Unbreakable threads

Chapter Eighty Seven : The barn.

The joy of the moment shattered when another thunderclap rolled across the sky, followed by the unmistakable, eerie groans of walkers in the distance. The sound cut through the laughter like a knife, and the group instantly tensed, heads snapping toward the source of the noise.

Daryl stepped forward, his eyes scanning the treeline, crossbow already in hand. "We gotta get somewhere safe," he said, his tone firm and urgent. "When I went to take a piss earlier, I saw a barn not far from here. Everyone, follow me. Now."

The group didn't need to be told twice. The rain, now a blessing turned to a burden, soaked them further as they scrambled to follow Daryl down the muddy road. Alyssa stumbled slightly, her soaked jeans clinging to her legs and making it harder to move quickly. She shivered violently as the cold bit into her skin, her teeth chattering audibly despite her best effort to stay steady.

Noah, walking close beside her, noticed immediately. Without hesitation, he shrugged off his already-drenched jacket and held it out to her. "Here," he said softly, his voice almost shy as he stepped closer. "It's not much, but it'll help a little."

Alyssa blinked, glancing at the offered jacket. She gave him a faint smile, but it was clear she didn't think much of the gesture. "You're soaked too, Noah," she said, shaking her head. "You'll just make yourself colder."

"I'm fine," Noah insisted, his cheeks reddening slightly, though it wasn't clear if it was from the cold or something else. "You're shivering. Just take it."

Alyssa hesitated for a moment before finally relenting. "Alright, thanks," she said, pulling the wet jacket around her shoulders. She was too focused on trying to stay warm to notice the way Noah looked at her, his expression softening with something unspoken.

Daryl, leading the group, glanced back briefly to make sure everyone was keeping up. His sharp eyes landed on Noah's lingering gaze, and he narrowed his eyes slightly before turning back to the path ahead.

The barn finally came into view, a weathered structure standing against the storm like a beacon of temporary safety. "There," Daryl barked, pointing. "Get inside, quick!"

One by one, they hurried toward the barn, shoving open the heavy wooden doors and slipping inside. The air was damp and cold, but it was better than being exposed out in the open with walkers closing in. Alyssa tugged Noah's jacket tighter around her shoulders, still shivering as she moved toward a corner of the barn to catch her breath.

Noah naturally gravitated toward Alyssa as she stood against the barn wall, trying to rub some warmth into her arms beneath his damp jacket. He didn't say much, but his presence was noticeable—hovering just close enough to be near her without making it obvious he was doing so. Alyssa, oblivious to his intentions, offered him a tired smile as she adjusted the jacket. "Thanks again," she muttered, her voice barely audible over the rain pounding against the barn's roof.

Across the barn, Glenn caught the scene and nudged Maggie lightly. He tilted his head toward Noah, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like poetic justice, don't you think?" he murmured, his voice low enough to stay between them.

Maggie followed Glenn's gaze, her smile faltering slightly when she caught the way Noah looked at Alyssa—quiet admiration, mixed with longing, just like Alyssa used to look at Beth. It was bittersweet, the kind of irony that felt like a small twist of the universe. Alyssa had loved Beth, even knowing it could never happen, and now it seemed Noah had developed the same kind of hopeless crush, knowing Alyssa was gay.

Maggie forced a small, sweet smile for Glenn, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, it's somethin'," she said softly, though her thoughts quickly drifted to Beth. The ache of her sister's absence was ever-present, but seeing Alyssa in Noah's orbit brought it to the surface all over again.