Down by the water • TWD

Time To Grow Up.

Avery turned around and went back to the couch. She forgot about the blankets and sat down. She was playing with her fingernails in angst. She looked up as she heard the floorboards creek, Maggie. She gave Avery a light smile and sat down beside her with a deep sigh.

"I heard you're conversation with Hershel." Avery broke the silence. She wanted to be straightforward. She wanted Maggie to know that they couldn't send them away.

"I figured." Maggie grabbed Avery's hand in reassurance.

"You can't let him kick us out, Maggie. I hardly know these people, they could leave me and not take a second glance." Avery was scared.

"I will do everything I can Avery, I promise." Maggie looked at her apologetically. "They wouldn't leave you, Rick wouldn't do that" Would Daryl? She let her mind wander. 

"Shane would." Maggie raised her eyebrows in surprise. She knew Avery was right. Shane never sat right with Maggie. She hated being around him, it made her uneasy. Maggie felt the need to change the subject.

"Have you and Jackson been getting along?" She smiled at Avery as she said it. 

"Yes." Avery replied nonchalantly, shielding her smile.

"Good." Maggie smiled and ruffled Avery's hair slightly.

"I'm gonna go for a walk. Can you tell Beth I said thank you for giving me a job?" Maggie nodded and got up to hug Avery before she went off.

"I won't let you be left alone again." Avery looked at Maggie. These words would stay with Avery forever. She would never be left alone again.

Right?

She walked down the steps of the house in search of anyone she could accompany. She wanted to make sure she had no enemies so they wouldn't have a reason to leave her. Well..except for Shane and maybe Daryl? She still didn't know where she stood with Daryl at the moment. 

She saw Shane roaming around the tent area but decided not to approach him after their encounter earlier today. She scanned looking for another option. She noticed Carl walking fast toward what seemed like Shane. Avery was curious so she picked up her pace meeting him halfway.

"Hey Carl, where ya going?" Carl glanced at her quickly not stopping to talk to her.

"I need to talk to Shane." Avery matched his pace and walked on the side of him.

"Can I come?" She had nothing better to do. Carl thought for a second before answering.

"Sure I don't care, just don't say anything got it?" Avery nodded for what felt like the fiftieth time today. They walked side by side until they reached Shane. Shane scoffed only at Avery as he noticed them. "Hey, Shane. Can I talk to you for a sec?" Carl asked.

"You okay?" Shane showed concern after glancing at Avery.

"Yeah." Carl replied. "I know you think Sophia's dead and that we should stop looking for her." Shane furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "But that's bullshit." Carl spat.

"Hey, man, watch your mouth." That's the only thing Shane cared to say.

"We're gonna stay here until we find her." Carl was persistent.

"You think that's what we should do?" Shane asked. He didn't like how Avery was listening to this. Invading on his business.

"It's what I know we should do."

"Then we stay." Avery thought back to Maggie and Hershels talk from earlier. "That means we got to do whatever we got to do to make that happen, hmm?" Shane questioned.

"Like help out with chores?" Carl sighed before asking.

"Like help out with the chores." Avery watched as Shane knelt to be on Carl's level to put a hand on his shoulder. "Carl. Come here for a minute." All 3 of us looked over at Lori who was only a little ways away. Avery noticed recently that Lori didn't like when Carl was around Shane. Avery wondered why. "Why don't you go see what your mom wants, huh?" Shane told him."Go on."