rag doll | TWD

[35] self help

break my stride --- matthew wilder

♮♮♮
[POV]

The radio quietly played as Abraham drove farther and farther away from the church. Rosita sat behind him, running her fingers through his hair. 

"It's getting a little messy for you," She smiled. 

"Gettin' ready for retirement." Abraham announced, shifting in the driver's seat, "Relaxin' the grooming standards. Thinkin' about becomin' a plumber, a sheepherder, or somethin'."

"You ain't herdin' sheep now, Abraham. Eyes on the prize," Rosita leaned against the back of the seat.

"Damn right." He grinned, "That's my girl. Maybe I'll let you shave me down all over, dolphin smooth."

Rosita playfully slapped his shoulder, "I'll cut it for you tonight."

"Yes ma'am."

Tara glanced over to Eugene, teasing, "Hey, maybe Rosita can give you a trim while she's at it. Party's getting a little long in the back. Or is it your source of power?"

"I ain't slayin' a lion anytime soon." Eugene quickly answered, "I wouldn't be placing any wagers on seein' me dispatch a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass."

"Oh, so you'll just settle on saving the world, right?"

"Yeah."

Tara noticed his unusual casualness, "What's up? Last night?"

"Yes. That...and tomorrow." He told her, "And I'm thinking about that preacher and what he did."

Abraham turned the music up louder.

JJ, laying down in the two seats she had claimed, groaned loudly, "Can you turn that crap down?"

Glenn chuckled at JJ's irritation and chuckled, "What's your deal?" 

JJ sat up, raising her voice for Abraham to hear, "I'm just saying—some real music would be nice."

"Teachers were right...the ones who sit in the back are the most annoying." Glenn joked. 

The blonde rolled her eyes and laid back down with a huff. 

Maggie nudged Glenn with a small smile, "They're probably right behind us. Maybe Daryl and Carol came back right after we left. Maybe they took the map, found some cars and got on the road."

"They'll catch up." Glenn added, "clearing the way for 'em."

Maggie nodded, glancing to Eugene, who was a seat behind the couple, "How long will it take? After you get on that terminal and do what you have to do?"

"Depends on the number of factors, including density of the infected around target sites worldwide."

"Wait, target sites?" Glenn clarified. "Are you talking about missiles?"

"That's classified."

"I thought we were over that." Glenn sighed.

"What if we all live?"

JJ scoffed, staring at the ceiling of the bus, "like the secrets will matter then?"

"They might. Anyway, the speed with which things normalize will depend on a number of factors including worldwide weather patterns which were modeled without the assumption that cars, planes, boats and trains wouldn't be pouring hydrocarbons into the atmosphere this long. Changed the game quite a bit when it comes to air-transmissible pathogens."

Glenn stared at him, not wanting any more science facts, "Why the hair?"

"Because I like it. And no one is taking scissors or clippers to it anytime soon. Do you hear me, Miss Espinoza?"