Lost Too Much 【REDONE】 ║ Daryl/OC or Shane/OC

Chapter 90: We aren't breaking up.

TRIGGER WARNING: As always, the warnings for self-harm, suicide, sexual assault, and similar topics apply to this chapter and the majority of the book.

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(12-248 AV --- 4,628 AV) We're home from our trip. We left about ten days ago to go back to Porterdale. There were a lot of holes to fill in from my childhood, so we went looking for answers. We got some, I guess, but nothing huge. Turns out I knew Devon when I was in college. Also, I went to an actual college, specifically for Sociology and Criminal Justice. I was forced to drop out when Chad found out.

Shane isn't here right now, I guess. He went out on a run with Carol earlier this morning so he might not be home for a bit. I was a bit concerned when they first told me that, up until I was told he left Eddie in Maggie's care. I went to find Eddie then came straight home and unpacked. I decided to write this because a lot has changed.

I think Daryl and I are gonna be okay. The trip was awkward at times but for the most part, it felt normal. It's starting to feel a little like old times. I'm still hoping to fill the void in my heart after Chad died. It doesn't feel as satisfying as I thought it would. Maybe that's because Michelle is still unstable. I haven't talked to Roselyn yet, and I don't think news made its way to Michelle that we're home. I don't know how she'll take it. Guess we'll find out.

-CJ
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It was about noon when we got back to Alexandria. I had been so excited to get home and see Eddie and Shane, but I was told almost immediately that Shane was out of town. According to Devon, he was on a run with Carol and they had only left that morning. They weren't planning to go far so they'd probably be back tonight.

I went straight home after that and wrote an entry so I wouldn't forget. Of course, I didn't go into too much detail about what we learned on the trip. There was a lot to cover and there was no point in stressing the unnecessary parts. I was far more concerned with Michelle, and no one had clued me in on her situation since I got back.

I got on the move and headed out, ready to find Roselyn and get an update. I assumed she'd be home, in the place she had been residing since Hilltop went down. She was staying with a few others that didn't have a particular place to stay. 

I was barely across the street when I ran into Maggie. She waved, beckoning me to her. Once I was close enough, she gave me a hug. "We missed you around here. How was the trip?"

Once she released me, I replied, "It was alright. My legs are still recovering from the ride."

"I bet," she said with a chuckle. "Things with Daryl okay?"

"They're better..." I joked. "Startin' to go back to normal."

"Which normal?" she played back. "Pre-walker normal? Or pre-relationship?"

"A little bit of both," I decided, shrugging it off. "I'm gonna go see Roselyn about Michelle. I'll let you know if anything changes."

We parted ways, Maggie waving to me as she headed presumably back home and I went for Roselyn's. She and a few others were staying in what used to be the Monroe house. We paired up the ones with no particular family or close friends to stay with, or generally the ones we were limited on space for. My household still contained me, Eddie, Shane, Devon, and Bella, so the couch was pretty much all we had. Michelle had been staying with Aaron and some others alongside Devon, up until he moved out upon her partial breakdown.

I found Roselyn making the bed in Spencer's old room. I had to take a moment and rid of the nostalgia I felt being back in the house. A good part of my first month or so had been spent hanging out with the Monroe family. They had taken me in as their own back then, even after I challenged Aiden. I was next-in-line to lead the place. It might've taken ten years, but I did it.