𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐔𝐌 (𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛)

𝑆𝑖𝑥

After wandering around aimlessly for a couple of minutes, I found my way to the mess area by following the hoots of laughter and commotion echoing the halls. I had suddenly become nervous to face everyone after my fainting spell, stepping quietly into the room and watching everyone converse around the dinner table. Even Daryl was smiling and laughing as he leaned against the counter behind the table.

"Little lady! You're alive!" T-Dog held up a wine bottle in his hand with a big grin on his face.

As everyone turned around to look at me, I spotted a variety of wine bottles distributed across the table. I could see why they were all so giddy. From his own spot on the counter, Glenn broke into a one-man applause.

"Glad to see you're doing well Charlotte," Rick smiled at me from his spot at the table and his son turned to wave at me. I felt a rush of heat climb up to my cheeks as everyone's eyes fixated on me. To my relief, Carol offered me a plate of canned beans and mashed potatoes, giving me something to do other than awkwardly stand in front of the whole room. I spotted Dr. Jenner in the back, silently drinking a glass of wine as he peered at me.

I took my food along with some plastic utensils and walked over to sit next to Glenn on the counter. Everyone had gone back to laughing and joking around, even Sophia and Carl were joining in. 

I gorged myself with the beans and mashed potatoes on my plate in what seemed like an instant. Having my stomach full and ready to burst was a comforting thing. It was only days ago that I was wandering the woods alone, certain that I would die alone and miserable. I felt a nudge against my arm and turned to look at the mug that Glenn was offering me.

"Oh," I took the mug from his hand and peered down at the dark, red liquid inside. I was never a big wine fanatic like the other women I knew who would religiously down a full glass every evening. 

"Come on, you deserve it," Glenn urged me.

I gingerly took a sip of my wine and grimaced as the bittersweet taste rolled down my throat. It had been a while since I had a drink. Glenn grinned in approval and drank from the wine bottle he had in his hand.

After Glenn had finished that bottle he found another one, keeping his mouth and my mug full of wine. It wasn't until I started to feel buzzed that I felt comfortable enough to laugh at the jokes and comments made at the table. I felt relaxed and at home, almost as if I had known these people my whole life.

I finished the wine in my mug and bumped Glenn with my elbow, signaling for more.

"Yes, ma'am," he slurred out and tipped over the bottle, spilling some of the wine on the floor before it landed in my cup. As I waited for Glenn to finish filling me up, I looked to the other side of the room where I found Daryl staring intently at me, his gaze lingering around my chest.

"I think Daryl's staring at my boobs," I turned to my companion.

Glenn's eyes grew wide and he set his bottle aside to stare directly at Daryl. I slapped my forehead and sighed.

"You're making it so obvious," my words drawled out. Glenn didn't respond, instead, he turned to stare at the same spot that Daryl had. 

"Daryl has a shirt like that," he said in a casual manner before picking up his bottle again.

I felt my stomach drop as I remembered that Glenn had told me earlier about Carol offering to wash the laundry for everyone. I thought back to the moment where I wondered why Carol hadn't given me a smaller shirt. I brushed it off because I didn't want to seem ungrateful by asking for a different one. She probably didn't realize it was Daryl's when she put it in the pile.