Condemned. Sequel to 'Don't Look Back'

Chapter 19

Rayne's pov

"You look ridiculous." Daryl called after Carol.

Daryl and I were sitting on her porch, Daryl cleaning his bow and I was twirling my knife. I found that spending time with Daryl was therapeutic. He still hadn't taken a shower though, which was one thing I wish he would've changed. But, nonetheless, he kept it real. He even persuaded me to rip the sleeves off of my shirt, he said something about keeping my edge and whatnot.

"I'll hose you down in your sleep." Carol said and walked away. I smiled and turned to Daryl.

"She does look ridiculous." He nodded and focused back on his crossbow.

"Hey, why don't you come with me?" Jessie asked as she walked by the house. I looked to Daryl and he nodded, so I put my knife back in its holster and stalked down to where she stood. Jessie was one I was warming up to, though not much.

"Let's go back to my house, I can fix you up with a trim." She said and I nodded. I walked beside her in almost complete silence, but she wasn't going to have it.

"So, Rayne right?"

"Yeah." I said and she nodded.

"Rayne, Ron told me you weren't going to be going to school." I shook my head.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because last time I went to 'school', the place burned to the ground, and burnt me in the process." I said and showed her my arm. I heard a small gasp come from her, but she hid it well. I met her eyes, and softened my gaze, she was just trying to be nice, the least I could do was try.

"Well, I'm sorry that happened, you're safe here." She said and I nodded. We walked up the stairs to her house and I followed her into the kitchen. Her young son was in there, playing with a toy car. I smiled at him and he just stared back at me. I looked away, becoming uncomfortable.

"Alright, well, take a seat, and I'll trim up those ends." She patted a chair and I sat down. I felt the cold water spray my back and I heard the trim of scissors.

"Ron told me you left early the other day."

"Yeah." I said.

"What was that about? He said you just left without a word." I decided in order to move forward with this place, I need to open up sometimes.

"I'm not accepted like Carl is. He knows how to hide his feelings, I don't. It's just too much for me to handle. I don't think they like me very well." I said, playing with my thumbs.

"They're just curious, once you're around them, you'll adjust." She said and the clips seized. I nodded and turned back to face her.

"Thank you." I smiled, and she nodded.

"They should be home tonight, if you guys wanted to come over." She offered.

"I'll think about it." I said and walked out of her house, feeling the cool breeze.

I saw people rush to the entrance so I followed suit. I saw Glenn and one of the Alexandrians gearing up for a fight. I put my hands on my hips and watched how this was going to play out.

"Look man, nobody's impressed, walk away." Glenn said, but the other guy shook his head. Deanna stormed passed me,

"Aidan." She yelled, her heels clicking on the asphalt.

"What's going on here?" She demanded. I looked to the other survivors, and they just stared at the two in front of the gates.

"He's gotta problem with how we do things around here. Why'd you let these people in?" Aidan asked, and I raised my eyebrows.