talk || book 7 of 'she's a dixon'

chapter 14

negan and spencer sat in the rocking chairs that were on the porch drinking together. standing close to the door i decided to listen in on their conversation. it started off with negan saying how much he liked this place. negan mentioned he liked playing pool, and spencer mentioned that there is a pool table across the street if he wanted to play.

negan suggested bringing the pool table outside since it was such a nice day. spencer agreed and pulled the pool table out into the middle of the road. once negan and spencer left the porch, carl and i replaced their spots.

all of the alexandrians stood in the road watching what was going down. " i could never do this with rick. he would just be standing there, scowling, giving me that annoying side-eye he gives me. now i'd love to play with little dixon, but she has too much damn attitude." negan said as spencer was setting up the pool balls.

"that's actually what i came to see you about. not about reagan, i wanted to talk to you about rick" spencer said taking the triangle off the table. this caught my attention. "alright, talk to me spencer. talk to me about rick" negan said hitting the white ball, causing the rest of the balls to spread around the table.

" i get what you're trying to do here, what you're trying to build. i'm not saying i agree with your methods, but i get it. you're building a network. you're making people contribute for the greater good. it makes sense. but you should know that rick grimes has a history of not working well with others" spencer said as negan continued with the game. "is that so?" negan said once it was spencer's turn.

after laying judith down for a nap, olivia joined carl and i on the porch. "rick wasn't the original leader here. my mom was. she was doing a really good job of it. then she died, not long after rick showed up. same with my brother, same with my dad" spencer told negan. "so everything was peachy here for what, years? and then rick shows up, and suddenly you're an orphan? that is the saddest story i've ever heard. good thing for you, he's not in charge anymore" negan said with his drink back in his hand.

"it doesn't matter, his ego is out of control. he'll find a way to screw things up, to try and do things his way, to take over. that's what he did with my mom. that's what he'll do again" spencer said hitting the white ball. i felt the anger brewing up inside me, and i started walking towards the front steps. carl grabbed onto my arm. when i looked at him, he shook his head no. i sighed because i knew he was right. i shouldn't do this.

negan took a sip of his drink. "what exactly are proposing be done about that?" negan said looking at spencer. " i am my mother's son. i can be the leader she was. that's what this place needs. that's what you need" spencer said.

"so i should put you in charge, that's what you're saying?" negan asked taking another sip of his drink. "we'd be much better off" spencer said to negan. negan turned around to face me. he had a sly grin on his face. "that son of a bitch" i whispered.

negan shook his head, biting the inside of his lip. i knew he agreed with what i just said. "you know, i'm thinking, spencer. i'm thinking how rick threatened to kill me, how he clearly hates my guts. but he is out there right now, gathering shit for me to make sure i don't hurt any of the fine people that live here. he is swallowing his hate and getting shit done. that takes guts" negan said facing spencer and then hitting the pool ball.

"and then there's you. the guy who waited for rick to be gone so he could sneak over and talk to me to get me to do his dirty work, so he could take rick's place. so i got to ask, if you want to take over, why not just kill rick yourself and just take over?" negan asked setting down the pool stick and approaching spencer.

"oh god, here we go" i whispered quietly so that carl could hear me. i knew what was about to happen. "what? no, no. i didn't-i don't-" spencer said starting to flip out. he knew negan was onto him.