Mine

NEW FRIENDS AND NEW FEELINGS

Damn! I am so tired of freaking dust! I have been cleaning my house from top to bottom trying to keep distracted. I didn't realize the house was this dusty. I have never really given it a proper cleaning since I moved in and now I know why. I am up on a step stool dusting off the top of the shelves the best I could when I hear a knock at my door. I climb down and go to open it. There stood a very pretty lady I have never seen before. She had long red hair and was in a Hogwarts t-shirt, leggings and flip flops. I find that odd because it's winter, but hey to each their own.

She smiles at me, "Hello, I am Crystal and I thought I might come by and introduce myself."

I hold out my hand to shake hers. "I am Ivy. I am still getting to know people here. Would you like to come in? I have some lemonade."

"Oh yes please, that sounds amazing right now," she follows me in the house and she sits down at the bar.

"Have you been in Alexandria long?" I asked her.

"Uh maybe about a month before you came in. I stay busy most of the time. I go out on runs with Rick from time to time. Otherwise, I am here tending to the gardens with Tara." She says.

I pour us two glasses of lemonade. "You will have to forgive me. I am all hot and sweaty from trying to get some of the dust out of this house. You wouldn't believe the dirt I have found today."

She giggles. "I know all about it. Sometimes I just say screw it to the dust and act like I don't see it."

I laugh. "I could see why." I was curious about this girl. I haven't really ever seen her around. "So is it just you? Do you live alone?"

She sips her lemonade and something sad flashes in her eyes. "Uh yes it's just me now. I did have a husband and a little boy, but ......." She trails off and I see her lip quiver slightly.

I feel suddenly very saddened, "Oh my gosh I am so sorry I didn't mean....."

She stops me, "No it's totally fine you didn't know. Besides, I can't just not talk about it for the rest of my life, It's going to eventually come up right?" she pauses for a minute, "How about you," she asks, "are you alone here too?"

I nod, "Yes, I haven't had my family in a while. They were gone before I even set foot on this side of the state. I have been surviving for a while on my own."

She speaks up again, "It is crazy isn't it? How the world is just shit now?" she sighs.

"Well", she continues, "Thank you for the lemonade". She smiles at me, "Would you like to...well....ya know....hang out sometime when you are not busy and I am not gone on a run?"

I liked the idea of a potential friend so I take her up on the offer, "Yes that would be nice. I don't really talk to anyone besides Tara. Carol looks at me like I am sprouting beans out of my eyes."

She giggles at this, "Oh yeah, don't take offense she looks at me that way as well".

We both walk to the door and she turns back around as I open it.

"It was nice meeting you," she says.

"Yeah same....see you later", I say to her as she walks down the stairs.

I shut my door and go back in to put the glasses in the sink. I realize it's probably getting close to 5 pm. I can always tell when I see the sun on certain parts of my house what time it is. You notice things like that after you no longer have a working clock. I run upstairs and shower right quick and I make my way to Carol's to pick up Negan's dinner tray. I find myself again standing outside of the door that leads to Negan's cell, tray in hand trying to pep talk myself into not being scared and not letting this go too far this time.....pathetic.

I finally gather the balls to be able to open the door and I head down the steps. I get to the bottom and get met once again with those eyes. He smiles at me and it's a genuine smile which makes me melt.

I smile back, "Hey Negan....dinner is served." I slide the tray down onto the floor through the cut out place for the tray. As I lean back up into a standing position he is still looking at me but his smile is gone. God dang why is this man like this?

"Thank you darlin, you wanna keep me company while I eat or do you have to run back upstairs again?"

I stand and stare at him. I can stay for a minute I suppose. I grab the chair sitting nearby and pull it in front of the cell. I sit down and my nerve is running wild. He picks up his tray and sits it down on his night table that's beside his cot. He grabs the bowl and starts to eat the soup. After several bites and intense stares from him to me he finally says something.

"So, what were you up today all day?" he says.

I study his eyes for a moment wondering if I should tell him but I realize it will do no harm, "Well, I helped Tara some in the gardens. They are really flourishing and getting too big for just one person to pick. Then I spent most of the day cleaning my nasty house, but nothing is really clean anymore with the dead running around. That's pretty much it, not too exciting."

By the time I finish telling him about my day he has pretty much devoured the entire bowl of soup. He doesn't have free reign to food like the rest of us do so I guess he can't eat slowly. He sits his bowl back down on the tray and downs the glass of water. I watch a dribble of water run down his bottom lip onto his chin as I absentmindedly bite my bottom lip. He licks the water off, but not before catching my reaction to him. This makes him get a shit eating grin on his face like he just found out a dirty secret.

"You like something you see darlin? Cause I sure as fuck think you do." He growls.

My insides clinch and I feel myself heating up which makes me shift in my seat. "No...sorry I was just..uhh...I have some things on my mind. God Ivy you are a shit liar and have absolutely the world's worst poker face.

He toys the inside of his jaw with his tongue and smirks at me. "uhhuh....well....we shall see".

I speak up before this shit can get any more uncomfortable. "Well I have to head out. It's getting late and I need to get back home to take care of some things before bed. I have a busy day tomorrow." I sort of lied, I didn't have shit to do tomorrow other than the norm.

I turn to head back up the stairs to once again run out of here like someone is trying to kill me. Before I can get to the second step he doesn't let me get in the last word.

"Trying to run out just when thingsget heated I see. Don't think I don't know how your body reacts to me. Ya knowyou can always late night visit me too, I wouldn't mind. I just want you toknow you don't have to be shy and the offer is there," his voice making meshiver. I continue up the stairs and out the door.