𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒

𝟐𝐱𝟎𝟔

TODAY was gun training day, mainly because some people needed it. Not to throw anyone under the bus. I had gotten up earlier than yesterday this time, just in case I was needed for anything. I also didn't want a repeat of yesterday. Especially since I almost chopped off my finger yesterday and Daryl got shot by Andrea.

I was walking with Beth and Patricia towards Rick, Shane, and Jimmy who were eating peaches by the truck. Beth wanted to ask for her and Patricia if they could come with us to gun training. "You think he'll say yes?" Beth asked me on our way over. "Only one way to find out."I told her. "We'd like to join you for gun training today." Beth spoke up. Rick, Shane, and Jimmy then turned around to face all three of us.

"They need the training just as much as some of the others do." I backed her up. "Ara, Hershel's been very clear you know that." Rick lectured. "I can't involve any of you in what we do without his okay." He continued facing Beth and Patricia. "He doesn't like it, but he consented." Beth said. "Otis was the only one who knew guns. Now that he's gone, we gotta learn to protect ourselves. Her father saw the sense in that." Patricia chimed in. Shane than walked away and I looked in his direction to see him walking towards Carl.

"No offense, but I'll ask Hershel myself." Rick said before walking away. I turned over to Beth and Patricia. "I'll try and talk to him." I said. I jogged over to Rick. "Rick-." I started until he stopped me. "Ara, you already know how Hershel feels about letting them do anything with us. We are guests." He said. "But you know just as much as I do that they need the training. Also, if they know how to use guns the right way nobody else will get shot. It's a smart move." I explained.

"And I get that believe me I do, but without his consent I can't do it." He told me. I was about to respond until Shane walked over and pulled Rick over to the side. He obviously saw we were having a conversation. Asshole.

Before we left for training I needed to say goodbye to the people that were staying at the farm. I was gonna say bye to Glenn and Dale first and then Daryl since all three of them were staying. I walked over to Glenn and Dale since they were the closest to where I was. "Guys we're heading out, so stay safe and all of that other stuff." I stated. "I've got Glenn, I should be fine." Dale assured me. "Yeah, I've got him." Glenn said.

I hugged them both and hurriedly ran to Daryl's tent because I was running low on time. I imitated a knocking sound and smiled at him. "Hey there stranger." He looked up from the book he had in his hand. "You read?!?" I exclaimed in fake shock. "Funny. What are you doin' over here?" He asked. "Just wanted to say goodbye." I said showing a small smile. "Where you goin?" He asked. He had sprung up a little too fast and made a low grunt at the fast movement that ended up hurting his abdomen where his stitches were.

"Woah there. Don't hurt yourself. I'm just going out with some of the others for gun training." I rushed over to him to hold onto his shoulders gently keeping him confined to the bed in the tent. His arms felt bulky and strong under my palms. I checked to see if his stitches ripped or not and thankfully he was fine. "Luckily your stitches didn't rip and you look fine to me." I said. I looked at him to see him already watching me closely. He looked as though he was studying me with a predators unwavering attention.

Our eyes had been trapped within a game of tug of war, his sparkling blue eyes with my tawny ones. My eyes flickered down to his lips before they made their way back up to his eyes. He was still watching me closely and studying my every move until I saw his eyes flicker to my lips as well. From the look that glistened through his eyes I could tell he was hesitant and way too nervous to initiate anything.

Before I could even lean in fully I heard my name. "Ara! Let's go!" Rick shouted. Daryl cleared his throat first before I took a step back and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "I'll see you later." I said not making eye contact, only focusing on getting the hell out of there. Once I walked out of the tenth I mentally and physically slapped my forehead. "Idiot." I mumbled. I hoped that this weird tension between us would dissipate.

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The first thing the newbies were assigned to do was shoot at glass bottles. Patricia, Beth, and Jimmy had managed to get into gun training with us. How? I have no idea. Although, Beth wasn't shooting. But, kudos to them for making the cut.

Shane, Rick, T-Dog and I had been instructing Andrea, Carl, Jimmy, and Patricia on how to properly handle and shoot a gun, preferably with the safety off. Carol had been on the lookout for any suspicious activity, particularly walkers. Lori had been here mainly because of Carl.

I had been assigned to Patricia, T-Dog with Jimmy, Shane with Andrea, and Rick with Carl. "I'm not gonna lie to you Patricia, I'm more of a sword and knifes girl myself. Mainly because I've trained with those and also they don't make a lot of noise. Sometimes, you might need a more faster, and hands on way to kill a walker. Now obviously walkers aren't going to be as still as a glass bottle but, you gotta start somewhere. So, how are you feeling with the weight of the gun?" I started before asking, concerned for her well being.

"It's feels alright, it ain't too heavy or anything." She replied with her thick southern accent. "Alright, that's good. For newbies it's recommended that you start of with something light and small. Like the handgun in your hand. Now all I want you to do is pull the trigger. This is just a trial so, I'm not asking you to successfully shoot the bottle. I'm asking you to shoot so that you can feel the gun and get used to the sound of it. Newbies are usually appalled by the fact that you can hear the gun just as much as you can feel it. So go on ahead." I explained in intricate detail. I think the most important thing is that she shouldn't be afraid of the gun mainly because one day it could potentially save her life.

She shot the gun and hit the neck of the bottle and I watched as it shattered onto the ground with a smile on my face. I laughed out loud.

"I don't think you need me. I think your perfectly capable already." I praised.

"I might still need you." She smiled.

Since we were gonna be here for a while, I made sure to teach her everything I knew. As far as, aligning her eyes on the target, that since she's a righty her left eye is her dominant eye, proper form, and reloading the gun. I wanted to get the point across to her that this wasn't about me and my experiences, it was about her and the experiences she would go through in the future as far as shooting up walkers everyday.

I also stressed to her that walkers don't care how you feel or what you look like all they see is food. So, it's imperative that when she comes into contact with one she shoots on sight.

By the time I had explained all of that, it was thankfully time to go. Everyone piles all of the guns in the duffel bag and gets in the rides they came in. I walked alongside Beth heading to the car. "One day I'll teach you. You've got potential, they just don't see it yet." I told her. "You think?" She questioned uncertainly. "I know." I stated before opening the door for her to get on the car first.

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Glenn told me as soon as I came back that he was going on a run. I offered to go with him but he told me Maggie was going with him. I obviously made a sly comment to which he replied with his usual shut up. Siblings am I right? So I was helping Lori attend to laundry and other stuff she needed help with. I wanted Carol to take a damn break, since she never has time to relax.

"So how is your hand." She asked, sparking conversation. I hadn't even been thinking about my hand, for the past few hours if had ceased to have been a concern to me. Yet, it probably shouldn't have. "Umm..it's getting better, very slowly." I joked. "How are you doing? Has Shane been bothering you at all, because I'll kick his ass." I asked.

"No honey he hasn't, and I know you would." She said looking up from the laundry to make eye contact with me. "Have you told Rick?" I questioned. "No, I haven't." She answered.

"Lori-." I started with concern etched on my face. "I already know what your going to say. It's just going to cause a rift in their friendship." She cut me off. "Screw their friendship Lori, if he gave even half a shit about his friendship with Rick he wouldn't have tried to assault you. If Rick would've seen what I had seen at the CDC, he would've been just as furious if not worse. All I'm saying is just to take my advice under consideration." I told her putting my hand on her shoulder. She had visibly glossy eyes and put her hand on top of mine that rested on her shoulder.

Our heart to heart had been cut short when Maggie came bursting through the gate with vexation written all over her features.

"Hey! We got your stuff." She yelled. What the shit. "Maggie, hang on, please." My brother begged trying to catch up to her. "Come on in here." Lori said calmly. "Why? Nothing to hide. We got your special delivery right here. We got your lotion, got your conditioner, your soap opera digest." She yelled as she slammed all of the items listed onto the ground at Lori's feet. "Maggie." Lori uttered. "Next time you want something, get it your damn self. We're not your errand boys." Maggie cut her off. "Honey, I-." Lori breathed while Maggie grabbed something else off the ground. "And here's your abortion pills." She finished tossing them beside Lori before storming off.

I looked over at Glenn with a what the hell happened facial expression. He sighed and mouthed he'd tell me later. Glenn went after her while I looked over at Lori who still had a gobsmacked look on her face. I picked up the abortion pills off the ground and handed them to her. "Congratulations?" I said with a short smile trying to ease the tension in the air. She just laughed at me.

"Lori. Have you told Ric that your, you know, growing another human?" I asked. She laughed at the way I worded the question. I laughed with her and said, "Well does he?" She let out a sigh and shook her head. "I can't." She voiced. "You can't tell him this either because of Shane right?" I questioned already knowing the answer.

"You too? Was it that obvious?" She asked looking shocked. "Well not to everyone. I think it was just Dale and I. Don't worry about it." I assured her. "I thought he was dead. I thought that Rick had died. Shane was-." She started before I cut her off. "You don't need to explain it to me, I understand. I just think that you need to explain this to Rick because secrets can get people killed, especially now in this world. What about the baby?" I questioned.

"It's Rick's. That's all that matters to me, nothing else." She stated sternly. "Alright. You don't have anything to worry about then. Just be honest with Rick. Whatever you decide to do with the baby I'll support you and I'll back you up, because I understand your reasoning if that's the way you want to go. You keep the baby, I'll support that too, hell, I'll help make sure the baby has only good memories and knows he or she is loved infinitely. I'm here for you." I empathized while putting my hand on her knee and rubbing it affectionately.

She stood up and hugged me while crying, which prompted me to squeeze her tighter. I pulled away first to look her over and wiped her tears away. "Your not alone. So no crying." I smiled and she smiled back. "Now let's get back to it." I said. "Also, next time if you want to go on any runs just ask me. I've got you covered." I continued while folding the laundry. "Are you sure?" She asked uneasily.

"Yeah, why the hell not. I'm your gal." I reassured her. "Alright. Well enough about that, how about you and Daryl?" She asked. "I knew it. I knew you were gonna ask about him." I groaned. "Oh come on, it can't be that bad." She giggled at my expression. "Yes it can actually." I countered. "Oh whatever. Spill it." She urged. "We had a moment." I told her. "Way to be vague Ara." She smiled.

"Well I don't know any other way to put it. We sort of almost kissed earlier and now it's weird." I said nonchalantly. "What! Well what stopped you?" She exclaimed. "I had to help out with gun training." I shrugged. "What if you hadn't? Would you have kissed him?" She asked. "I think the real question is whether or not he'd of kissed me back. I like him and I care about him but who's to say he feels the same way." I wondered out loud. "Well there's only one way to find out. Just be honest with Daryl." She quoted me.

"Did you just quote me? That's not even fair." I pointed my finger at her. "Well, take your own advice. You need to talk to him." She told me. "Yeah yeah whatever. I'm gonna go put these inside since we're done for the day. I'll make sure to talk to him so you'll stop badgering me." I said motioning to the laundry that was nicely folded in a basket. "Good girl. I'll see you later and thank you for the talk." She smiled at me.

"Yep. Anytime, just make sure you tell Ranger Rick." I told her as I grabbed the basket and started walking.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS! We back with another chapter of Desolation. How are y'all feeling and how was your thanksgiving? How are we feeling about Daryl and Ara's ever growing relationship? Is Ara actually gonna talk to him? Til next time. This chapter was 2k plus words. I love you guys 3000.
-brayla❤️❤️