𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗕𝗜𝗔- rick grimes

TWENTY THREE

TWENTY THREE

NIGHTFALL CAME QUICKLY TO THE three survivors. Stopping to take up camp in the middle of nowhere, a line of trees behind them and a grassy field surrounding them. Daryl made a fire, quietly and disengaged with the world around him, as Beth and Aria sat near a broken tree waiting. The air was crisp, chilled after the sun went down, a big difference between the hot day they just encountered. None of them spoke as they blankly stared at the fire in front of them.

Aria's skin was warm, thanks to the heat of the burning embers. Her beautiful blue-grey eyes held the flames in her intense gaze, not daring to look anywhere else but the hot heat of the orange and faintly blue hues it radiated. The fire consumed her as she placed her chin on her curled up knees that were directly against her chest, her arms wrapping around her legs to ball herself up even more. A simple way to comfort herself, provide a feeling no one here could give her.

Aria Blake crept her thoughts away from the demeaning and cruel ones that lingered over her from hours earlier. Instead, rather, she let them wonder down a part of her she stored tightly and unwilling to let go of, something that used to bring her joy all those years ago. She kept her eyes on the flame as it grew along with the memory that played out in her mind, one she could so distinctly visualize. It made her go into a different place, one of the past as she sat there feeling completely useless.

Four years ago, a thirteen year old Greyson ran along the green grass of their spacey backyard with a football in hand. The boy seemingly was able to run faster than the other boy, Tommy who happened to be Aria's best friend's son, he was playing with. The woman watched from the back deck, something the couple added onto the house by themselves, with a mixed drink in hand as she smiled widely at her son. The grill, a standard size one that wasn't the biggest, was sizzling to the side as their food cooked.

Parker Wright had managed to put down the spatula and tongs, placing his beer on the table outside, and ran towards the boy in the yard. He stood back as he held his hands out signaling for Grey to throw him the ball. Her attention was stolen from the three to the best friend, Lana Castel, who began to watch the food on the grill as the woman's husband, Damien Castel, joined the boys in the yard.

Aria met Lana, or Ailana, at a coffee shop during college. Aria was running late, something she hated, and the day was already a struggle. Her pants had a stain so she had to change her outfit completely, she ran out of concealer which meant she couldn't cover up the fresh pimple that grew on her cheek, her hair wasn't cooperating and she had a job interview that evening, she stubbed her toe on the corner of her bed, and then to make matters worse on her way out she stepped in a puddle that completely soaked her shoes.

Overall, Aria was a mess and thankfully the sweet tanned skinned girl working behind the counter let her have her coffee free of charge. After that the two hit it off fairly quickly, a delightful turn of events that brought her an amazing person in her life. After awhile Lana was introduced to Parker, and then Parker introduced her to Damien. They instantly hit it off as well, quickly becoming an item that led them to where they were all those years later.

Aria's smile brightened as she took a sip of her fruity mixture, what Lana called the "Lana Special". The woman's eyes remained on the happy boys in the yard, playing a game of football the best they could. It made a laugh escape her throat as she couldn't contain it any longer seeing Damien conveniently tackling Parker to the ground so Tommy could run with the ball and make a makeshift touchdown.