No Rest For the Wicked ~ A Walking Dead Fan Fiction

Chapter 4: Keep it in the Past

Chapter Four

Keep it in the Past

Third Person

“Good morning!”  Kate chimed as she crawled out of her tent.  The survivors had been camped out for six days since the outbreak. 

“Mornin,’” Glenn answered sleepily, rubbing his eyes and stretching after getting out of his blue tent.

“Sleep well?”  She asked as they walked over to the common area. 

“Yeah, I just wish the tent walls were a little thicker to keep the sun out.  I’m definitely not a morning person.  I miss coffee.”  He grumbled.

“I hear ya there.”  Kate agreed as they dropped into lawn chairs next to Daryl who was the only other person up.  A cigarette dangled between his dirty fingers.

“Mornin Goldielocks, Short round.”  He addressed them.

“Don’t call him that.”  Kate frowned.  “You mind?”  She added, holding her hand out expectantly for the cigarette.  When he didn’t move to give it to her she leaned forward and took it from his hand.  “Thanks.”  She said coolly, flicking her sandy waves back before taking a long drag.

“I didn’t pin you as a smoker.”  Daryl stated.

Kate pointedly blew the smoke at him.  “I didn’t pin you as the type to buy into the Chupacabra legend.”  She teased, referencing a couple nights back when he told them all that the whole apocalypse reminded him of the time he saw a Chupacabra.  He scowled but she continued to speak before he could say anything.  “I don’t smoke though, or haven’t for a while.  Dirty habit.”  She handed the cigarette back, causing him to occupy his mouth with that rather than some defensive retort.  “It’s just been a rough week and it smells so good.” 

“You like that smell?” Glenn asked incredulously.                  

“Always have.”  She shrugged dismissively.

“If we’re short on tents how come you don’t share with yer boyfriend?” Daryl asked moodily as he exhaled, having noted the two emerged from separate tents while he had to endure Merle taking up more than his half of their tent every night.

“My boyfriend?”  Kate repeated, confused.  Glenn looked uncomfortable.  Daryl gestured to him, causing both of them to laugh.

“I’m not her boyfriend.”  Glenn told him, it was mutual between them that they were solely friends.  “Her boyfriend, he uh… he’s gone.”  He explained awkwardly, not wanting to upset Kate who he thought was handling it very well.

“What?”  She asked, turning to look at him in confusion now.

“Err… Paul?”  Glenn reminded her gently.

“Oh, he wasn’t my boyfriend.  I’d only met him the day before he died.  We just happened to be travelin’ together.”  Kate explained the actual truth.

“Oh.”  Was all Glenn could say. 

“Who is your boyfriend then?”  Elsie asked, coming over from the tents and hopping on Glenn’s lap.

“Don’t have one.”  Kate said simply.

“What about you guys?  Girlfriends?”  Elsie asked, looking at Glenn and Daryl.  Both shook their heads no.  “Know why?  Cause boys have cooties!”  She informed them and laughed, running off to Ed and Carol’s car where Sophia and Carl were now standing.  Glenn and Kate chuckled.