Jason's pov
Kasi sits beside me on the front steps. "How ya doin'?" I ask. She sighs. "What do we have left to believe in?" She asks. "What do you mean?" "I want to believe everything is gonna be okay. I want to believe we'll survive but dad getting bit completely proved, nobody is looking out for us. We're fucked. We all have to die someday so why not just end it now instead of living in constant fear of getting mauled!?" She cries, covering her eyes. I stare at her horrified.
*20 minutes later*
I'm running through the woods as fast as I can. I'm gonna go find her. What Kasi said drove the nail home. We aren't gonna be around for long. Our time is limited and however long I have left, I want to spend it with the girl I love. I run all the way back to their camp, almost getting my head shot off! "It's me!" I gasp for breath, collapsing onto my back in exhaustion. "What the heck!" She cries, running over. I wanna tell her but I just ran like 5 miles and need to catch my breath. "Did you get bit?" She gasps. I shake my head and finally get to where I can talk. "My sister knocked some sense into me." I say. She's confused. "Hun, we aren't promised tomorrow. We could die tonight and that's why I gotta say this. When I die, I want it to be with the woman I love. I wanna die by your side." I explain. She stares at me for several seconds. "Jason, you are probably the craziest dumbest redneck alive. And I've got two redneck brothers." She says, hugging my neck. I sit up and hold her close. I know her brothers ain't gonna be happy but I don't care. "What about your sister and mom?" She asks. I glance back in the direction I came. "Baby, they're taken care of." I say. "They aren't dead, are they?" She cries. "Yeah baby, their home." I mumble. She hugs me again. Then Daryl and Merle walk over. "Where's Shane?" I ask. "On a supply run with T-Dog." Daryl says, crossing his arms. I give her a questioning look. "We picked up a few survivors." She says, shrugging. "A few? How many?" "T-Dog, Carol, and Sophia." I smile and hold her hand. "Still got room for me in your tent?" I ask. She smiles back. "I think I can make some room." She whispers, kissing me. "OK, break it up!" Merle growls pulling her away from me by grabbing her arm. Oh man, I hate that guy. Then the newcomers return. Oh man, a little girl. Poor kid. "Who's the new guy?" The guy asks. Daryl walks over and waves me over. "Jason, this is T-Dog, Carol, and Sophia. Guys this is Jason." I wave awkwardly. She walks over after, pulling free from Merle. "Hey Carol you don't mind if he bunks with us do ya?" She asks. Shit! She's sharing the tent. The woman nods and puts a hand on her shoulder. They walk away to talk I guess. "I'm glad she has some girls to keep her not lonely." Merle says with a sigh. It annoys the mess outta me. "She won't be lonely. She's got me and I'm not goin' nowhere without her." I say, trying not to let the anger get the better of me. He turns around. "Ya ain't movin' in on my sister." He snarls. I smile. "You're too late." I whisper, walking away from him. He grabs my shoulders though, catching me by surprise. My first instinct though is to grab my knife. "What do you mean by that!?" He shouts. "Put the puzzle pieces together you dumb excuse for a hillbilly." I growl, pulling free, my blade in my hand. "You don't wanna fuck with me." He warns. "Oh yeah, right back at ya punk." I grumble, walking away toward her.
Merle's pov
He stands beside her. I don't trust him and I don't like him. "I want him gone." I whisper to Shane. "How so?" He asks. "In a way that she doesn't know we did it." I reply, glaring at them. He shoots me a knowing look then taps her shoulder. She turns to him and they kiss for a long time, thoroughly infuriating me.
Jason's pov
I can tell I'm pissing the older brother off and I'm glad I am. He's done nothing but try to pick fights with me since I met the idiot. The conversation ends so we go to her tent. "Do you really share a tent with that chick?" I ask. She nods. "We totally need our own space." She looks up at me surprised. "What do you mean?" She asks. I don't even know what I mean. I just don't want to share a tent with the other lady. I shrug in reply. The rv door opens and Shane pokes his head out. "Hey Jason can I talk to you a sec?" He calls to me. I kiss her cheek. "Baby, I'll be back in a little while." I say. I join him at the rv. "What's up man?" I ask. We go into the rv. "I'm driving into Atlanta to get supplies and I need you to come with me." He says. I don't want to but I have to pull my weight. "When do we leave?" I ask. "Sundown." He says. I nod and look to the left, seeing a guitar. Makes me wish I grabbed mine. Oh well this'll do. I pick it up and pull my pick out of my pocket. "You play?" Shane asks. I nod. Daryl's got a fire going. We join the others outside. I sit on a log, the guitar propped on my knee. I start strumming the melody to Brian Adams' Heaven. Everyone quiets down and gathers around to listen even Merle. I close my eyes and sing. "Oh thinkin' bout our younger years. It was only you and me. We were young and wild and free. Oh and nothin' could take you away from me. We'd been down that road before. That's over now, keep me comin' back for more. Baby you're all that I want, when you're lyin' here in my arms, I'm findin' it hard to believe we're in heaven and your love is all that I need and I find it there in your heart, it isn't too hard to see we're in heaven. You're all that I want you're all that I need. We're in heaven, we're in heaven." One of the strings snaps making me jump. They laugh. I set the guitar down. "Ya know it brings me a world of joy to see the things from our old world brought back." Carol says, eyeing the guitar. I smile and pull Miranda into my arms. "The best of the free life ain't behind us now and the good times ain't over for good." I say. "Mama says ain't isn't a word." Sophia says, holding Carol's hand, who looks down and smiles. "That kid is gonna grow up to be a bad ass just like his mom and dad." Merle says, ruffling the little girl's hair. Carol slaps him in the head. "Did I miss something?" I whisper. She's about to explain when Shane calls me. Time to go. As I stand up, Merle smirks at me, causing suspicion to stir in me. Something smells fishy. I better keep on my guard.
