Daring Dixon (A Daryl Dixon fanfiction)

Chapter 5

The next morning, I got up earlier than I would've liked. But I knew that we had to clean up the mess from last night. I got up, stretching, and pulled one of my two pairs of jeans and a t-shirt. I unzipped my tent and found that only a few people were up. Lori was making breakfast, Shane was sitting, waiting for his food, and Andrea was still lying next to Amy. She must've been there all night.

I walked over to the fire pit, sitting down next to Shane. "Morning," I said.

"Good morning," he replied, giving me a smile. "After we eat, I need to go up and dig more graves for our losses. I could use some help if you don't mind," Shane offered.

"Of course," I said, giving him a smile. I got up and walked over to Lori to see if she needed help.

"Sure," she said, handing me a spoon to stir something in a large pot. After giving a look over her shoulder, she turned to her work, but addressed me. "You and Shane, huh?" she asked.

"No, we're just-"

"If you think that you and Shane are just friends, you better think again. Look, Rosaline, I know you don't want to listen to me but here is the bottom line: Shane is nothing but trouble. And if you can't take my word for it, ask Rick about some of the things Shane did in high school. He is nothing but trouble," she repeated.

"Lori, there is nothing between Shane and I, okay? Calm down. I'm not looking for a relationship now. If you can't tell, nothing is surviving here," I snapped.

Lori sighed. "I just want to make sure you don't fall for his tricks."

"You sound like you have yourself," I said. She remained silent. I shook my head, but continued cooking.

By the time the food was ready, most everyone was up and moving, although some were slower than others. Shane, Lori, Carl, Rick, Carol, Sophia and I all sat together to eat breakfast. We were finishing up when Daryl walked by, grabbing himself a plate.

"Well, it's about time," I said, smiling over at him. He scowled and stalked back off to his tent.

"Great, now he's pissed at me again," I said under my breath.

I finished up with my breakfast and then Shane and I went up to dig more graves. We stayed quiet, I mostly because I couldn't talk with the humidity suffocating me. I dug one, then decided to take a break. Shane climbed out of his grave, pulled out a jug of water from his Jeep, which we had rode up in, and gulped down a bunch. He handed it to me and I swallowed a similar amount.

"So, you and Daryl, huh?" he asked.

"God, why does everyone think I'm with someone?" I demanded. "I'm not with anyone. Never will be. For goodness sakes, look around you. Do you see an environment that could sustain a healthy relationship? I don't think so," I defended.

"I'm sorry. You just look at him differently," Shane said.

I handed him back the jug, and picked up my shovel. I started digging a second grave when the sound of a truck came rolling up the hill. Daryl pulled in backwards so we could place the bodies in the grave easier. I helped lower them down into their graves. Tears brimmed in my eyes. I didn't know these people, but they must've meant something to someone. I wiped the tears from my face and then tried my best to hold them back.

"Mind if I hitch a ride?" I asked Daryl through the open passenger seat window.

"Where you going?" Shane demanded.

"Back to camp. I want to clean up then see what we are doing after this," I said, hopping in the cab of the truck. Daryl sped off, and I waved back to Shane. He didn't seem happy.