-𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐀𝗴𝐚𝐢𝐧-
TAYLOR
"...HOW BAD IS IT?" TAYLOR
sighed, looking behind her at the woman who was currently cutting her hair.
Earlier, Glenn had introduced her as Tara, and she offered to give her a trim if she wanted.
"Not bad at all. The ends are a bit dead, but that's all." Tara replied, trimming at the ends.
"How longs my hair. I uh...I had to chop my hair super short awhile back, and I've been trying to get it to grow back" Taylor explained.
"About midway down your back. Why'd you have to chop off all your hair?" Tara asked.
"...A guy named the Governor. He uh...he grabbed me by my hair, and I had no choice but to cut through my hair to escape from him." Taylor replied.
"...I...I was there; the prison attack. I was on th Governor's side. As soon as I saw what he was really like, I froze up, and all hell broke loose...I'm...I'm sorry about your friend Hershel..." Tara apologized, brushing out the strands of Taylor's hair.
"...I know I can trust you. You escaped with Glenn; just the two of you. You could've killed him, but you didn't. So, in my opinion, your one of us now." Taylor smiled, looking back at Tara.
Smiling back, Tara nodded, "Thanks, Taylor. That means a lot.".
"You two almost done?" Daryl asked, walking up to the two.
"Finishing up now. There, how's that?" Tara asked Taylor, handing her a small pocket mirror.
Gasping, Taylor smiled brightly as she studied her newly-styled hair.
"Oh my god Tara, I love it! Thank you so much!" She chimed.
Nodding, Tara smiled back, "Of course, Taylor.".
Taylor got up and walked up to Daryl, to which he handed her a guitar.
"Found it an' claimed it. Let's hope we don' lose it." He said, gesturing to the back.
Cocking a brow, she flipped it over, giggling as she saw all the signatures from the others were carved into the back.
"Guess it's only fair I play a song." She smirked, beginning to tune the guitar.
"Why...Why are ya' doin' this? It's not I don' wan' ya' to, but ya' don' gotta in front o' everyone." He said.
"...It was Merle's idea. I wanna honor it." Was all she said before she stpeped in front of him and grabbed his hand, Tara walking up, "C'mon, it's now or never.".
The three walked up to a lit campfire where all the others were surrounding it, huddled up as they enjoyed the rare peaceful evening.
As they saw Taylor, Daryl, and Tara walk up, they began clapping, Jordyn, Maggie, and Glenn cheering before they bursted out laughing.
"Well, it's good to know I'm not the only quircky ass person here." Taylor giggled, sitting next to Daryl on an empty log.
"Well, your little performance has kept getti postponed for months." Rick smirked.
"Oh, I'm so sorry for the long wait my dear fans." She gasped dramatically, doing a test strum on her guitar.
"Alri', 'nough wit' the commentary an' get astrummin'." Daryl rolled his eyes, playfully elbowing her in the side.
"Okay, dickhead." She giggled, strumming her guitar one last time before she began playing.
"Another head hange lowly.".
"Child is slowly taken.".
"And the violence caused such silence.".
"Who are we mistaken?".
"But you see, it's not me, it's not my family.".
"In your head, in your head they are fighting.".
"With their tanks, and their bombs, and their bombs, and their guns.".
"In your head, in your head they are crying.".
"In your head, in your head, Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie.".
"What's in your head?".
"In your head?".
"Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie-ie, oh.".
•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
(A/n: Here's the link to the full song. It's amazing, and I highly recommend listening to the full version. Enjoy the rest of the chapter. ^^)
•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~~•~•
Strumming the last cord of the song, Taylor smiled sadly as she sat down her guitar, "...It was one of Merle's favorites, and I wanted to learn it for him.".
Everyone began clapping and cheering except for Daryl, as he walked away from the others and off deeper into the woods.
"I wonder what's wrong with him..." She thought.
"That was amazing, Taylor. I bet if Merle were here, he'd love it." Carol smiled.
Nodding, Taylor smiled back, "Thanks, Carol.".
Judith began to giggle and clap in Carl's arms, and Taylor got up and walked over to her, kneeling down as she lightly pinched her cheeks, "You are so adorable with your fat cheeks and baby hands! Stop being so cute!".
"Your really good with kids." Carl smirked, to which she simply shrugged with a smirk back.
"Trust me, sheriff," She said, getting up as she flicked up the brim of his sheriff's hst, "When your a big brother or sister, it comes naturally.".
She began walking the way Daryl went before she turned back to Rick, "I'm gonna go find Daryl. I'll be back soon.".
He nodded, "Be careful; stay alert.".
She smiled before she peacefully walked further into the clusters of trees, her eyes scanning her surroundings as she looked for Daryl.
She finally found him up ahead, sitting by a small stream where Fireflies flew around above it, the light from them illuminating off the streams surface.
"Fireflies..." She breathed, grabbing his attention to which she giggled, "Real one's I mean.".
He scoffed, looking back down at the stream as he played with the mechanics of his crossbow.
"What? Did I do something wrong?" She asked, sitting down beside him as she furrowed her eyebrows.
"Jus' leave me be." He grumbled, not bothering to look over at her.
"Please...don't do this again. Don't shut me out again...not after everything we've been through..." She thought.
"Alright, fine then. I'll just...go take s pee." She scoffed, getting up as she walked off.
She wasn't actually though; just trying to clear her head as she walked alone through the forest.
"Why is he trying to shut me out again..." She thought.
What caught her attention was a poster pinned to a tree, and she walked up to it, looking over it.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL?
FOOD & MEDICAL SUPPLIES WILL BE GIVEN AS A REWARD TO WHOEVER BRINGS HER TO THE WLF (Washington Liberation Front)
!SHE IS THE KEY TO A CURE. WITHOUT HER, WE ARE DOOMED!
"Oh shit..." She gasped, taking the paper off the tree, "Who the hell is the Washington Liberation Front...?".
Folding the piece of paper, she slid it into her pocket and quickly made her way back to camp, Daryl already back as the others were winding down for the night.
She walked up to Maggie who sat beside Glenn," Hey, Maggie. Can I uh...borrow your hoodie?".
"Oh, um sure. Are you sure though; it's really hot outside." Maggie replied, digging through her backpack.
"Yeah...I'm uh...I'm sure..." Taylor nodded, her eyes scanning the forest around them.
She wondered if people were already out for her for the reward...
"Are you okay? You seem...off..." Maggie said, handing her the said hoodie.
"Yeah, I'm fine Maggie. I've just never liked the woods; eerie and all," Taylor lied, "Thanks, Maggie.".
She quickly put on her hoodie, before walking over to her guitar and backpack.
Daryl didn't say a word to her as she prepared for bed, slowly lying down on her back as she rolled onto her side, Rick and Carl putting out the campfire.
She really hoped everything would be okay...
(A/n: Hey guys! I'm so sorry for the long wait on the next chapter. I've had mid-terms and so many assignments to finish up my first quarter of school. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I hope to see you all very soon for the next one! Bye! ☺️💖)
To Be Continued...
Word Count: 1318
Edited: ❌