𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝘽𝙤𝙙𝙮 : ̗̀➛ 𝙙.𝙙

𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛𝙛

   : ̗̀➛
   "Lori?" I stepped into the empty kitchen. She stood at the sink, drying off the last few dishes.
     "Hey. You missed breakfast.. did you um.. did you get it?" she whispered. I dug in my bag, handing her the little box. She quickly put it in the back of her pants waist band and thanked me. I felt odd, like I was wrong for doing this.
      "Does Rick know?"
      "No." She shook her head, "And you cant tell him. Nobody." Guilt washed over me, thinking of me and Glenns conversation. I nodded.

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      "Hey." I made my way towards Daryl, who was sharpening his arrows, sat against a tree.
      He gave a glance, which I took as a hello.
       I reached in my back pocket, pulling out the pack of cigarettes and tossing them to him.
       "For the pack you gave me."
       "Nah, keep em."
       "No no. Hershel asked me to stop, so i'm gonna."
       He glanced at me again again, fishing one out and putting it between his lips.
       "You uh... doing okay out here? Youre always by yourself."
      He just stared at me as smoke poured from the corner of his lips.
      "Well, if you ever need someone to talk to im here. I know it gets lonely."
     "I don't need to talk to nobody."
      "Whatever, dude. You wanna keep this mysterious act go ahead, but it's not gonna get easier."
       "Aint no act." He puffed.
      "Okay. Whatever, you wanna be miserable im not gonna stop you." I threw my hands up in defeat, stomping away. I could feel his eyes pouring into me as I walked away.

: ̗̀➛

      "Okay, this is the safety, it needs to always be on unless you are going to fire. Always." I directed, trying to speak over the gun fire. Carl nodded.
      "Then you wanna cock it back, and aim," I guided the gun, "and fire." A loud bang rang out from his gun.
      "Dang it." He frowned at his can still standing.
      "You'll get it, kid." I ruffled his hair. He reminded me of Jake. The brown hair, the freckles. It sometimes broke my heart to even talk to the kid.
      I walked down the line, joining Rick and Shane at the end.
      "Andreas a good shot."
       They nodded.
      "Thank you for helping Carl, Delilah," Rick said.
      "No problem, man. If you and Lori are okay with it then I am."
     "Kids gonna get the hang of it. He's a natural,"Shane added.
      "Cause hes my son," Rick stated, staring directly at him. I could feel the tension in the air, taking that as my cue to walk away.
     "Good job, Andrea, but make sure your arms aren't locked with a shotgun, you can snap em right in half."
       She scoffed, lowering her gun and giving me a dirty look.
     "Do I look like I need your help?"
     "Clearly since you have your arms locked."
     "How about you worry about sitting in the kitchen cutting carrots and puffing on cigarettes and Ill worry about myself."
     "How about you learn to shoot a gun. You'd think such a self proclaimed independent woman could take a little advice."
     "Ladies, let's all calm down, okay?" I felt Ricks hand rest on my shoulder, "Andrea, unlock your elbows."
     I let out a short laugh and walked away towards the house, shaking my head. I was in awe at what a big ego someone could have.
     I spotted Daryl, who was hanging squirrels on a clothes line.
     "Don't worry, im not here to be all kumbaya and friendship. I need a cigarette."
      He handed me the freshly lit one from his mouth and eyed me up and down as I took a long drag. I couldn't help but think his lips had touched where my lips were, I shook my head, wondering why I even cared.
       "Thought you quit."
      "I did until Andrea wants to throw a teenage girl fit over me giving her help. I don't know what that woman's problem is."
     "Ah, she just thinks she got something to prove."
     "To who?" I laughed, "I sure don't see the president around here."
      He let a smirk slip across his face, but didn't laugh.
      "Thanks, by the way." I nodded toward the cigarette, he gave me a 'you're welcome' nod back.
     "Can I ask you a question?"
     He just stared at me, but I asked anyway.
     "Who'd you lose?"
     "Huh?"
      "Who'd you lose? For you to act this way? Who was it?"
     "Ain't we all lost somebody?" He dodged the question.
     "Yeah, but not all of us act like this because of it. You lost someone real important to you."
      He cleared his throat, looking away from me before he mumbled "My brother."
     My heart jumped, I felt my stomach turn.
    "Me too." He looked up at me, sympathy in his eyes, "Both of em. My dad, my fiancée, my dog. Hell, basically lost my sister cause she hates me now, but none of them hurt as much as the ones who gets how you grew up... what you went through. We used to live right down the river, a small brick red house. I miss them everyday."
       He looked guilty, like he was the one that killed them. Like he was the one that left them behind.
     "Sorry bout that," He muttered.
     "Sorry bout yours." I flicked my ash.
     "Nah, he was an asshole."
     "Doesnt make it any easier, anyway, thanks for the cigarette.. and I stick by what I said.. if you need someone to talk to. I know I do."
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