Chapter 5

"Mornin'." I heard Daryl's tired voice. I opened my eyes slowly seeing him standing in my doorway, Sasha asleep on the couch in my room. I bid him good morning with just a smile. "I'm gonna lay down for a bit, then we can head out. Unless you wanna go ahead with Sasha?" I shrugged looking over at Sasha who was stirring awake. I climbed out of my hammock and approached Daryl, crossing my arms.

"Sleep." I said in a raspy whisper. I smirked at him and he nodded. He was about to step out of the room before I stopped him, by grabbing his arm. He looked at me confused, then I quickly wrapped my arms around his chest. "Thank you." I felt him wrap an arm around my back. I pulled away with a sweet smile, Daryl smirked and nodded as he walked away to his room.

"I knew there was a sweet guy under that hair and vest." Sasha spoke, startling me. She laughed a little. "So you wanna head out with me?" Sasha stood up stretching her arms high above her head. I nodded deciding I would like to go out on my own and get to know everyone. "Cool, get ready." Sasha left to her room.

I sighed heavily before dressing into jeans and a gray tee shirt. I grabbed my weapons and put them on; a familiar routine, belt, slingshot, then axe. I'm sure everyone thought the variety I had was strange, but it made me feel comfortable and safe. I brushed my teeth, scrunched my curls, then put on my socks and shoes. I waited on the couch for Sasha in the living room. I was nervous, I wasn't sure how quickly word had spread about the new mute girl, and how kindly people would take to me.

"Ready?" She smiled at me. I nodded smiling back. "So I'll be on the wall, Abraham is part of the clean up crew, stick with him things should go smoothly." Sasha advised. "Also I don't think you'll want all that in you while you clean up." She eyed my weapons. "Just a knife will do." Reluctant, I took all my weapons off dropping them on the coffee table. I kept my ax on my back and my knife on my belt.

Once we arrived at the cleanup sight, Sasha stopped me. "It'll be okay." I nodded slowly at her reassurance. I wasn't sure if she was telling me that or herself.

"Hey there ya are!" I heard someone yell from the distance. I turned to see Abraham approaching me. "Sasha says you're with me today. Well hopefully you can keep up, c'mon." I followed Abraham over to a section they were working on, which was near the pond. I was given a wagon. "Put the bodies in here and take them to the street. That's where we'll be burning them at the end of the day." Abraham smiled warmly at me.

The day started out a little tough, it was hard to work when I felt like I was being stared at all day, but once I got past that I was fine. My muscles were already trying to give out on me, but I worked through that too. Abraham joked with me every chance he got, making me smile, which he was a pro at already. The sun was setting and it was time to wrap things up, we made a decent dent in the section we were cleaning; tomorrow we would be fishing bodies out of the pond. I took my last load of walkers to the street, the wagon was being a little difficult with me this last load, and as I got to the curb, the wagon tipped, dumping the bodies -that took me forever to load- out onto the street.

I sighed heavily rubbing my temples in frustration. "I'll help ya." Abraham hurried over, putting my wagon back on its wheels. "So Daryl tells me you've been through some serious shit." I nodded as he assisted me with putting the bodies back into the wagon. "I, uh, well I'm sorry you went through said shit alone." I shook my head as I bit my lip, trying to forget.

"Hazel." I heard a familiar gruff voice behind me. I turned around seeing Daryl standing with his hands in his pockets, he waved me over. I looked to Abraham, making sure he was okay with me stepping aside.

"I got it." He smiled. I made my way over to Daryl wiping my hands on a rag.

"I'm on guard again tonight, are you gonna be okay by yourself?" Daryl asked lowly. I crossed my arms, and bit my lip, giving a short nod. "If you ain't, you can come out with me, or I'll send someone over-"

"I can keep her company tonight." Abraham spoke up. Daryl furrowed his brows at him, then looked at me.

"Is that okay with you, if it's not you can say no." Daryl seemed uneasy about the idea of Abraham being with me. I nodded with a smirk, I wouldn't mind some more laughs tonight. "Okay, I'll be back in the morning, we can talk then." I nodded.

I stood there awkwardly feeling I needed to thank Daryl. I hugged him again tighter than last time; he stood stiffly, my hug more than likely taking him by surprise. I hadn't had a hug from someone in years it was so long ago I can't even remember my last hug. I felt his arms come around my back firmly, washing away all anxiety I had had the last several days. I let out a deep breath then pulled away.

I gave Daryl a short nod, taking a moment to quickly wipe my eyes that were threatening to tear up. I really hadn't felt a connection with another person or had that type of intimate touch in years. After my family I was on my own for a long time, I tended to avoid people. One because I wasn't sure how quickly this world had changed anyone, and two I was just afraid all the time, that's why I hid in the trees. The last person I had been around was the man that saved my life, that still to this day I am grateful for.

Finally after several long minutes I stuffed the memories and emotions deep down, going back to normal. It was soon dark when Abraham and I went to the house. Abraham wanted to talk, but kept forgetting I couldn't really respond. After about the fifth time of forgetting I couldn't talk, he sighed, and let out a light chuckle.

"You know, not more than few months ago, I thought Rosita was the last woman on earth." He smiled lightly at me. I smiled thinking about how I hoped that man that saved my life would be the last person I ever saw, but now here I was with people who took me in and cared about me.

I was brought back to reality when I felt Abraham's hand on my hand, I slowly looked at him, watching him lean toward me. I sat stiffly as I felt his mustache tickle my face, and his lips press to mine. I closed my eyes focusing on this new but familiar sensation. I felt his lips begin to move over mine, I slowly started to mimic him. My breathing came to a halt when I felt his hands on my thighs, slowly moving up to my hips, then to my waist. This was something I hadn't felt in many, many years, so I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do.

I felt him push my shirt up, and instincts immediately kicked in. I pulled away and punched him across the face, all in an instance. He stared in the direction he was hit for several long seconds before looking back at me and rubbing his jaw. I wanted to apologize a million times but I couldn't. I put my hand to his red cheek, looking at him apologetically.

"It's okay, I'm sorry." Abraham apologized, giving me a light smile. I looked at him confused. "I didn't mean to make you do something you didn't want to do, so don't be sorry for hitting me." He smiled. I nodded slowly. I got up and waved good night to him.

I was so confused, I just punched a man for kissing me, no wait, for touching me, and he apologized? Something in my memory tells me I would be on the floor crying right now if I had done that someone else. Best not to linger on it, I pulled out my book leafing through the pages not really reading as I got lost in my thoughts for the rest of the night.