In Love With The Redneck

Friends and death

The next morning I woke up with Andrea's elbow in my back. It was still dark outside but I didn't want to stay in the cramped tent just layin awake. I got up and walked outside of the tent only to find Carol awake setting by the now smoldering fire. She looked up at me and quickly dried her tears, "Hey, what's wrong." I asked setting down beside her. She shook her head and I noticed she kept her face shielded away from my view. I forced her to look at me.

"Erin, I said I'm fine." She said spatting my hand away. I looked back at her tent where Sophia and Ed were asleep. Ed did this to her and I knew it, "Please don't do anything, it'll just make it worse." I looked at her I reluctantly sighed and nodded. She smiled and starred at the fire again. I saw Daryl come out of the woods with a gash in his shirt.

I got up and caught his arm, "Daryl what happened." I asked. He shook my hand off but I saw him flench a little, "Daryl let me see."

"I'm fine sunshine just a branch." He said. I didn't believe him an he knew it. He sighed, "I slipped and rolled down an embankment."

"That's what you get for going out at night." I said trying to look at the wound under the shirt. He took my hands and held them to my chest, "You might need stitches, Daryl."

"I'm fine it's just a minor scratch." He said. "Now please let me go to my tent."  I sighed and he nodded a small nod. He looked at my hands that were still tightly gripped by his. He gave them a small smile as he gently and quickly brushed his thumbs over my last nuckles. He looked over my shoulder and slowly and reluctantly dropped his hands from mine and his smile fades, "You should get some sleep, Erin." He then left me and went to his tent.

I turned around to see Shane standing by the fire and Carol had left. "Hey Erin, what are you doing up so late."

"Early actually." I said as I sat down, "And because I can't sleep all cramped up like that." He looked back at his tent and shrugged.

"I have room." He said. I laughed, "What?"

"I'll sleep outside before sharing a tent with you." I said. He looked around before joining me setting by the fire, "And you seem to not get hints either."

"Can't blame a man for trying." He said, "Besides, your picks in men are pretty slim and I'm sure the other guy in the bucket," He said as his eyes flicked to Daryl's tent, "Isn't a better choice than me." He leaned in and whispered in my ear.

I looked at Shane and his face was so close to mine, "Yea well I'm not convinced." He smiled as he looked at my lips, "Kiss me and I'll punch you in the throat."

"I'm gonna get you to trust me before this world kills us." He said.

"Wouldn't count on it." I said getting up and sadly going back into Andrea's packed tent.
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Later I was woke up to yelling and fighting. I walked out of the tent only to find Ed yelling at Carol and Sophia as Andrea and Lori protecting Carol. Andrea was holding Carol and Sophia while Lori was trying to keep Ed back. I didn't see Rick or Shane anywhere and Dale tried but he wasn't any match for Ed's size, "What's going on?" I asked.

"Don't get involved in this girl." Ed said glaring at me. I gave him a 'are you kidding me' look, "This isn't for children."

"Then why are you yellin at one?" I confronted him. He looked at me and came closer to me, "Do you not realize that Sophia is a very vulnerable girl and your abuse is only making her worse, you need to grow u-" he went to slap me but I grabbed his wrist and dragged his arm around behind his back. Once behind him I kicked his knee out forcing him to take a knee and grabbed his hair, "Let me tell you something Ed, if you ever try to lay another hand on me or any of the women here," I leaned in closer to his ear, "A god damn walker is the last thing you'll have to fear."