𝐂𝐇𝐔𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐁𝐑𝐀

𝟐𝐱𝟎𝟓

IT was officially day four in the search for Sophia everyone was losing hope except for Daryl and I. I didn't really ask Glenn how he felt about Sophia so I hadn't really known. I woke up late and Glenn, like the great little brother he is, decided not to wake me up. I lifted my head up off the pillow and scratched my head. I rubbed a hand over my face as my vision finally came to and I saw a flower in a beer bottle. A white one to be exact. That sly little asshole brought me a flower, well I'll be damned. And he said if he had a crush I wouldn't know. Ok Daryl. Progress people, that's what this is.

I mean the flower definitely had to be from him. It's an exact replica of the ones I spotted him picking yesterday. I just might ask him about it... maybe. Considering he could just deny it and say I'm seeing things or something. Well I did just wake up so maybe I am seeing things but maybe I'm not. This is why I can't sleep because I let chaotic thoughts plague my mind. I sat up in a sitting position before standing up and stretching.

I yawned before sighing and getting out of the tent and looking around to see if I saw any one. Till my eye caught Maggie walking away from Glenn who looked kind of bummed by the interaction. I walked passed her making my way towards Glenn on the porch. I sat on the chair next to him and looked him over.

"Do I even want to know?" I asked skeptically. "Not even close." He sighed before sitting down on the chair next to me. I wanted to ask him where the hell everyone was. "Where is everyone?" I asked. "Some of them are out continuing the search for Sophia and the rest of us are here. Rick split us up into groups. He's with Shane and Dale, Andrea's with T-Dog, and Daryl went too." Glenn told me.

"Daryl doesn't have a partner? They let him go out there by himself? Why didn't you wake me up?" I ranted with a series of questions. "He's got a horse." Glenn mentioned. "Glenn." I stopped him in a serious tone. "Ara, he's Daryl, he's been out there alone and has always come back. He'll be fine." He said.

He wasn't wrong. I just don't want anyone from our group out there alone. I actually like these people...sometimes. Their also continuing with the search for Sophia, I wanted to be there for her. I get that Daryl can be out there by himself but even though I'd hate to admit it, I care about him and his safety.

"He doesn't belong out there especially not alone. I don't care about the horse. I just-" I said before Glenn cut me off. "You care about him. I'm not the only one who sees it. He does too, I know he does." Glenn finished. "When did you start giving me good advice?" I asked playfully. "Since forever." He responded.

"Yeah I remember that one time you gave me advice in the fourth grade about kissing Tommy and he told everyone I had the cooties." I reminded him. "Oh come on that's not fair! I said I was sorry." He exclaimed. "Whatever dumbass. I'm gonna go figure out what I can do to help around here." I told him before getting up off the chair and walking down the porch steps. "See ya later man beater." He said. I saluted him before walking away towards Lori and Carol who were putting clean cloths on the line to let them air dry.

"Anything I can help with? They left me hanging today." I voiced to them as they turned around to face me while flashing me smiles. "Yeah come on over." Lori ushered me over. "So you'll extend the invitation?" Carol asked Lori while she hung up another shirt on the line. "Invitation?" I questioned. "Carol thinks that we should all pitch in and cook dinner for Hershel and his family." Lori told me.

I think that would be pretty nice for us to do. I mean Hershel let us onto his farm, eat his food, and he saved Carl. The least, I think we could do for him and his family, is thank them with a meal. Plus, I could kill for a big full course meal because the apocalypse sucks. "I'm in. Why the hell not." I shrugged and smiled. I raised my fist for Carol to bump it and she obliged with a smile on her face.

I grabbed a shirt and put it on the line with the clamps attaching it to it. "Would just feel more right coming from you." Carol continued on, referring to their conversation earlier. "How so?" Lori asked. "You're Rick's wife. It sort of makes you our unofficial First Lady." Carol responded. Lori then looked at me awaiting my input on it. "I mean she's not wrong." I shrugged with a small smile on my face. "Traitor. You're supposed to have my back." Lori laughed before shoving me playfully, and I laughed along with Carol.

╚══ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══╝

After a few hours of prepping for the dinner for Hershel and his family we were going to get going. Everyone is coming back from the search for Sophia, except for Daryl. I was gonna find out where Rick was to ask him about it. If no one was gonna go out there and find Daryl, I was.

I spotted him walking away from Hershel and I took that as my opportunity. "Rick." I panted as I ran over to him. He turned around and faced me confusion taking over his features. "What happened Ara?" He asked. "Is Daryl back yet?" I asked. "No, I haven't seen him. Did you need him?" He confirmed before asking. "No I-." I cut myself off before continuing.

"I just wanted to know if he was back yet because I know he went with you guys. I should go look for him." I told him before going off to get my sword. "Wait Ara. You don't even know where to look and what do you want me tell Glenn if you don't come back? Daryl will come back don't worry." He assured me while grabbing my arm softly to keep me from going.

I sighed before really thinking it over. He was right. I can't just leave Glenn without telling him, especially not with the possibility that I won't come back. And what would Daryl think when he did come back and he knew that I was out looking for him. I can't afford to think with my heart anymore, especially not with those things walking around eating people. I had to be logical about this and think with my head.

"Yeah, you're right. I just want him to be okay that's all." I confessed. He put a comforting hand on my shoulder and said, "I know. I can tell by the way you look at him and follow him around. We can all tell that you guys like each other."

"It's that obvious?" I asked lowly while sighing. "Just a little." He said with a goofy grin plastered on his face. "Yeah whatever ranger. I'm gonna help Lori and Carol start cooking." I shoved him playfully. "Alright." He laughed in response before we both went out separate ways.

I walked into the kitchen to see Lori and Carol washing their hands about to get started. I went over to the sink to wash my own. I grabbed a paper towel to wipe of the water that was dripping from my hands and threw it in the trash. "So Ara, what's up with you and Daryl?" Lori asked all of sudden as she was getting the boiling water ready while Carol and I were cutting the vegetables.

"Yeah I was just basically asked the same thing by your husband out there. Nothing is up with Daryl and I. At least not that I know of." I told her. "Oh there is definitely something there." She stated. I looked over at Carol to see if she'd back me up. "I see it too." Carol agreed.

"Oh come on your supposed to be on my side Carol!" I exclaimed. "And I am, but everyone sees it too." She let out a laugh from the expression on my face. "Everyone is just the two of you, Ranger Rick, and my brother. No one else is paying attention to what is supposedly going on between Daryl and I." I said while placing the vegetables I had already cut into a bowl.

"Well I think you guys would be good for each other. You seem like the kind of couple that would balance each other out. And it's not like their are that many people to choose from these days. I say go for it. What could you possibly lose?" She asked. "Him. I could lose him. I like our dynamic too much now to screw it up. For all you know, he might not even feel the same way and rejection sucks. You'd think since it's the end of the world it'd be gone, but no, it is still a thing." I ranted.

"Just give it a chance. We see things too." Carol chimed in. "Whatever you say. Let's just get back to cooking for Hershel and his family." I said. Beth and Patricia walked in, asking what they could do to help and pitch in. We told them we could use the extra hands. So all five of us got to work.

While the rest of them were socializing I was trapped in my own mind. It's like I was trapped in the safe I kept in my brain to conceal my more personal thoughts. The two thoughts that were the most prominent were the ones of Daryl and my family. With Daryl, maybe I do like him maybe I don't. Their are times when he can be a jackass or other times when he can give me a flower in a beer bottle. These mixed signals are killing me over here.

And I thought Glenn had it bad. I just want to get to know him first, only if he allows me too. Daryl seems like the shy and reserved type of guy, but I could be wrong. For all I know he could be like his brother, which isn't something I'd go for because Merle's a dick. But, maybe he has this facade around other people because of his fear of letting people in. Although, I am the last person who needs to psychoanalyze anyone.

With my family, I just missed them. I missed all of the good times I had with them. I just wish that I could've done better. I could've saved them but I was too late. But if I can do one thing right, I was damn sure gonna save my brother. I'd put him before myself any day. I'd bare the pain so he wouldn't have to.

I had been so wrapped up in my head that I hadn't even been prioritizing on the task at hand. I had been cutting the potatoes and out of nowhere the sharp knife had slipped in the middle of slicing and sliced the middle of my finger.  I had felt a small flash of pain but hadn't really been too worried about it.

Then Beth freaked as she noticed the small puddle of blood increase in size and width and panicked. "Ara!" She yelled in her deep southern accent. I noticed Patricia, Carol, and Lori share a look of panic before stopping what they were doing. I looked down and noticed the indentation the silverware had left on my middle finger on my left hand.

I dashed over to the sink and turned the faucet towards the cool setting and hissed at the now throbbing sensation emitting from my finger. Well folks this is where reminiscence gets you, a mutilated finger. Wouldn't recommend, I give it about a 0/10.

Beth ran over and gently grabbed my wrist with one hand and had a needle and thread in her other hand. Well shit. Maybe I should stay away from knifes for awhile.

╚══ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══╝

So, I got my finger sewed up and was given some medicine from the stash we had. I got kicked out of the kitchen against my will. But then again I did almost chop my finger off so I guess it's to be expected. I wandered off away from the house, trying to find something else to do. I figured why not find something to do in the RV.

I walked over and saw Andrea on the roof of the RV keeping watch with a rifle facing towards the field in the distance. I slyly walked right past her inside the RV to see none other than my little brother reading a book at the table. "Someone's eager to occupy their brain." I announced.

"Well when it's the end of the world their isn't much to do. So, this is one of my best options."

I walked in the RV and sat on the opposite side of him to face him. "Well, I could always teach you how to use the sword." I suggested. "Yeah I don't know that seems like more your thing. I'll stick to guns or something." He said. "What if I'm not around. I just think-." I started before he cut me off. "If anyone of us is gonna be around the longest it's gonna be you. You're not going anywhere." He asserted, looking up at me.

"Alright. Well, you've gotta let me teach you someday." I persisted. "I'll try." He said. He then looked up at me and then noticed my finger. "Ara what happened to your finger?" He asked while grabbing my hand to look at it closer. "Oh you know I just sliced my finger in the kitchen same old same old." I shrugged off. "You were in the kitchen with mom all the time and you never did that. What's going on?" He asked like a concerned parent. "Don't worry about that. I should be asking you what's going on, your my responsibility." I stated.

"Ara-." He started before Dale walked into the RV. "Hey guys what's going on in here?" Dale asked. "Just returning your book and talking to Ara." Glenn answered. "You guys think Andrea's on her period?" Glenn asked us. Dale then put his hands up motioning for Glenn to be quieter considering Andrea was right on top of the RV. "Wouldn't surprise me." I mumbled.

"I'm only asking cause it's like all the women are acting really weird. And I read somewhere that when women spend a lot of time together, their cycles line up and they all get super crazy hormonal at the same time." Glenn said. "Okay. One, why are you reading stuff about that and two, is this about Maggie?" I questioned. Dale just stood there gobsmacked with a hand in the air.

"I'm gonna advise you to keep that theory to yourself." Dale instructed. "Yeah." Glenn sighed. "Who else is acting weird?" Dale asked. "Well my sister for one." Glenn joked. "Very funny. He's talking about Maggie." I smirked. "Ah, Maggie." Dale said coming to realization. "She started off being mean to me. Then she wanted to have sex with me." Glenn explained. "Mhmm." I smirked.

"And now she's being mean to me again. And I don't even want to know what's going on with Lori." Glenn continued. "What's going on with Lori?" Dale and I asked simultaneously. "Nothing. I don't know." Glenn shook his head. "Liar." I muttered. I was gonna drill him with a series of questions about it later. Glenn heard and looked at me and rolled his eyes before turning to Dale.

"All right, let's take this back a step." Dale started. "How do you know that Maggie wanted to have sex with you?" He asked. "Because she already did." I squealed. "Ara!" Glenn exclaimed. "Oh is that not..I thought we were telling him." I cringed. "I was gonna say it." Glenn argued. "Well too damn bad I said it already." I shrugged. "Oh, son, you didn't." Dale said. "Oh yeah he did." I laughed. Glenn cracked a smile from beside me.

"Did it ever occur to you how her father might feel about this?" Dale questioned going into parent mode. "She's 22." Glenn said. "And he is our host." Dale lectured. "It's not like he knows." I added. "Well your brother is gonna have to see to it that it stays that way. Jesus, Glenn, what were you thinking?" Dale continued. "That I might be dead tomorrow." Glenn said. Dale's face visibly softened until Glenn got up. "Thanks for the book. You're right, it sucks." He said before walking out of the RV. Dale and I sighed. He looked at me and I just hugged him.

"You look like you needed it. Thanks for the advice Dale." I patted him on the shoulder and he brought his hand up to rest over mine before we heard Andrea yelling walker outside. Dale and I rushed out of the RV. Rick jogged over and asked, "Just the one?" Andrea hastily grabbed the binoculars and looked to see it was a herd or if it was just one. "I bet I can nail it from here." Andrea said.

What the hell?! "No no, Andrea. Put the gun down." Rick advised sternly. Before I could even hear the rest of their conversation I ran to get my sword just for precaution reasons. I rummaged through the tent and found it lying there on the ground still in its scabbard. When I had gotten back I saw Shane, T-Dog, Glenn, and Rick running over there and I followed.

Man am I out of shape! I was breathing heavily while standing in front of Glenn carrying my sword in my hand. I looked over the walker but then I really looked closer and did a double take. It was Daryl. He was covered in dirt and sweat and was bleeding. "That's Daryl." I announced. "That's the third time you pointed that thing at my head. You gon pull the trigger or what?" Daryl said aggravated directing his question at Rick.

Then I heard a gun shot go off and Daryl fell back onto the ground. I ran towards his aid while I heard Rick screaming no behind me. I saw that the bullet grazed the side of his head. I grabbed his head to look him over for anything else and his eyes fluttered opened. Rick and I grabbed each of his shoulders and put them around our necks. "I was kidding." Daryl grumbled. "We got you, come on." I told him.

Andrea and Dale were running towards us. "Oh my god! Oh my god is he dead?!" Andrea yelled out worriedly. "Unconscious. You just grazed him." Rick told her. "But look at him. What the hell happened? He's wearing ears!" Glenn exclaimed. Rick yanked the ears off Daryl's neck and put them in the pocket stitched into his shirt.

Daryl's head was leaning on my shoulder and looked down at him briefly in concern. He better be okay. "Guys. Isn't this Sophia's?" T-Dog said while holding up Sophia's doll.

"Yeah. It is." I answered while smiling. This had to have meant we were close to finding her. One could only hope. Rick and I lied Daryl on a bed so Hershel could take a proper look at him and stitch him up.

╚══ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══╝

Daryl had woken up and Hershel was stitching him up while he was telling Shane, Rick, and I where he found the doll. "I found it washed up on the creek bed right there. She must have dropped it crossing there somewhere." Daryl told us while he made brief eye contact with me. "Cuts the grid almost in half." Rick told Shane and I. "Yeah, your welcome." Daryl said smugly.

"Is he gonna be good?" I asked Hershel. "I had no idea we'd be going through the antibiotics so quickly." Hershel responded. "Any idea what happened to my horse?" Hershel questioned Daryl. "Yeah, the one who almost killed me? If it's smart it left the country." Daryl sassed. I smiled while looking down and shook my head.

"We call that one Nelly, as in nervous Nelly. I could have told you she'd throw you if you'd bothered to ask. It's a wonder you people have survived this long." Hershel countered. I scoffed under my breath before getting up. "I'll come by later, when all the party poopers are out of here." I said to Daryl while patting his shoulder and walking out. I saw Lori sitting on the floor on the way out.

"You alright?" I asked her. "Yeah. I'm fine how's Daryl?" She asked looking up at me. "He's still kicking like always." I told her while cracking a smile. She laughed at that and put her hand on my shoulder. I put my hand over hers. "I'll see you later." I farewelled before walking down the hall.

I was helping to set up the table for dinner time since I couldn't do anything else because of my finger. I set a plate aside for Daryl to take over to him later. The tables were split up into two because there was quite a few of us. Glenn, Maggie, Beth, and her brother at one table. While at the other table it was Hershel, Patricia, Carol, Rick, Lori, Shane, T-Dog, Andrea, Dale, and I.

To say that this dinner was gonna be awkward was an understatement. This should be fun. After the table was set and the food was at the center of the table, Carol and I high-fived each other before gathering everyone else to get them to the table.

We were all at the table and it was definitely awkward. I mean the silence was deafening. You felt the tension just hovering over everyone. The only thing that could be heard was chewing and the occasional scrap of the metal utensils against the ceramic plates. I looked over at Glenn and we both just raised our eyebrows and grimaced at the silence. I looked over at Carol next to me and we both just sat there and looked very uncomfortably.

Then, my brother, like the little life saver he is, broke the silence. "Does anybody know how to play guitar? Dale found a cool one. Somebody's got to know how to play." He said hopefully. "Otis did." Patricia said solemnly. Umm I didn't think it could get anymore awkward up until this point. "Yes, and he was very good too." Hershel assured her. I had to get the heck out of here. I cleared my plate and put it in the sink for later.

I grabbed the plate I had for Daryl out of the microwave and started walking to the room he was in. I slowly opened the door and he heard and started covering himself up with the sheet. "Hey there Mr. Poison Oak. How ya hanging in there?" I asked "As good as I look." He responded hoarsely. "I'll take it." I said. "I promised I'd come back up to see you and I brought you food. It's super awkward down there." I continued.

I placed the plate of food and his drink on the counter beside the bed. "What happened to your finger?" He asked while looking at my hand. I caught a glimpse of his worried facial expression. "Nothing I can't handle. I just wanted to make sure you were okay and bring you your food." I responded. I walked over to the door and grabbed the door knob.

"Make sure you don't rip your stitches it hurts like a bitch when you do. Also, thanks for the flower." I smiled before closing the door behind me. I went back into the kitchen to go help clean up. I saw that everyone had ate there food and the only ones left in the kitchen were Maggie and Beth. "Hey guys. I wanted to see if I could help out in here?" I asked hesitantly. I didn't wanna mess up there clean up lingo or whatever process that they had set in place.

"Hey Ara. We're all good here." Maggie said while smiling at me. "Yeah, you've also got your finger to worry about." Beth added. "I'm sorry if I freaked you out with that earlier, I just had a lot on my mind and wasn't paying attention." I apologized. "It's alright. I'm just glad your okay." Beth replied wholeheartedly. "Thanks to you and your dad. Well alright ladies, I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight." I said waving. "Night." They said in unison.

I made my way over to my tent to see Glenn not there. Maybe he went off to go see Maggie. Yeah, probably. I took the sword that was hanging across my shoulder like a purse off and put it next to my bed. I took off my shoes and got comfortable on the makeshift bed.

Okayyyy it's been a little minute with the update for this book. It's been a minute for some of my books ngl. Anywhooo this was about 4K words and all that jazz. I'm trying to build up Daryl and Ara for the inevitable romance that they will have. They will definitely have their obstacles along the way but what relationship doesn't. I'm just super excited to see them blossom and develop over time. Whelp vote, comment, add to your reading list whatever it is. I love you guys 3000.
-brayla❤️❤️