I Need You

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Daryl

Right as Beth and I reach the gate, Carl calls after Beth askin' for help with Lil Asskicker. Figures. Some time away with just us sounded too good to be true. She gives me an apologetic smile. I give her a nod tellin' her it's okay. I tell her I'll see her later and head out.

As soon as I set foot outside the gate, it feels like a damn weight is lifted off of me. Out here it's just me and nature. No eyes lingerin', watchin' me. I can just be. I ain't gotta watch my back out here. Well I do but not in the same way. Not five minutes out here and I already feel better. Beth was right. As always.

Since when did my girlfriend, shit, no, fiance, become such a hot commodity that she is constantly needed? I feel like I've barely seen her since we got here. But I know part of that is my own damn fault. I ain't use to openin' up. I've always had to deal with e'erything myself, alone. I'm grateful that doesn't bother her. It ain't like I'm purposely tryin' to shut her out. I'm just dealin' with it all the only way I know how. After talkin' to her about it all I feel better. She called me out on my shit and made me realize there are other ways of handlin' stuff. It ain't just me anymore. It's us. Her and I against the world. The thought makes me smile.

There's a rustle of leaves not far from me. My attention immediately is focused in on the sound. I hear it again. It's definitely a person. The steps are too steady and sure. I draw my bow. "Come on out!"

A figure steps out from behind the brush with it's hands up. I drop my bow when I realize it's Aaron. What the hell is he doing out here? I give him a once over. He's got a rifle and a backpack strapped to his back. He must be out here huntin'. Although I don't know how he hunts anything, being so damn noisy.

He lowers his hands. "You can tell the difference between walkers and humans by sound?"

You can't? How the hell have these people lasted so long? I keep my thoughts to myself. Unlike Merle I know when to keep my mouth shut.

Aaron fidgets, uncomfortable with the silence. "Can you tell the difference between a good guy and a bad guy? Rick doesn't seem much of an expert on that."

The mention of Rick pisses me off. "Ain't much of a difference anymore."

"Is that how you feel about your people?"

I ain't got time for this shit. "Why you followin' me?"

He looks confused. "I didn't know I was. I came out here to hunt rabbits. I know why you're out here..."

You don't know shit.

"...Mind if I join?"

Beth said to try. Fine, I'll try. I turn away from him and keep trackin'. I call over my shoulder. "Keep up. And keep quiet."

Aaron says he was gonna hunt rabbits, so I start looking for rabbit tracks. There ain't many. I keep searchin' to see what I can see. I start to pick up horse tracks. They are fresh. Real fresh.

Aaron stays silent and follows my every move. Eventually though he breaks and starts to talk. "I know you feel like an outsider. It's not your fault, you know. They don't understand your relationship with Beth. Some of them wouldn't know true love if cupid himself shot them with his arrow. Eric and I, we're still looked at as outsiders in a lot of ways. We've heard our fair share of well meaning but hilariously offensive things from some otherwise really nice people. People are people. The more afraid they get, the more stupid they get. Fear shrinks the brain. They're scared of you and me for different reasons. They're less scared of me, because they know me. It's less and less everyday. So let them get to know you."