, I unhooked my bra and dropped it on the ground.
I picked up my clean bra and made sure it was hooked correctly. I pulled it on quickly, adjusting it. Leaning down, I picked up my shirt. I was just about to put it on, when I heard a whistle. I turned quickly, making sure my shirt was covering my front. I saw Merle standing behind me, about eight yards away, a wicked grin spread across his face.
"YOU ASSHOLE!" I snapped, pulling my shirt on quickly, before bending down. I picked up the first rock I saw and chucked it in his direction. He dodged it, laughing.
"Ain't you jus' a pretty lil' thing!" He droned. "Got some bite to that bark, I like it!" Merle gave me this look that creeped me out to my core.
"You're disgustin'!" I huffed, as I shoved my boots on and stormed past him. I could hear him chuckling, and I wanted to throw up. What a creep. I stomped into the camp area, and when I saw Daryl, I marched right up to him. He must have heard us, because there was a slight grin on his face. I started to say something, but the look on his face told me I wouldn't get anywhere. I just threw my clothes over my shoulder, and walked away, throwing my hands in the air in defeat. I heard Daryl chuckle, and it took all I could do not to turn around and give him a good ol' bitch slap.
We had been at the quarry for two weeks, maybe. I wasn't much for keeping up with the time, Dale was the one who did that. But nearly two weeks, and I already hated Merle. He was a creep and, honestly, I didn't feel comfortable with him around. He was a drunk and God knows what else he kept stashed in his little saddle bag. I had to admit, unfortunately, that he did contribute to the group. Supply runs, hunting.
Still, he was disgusting, and the way he had looked at me... I shivered, shaking my head. I wanted to punch him in the face. I had really thought about it. I might have had to if that rock would have hit him. I nearly laughed at the thought. I walked around the side of my truck, and Shane was right in front of me. Slightly stunned, I took a step back and stared at him.
"Spencer, you okay? I heard you yell." He looked off in the direction I had come from, seeing Merle walking out of the woods with a big grin on his face. I rolled my eyes.
"Yea, I'm fine." I said. "I was changin' in the woods and Merle saw me. I threw a rock at him, but missed." I shook my head.
"Did he try to..?" Shane trailed off and I laughed.
"No, he didn't try nothin." I said. "I think he knows better. I'd kick his ass." Shane looked at me funny, before laughing.
"I bet you could." He smiled.
"You know it... But thanks. For checkin' on me." I said sincerely.
"It's my job." Shane said, and I smiled. I turned away and walked over to Cheyenne. "C'mere Chy." I said to my little munchkin. She jumped up into my arms with a big grin on her face.
"I hearded you in the woods. You cussed." Cheyenne said, her blue eyes growing wide for a moment, then she giggled. I laughed.
"Yes, I did. Bad Spencer." I scolded myself.
"You're not bad." Cheyenne shook her head. "Jus' annoyed."
"Ahh, look at ya, with your extended vocabulary. And yes, I was very annoyed." I agreed with her.
"Spencer, I'm hung-wee." She mumbled, looking at me.
"I might have just the thing for that empty belly." I said, turning her quickly in my arms so that her belly was exposed. I began tickling her. Her giggles filled the air, as she pleaded with me.
"Stop! Stop, Spencer!" She giggled.
"What'dya say?" I asked, still tickling her.
"Pleeeaaase!" Cheyenne begged. I stopped tickling her and took her hand.
"Okay, since you said please..." I trailed off, when I looked up and saw Daryl staring at us. As soon as my eyes met his, he looked back down at the squirrel he was murdering, and kept skinning it. What was that all about?
I shook my head, and walked with Cheyenne to my truck. I opened the driver's side door and rummaged around in my bag, grabbing a can of spaghetti o's. When Cheyenne saw the can, her eyes lit up. I laughed at her facial expression.
"I saw it and grabbed it for ya. Don't get used to it, baby girl." I said that last sentence truthfully. She might be eating that squirrel one day. I glanced over to see Daryl look in our direction briefly, then look back down. Before I could question it, something caught my eye.
I saw someone walking over to us. I set Cheyenne in the driver's seat and opened the small can for her. Glenn walked up, but before he could open his mouth to speak, I stopped him with my own words.
"Can you watch her for just a second? I gotta grab her a fork."
"Okay." Glenn nodded, and I jogged off toward Carol.
"Hey!" I called, slowing to a walk. "Carol, you gotta plastic fork?"
"Yes, we do have some. Plenty, actually." Carol smiled, turning to dig in a small bag. She handed me a plastic fork and half laughed. "Lori told Shane to grab some. Glad she did, huh?"
"Very glad! Thanks." I gave her a thankful smile, and turned back to Cheyenne. I jogged back over to her and handed her the fork. "Here ya go, Chy."
"Thank you!" Cheyenne barely got the words out before she dug into her dinner.
"Now that you're back," Glenn teased, "tomorrow we're going into the city. Andrea, T-Dog, Morales, Merle...You?" He questioned, looking at me.
"Sure, I'll go." I agreed, and Glenn gave me a grateful look.
"Great, I was hoping you'd say yes." Glenn admitted and I laughed.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because... You're my friend. I like when you go on supply runs with us. You're easy to get along with." Glenn explained.
"You're pretty cool, yourself." I grinned. "I just dread puttin' up with Merle."
"See...actually that's another reason I wanted you to go. It kinda puts the attention off of me..." Glenn looked down and laughed.
"Hey!" I half whined. "That ain't cool. Now I see why you're always askin' me to go with y'all. Ass."
"I'm definitely kidding." Glenn said, straight faced.
"No you ain't." I said back.
"No.. I'm not." Glenn admitted, cracking a smile. I rolled my eyes. Glenn walked towards the RV, probably going to talk to Dale. I smiled, because I really liked Dale. He was like a father figure. He just seemed to fit perfectly in the group.
I turned my attention back to Cheyenne. She was still eating and looking very content. It felt good to know that she was okay. I was keeping her fed and safe, and that was all that mattered to me at this point. I just had to keep her safe. I tussled her hair, kissing the top of her head.
Okay guys, hope you guys enjoyed that chapter ! The next chapter is when it all goes to hell and a hand basket. Haha... I am definitely enjoying this, and already coming up with ideas for future chapters. It might not be until this weekend before I update again, but don't worry, I will as soon as I can sit down and watch season 1 again. Thanks so much for all the amazing readers and reviewers !
~Kaila