The Rocking Dead: A New Beginning

Chapter 21: Leaving

Tom's POV: When everyone left, Eric and I went upstairs to pack. About an hour later when I passed Jelly's room, I swore I heard "Nobody's Fool" playing.

"Jelly?" I asked as I opened her door, "Sweetheart, why aren't you packing?" She was sitting on her bed, holding the record sleeve for "Night Songs".

"Is this yours and daddy's band?" She asked, showing me the cover.

"Yeah. That's us." I chuckled, leaning on the door frame.

"Why don't you guys sing anymore?" She asked, looking back at the cover of the sleeve.

"Well we are in an apocalypse, so I don't see it happening anytime soon." I said, smiling.

"We've got enough rockstars to form a band.
We just need a drummer." She said, trying to convince me.

"Get packing." I said, smirking before I walked back to our bedroom.

"She playing our album?" Eric asked as I walked in.

"Yeah. And she's trying to convince me to form a supergroup with the other rockstars." I said, continuing to pack.

"Why don't we?" He asked, stopping what he was doing.

"Because we're in an apocalypse Eric, we have no reason to." I said.

"Well maybe it would be fun for us, kinda like a morale booster. And practice should the world go back to normal." He said.

"You're actually serious about this." I said. Eric nodded.

"Yeah."

I went back to packing, but the thought stuck in my head. Maybe it would be fun.
•
"Michonne, we just need some time away." I explained, putting my bags in the car, "We'll come to visit and we'll help you guys out. We're not cutting ourselves off. We're still part of this community."

"Just be careful out there, ok? We don't need these masked people getting all of you." She said.

"We'll be fine, trust me. We have Blackie." I smiled, trying to reassure her.

"Tom." Eric called. I turned to face him. "Ready?" I nodded before getting in the car, Eric in the passenger's seat and Jeff in the back with Jelly. I drove behind the others, Joan leading the way to the sanctuary.

"Hey dad." Jelly called from the backseat.

"What's up honey?" I asked.

"What happened the other night?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, first off, what happened when you all went out? And why didn't Vince come back?" She asked.

We were all silent, trying to figure out how to deliver the news. Yes she's 12, but she's been through a lot, and she absolutely despises death because her real parents died. But we need to tell her the truth.

"Uh, Jelly," Jeff quickly took the reigns, "Vince, He uh—died while we were out."

"Oh." Jelly sadly said. "Well then, what happened when daddy screamed that night? That didn't sound like a bad dream."

"It was. A really bad one. But you don't have to worry about that sweetie." Eric replied.

"Jeff, were you in the band with dad and daddy?" Jelly abruptly changed the subject.

"Yeah, how'd you know that?" He chuckled.

"She found one of our albums." I answered.

"So, about that supergroup." Eric said.

"You can't be serious." I chuckled.

"What supergroup?" Jeff asked.

"Jelly suggested us and the others form a new band and Eric is actually considering it." I explained.

"I don't see the need for it." Jeff replied.

"Thank you." I said.

"But it would be fun." Jeff said.

"I swear to god." I mumbled. Jelly chuckled...