𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐔𝐌 (𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛)

𝑇𝑤𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒

Dale reported that he had yet to find anything for me to write in, so I hung around the camp, trying to find ways to entertain myself while actively avoiding Lori as much as I could. Over the course of the day, the rest of the group filtered back into camp, without Sophia. Everyone except Daryl. 

Andrea took charge of keeping watch with Dale's rifle: She sat in a blue foldable lawn chair on top of the motorhome, looking out at the vast field of the farm.

With my baseball cap secured around my ponytail, I climbed up the small ladder on the side of the RV and found Andrea watching me pull myself onto the roof. Under her straw hat, I could see her icy, puzzled eyes look me up and down.

"Hey, by any chance, have you seen Daryl come back?"

"No, I haven't. Sorry," she said with a grim smile.

"Oh, it's cool," I waved away her concern and looked out at the empty field. "Do you mind if I take watch with you?"

She seemed surprised at my offer, but nodded and gestured towards the floor beside her chair.

"Yeah, knock yourself out."

I sat myself down on the hot surface of the motorhome, wishing that I had a chair like Andrea's. We sat in silence next to each other for a moment before she suddenly turned to me.

"Charlotte, I want to apologize."

I didn't say anything but looked up at her to let her know I was listening.

"I know that I wasn't exactly the most welcoming person when you first joined the group and I feel really bad about that. Sometimes, it just takes me a second to be able to warm up to new people." When she finished, her gaze fell to the floor and her lips pressed into a firm line.

"Thank you, Andrea," I felt myself grow a tiny smile. "I really appreciate that."

She met my gaze and flashed a grin of her own, looking at me for the first time in a way that seemed like she was actually acknowledging me. I was glad to have been able to start some sort of friendship with one of the women in the group. It was definitely an improvement from whatever relationship I had with Lori at the moment.

Andrea looked back out to the field and her smile suddenly twisted into a frown.

"Walker!" She suddenly shouted and rose to her feet. I followed her gaze and squinted, making out a distant figure straggling towards the camp.

"Just the one?" Rick asked from below.

"I bet I can nail it from here," Andrea snatched up the rifle and raised the scope to her right eye.

"No, No! Andrea, put the gun down!" Rick argued. Andrea scoffed and lowered the rifle as I scrambled to my feet.

"You best let us men handle this!"

My stomach lurched at the sound of Shane's voice and I suddenly felt nauseous. 

"I can feel myself drowning in testosterone," Andrea lowered her voice to me.

"Tell me about it," I mumbled back and watched Rick, Shane, T-Dog, and Glenn sprint towards the lone walker. When the men were halfway across the field, Andrea raised her gun again.