Down by the water • TWD

Truth and Down Hill.

Avery never found had the chance to talk to Daryl. There has been so much going on with Randall, Shane, and Jackson not talking to her or Carl. He's barely left the house, the only time he does is to help with cattle. He was pushing everyone away after the barn incident. Avery blamed Shane for it all, this only added a cherry on top. 

Speaking of Shane, he and Rick are out there right now letting Randall go. Well, that's how it's supposed to go but Avery doesn't trust Shane to let it go down that way. It's like no one ever notices how Shane thinks except for her and Dale. She was sick of it. 

She was standing in the kitchen with Lori, helping with dishes. She barely even noticed Andrea come in and stand off to the side. She could hear Maggie and Beth fighting through the walls. Avery could tell Beth wanted to end her life. She wanted to know why but was scared to ask. Maggie offered to bring Avery along when she was checking in, but Avery decided against it.

"Where's Hershel?" Andrea asked drowning out the banter.

"Maggie doesn't want him to find out yet," Lori answered eating an apple.

"It's a family affair. We'll let them work it out." Lori adds on finishing her statement.

"That's working it out?" Andrea asked in a dumb tone.

"When Beth stops fighting, that's when it's time to worry," Lori stated the obvious once again.

"You are being so selfish!" Avery heard Maggie scream faintly. Selfish. She didn't like that word very much.

"This could've been handled better," Andrea said sighing.

"I don't see you doing anything," Avery said continuing to wash the rest of her pile. Andrea scoffed.

"How so?" Lori swerved the topic quickly.

"You shouldn't have taken the knife away," Andrea stated blankly. What? Did that just leave her mouth?

"Excuse me?" Lori asked.

"You were wrong, like Dale taking my gun. That wasn't your decision." Andrea argued.

"She was trying to help" Avery responded.

"She has to choose to live on her own." Andrea glanced at Avery annoyingly. "She has to find her own reasons." Andrea continued.

"Want me to tie a noose for her?" Lori asked in a snarky tone.

"If she's serious, she'll figure out a way," Andrea said shaking her head.

"Doesn't mean I can't stop her or let her know that I care," Lori said back.

"That has nothing to do with it, Lori." Andrea tried. "She only has so many choices in front of her, and she believes the best one is suicide," Andrea said like she was Captain Obvious. 

"What do you believe?" Avery asked with a nasty tone.

"I believe what she chooses is what she should do," Andrea said looking Avery in the eyes. Avery wondered why she didn't like Andrea, but now she knew. She just like Shane, talks like him at least.

"That's not an option." Lori shut her down.

"Of course it is." Andrea shook her head again. "She doesn't need to be yelled at or treated like a child." Andrea expressed.

"She needs a loaded gun, right?" Lori fought back, Avery could hear the hint as if the same thing had happened to Andrea.

"You'll understand if I don't send you in there." Lori continued once again.

"I came through it," Andrea said offended. "And became such a productive member of the group," Lori added another snarky comment.

"Just let Maggie do it." Avery butted in again. She wanted to make sure Andrea got the hint.

"I contribute. I help keep this place safe." Andrea saying this made Avery want to laugh.

"The men can handle this on their own. They don't need your help." Lori spoke harshly.

"I'm sorry. What would you have me do?" Andrea asked even more offended.

"Oh, there's plenty of work to go around," Lori said plain and simple.

"Are you serious?" Andrea asked shocked. "Everything falls apart, you're in my face over skipping laundry?" Andrea spat.

"'Puts a burden on the rest of us, on me, and Carol, and Patricia and Maggie, even Avery. Cooking and cleaning and caring for Beth. And you... You don't care about anyone but yourself. You sit up on that RV working on your tan with a shotgun in your lap." Avery couldn't agree with Lori more.

"No, I am on watch against walkers." Andrea defended. "That is what matters, not fresh mint leaves in the lemonade." She argued more.