-Chapter sixty three; The Next World-
———
-2 Months Later-
TAYLOR
FEELING A HAND ON HER
shoulder, Taylor took out her earbuds and turned around, seeing Daryl.
"Hey. What's up?" She asked him.
"Breakfast is ready. Uh...what's that?" He replied, gesturing to the portrait she was painting.
"Oh, this? Denise found an old paint set in the closet of the infirmary, and I asked her if she could give it to me. First thing I wanted to paint is us." She explained.
He nodded, "It uh...it looks nice.".
She smiled, "Thanks. I think I really brought out the greasiness or your hair.".
He playfully punched her shoulder, "Alright, bitch, let's go eat breakfast.".
"Yes sir. So, what did you somehow make without burning the kitchen down?" She asked, sitting down at the kitchen counter with him.
"Scrambled eggs. Think I did pretty damn good. Here."
He handed her a plate of eggs and a glass of orange juice.
The only thing was, the eggs were burnt to a crisp.
"Oh um...wow, Daryl. They look...amazing." She faked a smile.
"Go on, try 'em." He said, taking a bite of his own eggs.
Reluctantly, she brought her fork with eggs up to her mouth and took a bite, trying her best to hide the fact she was gagging, "O-Oh my god, Daryl. There so good.".
"Good, I'm glad ya' like 'em. I'll be right back, I'm gonna go take a piss." Daryl then walked off to the bathroom, leaving Taylor to quickly chug down her orange juice to rid the horrible taste of Daryl's scrambled eggs.
That's when Jordyn walked inside, "Why the hell does it smell like dog shit in here?".
"Daryl's eggs. Oh my god there so bad..." Taylor groaned.
"What? There is no way in hell there that bad. Let me see." Jordyn took Taylor's plate of eggs and took a bite, rushing to the fridge to find something to drink.
Taylor quickly got up and dumped the rest of her eggs in the garbage can before washing her plate, fork, and knife in the sink and drying them before putting them away in the cabinet's.
Daryl came out of the bathroom and stared at Jordyn, who was currently chugging down a carton of milk, "Uh...what the fuck are ya' doin' Jordyn?".
"Your eggs taste like shi-" Taylor quickly talked over Jordyn, "Jordyn thought your eggs tasted so good milk would make them even better!".
"Oh...alright. Well, me an' Rick are goin' on that supply run today. You need anythin'?" He asked.
"Here. It's all on the list. I uh...you know how it goes..." She awkwardly handed Daryl a slip of paper, to which he shoved in the pocket of his battered cargo pants.
"I'll see what I can do." He replied, grabbing his backpack off the kitchen counter.
She hugged him, "I love you. Be safe.".
He hugged her back, placing a kiss on the top of her head, "I will, babygirl. You an' Jordyn be careful on yer trip ta' Jackson.".
With that, Daryl walked out the door, leaving Taylor and Jordyn alone.
"Aw, what's this?" Jordyn asked, looking over the portrait of Taylor and Daryl Taylor was painting.
"Me and Daryl. I'm almost done with it, I wanna frame it up when I'm done." Taylor replied.
"Well, maybe Jackson'll have one for you. You ready?" Jordyn asked.
"I uh...no..." Taylor mumbled, gesturing down to her pajamas, "Just, just give me a sec.".
"Alright. I'll be here...just...standing..." Jordyn mumbled as Taylor rushed up the stairs.
She came back down a few minutes later wearing one of Daryl's sleeveless flannels, her jeans, and her high too sneakers as she swung her back over her shoulders.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked.
"What's with the flannel?" Jordyn smirked, gesturing over her top.
Scoffing, Taylor walked passed Jordyn and out the door, "It was the first one I saw.".
"So...do you think your dad will be back?" Jordyn asked, catching up with Taylor.
"...Don't know. All he did was leave a note saying he had to take care of things with that Negan guy..." Taylor replied.
"I can't be him...right? There's no way he made it..." Taylor thought.
"When's your birthday?" Jordyn asked.
"March 6, why?" Taylor responded.
"Curios is all. But you know, Daryl's gonna have to give you the talk pretty soon." Jordyn smirked.
"I got the talk a long time ago, but yet every day Daryl feels the need to remind me I'm not allowed to have sex, even though I have no intentions of it." Taylor explained.
"You say that now. Come talk to me a few years from now." Jordyn said as they came up to the front gate, Abraham and Sasha on watch.
"What are you two talkin' about?" He asked, cocking a brow.
"Nothing, Abe." Jordyn chuckled, "Any cars available. We gotta make that trip to Jackson.".
That's when Chris's car came around the corner, Eugene hopping out as he parked it by the gate, "This here sweet ride was left by your father; the license plate included.".
"I always wondered where the hell your dad got his idea for his license plate." Sasha said.
"He was a batman fanatic, drove the shit out of me." Taylor sighed.
"Daryl gave it quite the tune up the other day. I'd say it's time you take out your father's prized possession for a drive." Eugene said, tossing Taylor the key.
She nodded, "Thanks, Eugene.".
Taylor and Jordyn then hopped in, Abraham and Sasha opening the gate before they drove off and toward Alexandria.
———
"NOW I KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING
you for your birthday. You know it's soon, right?" Jordyn asked.
"Yeah, I know. But what the hell are you getting me?" Taylor replied.
"Nirvana. From the look and sound of it, your a die hard fan," Jordyn answered, "Admit it, you're only going back to Alexandria for Lee.".
Scoffing, Taylor cranked up the music, "In your dreams, Ford.".
Following the dirt road, the two came out onto a grassy field, parking the car a small distance away from the large wall that enclosed the populated and thriving town of Jackson.
They walked up to the gate, their hands up as the two armed guards aimed their guns at them, "State your name, business, and drop your weaopons".
Both Taylor and Jordyn dropped their weapons before Taylor spoke up, "I'm Taylor Thompson. I'm from Alexandria, here for trade.".
She heard one of the armed guards murmur to the other, "It's the immune kid.".
"Looks like you're famous." Jordyn whispered.
"Wish I wasn't." Taylor remarked.
"Alright, you can keep your weapons and come inside. Find Tommy and Maria at their place; 1804." One of the guards instructed as the gate began to open.
"Alright, thanks." Taylor replied, her and Jordyn picking up their weapons before they grabbed the trade goods from the truck and went inside.
"I think Jackson has us beat. It's beautiful." Jordyn smiled as they walked through the streets of Jackson.
Taylor caught a few people stare and whisper, but she didn't give two shits.
"Well, we do have that dance tomorrow. I have to get something for Daryl to wear while we're here." Taylor replied.
"What are you wearing?" Jordyn asked.
"What I wore to Deanna's is all. Tomorrow, you'll really get to know Joel, Ellie, and Tommy. There really good people who I've known since before all this. Not only that, Jesse, Dina, and Lee-Jin-Wook are good kids too." Taylor explained.
"Yeah, and Lee has a fat ass crush on you." Jordyn replied.
Scoffing, Taylor said, "No he does not. He's just a nice guy.".
"Taylor, if it's because of Ryan-" Jordyn began, but Taylor stopped her, "It's not, Jordyn. I've moved on from Ryan; did a while ago. I just don't think Lee has any interest in a romantic relationship. I mean, I only met the guy two months ago.".
Shrugging, Jordyn replied as they walked up to Tommy and Maria's front porch, "Don't know. Young love happens pretty fast.".
Taylor rang the doorbell, and Tommy answered it, "Well would ya' look who it is. Taylor Thompson in the flesh.".
"Hey, Tommy. It's good to see you. How have you been?" Taylor asked, hugging him.
"Been good. A lot's happened since shit went down." He replied, hugging her back.
"Who's this?" A woman walked up, supposedly Maria.
"Maria, this is Joel's friend's daughter: Taylor. An' that's Taylor's friend: Jordyn. Taylor, Jordyn, this is my wife: Maria." He introduced everyone.
Gasping, Taylor smiled, "Tommy, I didn't know you were married!".
"Well, we all gotta wrangle down at some point." He chuckled, "Little birdie told me Lee's got the digs for you.".
Groaning, Taylor muttered, "Not this again.".
"Why don't you two come on inside. I just finished making lunch." Maria suggested.
"That sounds great. Daryl's scrambled eggs tasted like dog shit." Jordyn said as she and Taylor walked inside with Tommy and Maria.
"How's everythin' been goin' at Alexandria since the walker attack?" He asked as he, Taylor, and Jordyn sat down at the dining table.
"We uh...we lost a lot that day, but we're doing better now." Taylor replied.
He then asked, "An' yer dad? Daryl sent us a letter two months back.".
"...We don't know where he is. He snuck out a month ago and all he left was his car and a note. He said he had to solve things with a guy named Negan." Jordyn explained.
He looked over at Taylor, "Wait, our Negan? Our Negan we knew before?".
"Don't know. I hope not." She mumbled.
"Taylor, you know damn well it is. Why would yer dad be so concerned 'bout it?" He pointed out.
"Wait, you knew Negan from before shit went down?" Jordyn asked.
"...Yeah. He uh...he helped me when things got bad with Madison, the girl I told you about. He...he was there for me; protected me. But...but Madison always found a way..." Taylor mumbled in response.
That's when Maria walked in with three bowls of soup, "Here. I hope you like it.".
"Thank you, Maria." Taylor smiled before beginning to eat her soup.
"Trust me," Jordyn smirked, "Anything is better than Daryl's cooking.".
"Don' doubt it. Pretty sure he's worse than Joel." Tommy agreed.
———
AFTER TRADING WITH THE
residents of Jackson, Taylor and Jordyn set out back to Alexandria.
By the time they arrived home, the sun had set, and Taylor left her father's car by the front gate while the two girls carried the frame back to Taylor and Daryl's.
Opening the front door, Taylor thanked Jordyn, "Thanks for the help, Jordyn. We had a pretty successful day.".
She smiled, "No problem, Taylor.".
That's when a man dressed in black rushed passed them, "'Scuse me, ladies!".
"...Who the fuck was that!?" Taylor asked.
"No idea..." Jordyn replied.
Daryl came rushing down the stairs, "Where the fuck did he go!?".
"Uh...out the fucking door. Mind telling us who the shit was that?" Taylor responded.
"No time! C'mon!" Daryl rushed out the door, Taylor and Jordyn behind them as they followed the man to Rick, Carl, Michonne, and Judith's house.
They ran into one of the bedrooms upstairs, and saw the unknown man and...
"Oh shit. Um...Taylor let's go..." Jordyn said, covering Taylor's eyes before ushering the young girl out of the bedroom, Daryl behind them.
"Yeah...we'll uh...let 'em handle him..." Daryl awkwardly muttered.
"...Were they...did they..." Taylor mumbled.
Jordyn simply nodded.
"Yeah...I'm gonna go home and bleach my eyes out..." Taylor said before walking out.
Today had been one hell of an interesting day...
To Be Continued...
Word Count: 1966
Edited: ❌