Eyes Wide Open [TWD]

°•twenty-one•°

As we are now sitting outside, the sun just risen, the silence is nearly unbearable.

"That seems kind of pointless," Kate mutters to Michonne.

Glenn sits on the road with his knees bent, I sit beside him with our arms looped and my head on his shoulder. Michonne leans against the driver door, her arm propped on the rearview mirror. Beside her is Kate who is also on the ground, her back against the car.

"Not really.. I kinda get it," I say in favor of Michonne.

I'm not sure how we got started on the topic of Michonne working out every day but here we are.

"Stay in shape and it helps with stress most the time," Glenn agrees.

"It helps pass time too," Michonne nods.

"Fair enough," Kate shrugs

"Hey! Glenn!" Rick calls out from the woods.

The four of us begin to make our way up at the sound of everyone making their way over. One we make it around the vehicle, the others come into our sight.

"Rick? Rick, oh thank god," Glenn mutters in relief.

"Okay, just wait! We've got a problem here. I need you to back up-" Rick begins but is stopped when Glenn immediately pulls his gun out and Michonne pulls whips her sword out.

"What the hell is he doing here!" Glenn shouts.

I look past Daryl and stop in my tracks as my eyes meet Merle.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!" Rick quickly cuts Michonne off as she tries to make her way to Merle.

"Put it down!" Daryl screams at Glenn, Glenn's aim not moving.

"He tried to kill me!" Michonne defends herself to Rick.

Maggie makes her way to Glenn and I, pulling her gun up to Michonne. Kate and I take a couple steps back and observe the situation.

How did Merle get out? Why did he leave? And most importantly, why would Rick think him being with us was a good idea?

The screaming gets louder between the group and Kate nudges me with her elbow.

"Nice family. I can only imagine how Christmas dinner was," She mutters sarcastically.

I roll my eyes and make my way through the group. Rick turns to me immediately but I just stand in front of Merle.

"Did she get out too?" I ask Merle, my eyes serious as I look up at him.

"Nah, I think she's too snuggled up in his bed to make any actual decisions," He half jokes.

I sigh and Rick looks at us with questioning eyes.

"Who?" He simply asks. I shake off the disappointment and look back to him.

"Andrea," I answer with guilt riding on me.

"Andrea's in Woodbury?" Daryl asks, "Y'all get off the farm together?"

"Daryl-" Maggie begins to scold but I nod.

"No, Andrea and Michonne showed up a couple months ago," I answer.

"You know Andrea?" Rick asks Michonne.

I look past him and meet her eyes.

"I was with her ever since your old camp fell," Michonne tells Rick.

"We found 'em after that. Governor's been putting the wood to Andrea ever since," Merle finishes.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Rick turns to me.

"Well my bad it's not like we've been able to talk about the past three years!" I defend.

"When something like that happens, you gotta tell me," Rick demands. I exhale sharply.

"Well, I'm sorry! It wasn't coming up at the time and you heard Merle it's not like she'd be willing to come back anyway!"

"Jade," Maggie calmly says, laying a hand on my shoulder.

"And you wonder why I wanted to come back with you," Merle mutters to Rick, "I was the one that was taking care of her when all you left her for dead."

"Shut up!" Glenn shouts to Merle.

"For three years! I taught her how to hold a gun! I taught her how to fight! I taught her how to survive! Me! I did! I kept her safe!" Merle screams back.

"I said shut up!" Glenn screams, pulling his gun back up.

"Hey! Put it down!" Daryl shouts back at Glenn.

"Y'all left two of your own people for dead! Now you think you can just start something this big! Look at ya! All these guns and no bullets in 'em!" Merle continues.

"Merle! Shut up!" Daryl shouts to his brother.

"Shut up yourself! Buncha pussies you roll-" Merle is cut off as Rick pistol whips him. Merle falls to the ground and I let a deep breath out.

"Asshole," Rick mutters.

--

I only looked at the back of the seat when Daryl and Merle began walking away. The moment I snuck a glance to them as they walked toward the thick woods, Merle looked back to me. I flinched as if he had telepathically burned me and quickly look away.

"Everyone ready?" Rick asks getting into the driver's seat.

Kate grabs my hand and I feel how badly she's shaking. I know she's nervous about meeting everyone and if they'll accept her. I didn't want her to know I felt the same way.

As Maggie, Michonne, Kate, and I somehow manage to sit in the backseat all together, Glenn nods to Rick from the passenger seat. Lucky.

I feel a hand on my thigh, instinctively I cringe away before seeing it was Maggie. She comfortingly pats my leg and I smile gratefully.

--

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A/N: Oof small chapter