My Redneck Angel

18. Moonlight

I stand at the edge of the road, staring at all of my friends I haven't seen in what seems like forever. Standing there I start thinking..this can't be real. There NO way I found them. "I'll go scope out the area.." I hear a scruffy, southern accent say. At his words I dont know if I should be happy, angry, relieved..before I could figuar out how I felt. He turned around.

He opens his mouth like he was gonna say something, but he just stares, his emotional state..happy, sad, confused, broken..The sudden stop of Daryl catches the attention of a few others, soon everyone is staring back at me. The time seems to stop as I look at the faces of my friends that I haven't seen in so long. Just seeing them made me want to break down, right here right now. It can't be real, can it? There's no way I found them. But there here, right in front of me. I gulp down my tears finally finding my voice, "What, no welcome back party?"

Rick is the first to step I'm my direction, he stumbles forward with his jaw still dropped. Missing people's touch, I squeeze as Rick wraps his arms around me. Small whimpers come from behind him, as soon as he pulls back a small pair of arms wrap around my waist tightly. Carl's tears wet my shirt, I squat down to his size wrapping my arms around him tighter. "Your alive.." he whispers. Finally letting the water drip from my eyes, I nod, "Yeah, buddy. I'm alive." He pulls out of the hug wiping his wet cheeks, "Daryl and Stephanie said you were dead.." I glance over Carl's shoulder, Daryl stands in the same exact spot, not a muscle has moved. I stand to my full height, "But I'm not." I glare at Daryl but he doesn't change.

Maggie comes next for a hug. Once again I glance around at my friends faces, that's when I notice.."Where's Travis?" Everyone's expression drops, they avoid eye contact and I assume the worst. "I-is he dead?" There was another silence, "Someone answer me," I demand. "He left. He thought you were dead..we all did. Tavis left a note, he didn't wanna be in the group without you," T-Dog responds.

I'm relived he's alive, but I wish he had stayed. Its always been me and him since we were kids, I wanted to get through this with him by my side. "And Stephanie?"

"Her and Jimmy got stuck in the RV, they didn't make it out," It sounds even worse coming from Carl, just him having to live in this world in general made me feel horrible. "Surprised you didn't leave her behind to," I mumble walking past Daryl. He turns his head but still doesn't speak. "What's wrong Daryl? You thought you killed me, that I wouldn't make it out?" The anger I felt toward him right now was more than I ever thought it could be. Sharply, Daryl turns his head, walking into the woods quickly. Taking in a deep breath I turn back to the group, "Anyone wanna tell me what happened?"

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After a long story about the farm, Tyler, and..Randle, we finally go on the road in hopes of finding a new home. I got in the car with Carl, Rick, and pregnant Lori. I want..actually I need to talk Daryl but I can't bring myself to it. After all he left me alone to die.

Carl fell asleep curled in my side, his mom was looking a little jealous from the front seat. We've been driving all day and its almost dark out. Rick finally finds a house he thinks we should stay at. All the kids and woman, besides me, stay at the vehicles while the rest of us clear out the house. We clear out a few walkers, deciding its safe we go to get the rest of the group. I turn to leave a bed room, running flat into Daryl. My breath starts to pick up, I catch a glimps of his eyes staring down at me. I quickly walk around him and outside. "Hey, you okay?" I feel Glenn's hand come to my back. I don't know why I feel so jumpy around Daryl, maybe cause he left me for dead, I think he hates me. Maybe I'm scared of him.. "Jess!" I nod my head 'yes' and the hand falls from my back.