Finding Sophia (The Walking Dead Fanfiction)

Forty-Six: The Party

It's officially been one year and three months since I last updated, and I genuinely want to apologize. I. Am. SO. Sorry. But, I'm officially ending the hiatus, and plan on continuing this story as long as it's read.

"You're sure you don't want to come with me?" I ask, clasping the necklace around my neck. 

Daryl lounges back on the couch, an amused grin on his lips, "I don't really think that's my 'scene', sunshine."

"And you think it's mine?" I all but hiss, though I'm smiling, "I'm going to the party to keep up appearances. The more they think of me, the more they think of us."

"You sound like one o' them spies in the movies." He sits up and motions for me to come closer. I clip the second of my earrings on and approach him. He grabs me by the hips and pulls me down so I'm straddling him, "I assure you, sweetheart, you'd have a much better time here."

"I'm sure I would." He pulls me down for a kiss, and I oblige, smiling into it, "But, I promised Deanna I'd be there. When I get back?" I bite his lip, and he grips onto my hips.

"Don't tease." He warns. 

"Whaddya mean, honey?" I joke, pulling away from him.

He puts on that infuriating little smirk, "Just you wait." I can't stop the shiver that travels up my spine, "You know, I like the dress, but I'd like it much better if you were out of it."

"You corny son of a bitch." I roll my eyes in an attempt to hide the arousal I knew was there. 

***

I ended up sitting on the curb outside of Deanna's house, a beer in hand and my heels in the other. Daryl had gone hunting with Aaron, the man who brought us here in the first place. I was practically starving, but I didn't want to leave the party entirely without someone else. And so, I was reduced to sitting outside on the curb.

"Shitty party?" I all but screech when I hear the voice, and turn to see Eric, Aaron's husband standing there, hands in pockets, looking lanky and protected and all too safe for my taste. It wasn't fair that they had been protected the entirety of the apocalypse, but that was the reality of it.

I shrug, "I guess. Some creep kept hitting on me."

He nods, slowly, as if he understood. I suppose he did. "You're welcome to dinner at mine and Aaron's. I, uh, I made spaghetti."

I raise a brow, "I don't have anything to give in return." 

He furrows his brow, as if the idea was lost on him, "I don't expect anything in return." He promises, "Aaron should be back any minute. We'll never eat it all, and I definitely don't want it to go to waste."

I hesitate, and consider for a moment before nodding. Dinner with kind people actually seemed to be one of the better options for today.

"Yeah, that sounds...really great, actually."

I shouldn't be as surprised as I am to see Daryl and Aaron standing in the hall of the house, but I am. And from the looks of it, Daryl's surprised to see me too.

"Andie?" He asks, looking me up and down. I must look pretty rough. My shoes are still in my hand and the beer bottle is hovering near my lips. 

I hand him the beer, and without question, he takes it and drinks the last of it. "Thought you were going to be at the party?"

"I was. It was shitty. Some dude kept grabbing my ass."

He's about to yell at that, but Aaron interrupts, "Dinner's ready whenever you two are."

At first, I do my best to slow my eating, but after a moment, I practically inhale it. Daryl's doing the same, and I would have complimented Eric's spaghetti if I weren't too busy eating it. I can feel Eric's and Aaron's eyes on me.

Aaron clears his throat. "I, uh, Daryl. There was a bit of business I was hoping to discuss with you."

I don't feel threatened when Daryl and Aaron leave the table, but I do feel threatened by the way Eric folds his hands and looks over to me, resting his chin on his hands. 

"So, what did you do before?"

It takes me a moment. Before. It seems so long ago.

"I was a painter. I, uh, painted signs." It sounded so much more sophisticated in my head.

"I heard that you were alone at first?"

"I was." I don't want to tell him too much, but I don't want to seem standoffish, "I'm so grateful for this place." Good, I tell myself. I'm hamming it up, but it's obviously working. 

Eric smiles, looking down to his plate, "I'm glad you think so. He's asking your husband to become a recruiter, you know. He's replacing me."

I raise a brow. Daryl was extremely fit for that, but I ask, "So, what will you do?"

"I'm working in the armory now. I put in a good word about your group to Deanna. Aaron and I watched your group for a few days, and I have to say, I...you impressed me. With the kids, I mean. I was asking if you would be the new teacher."

"You don't have a teacher?"

"We do, but she's ill right now. Lung cancer. They don't think she'll make it. And, honestly, we need it."

I bite my lip, "Okay. I'll do it."