Sweet and Salty ~ Carl Grimes

Stowaway... Part 2? - 079

Okay! It's question time, y'all! I'm not saying I'm gonna do it... But, I'm also not saying that I won't do it... And, if I did do it, it wouldn't be until after the Sweet and Salty series is over, ya get me? But, would anyone be interested in a WLW Michonne X OC story? Because Michonne is so mother and people sleep on her too much, and I have this idea that idk if I'll do, but if I did... Would anyone be actually interested or would I be talking to a wall?

Brooks sat on the cold, hard ground of her room reading a book on seahorses. She'd grabbed it along with a romance novel that was on her desk, she wouldn't read it, but she used that book to disguise the one she actually wanted to read. Most people would've died of boredom before they got to the end of the first page, but Brooks was six chapters in and smiling so brightly her cheeks had gone numb. For Brooks, reading always made everything about life feel so much better. High expectations for a book on seahorses, but learning the male carry their young was so much better than any social event.

There was suddenly a knock at her door, which made her groan in frustration and throw her head back. "Yea?" Brooks called out, huffing in annoyance.

The door opened and it revealed Daryl. "Whatcha doin'?" He asked, shutting the door behind him as he approached.

"Bakin' a cake." Brooks responded sarcastically, with a smile just as sarcastic. 

He chuckled, sitting on her bed, facing her. "Put the book down a minute, Brookie, I wanna talk to you." She did as he said, taking off her glasses to mark her page, before she looked up at him expectedly. He swallowed thickly, and linked his fingers together. "I got a job."

"First time for everythin'." Brooks acknowledged.

Daryl scoffed. "I had a job before the fall..." He trailed off, thinking about it. "Okay, it wasn't useful to society, but I had a job!"

"Sittin' 'round drinkin' beers 'n' doin' drugs, scroungin' money off your mechanic friend, who lowkey launders money, is not a job." Brooks deadpanned.

Rolling his eyes, Daryl threw his hands up slightly. "Whatever, not what I came 'ere to talk 'bout."

"Then talk, man, I got a book to read." Brooks complained, crossing her arms over her chest.

Daryl ran a hand through his hair, before he continued. "I... I'm goin' out with Aaron. Recruitin' people, to come back 'ere." Daryl said, watching as Brooks shifted uncomfortably and sat up straighter. "I don't belong in 'ere. I belong out there, and so I'm gonna go help Aaron. Eric's out cause of 'is ankle, he can't do it by 'imself, and I'm good out there."

"Can I come?" Brooks suddenly asked, taking Daryl by surprise.

His eyebrows furrowed in shock. "What? You hated living out there, you were exhausted constantly, 'n' scared, always lookin' over your shoulder. Your smiles wasn't foolin' me, sweetheart."

"I know, but there's so many people in 'ere, Daryl. I'm not used to this type of livin', the big houses, the parties, the crowds. I'd rather be out there, please! It'd be a break."

Daryl shook his head, scoffing his answer. "Nah, ain't happenin'. You're just a little girl-"

"God, would you stop sayin' that!" Brooks shouted, raising to her feet. "I ain't no little girl!"

Daryl squeezed his hands tighter, doing his best not to shout at her. "You ain't comin', it ain't safe. You're safe in 'ere."

"But, I'm miserable in 'ere!"

"No, you ain't! In 'ere is the first time I've actually seen a real smile on your face! For the first time in over a year, you're actually laughin', 'n' you're actually smilin'! I ain't takin' that away!"