𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐌 ➳ 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

Chapter 19 ~ Rick Fell Down

As Rick and Daryl talked in the front seat, my mind wandered. I stared out my car window, my forehead pressed against the cool glass. Hopefully, we'd find some more food today. Supplies were running low and the whole town was getting a bit antsy over it. Running my thumb across my swollen stomach absentmindedly, my thoughts were broken by Daryl.

"Don't. Don't! Please don't!" he told Rick and I glanced up.

Rick slid a CD into the CD player and it hummed to life. I grinned as Daryl just shook his head indifferently.

"Give me the downbeat, maestro," someone said through the radio and Rick began to snap his fingers, "I want to lay it on the line 'Cause everything I do, I wanna do it in double time. When I take a ride-,"

I let out a giggle from the backseat, watching their antics with rapt attention.

"Draws 'em away from home!" Rick shouted over the music and I rolled my eyes, grinning as the song played on.

"Well, if your music's gonna move me, well, I just gotta feel the beat..." the singer started belting out the lines and I tuned it out, leaning into the cushion as trees passed by us outside.

I don't know when I fell asleep but I was shaken awake by Rick. My car door was open and he stood above me, the sun outlining his frame like a halo around him.

"Hey." I mumbled groggily as he held out a hand to me.

His hand was rough but warm on mine as he helped me out of the car. I gave him a nod of thanks, smiling slightly.

"Daryl's already scouting around for supplies." he told me, nodding towards the run-down gas station behind us.

I hummed in response as Rick walked off to look for supplies, my eyes never leaving the familiar gas station. A sad smile lit up my face. My eyes scanned the area and sure enough, there was 'Ed', the walker I'd killed the first time around. I remembered this building very well. It was the one I'd met Owen at. Or rather been kidnapped by Owen, I thought with a wry smile.

Strolling over to Daryl, I began to look with him. He was walking around an old Coke cooler that had been left in the gas station parking lot.

"Yo," he called to Rick as he patted the fridge, "Give me a hand with this!"

Rick made his way over to us and him and Daryl both lifted up slightly. It was too heavy though and squeaked as it fell back on the ground.

"I don't think we got it," Rick said, looking up at Daryl.

I bit back a chuckle and shook my head at them, crossing my arms over my belly. Daryl walked over to the other side of the cooler and picked up a crowbar lying on top of it. He looked around before his eyes flashed to Rick's.

"I've got an idea," he told him.

And with that, he walked over to truck that had been abandonded at the corner of the gas station. Rick smiled slightly, understanding the meaning and made his way over to the vehicle before jumping in the front seat. He cranked the truck up and the engine revved to life. Daryl attached the cooler to the back of the vehilce with a chain he'd found lying on the pavement and it lifted up before falling onto its side, giving us a perfect view of the door on it. Rick turned off the engine then and hopped out of the truck before joining us. I tried not to notice how his tight jeans hugged his body as he walked.

"It's soda and candy? Why the trouble?" Rick asked, arching an eyebrow.

"It wasn't any trouble," Daryl shrugged.

I snorted, a grin tugging at my lips.

"Well, not for you anyways." I quipped, sharing a smile with Rick.

Daryl rolled his eyes in annoyance. Suddenly, Rick was slammed into the cooler by someone from behind.

"Rick!" I called out, panic seizing me.

Instantly, we grabbed our guns and aimed it at the assailant. My eyes met the intruder's but that's all that was to be seen of him. He wore a long black over-coat, a dark gray beanie over long brown hair, gloves, and a bandana over his mouth.

"Hi." he said simply, blue eyes shining from above the cloth covering his lips.