After a very eventful day of nearly dying in a stupid well , I entered mine and Tommy's tent snuggling up in my sleeping bag. I hear Tommy enter and lay next to me his arm drapes over my middle. " Babe , can we talk about today ?" He asks me and I shuffle round to face him. " what about it ?" I reply yawning mid way through, all I want is to sleep right now. " In future can you just stay away from the dangerous stuff and let us handle it" he says so sweetly it feels patronising.
" Tom this whole world is dangerous , I couldn't stay away from it if I tried and yes I admit it was a close call but I'm ok so it's fine" I say trying not to be annoyed. He sighs his arm tightening around my waist "I don't think your hearing me Elodie, I mean leave the fighting and walker stuff to us and you help Carol or whoever ok?" He says with more depth in his tone , I look up into his eyes trying to find any sense of humour but it ain't there , he isn't joking .
I let out a huff as I completely disagree, yes I can help carol and the others with laundry but I can also do the more difficult tasks. " Tommy , your not my dad you can't just tell what I can and can't do , ok?" I mock him my short temper getting the best of me but I instantly regret it. Tommys hands grab my both my wrists tightly in his grasp I can feel the bruises forming " No but I am your boyfriend which means you should and will listen to me over-wise what's the point If you can't even take my advice , you definitely don't care or love me" he spits out in a chillingly calm tone but his eyes and the grip on my skin tell a different story one that shakes me to my core.
"Of course I care about you Tom , I love you and I'm sorry ok I will listen to you" I say as convincing as I can I let out a pained wince at the still tightening grip on my wrists containing my movement. " Tom you're hurting me " I whisper and he instantly lets go "Sorry babe I didn't realise" he says smiling it off as he wishing me a goodnight. I turn away from him again stunned at how quickly he switched from hurting me to a loving boyfriend. I feel his arm wrap around me again as he tells me to relax and go to sleep.
I'm confused by his outburst but that's all it was a slip a singular moment and it won't happen again I tell myself as I stare at the bright red wall of our tent now finding it harder to sleep .
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The next morning I am helping my mom and Carol hang up our clothes to dry " I had an idea I wanted to run by you" Carol says to my mom as I pick up my Navy Henley I remember that birthday when Uncle Shane bought me this , I smile at the memory as I hang it on the line securing it with a clip. "What's that?" Mom questions "That big kitchen of theirs got me thinking. I wouldn't mind cooking in a real kitchen again. Maybe we all pitch in and cook dinner for Hershel and his family tonight" Carol says a lightness to her tone , I think this would be good for her too get her mind of Sophia.
" That sounds like a great idea Carol" I say and she smiles and mom agrees too. Carol turns to mom " Do you think you could extend the invitation? I think it would sound better coming from you" she says and mom looks back at her confused " How so?" She asks. "Your Rick's wife , it sort of makes you our unofficial First Lady" Carol responds and I let out a laugh at that . However I guess my Dad has really took over the leadership role but then again he always was the leader type.
I see my dad and the others group up round the map their deciding about where to look for Sophia and then I see Aaron walking over with his machete hanging from his belt. I can't hear their conversation but I assume he is offering to help. I want to help as well but I decided to listen to Tommy for now I look back down at my wrists there is small purple bruises in the shape of his fingers wrapping around them. I tug my sleeves back over to cover them like they aren't there.
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I am in the kitchen with Mom, Carol,Maggie and Beth. Beth is a year and a bit younger than me but we seem to be clicking quite well, we've been getting to know each other as we cut up the vegetables for dinner. I like her , she reminds me a bit of Amy. "So How long have you and your boyfriend been dating ?" Beth asks me "Around 2 years I think now" I say , she smiles "That's sweet me and Jim have only been dating for around 6 months but he's so good to me , I hope we make it to 2 years too" I see the admiration in her eyes as she talks about him . "I'm sure you will , we're lucky for every second of time we get with each other now" I reply thinking about how temporary all our lives are.
"Alright you two enough nattering and back to cutting the vegetables" Maggie teases as we all let out a laugh but a distant gun shot seizes our laughter as we all head outside to see what happened. Suddenly the adrenaline is back in my veins.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" Hershel shouts as we see Daryl being dragged unconscious by my Dad and Shane as Andrea has a guilty look on her face. I instantly run over " is he okay ?" I ask concerned , the Dixons were never my favourite people especially Merle but I have grown to like Daryl more he is a important member of our group. My dad nods " He's ok , Andrea accidentally shot him thinking he was a Walker but she just skimmed his head luckily" he explains.
I properly look at Daryl's appearance he is covered in dirt and Blood , he looks like he has been through it . I can imagine from far away he does look like a Walker.
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We are all eating the dinner we cooked , Me ,Tommy , Glen , Aaron, Maggie , Beth and Jim are at a separate table as there wasn't enough room for everyone at the main table . I am sitting in-between Tom and Aaron ,the whole room is in a awkward silence as we all eat. This is the best meal I have had in months , it's amazing to eat real fresh food at a table with a knife and fork. I can't believe how much I took for granted before all this.
I feel a hand lingering on my thigh as I look to Tommy to see a smirk on his face , his hand drags heavily further into my inner thigh and I shrug him off discretely as I can but I end up knocking my elbow into Aaron. I quickly apologise but he just gives me and Tommy a perplexed expression before mumbling under his breath. I look back to Tom and his smirk has dropped and is replaced with a confused and frustrated look. I shrug my shoulders and motion to my food. I'm trying to eat and we are at a table full of people I whisper to him and he just ignores me. My face falls as It saddens me that we don't get along as good as we used too.
The awkward silence in the room is broken when Glenn speaks up "Does anybody know how to play guitar? Dale found a cool one ..." he laughs awkwardly "somebody must know how to play ?". Beth sits up straighter in her seat as she locks her eyes on her older brother with a mischievous glint in her eye " Aaron does" she says smirking, I feel Aaron tense from next to me his jaw clenching " Beth" he warns under his breath and she just laughs.
" Come on Son give us a tune" Hershel says motioning over to the guitar in the corner of the room. Aaron sighs placing the last piece of meat into his mouth his plate now clean , damn he is a quick eater. He walks over picking up the guitar sitting back down on the chair. " Yeah come on Aaron" I hear Glenn try hype him up and I let out a small giggle at the glare Aaron throws him.
I watch as his fingers flick against the guitar strings his veins noticeable against his tanned hands as he flexes his wrists. The familiar melody carries across the room , I know this song it's "There is a light never goes out" by the smiths . A genuine smile fills my face as the warming sound of the Smiths grace my ears. They are one of my favourite bands , I missed listening to music so much it was a blessing to hear it again.
I stare at the side of Aaron's face as I notice his eyes squint as he concentrates , he doesn't miss a beat. Soon the song finishes and I find myself wanting to hear more , Beth starts clapping wildly as Aaron gives her another playful glare. Everyone joins in clapping , as he walks back over placing the guitar down.
"Your very good" My Dad says genuinely to Aaron , he replies "Thank you , sir" . Then everyone falls into their own conversations the awkward silence finally being broken.
" It's a great song" I say to him as he sits down. " ya know it?" He asks kind of surprised . " yeah , The smiths are great" I say the smile still gracing my lips I notice his eyes flicker to my smile before his Brown eyes meet my own.
" I just didn't take you for someone who listens to the Smiths" he says and my smile drops what does he mean by that " Who do I look like I listen to then" I counter , he looks me up and down before smirking "Britney Spears" he says slyly, " Well I'm not sure if that was meant to be an insult but Britney is quite cool actually" I say confidently back and he lets out a low laugh before nodding "You take is how you want , Grimes" he says back the hint of playfulness still in his tone. Grimes ? He can't even call me by my first name seriously.
" I will , Greene" I respond , exaggerating his last name. If he wants to play that game I can too, he just stares at me a unreadable look in his dark brown eyes while his expression is his usual stone cold one. Our mini staring contest is broken when Tommy grabs my shoulder "Eat your food babe , it will go cold" he says sternly and I gulp not wanting to push him further so I nod picking up my fork and continuing eating as I feel Greene's stare lingering.
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After dinner I am in the kitchen washing the plates and Hershel comes up to me "Hey Elodie , go see Aaron and he will take those stitches out for you" he says and I go to nod before I remember the bruises on my wrists that would be exposed. " uhh do you think he could maybe do it tomorrow instead ?" I ask hoping that tomorrow the bruises would of faded more. Hershel shakes his head "No that's not a good idea , ideally they should of come out yesterday if you leave them any longer your cut won't seal over efficiently" I sigh before nodding as he tells me that Aaron is in Carls room checking his temperature.
I dry my hands before heading down the hallway to Carls room I hear their voices as the door is left open I decided to stand in the doorway " Do you think I will be able to get out of bed soon" Carl asks as Greene takes the stethoscope off Carl's chest " Well your heart beat is normal" he says before picking up Carls arm "And by the look of these big guns , your quite the strong boy. You will be up in no time" he says with a light tone and a warm expression on his face , weird he doesn't seem like the warm and fuzzy type.
Carl let's out a giggle the first true one I've heard since he has been here and that makes me smile. I knock on the door making myself known " Els !" Carl says as I walk over crouching next to him " Hey Carl , how you doing bud?" I say softly grabbing his hand and he smiles "I'm good and Aaron said I should be up in no time" I look to Greene to see him already staring at me " Well I'm sure you will be then" I respond to Carl ruffling his hair.
" Your Dad told me to come get you so you could take out my stitches" I tell Greene and he nods getting up he says goodbye to Carl and I do the same before we both exit. We walk side by side to the other room where he first did my stitches I sit back into the chair putting my arm on the table as he gets out the equipment. I consciously stare at my covered wrist hoping he doesn't pay attention to the bruise I have been so desperately trying to hide. But my hope is instantly crushed when he slides up my sleeve and his eyes dart to my wrist.
Aaron's POV:
I stare down in confusion at the finger shaped bruises tainting her soft tanned skin before looking her in the eye again I find myself chasing every inch of her expression searching for answers but she is putting on a brave face.
She's hiding something , without thinking a quickly but gently grab her other arm of her lap moving up her sleeve and find what I was expecting the same marks but these ones seem even darker. Her blank expression has now cracked and I see panic in her eyes "Wanna explain?" I ask waiting for her to spill, she wets her lips before locking eyes with me "It was from yesterday at the Well" she says but her voice wavers , she's lying.
My jaw clenches as I stare at the bruises in the shape of fingers , I doubt this was from yesterday , I don't remember anyone holding her wrists that long or hard to bruise. Someone hurt her, it could of been an accident but by her reaction right now and her trying to hide it tells me otherwise.
" Are you sure about that , Grimes?" I push further wanting a truthful answer . She pulls her arms out of my grasp I didn't even realise I was still holding them " Yes I am and anyway it's none of your business Greene" she says sternly her eyes piercing into my own , she speaks again "I don't even know you". She's right we don't know each other so why am I concerned for a girl who I don't even know and frankly I find aggravating.
It's the way her doe eyes always look like they are judging every inch of me or the way I don't like her boyfriend or the angry glare she gives me when I called her Grimes or the way she didn't even thank me for helping her out that god damn well or the way she likes the smiths or the fact I might find her the tiniest bit attractive. I shake my ridiculous thoughts away and concentrate back into the conversation.
" Alright , I believe you ,Grimes" I lie to her so I can actually take out her stitches without her now standoffish attitude stoping me.
Elodie's POV:
I sigh in relief as he lets the touchy subject go , I have a feeling that he hasn't completely fallen for my lies but as long as he keeps it to himself I don't care. He starts taking out my stitches and I bit my lip to stop myself hissing in pain, a period of silence passes over us before he speaks up again "How old is your boyfriend?" He ask abruptly "excuse me?" I say taken aback by the question. He rolls his eyes "It's just a question , Grimes" he says as his large hands rub against my arm sending shivers down my spine.
" He's 17 same age as me" I say and he looks back up at me with an unreadable expression before nodding no other words are exchanged as he bandages my arm up. " Keep that on for a day or so then you should be good as new except for the scar obviously" he says in his monotone voice.
I find this boy aggravating me and I can't even really say why maybe it's the way he acts like he doesn't have a care in the world or the emotionless look on his face or his cold eyes or that he calls me Grimes or the way he towers over me or the fact I find him maybe the tiniest bit attractive or that every time we speak I can feel his stare searching me like he's trying to figure me out or expose me and I don't like it one bit . Or it could be all of those things rolled into one , I am distracted by my thoughts as the door opens.
Tommy walks in his gaze locked on Greene's hands still holding my bandaged wound , I instantly pull away and get up " Come on Babe , let's head to the tent" he says as he walks over to me placing his arm over my shoulder guiding me out of the room , I give one last glance back at Aaron but his eyes are set on Tommy's grip on my shoulder.
A/N
Hope you guys enjoy this bit of a longer chapter , tell me if you like Aaron's POV xx