This Is Our World Now -A Walking Dead Fanfiction

Chapter Ten- Corn

The morning goes by quickly as Danny and I watch the day pass from atop the truck. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we just sit.

After what I estimate is three hours, thr sun is fully up and it's nearing lunchtime. This time, I eat with everyone else, rather than before everyone like I did at breakfast.

Lunch is an assortment of canned goods and a few soups cooked over a small fire. The lunch line is like a buffet, but spread out along a long metal box found near our campsite. As I walk along the line, I drop some canned peaches, pears, and oranges onto my plate, along with a couple canned miniature corn. After grabbing my bowl of tomato soup, I find Danny and we sit down on pavement to eat. I pick up one of the mini corns and Danny wrinkles his nose.

"Those smell like olives....blegh," he states.

"No," I counter, "These things are delicious!"

He just shakes his head as I pop a few more into my mouth.

We finish our food, and as we are washing off our plates, I overhear some of the adults talking about going into the airport.

"Hold on," I tell Danny as I turn away from him and head towards the conversation.

"...stay here while others go inside to see if we can move our camp inside."

A man I don't know is talking to Mr. C, Ms. Gomez, and some other adults I recognize. I wait till they've finished, then pipe up with, "Can us kids go too?"

All the grown-ups turn to face me, probably surprised that I am actually interested. I get the feeling that they think we are all scared, which some people are, but I am definately not. I just need them to let me act like an adult. I can show them.

"Annalyn," Ms. Gomez cautions, "It is dangerous. I am pretty sure we would all rather you stay here where it is safe..."

I begin to protest, but Mr. C cuts in,

"Actually, I have seen Ms. Douglas here use a gun. I mean, I was her teacher, I should know. And I would like to see her try this. As long as she stays in the middle of the pack, I would like to let her go."

I stare at him in shock. Of all my teachers, he was one of the last people who I would have guessed would encourage this. But of course, I roll with it. These circumstances change everyone.

They tell me to be ready to go in ten minutes, so I throw a "thank you" at them and dash off to find Danny. Finally, something to kill my boredom and especially, get my mind off Nora.

I see Danny casually talking with a group of kids our age that I know from previous classes. I somewhat forgot that they might all be here. It's weird seeing people from my old life in this new life.

"Hey Blake, hey Maria, hey Michael," I blurt out quickly, "Can I borrow Danny for a second?"

They nod their approval, so I pull Danny aside and tell him,

"Guess what?"

"What?"

"I talked to the adults, and they said I could go with them when they start scouting the inside of the building!"

"That's great, Annie, but isn't that dangerous?"

"Yes. Don't be my mother. I WANT danger!"

"Annie," he sighs, "Just remember: Just because your family and best friend are dead, that doesn't mean that you have to die, too."

I look at him like he's crazy for saying that, which he is.

"Of course Danny! I just need to get my mind off Nora, that's all."

"Alright," he nods slowly. He then tells me to be careful, bids me farewell, and we part ways for now.