|Missing Love|

Chapter 1

*Shelby's P.O.V*

I see him.

He's about twenty or thirty feet away from me as he was busy working with Earl. Just two blacksmiths at work. I see the brown shirt he's wearing while also wearing that brown apron while he is chopping at a piece of metal.

The way that he moves his hands back and forth and then showing Earl what he's done.

I wish I was like that piece of metal that had his attention. The only words ever spoken between us is when we're taking turns taking care of Earl's son, Adam.

You must be thinking about who I'm looking at? Well, his name is Alden.

I've liked him since the day he first came to Hilltop. When he was once a savior and had a group of his own. Alden and his group stumbled upon Jesus and Tara before they were captured and given shelter here at Hilltop, even though it was inside of a cage. He helped during All Out War and we've had a trusted ally since. He had long, curly hair back then. But his hair is now short and sometimes can be curly. It just depends but either way, I liked it.

I've always wanted to try and talk to him more but I can tell that he's been distracting himself ever since Enid died. That's who he was with before she died in the pike massacre. Along with nine other people. Which also included our leader, Tara, and also Carol and King Ezekiel's son, Henry.

It's been a few months since that happened and also the snowstorm.

But to me, it seemed like everyone was distracting themselves so that they can't remember that. Since Earl lost his wife, Tammy, in the pikes as well.

I have a brother, who's name is Aaron, who lives in Alexandria. He is the father of Gracie, who is also my niece. My brother is the adopted father of Gracie but I still treat her like she's my niece.

In a world like a zombie apocalypse, that kind of stuff is okay.

While I was in my thinking mode, I didn't even notice that Earl was walking towards me.

"Hey Shelby." He said. "I know you're going on a run with your brother soon but I was wondering if you'll be okay with watching Adam when you get back. Alden will be watching him while you're gone."

"Yeah, sure." I nodded.

"Thank you." He said and he walked back to where he was working.

I saw Alden walking inside of the big house and I'm guessing he's off to look after baby Adam while I'm out scavenging.

The gate to Hilltop opened and there was my brother with Daryl and Michonne. He walked over to me immediately.

"Hey, are you ready to go?" He asked.

"Yeah, let's go."

Before completely going past the gate, I turned back around and saw Alden holding baby Adam. I know I'll be seeing him later when I get back.

Then after that, I followed my brother.

We were already walking for ten minutes and we found nothing.

"So, I saw you looking at Alden before we left." He said.

"And?" I asked. "What about it?"

"I know you like him. If anything, I had known since I saw you around him the first time."

"It's not like we're talking everyday. The most we've talked about is when we're trading shifts to look after baby Adam." I said as I looked at him.

"Then maybe you should try talking to him more outside of babysitting Earl's son." Aaron suggested.

"I don't think I can." I shook my head.