Sharpshooters

Thanks, Grimes.

Dawn ain't what it used to be. Every day I used to wake up at the crack of it, always excited to prep for training and to see the boys. They were the golden days... It feels as if every night now, I don't get as much sleep; sometimes I am afraid I'll wake up walking dead. I suppose God has delivered us so much action now that sleep just ain't as valued anymore...

"Lex? Psst," a familiar voice cooed from above. I replied with a short grunt and at the same time, raised my hand to waft away whoever was speaking so close to my ear.

"Whaaaat....?" I moaned as my eyelids lifted and I fluttered my eyelashes to shake off any rheum around my eyes. The light, streaming in from the open windows, was utterly unbearable. It took me a couple of minutes to adjust my vision, but when it came, Lori was looming over me with a bundle of bright clothing and a glint in her eyes. A gift for me, perhaps?

"Wake up," she chuckled quietly, causing her head to bob and making her mousey brown hair, draped over her shoulders, poke onto my cheeks. I shook my head for a good few minutes in the events that happened after, which was mostly Lori's feeble attempts to get me up and walking. I gave up in the end and tried to shift myself into a sit. As I did so, however, a painful ache stung my lower back with the feel of cold, hard steel.

"What's the time?" I asked, spinning around to face her. Yawning and stretching my arms outwards, I reached behind my back to find the source of the cold spike in my back. After feeling around for a bit, I touched the hard clip of my pistol and tugged it out of my jeans before placing it on the table next to me. The leather of my crumpled jacket squealed as it unfolded from being compressed down all night. I really shouldn't have slept with everything last night...

"Early," she replied, placing a bundle of coloured fabrics on the top of my gun, "I brought you these, I can't guarantee they fit, but it's all I could find for now."

"Thank you, ma'am," I smiled and she returned it, "I really appreciate this."

"Don't worry 'bout it," she said with another smile and started to leave the vehicle.

"Oh! Lori?" I called to her, my voice breaking somewhat. She stopped and turned around to look at me.

"Yes?" She sent me a questioning glance.

"Has Rick said anythin' 'bout me?" I asked. Lori looked away, down at the floor, with an uneasy look in her eyes.

"It's probably best if 'y find out yourself," she nodded firmly, span around again and continued to leave the RV, keeping the door open for me.

"Well, that wasn't very reassurin'," I nibbled my baby pink lips gently and sat for a moment, pondering. Eventually, I stood up from the booth and started to strip every bit of clothing (apart from my underwear, obviously) off of my thin body, getting ready to change into some new clothes. Inside, the bundle contained a checkered, button-up, red and black flannel, light blue jeans and a loose-fitting, grey tank top which I layered under the flannel. Overall it fits well. The jeans were a little big around the lower-leg area, but I could easily solve that by rolling them a few times around my ankles. Taking a long look in the mirror upon one side of the RV wall, I sighed happily at my self, admiring the fit of each apparel. Thank you, Lori Grimes. And with that, I threw my old clothes back on the booth seat and swaggered outside the RV with a spring in my step and long, ashen hair wonderfully free.

"Lex?" I heard my name being called out. It sounded like Rick.

"Yeah?" I called back, only to find the presumed Rick moving quickly towards me. His steps were hurried and swift - kicking over every rock and sick that got in his way. Fuck, have I messed up?