𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 ➪ «𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛»

ch. XLI pt. II

oOo

Back at the interstate, decisions were being made.

Carol didn't want to leave, because what if Sophia came back and they were gone? And Andrea agreed that it would be pretty shitty; paraphrasing. So Felix watched them negotiate from outside the circle, trying to act nonplussed by the fact that even after everything, they still weren't mentioning his sister.

He was getting fucking sick of it.

"You know what? Foda-se." Felix's eyes widened at Diana's sudden cussing. "If you're gonna base all our moves around one person, then I'm out. In case you forgot, my little sister is also out there. I- I can't deal with this bullshit right now." In the midst of the surprised stares, she turned to Carol and said, "Carol, I'm sorry, it's really very fucking shitty that Sophia's lost and alone, but she's not the only one, and I'm sick and tired of this obvious fucking disregard." With that said, Diana walked away, leaving the others looking at each other in astonishment.

Oooh, she snapped. Damn, Felix never thought she'd go there. I mean, he was feeling it, he just never thought she'd say it. She used to have a short temper in her teens but had gotten pretty mellow as a young adult. It should've obvious this would be the kind of distressing situation that would cause her to explode.

He got ready to go after her, knowing she needed her space and time to unload but also shouldn't be left alone with that frame of mind.

Glenn crossed his arms and shrugged sheepishly, breaking the silence like he always did on this matter, "Not to beat a dead horse, but she's right. I me- I mean, we're doing all this assuming Alice is gonna miraculously follow Sophia outta the woods. I know our plan options are limited, but the least we can do is mention her name while we're at it."

Not exactly the best thing he could've said, but Felix appreciated the effort. He watched Glenn leave after Diana with a grateful nod.

Carol covered her mouth with her hand, eyes shiny with new tears, and Felix looked away, not ready to be guilt-tripped into caring. He wasn't Diana, with her constant need to validate everyone's feelings. The truth untold: there was little he cared about outside his family circle.

oOo

There was nothing out of Glenn's mouth that Diana hadn't thought to herself before to calm herself. Still, she appreciated the comfort he was willing to give her. But also, none of it eased her righteous indignation.

For the time being, she was willing to push aside her own feelings so that she could be objective and contribute to the group. She refused to be pitied and refused to be deemed useless.

When she and Glenn came back, Daryl had come up with an alternative plan. Dale, Carol, and Felix would remain at the interstate with the RV, in case either of the two girls showed up. Daryl and a volunteered Andrea would go do a nightly sweep of some forest areas they might not have covered before. And it was intended that she, Glenn, and T-Dog would go to the Greene farmhouse.

Diana tried to argue that she'd rather go search for the girls, but Daryl countered that she was too close to the subject, she needed to distance herself a little. She knew he meant it for her own good, but she still felt pissed off at him for assuming things about her on her behalf.

Andrea, trying to appeal to her nurturing nature, made sure to point out that Carl was injured and might need her help, not only that, but the Grimes might need a friendly face, ergo, her friendly face, during such trying times.

Very reluctantly, Diana gave in. But only under the condition that Felix went with her. They agreed.

oOo