This Is Reality

Chapter 4

From where I was sitting, the pink colors of daybreak began to form in front of me. I stretched before I moved and ended up laying down to watch the beginning of the sky change. I didn't close my eyes, but yet I didn't get up because it was too early. When the sun was half over the horizon, I sat up and turned around to wake him. When I turned, he was facing me and quickly shut his eyes. When I saw this, I sighed quietly, grabbed my crossbow and went off into the woods in search of food.

I went out alone to soon be accompanied by Daryl.

"Why didn't ya wait for me?" He asks, as if I didn't catch him staring at me before

"Figured I'd let you wake up before you went out," I say as I load my bow

"You didn't sleep did you"

I stop in my tracks, "Why are you so God damned worried about me!?"

He doesn't know what to say now that I had snapped on him. I didn't mean to sound so harsh, but him babying me like that was getting on my last nerve.

"I was just lookin' out for you but if you don't want me 'round, I won't be" He states, his voice cold and harsh

"You don't know what it's like to go from bein' alone then finding others do you?" I ask him with an attitude

"I've been with these people since the beginnin'. They just started to accept me, I know how ya feel"

"No, ya don't Daryl"

"I don't know shit do I? Ya just like the rest of 'em and I thought you wasn't like 'em," His voice inferior, he was frustrated by me already, he began walking towards the truck

"Maybe it ain't me, maybe you need to learn how to accept someone like yourself" I say to him confidently with an attitude, then walk away in the other direction

When I said this, he stopped. I couldn't tell you if he turned around or not because I was already on my way.

I had stopped at a creek not to far from where Daryl and I fought. Soon Rick was at my side,

"Listen, Dodger, I understand Daryl is hard to talk to sometimes, but he will get used to you trust me" He says to me calmly

"When I look at him, speak to him, and see the way he does things, I just see myself and I can't stand that I'm like that..."

"You two have a lot in common, and people like that see differences a lot more. But the good thing is, you understand each other. No, you aren't like that, he just has his moments" Rick is trying to persuade me into coming back, and he might just win

"But he treats me like a damn child Rick!"

"That's his soft side, he isn't like that to anyone else"

"What are you trying to get at anyway," I say to him crossing my arms, changing the subject quickly

"I want you to come back with us and start over. Dodger, you don't know how much we need someone like you..." He says to me, pure confidence and persuasion in his voice

"Someone like me? You're kidding"

"No, I'm not. These people look to me as their leader and I can't help them anymore. Sure you and Daryl are alike, but you Dodger, you can stand your ground better. You can lead us," Rick looks at me, eyes full of desperation

"Rick, I don't think I can do that"

"Trust me here Dodger, once you get to know everyone, it'll be a piece of cake"

"Then why can't you do it?" I ask trying not to be so rude

"I have my own real family. The people in my group are my family, but my actual family, my son and daughter. I need a second hand now"

I ponder an answer before I speak, "I'll come back with you, but I'm not taking the job yet"

When I tell him this, he looks up at me, his blue eyes full of happiness.

"Thank you, now let's head back" He smiles

"Alright, I'm followin' you" I say to him

On our walk back to the truck, Rick gave me some background information about the group. He was telling me some mishaps that had happened to him, mostly the funny ones. When we arrived at the truck, I was laughing, Daryl looked up at him then quickly looked back down. Carl looked up at me and smiled, guess he hasn't seen happiness in awhile... Michonne just looks at me like I'm some kind of competition.

"Alright let's move," Rick says as he picks up his bag

"Why's she here?" Daryl asks, not even glancing at me

"I have my reasons," Rick states

Michonne grabs her bag and starts walking followed by Daryl, then Rick.

"Come on" Carl says as he starts walking

"I'm comin'"