A Fresh Start

Chapter 3

I headed over to the group who were taking out the walkers by the fence.

"Hey Karen," I said when I got closer.

"Amelia. You're gonna join us?" she asked.

"Yeah. We should spread them out. Not have them gathered all in one spot. The fence looks like it could cave at any minute. Wouldn't want that to happen," I said.

She looked at the herd.

"You're right," she said.

"I'll get their attention and you all take out the stragglers," I said.

"You got it," she replied.

I grabbed a metal rod and walked further down.

"HEY!!! YOU SONS OF BITCHES! OVER HERE!" I shouted.

I banged my rod against the fence and watch the walkers follow. Once I had a decent amount of them, I began taking them out one by one. I heard the distant roar of an engine. I turned just in time to see Daryl, as well as the rest of the group going on the run, pass the front gate. I went back to taking out the dead. I don't know how long I had been there. It felt as if the walkers had multiplied since I had started. Pretty soon, some of the other people had gone inside. Karen made her way to me.

"You think that's enough for the day?" she asked.

I looked at her. I was drenched in my own sweat.

"How is it that there's more than when I started?" I asked her.

"I think you're a little dehydrated. We better get you inside," she said wrapping an arm around my shoulder and leading me back into the prison.

I looked back at the walkers that still lingered. Why couldn't I have gotten them all? Damn it. I hung up the rod back with the others while Karen continued leading me back to the prison. I was covered in blood. Not my own, but that of the walkers. I felt extremely sticky. We had gotten the showers to work which was a miracle in itself. It was a luxury that none of us took for granted.

"A shower would do you good," she said.

"Yeah, maybe you're right. Let me go and get a change of clothes first," I said.

I went upstairs and grabbed some clean clothes then headed to the showers. When I got back, Karen held out a towel to me.

"Thanks, Karen," I said smiling warmly at her.

"No problem," she said turning and leaving the room.

I moved in front of one of the shower heads and closed the curtain. I took off my clothes and threw them over the curtain rod. I started the water and let it run down my body. My aching muscles quickly subsiding at the feel of the warm water. I washed the blood off my body and watched as both the blood and dirt went down the drain. Once I had finished, I dried myself with the towel and got dressed behind the curtain. Didn't want to risk someone walking in. I dried my hair as I headed out. I felt a lot better. The heat had slightly affected me. The shower really did help. I grabbed my bloody clothes and went out to where we washed them. Beth came up to me when I was halfway to the washing station.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, walkers tend to send their blood everywhere," I said reassuringly.

"Leave them here. I can wash them for you," she offered.

"No, Beth. I can do it myself. Thanks though," I said.

We walked to the washing area. Some others were doing laundry as well.

"So, you and Zack, huh?" I said grabbing some soap and beginning to hand washing my clothes.

"What about it?" she replied.

"Is he a good guy? I haven't had the chance to interrogate him on his intentions," I said looking over my shoulder at her.

She smiled.

"He's okay. We're just having fun right now," she said.

"Define 'fun', young lady," I said.

"I'm not a child, Amelia," she said.

"That's beside the point, Miss Greene. Have you had sex with him?" I asked.

"If we have?" she retorted.

I turned around and looked at her.

"Are you?" I asked sternly.

She kept eye contact for a while until she finally gave in.

"No. I'm not ready for that, really. We're just getting to know each other you know. Unlike you and Daryl," she retorted.

"Hey. Daryl and I are old enough to make decisions about our relationship, all right," I said defensively.

She laughed.

"I'm glad you two have each other. Who would have thought? Daryl Dixon?" she said.

"Hey. He's a good guy," I said.

"You love him?" she asked.

"Of course I do. Why even ask that?" I said.

"Just making sure. Does he love you?" she said.

I scrubbed the clothes but didn't meet her eye.

"He hasn't said that he loves you?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter," I replied.

"Of course it does. How can he not have told you he loves you yet?" she asked.

"Look, I don't mind expressing how I'm feeling at any given time. Daryl on the other hand, he's not really into saying everything that's on his mind. At least not right away. And I'm okay with that. Because I don't doubt that he feels the same way. Maybe he just isn't ready to say it just yet," I replied.

She eyed me suspiciously.

"I think he should just man up and say it already," she retorted.

"He'll say it when he's ready. There's no rush," I said.

Once I had finished with my clothes, I hung them up to air dry.

"All done. Have you eaten something?" I asked.

"A little," she replied.

"Well, come with me to get some more," I said grabbing her arm and heading to the eating area.

We got some plates and took a seat. The meat was satisfying after being at the fences for a few hours.

"I need to see you eat something, Beth," I said taking notice that she hadn't touched anything since we sat down.

"You're just as bad as Maggie," she retorted taking a bite out of the meat.

"Well if we didn't care about you, we wouldn't bother making sure you take care of yourself now would we?" I said.

She sat back and crossed her arms. I stared her down.

"Fine. Jeez. Do you ever get tired of being right all the time?" she asked.

"Let me think...No," I replied with a big grin on my face.

She rolled her eyes and continued eating. I then noticed Rick making his way to the gate and looking shaken.

"Beth, I'll be right back okay? Keep eating please," I said.

She turned to follow my gaze. She nodded. I got up and headed to him.