DERANGED (R. Grimes)°

Chapter 19 "good day"

I took all my things out of the tent, placing them down, as I did so I kicked one peg up, turning around and taking out the rest, once I did and had circled around the tent, I noticed Shane begin to help

"hey" I said tiredly, reaching up to contribute in taking it down

"hi" he replied dryly "you don't have to help" I said, even tho I really wanted him to, i was dead tired as I didn't sleep at all last night

"I helped set it up didn't I" he smiled over at me, and I chuckled shaking my head

We continued in silence, with Shanes help it didn't take anymore then two minutes to take it down

I watched as shane began rolling it up, I tilted my head to the side, smiling fondly

Once he was done he handed it to me "thanks" I sighed, my eyes feeling heavy but the brisk air helping me stay awake "I really appreciate this Shane" I stated seriously, looking him dead in the eye

"it's only a tent iris" Shane chuckled

"not just the tent..." I answered, Shane looking at me confussed "I mean for trusting us, for joining us to the CDC"

Shane bit the inside of his lip and nodded, rubbing his hands together and silence filled us

I slowly dropped the tent, before standing straight again "come here" I whispered stepping closer to him, I tightly wrapped my arms around him, and he returned it by doing the same to my waist

There was many ways why I was so thankful for this moment, the fact I got to hold my best friend, the fact this meant he wasn't angry at me, the fact that he was coming with us, I guess it was just nice to do this after the couple tense days we've had

I pulled away and gave him a tight smile, he gave me a large one before having to go do Somthing else, I picked up the few bags I had and walked over to the cars

I dropped all my bags along side everyone else's, before Carl ran up to me with his hands together

"iris! I wanted to introduce you to someone before we have to go" Carl said, I looked down at him, and when he opened his hands I noticed the small frog in it, I smiled down at the boy

"and who might this be" I gushed, bending down to look at the frog

"his names metalcruncher" Carl said, I bit my tounge to hold back my laugh

"well hello metalcruncher, it's so nice to meet you" I mused, causing Carl to laugh

"mom says we have to leave him here now.." Carl said sadly, stroking the frogs head

I looked up, and notice Lori looking down at us from where she sat on the car

"and your moms right, we can't be taking metalcruncher away from his family now can we?" I asked, Carl shook his head, then smiled at the frog

"how about you run down and bring him back to the lake yeah?" I asked

Carl nodded his head, he still seemed upset about having to give it up, but not as much as before

I then stood straight, my knees cracking I'm the process... Geez I'm getting old

"metalcruncher?" I asked with a raised eyebrow as I walked towards Lori

"he named it" she said defensively raising her hands, smiling humoursly

I breathed out a laugh, relaxing by the car she sat on

"rember he wanted to call Rodger that?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, suddenly the regonization of the name crossed her features, and she placed her face in her hand and laughed, I chuckled to, rembering the dog they use to have when Carl was smaller, they had to give it up because he was to wild, but I rember a seven year old Carl wanted that exact name

"oh my God" Lori said when she was done laughed, smiling at the memory
"that name would of suited him in the end" she nodded, I was the one to laugh now at that

Neither of us noticed rick walking up to us, he had a massive smile of his face as he reached us

"Everyone ready?" he asked looking at us lovingly, Lori nodded and told him everything we where brining was packet

Carl then ran back over and started gibbering about all the frogs he'd seen and how he thinks they where metalcrunchers family, Lori picked Carl up to sit beside her as he spoke, and I felt rick grab my upper arm and bring me to infront of the Rv

"I left a sign on the red car for Morgan, incase he comes here, I tried again this morning but there was still no answer..." rick said

I took in a deep breath "Im sure he'll be fine rick, you know how those shitty yolks are, he probably did hear you, we might even see him at the CDC" I answered, trying to give him hope, rick just swallowed a lump in his trouth, and bit his nail

"you seem to be having a good day" rick said changing the subject, he then smiled at me, I nodded my head

"thankfully yes, I think this is going to be good for all of us" I said, meaning the CDC

Rick still smiled as he looked down, placing his hands on his hips "me too"

There was a short silence, and right now I was just trying to lavage in the fact that my mood wasn't rock bottom

"I seen you both over there" rick said, nodding to where my tent use to be, I nodded my head, turning back to him

"I was thanking him for agreeing to go" I said, rick wiped his mouth with his hand

"remind me to do that" rick said

"will do" I answered tiredly, we noticed Shane standing before all the group, and me and rick made our way over

Hopefully this will be the start for a better life....

-

When we explained what was happening to everyone, morals and his family had told us they werent going to join us, I tried to pursue their decision a little bit, but they seemed pretty Seriouse, we gave them a few supplies, and a vehicle, which dixon wasn't to happy about but he'll just have to live with it... And then, with even less members of the group, we where on our way

It was weird leaving the quarry, but also relaving, this is it, where moving on to the next part of our lives, where searching for a way out of this hell hole, where searching for a home, it was a scared yet hopeful feeling

Carl sat on my lap as we drove, I would of sat with Shane but his car was full of bags, I held the younge sir close to me, resting my eyes as he lay his head against my chest

Soon, I began to feel calm, listening to my own breathing, having my family close to me, I finally managed to fall asleep