ELEANOR . NEGAN

023.

Thick smoke filled her lungs in a putrid and wispy way, like a cloud wrapping around a mountain—except it was her lungs, and painful. Cold air forced itself to leech onto her covered skin and seep into the material like some intrusive fucker. Not even her own arms could keep her warm, let alone the roaring fire in front of her.

It was like some Bear Gryll's shit. Elle managed to build a spot for a campfire, getting some dried sticks and kindling (whatever that meant) and she even managed to cover the edges with thick rocks so it wouldn't spread to her feet.

Only mistake was adding a lot of green on the blazing flame. It caused an eruption of black smoke to fill the air, and then to fill her lungs—it was really a choking hazard. It stung to breathe, but then it felt constricting when she held her breath.

"What the shit are you doing?" Elle looked up at the voice and tutted. She wasn't even doing anything questionable, unless you count questionable to be her bare feet right next to the fire with her hands rapidly moving up and down her thighs. "Get your shoes on, woman."

"I don't know who you think you are, but I don't appreciate the sass." Maya stuck her tongue out and sat down next to Eleanor. "Honestly, when did you get old enough to swear?"

"Um, since a couple of months ago?" Maya grew up in a fucking blink. Eleanor remembered when she left for a couple of months for a massive run through of the surrounding areas. She came back with a shit tonne of good stuff—clothes, toys, food, everything. It freaked her out when she saw Maya lounging in their Alexandria house, swearing disgusting profanities at a book she was reading.

Eleanor scowled her—Maya blamed it on her. "Just 'cause you're fourteen, does not mean you get to say such horrible and heartbreaking stuff to me." Eleanor frowned and clenched her chest, putting on a fake upset face.

"You're worse than me!"

Eleanor shook her head, "Me? Worse than you? I have the words of an angel-"

"You're worse than Daryl!"

Elle took that as an insult. "Please, Daryl got nothing on me-"

Maya laughed, "Exactly!"

The pair got even closer when Maya began to grow up and it was honestly the best thing that could've happened. A lot of people in Alexandria were focusing on rebuilds, building further out to try and connect Hilltop and Alexandria (or at least make it closer). Some of the main group went out on adventures for themselves—Maggie and Glenn off with that woman who showed up that one time.

Elle couldn't remember her name.

Daryl spent most of his time isolated from the rest, but he was always like that. It wasn't to be an outcast, or to distant himself, it was because he liked being alone. But at times, you'll see him around in the big, growing town, messing around with... Rick or helping Carol with her garden. Sometimes, he's just there to spook people with his quiet fucking steps (Elle was always the victim).

Elle herself though, she changed a lot. A fucking lot. She blamed it on age, of growing up, and then she felt vile about growing up so she drank herself to the brink of  oblivion. Rick had a massive go at her and she swore she had a hangover that lasted a week.

Carol brewed up some special remedy that Eleanor spat out at the very second it reached her mouth. The woman took offence, so Elle repaid her with a lovely (smutty) book. Carol was quick to shut up after that.

When Eleanor finally accepted that she was growing up, she began to change. Her decisions were no longer rash, or sour, or dumb. Her level of profanity... well, it didn't lessen. But she always blamed it on being from Wales; (people didn't take that excuse and just blamed it on her having a massive potty mouth).