Mine

THIEF

BANG!

Everyone in the circle turns their attention from the two men laying on the ground to the gate. It was Rick. He shot his gun in the air and was bounding straight to all of us.

"What in the hell is going on here Daryl, really?!?" He says.

Daryl and Robbie both get to their feet.

"I caught this little asshole trying to steal shit from the pantry. I knew that is why stuff started getting low" Daryl nods towards Robbie, "He has been stealing stuff for months because the numbers never add up!" Daryl continues yelling.

Rick looks at Robbie who is standing there looking like someone just took his last piece of chocolate, "Is this true Robbie? Have you been taking the food and supplies that have been missing?"

Robbie stammers as he continues to stare at the ground not making eye contact with Rick, "I...well..some..but Rick I'm sorry we were just running low..."

"So instead of asking or talking to me about you  running low and trying to work something out you decide to break in and steal from your own people?!" Rick yells.

"I know Rick I'm sorry. I just thought...." Robbie gets out before he gets interrupted.

"You just thought? Well apparently you didn't realize the consequences!" Rick seethes. Rick looks and points at two of the bigger men who usually guard the gates. "You two, take Robbie to the cells until we figure out what we are going to do. Because if Robbie's stupidity we may run really short on food for about a month."

The two large men grab Robbie and haul him off to the cells.

"Let this be a lesson to everyone", Rick announces. "If you need things you don't just take. We are a community and we all need to work together."

Rick turns to me. "So did everything go okay with your first visit to take Negan his food?"

"Oh yes...not much to it really.." I lie again.

"Well good that may become your permanent job here then if he does well with you and you him." Rick instructs.

Well shit' "Oh, okay Rick however you want me to help I will do it" I say with a forced smile on my face.

Rick smiles and nods at me, "Thanks Ivy. You have been a real asset to this place. I appreciate it." He walks away towards his own house.

I turn and walk back to my own. It was getting later in the day now and I was dreading going back to Negan's cell later to take him his second and only other meal for the day. I needed a shower so I climbed my stairs and headed to the bathroom. I lock the bathroom door and strip away my clothes as I turn the hot water on to heat up. Stepping into the hot shower does a world of good. It's a way to destress, well it is for me and if there was ever a time I needed something calming it was now. My mom always said cleanliness is next to Godliness.

I smile as I think of my mother. I miss her so much. She was my life. My father was never around to care. He ran off way before all the zombies took over. My mom and I were so close. We did everything together. Which also brings me to one of my favorite things...Daisies! My mother owned a flower shop in the little town I grew up in. Several hours away from here. She had it for many years. I will always remember my mom bringing in fresh daisies. They were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I haven't seen one daisy since the world had gone to shit. I probably never will again.

I finish rinsing all the soap from my body and turn off the shower. I step out and grab my towel. I look into the mirror at myself. I am so much thinner than when all this started. I guess that is the case for anyone though. It's hard to find food these days. Still I guess I was okay looking, just kind of plain but pretty eyes. I walk out of the bathroom into my room and dig in my drawers for clothes. I get dressed and head back down stairs. I am guessing I have about an hour left until I take Negan his dinner. Great now my mind drifts back to him. Why does he intrigue me so much? I sit down on the couch and before I realize it I doze off into a deep sleep.