The Mistake [Norman Reedus] Book One {{COMPLETED}}

Chapter 50

It had been a week and a half since we were about to go to Adin.

I spent most of my time in that crappy tent, being served breakfast, lunch and dinner all while watching Rugger's paws and legs out-grow his head and body.  It was so cute.  He would trip over his own, clumsy feet.

I still hadn't told anyone the secret, and it was killing me.  The weight of just simply having a secret just about took me down, but mostly what the secret contained.  It wouldn't just affect the people in this group, but the majority of-- wait, no, I can't even give hints.

I had also been spending a lot of time thinking about who was with me.  I knew that Norman was, but it was someone that I couldn't really point out.  Sean, maybe, but then I'd feel bad for Norman.  Again.

Well, despite all of that, I was doing well.  My wrist wasn't hurting much anymore and I was gaining my strength and confidence back.  I wasn't worried about stupid things (like the tape on the roof falling off and a storm coming through and flooding the tent through the hole, drowning us all.) anymore, and wasn't scared of going outside anymore.  Even though I hadn't gone out.

Things at the camp were steady.  I'd only heard a couple shots due to some Drifters (Which is what we call a lone Walker.) that wandered through, but other than that, nothing really exciting happened.

So, yeah.  That basically sums up the last week or so.  And, the whole week laying down gave me the time to think of when I could tell Norman, or somebody, about the secret.  Not to tell them and break the rules, but just to get the weight off of me.

And just as I vowed to tell Norman the next time I saw him, he came through the door with Rugger on a leash.

Good timing, N.  Good timing.

I sat up, wondering why he had come in, and gave a quick smile when he shut the door to the tent.  He let go of Rugger's leash, and the teen dog sat down beside me.  His tongue flopped out of the side of his mouth, leaving a trail of slobber everywhere he went, and he panted loudly.

"Hi." I squeaked, unintentionally.

Norman gave a grin and sat down on Sean's sleeping bag.

A silence fell over it, and Rugger laid down, closing his wet mouth.

"So. . ." I began, anticipating Norman to say something.

Norman laid down on his back, picked up a book that was stuffed in a side pocket in the tent, and began reading.  He didn't respond until later, when he got tired of me staring at him.

"What?" He asked, not even looking away from the page he was on.

I shrugged confusingly, "Aren't you going to say anything?"

Norman gave my question some unnecessary thinking, and finally shook his head, "No, I don't think so."

I sighed, relaxed my shoulders, and looked down at Rugger.  His (left) blue and (right) brown eyes peered up at me, and I rested my hand on top of his head, gently petting him.  

"Well, can I say something?" I asked.

Norman shrugged, his eyes still sweeping across the pages.  

"No one's stopping you."

I couldn't help but pay attention to the hint of attitude and agitated side of his voice, and I shook my head.

"Never mind." I said, getting up and walking outside with Rugger close behind me.

I surprised myself by walking out.  I hadn't been out of the tent in a while, and the sun hurt my eye's.  I looked around, and shielded the sun from me by putting my hand over my eyebrows.