Living in Before

Vatos

Hours passed since Rick and the others left. Since then, Shane put another small bandage on my face and wrist, I took a bra from the pile of clothes the camp shared, and socialized. Since the Ed fiasco, a headache raged. I could take a hit, so I knew there was more to it. 'Maybe when my head hit the concrete,' I wondered through the ache. Walking made it worse and the sun shone ten times brighter than normal.

It wouldn't make sense for me to be atop Dale's R.V, but there I was.

I sat on the chair under the umbrella as Dale used his binoculars. I fanned myself, still hot in the denim shorts Amy let me borrow. Even my wife beater stuck to my back. In California, it was only select days of the devil poking us. Georgia had this humidity to it like he lived to breathe down our necks. I couldn't focus on taking watch as my stomach grumbled, urges to throw up stopping by. 'If they can handle it,' I thought, my head throbbing, 'so can I.' The group must've been rationing. It wasn't fair of me to give out so soon.

Dale huffed and shook his head. "Jim's still digging."

"Still? He's been there since morning."

"It's gotta be a hundred degrees out. He's gonna kill himself!"

"Or pass out. It's what I might do."

"Now, I don't mean to be rude, but you look horrible! When's the last time you've gotten some sleep?"

"My coma, Dale, I don't..." Instant karma in the form of an eye strain checked my sarcasm. "I haven't eaten in a while, but I'm sure you haven't either. I'm okay."

"Stay here," Dale commanded gently, "I'mma talk to Jim. I'll bring ya' a snack when I get back."

I waved in thanks as the old man left. Tortured by the sun's reflection off the white roof, I squinted and took watch like I was supposed to. My glock made my hands clammy, so condensation prints stuck to the polymer when I shifted. I knelt as figures pushed through the woods and my knee grew hot against the plastic. As soon as Amy and Andrea appeared through the brush, holding lines of fish, I relaxed. Judging by the amount of sparkling scales, the camp would be eating good tonight.

"Mom, look!" Carl's astonishment was cute as he admired the blonde sisters. "Can you teach me how to do that?"

"Sure. I'll teach you all about nail knots and stuff." Andrea noticed me and cleared her throat, facing Lori. "If that's okay."

When Lori scolded me, she didn't do it so privately, and gossip spreads like wildfire. By noon, all of camp heard it was "my" idea to send Rick off to Atlanta. First off, I was in no position to decide that. Rick had a good heart. Nothing I said would have convinced him not to go back for Merle. In the end, what mattered to me was that Amy, Shane, and Carl didn't believe Lori. In fact, the majority of camp didn't believe her and I learned Lori had a few misunderstandings under her belt as well. Apparently, Rick's wife had eyes for Shane before a certain someone arrived at camp. I thought Shane, being as I knew him, rejected her advances. I was sure he respected Rick enough to never do that, or at least wait a long time. Someone who shall not be named, Andrea, told me about Lori since she also had a thing for Shane. I kept my mouth shut, but I did avoid Lori. Andrea also told me Lori was grateful Rick wasn't alone after the hospital, but wary the person was me. I had no idea what she thought, but I can assure I disagreed.

Lori shrugged as if it was nothing. "You won't catch me arguin'."

I holstered my gun and cursed. I stood, groaning as my vision faded. The head rush didn't go away as my heartbeat pulsed over Dale's voice.

"I don't... alarm any-... there's a...problem."

I knew I had to get down. I panted as my tired legs carried me towards the ladder situated on the back of Dale's home on wheels. It became hard to breathe. I couldn't see straight and all noises stopped. As I bumped into the patio chair, I realized I couldn't leave my post.