Chapter 5

*Shelby's P.O.V*


I still haven't moved from my spot on the ground. I was still in shock after what just happened.


"Did you not hear me? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" The person said.


I sighed and then got up and faced the person.


"No, Daryl, I wasn't." I said as I then grabbed my knife that was on the ground.


Daryl bent down to grab the arrow from the walker's skull and then looked back at me.


"I won't tell your brother what happened."


"Is he with you right now?" I asked.


Daryl shook his head. "No, I came out here by myself to track any footsteps. So far, it's all clear."


"And let me take a guess..." I started to say. "You're gonna walk me back to Hilltop?"


"I wasn't thinking that but I might now. Just so that I know that you got home safe and Aaron won't be worried."


He started to walk in the direction of where Hilltop was before I stopped him.


"You should've let that walker bite me."


He stopped. "Excuse me?"


"You should've left me there to die. I was getting ready for it. If you waited another five seconds, I would be bleeding and probably dead already." I explained.


"If I let you die then your brother would be on my ass. There is no way in hell I'm letting that happen."


I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."


But then I started walking in the direction of Hilltop. I was covered in dirt and blood. I probably look gross right now.


Daryl didn't make any conversation happen. He doesn't talk that much but he gets shit done.


Within who knows how long, we arrived at Hilltop.


People came approaching us when they saw me covered in dirt and blood.


"What the hell happened?" Yumiko asked.


"She was trying to get herself killed. But I saved her." Daryl explained.


"Yeah, and I told you that you should've left me there to die." I huffed.


"Why were you doing that?" Magna asked.


"There's no reason." I lied and started walking away.


But hell, Yumiko wasn't letting me go that easy. "Shelby, if something is bothering you then you can talk to me. You don't need to sneak off and take anger out. Anger gets you killed."


"Maybe I wanted to die." I said quietly but they all heard.


"What's happening?" Earl then asked, walking up to the group.


And look, Alden was standing next to him as well. Am I going to get a lecture from everyone?


"Shelby almost died out there." Jerry said.


"Yeah, and like I said, I probably should've." I said.


"Will you please knock it off when saying that?" Yumiko asked. "Hilltop needs you. We all need you."


I side eyed Alden. "Clearly, not everyone."


Then I walked away. I'm already done with today and I want it to be night time already.


When I was in my room, I couldn't help it. I just started throwing stuff. If I can't let my anger out where walkers are around then I can let anger out in my own bedroom.


Why is this always happening to me?


I built up courage and then it seems like that courage laughs in my face and then shit happens.


But hey, I get it. We live in the apocalypse and shit always happens.


My bedroom had a connected bathroom so I quickly went into the shower real quick. I wanted to wash off the dirt and blood that got on me.


The warm water soothes me and it lets me know that maybe things will be okay. I kind of doubt that right now but I'll just have to be patient, I guess.


When I was done showering, I wrapped a towel around myself and then dried off. Then I put my clothes on.


Which was just black leggings with a white shirt and light blue flannel. I let my hair down and I was okay now after the shower.


While having time to myself, there was a knock on the door.


Who could that be?


I walked over to the door and opened it. Who was standing there in front of me had completely caught me off guard. I was surprised.


"Alden?" I questioned.


His feet shifted as he stared at me. "Hey, Shelby."


I looked at him. "What are you doing?"


"I came to check on you."


"Why?"


"I was worried about you."


Is he actually kidding me? He's now worried about me. Well, that's a first.


"You never worried about me before." I said.


He sighed. "Yes, I did. You just didn't know."


"And now you're letting me know?" I questioned. "Because it seems that just when I'm about to die, you come and check on me. What about if I didn't die? What would you have done then?"


"I know you were talking about me earlier. When you looked at me when you were talking."


"Don't worry, Alden. I'm fine." I assured him.


"No, you're not." He said.


Who is he to tell me what I'm feeling? Is he serious?


"You don't know what I'm feeling." I told him.


"Then tell me." He said. "Tell me what's on your mind."


I shook my head. "I don't think so."


"Why? What's stopping you from doing so?"


"It doesn't matter." I said and went to shut the door until he stopped it from closing.


I looked at him shocked.


"Of course, it matters." He said. "And let me say something. Let me tell you that not only does Hilltop need you, but I need you."


"It doesn't seem like you need me." I said and then walked out of my room with him following me.


"I need you a lot more than you need me." He said, which made me stop walking.


"And why's that?"


He sighed. "When we were staring at each other yesterday, I couldn't turn away. I thought... Maybe I need to slow down. Take time with things. But I then remembered the kind of world we live in. But I haven't stopped thinking about you since. I wanna get to know you better."


"But what about earlier?" I asked.


"What are you talking about?"


What I may say next might freak him out. But I've always been someone who would tell the truth, most of the time. I sometimes lie.


"I heard you when you were in your room." I said. "While you were remembering Enid."


He slowly nodded. "I do that almost every day. Since you know, I miss her. Things haven't been easy since that day."


"I know." I nodded.


"It's just that-" he started to say but he stopped himself.


He couldn't finish his sentence. He really does have a hard time talking about what happened.


Then he shook his head. "Never mind."


I wasn't sure what to say next. I didn't want to say something that could possibly upset him. He was already going through so much.


It was silent between us. He would awkwardly shift as he would look at the ground. I was too busy looking at him.


He didn't seem that bothered by it.


But that's only because he didn't say anything about it.


Then I was starting to remember what Negan and Magna had told me. That I should just try to talk to him. Especially since Magna said that I should talk to him when he's alone.


It's just the two of us in the hallway so maybe now it was the right time to actually have the conversation happen.


I know that we were talking right now but that's because we were talking about me and what was happening. Maybe it's time that we do get to know each other better.


Like Magna said, if I start talking to him then he would wanna talk to me.


Then I just made the bold move. Here goes nothing.


"Hey, Alden. Umm... would you like to go on a run tomorrow with me?" I then asked him.


He looked up at me. "You sure?"


I nodded. "Of course. We can probably get to know each other better while we're walking."


He smiled. "I'd love to."


And that made me smile too. It's actually happening. Alden and I are going on a run tomorrow.


It did surprise me but I'm glad that it's happening. Alden and I are talking more with each other and it's what I always wanted.


And it seems like it's what he wanted too.


Can it be tomorrow already? I'm excited for this run with Alden.


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Hey guys, I'm back and here's chapter 5 for you all.


Before anything is talked about, I just wanna say that this chapter was supposed to be posted earlier. But I haven't been feeling well lately and my shoulder is in pain since yesterday so I spent some time trying to relax.


But I did wanna make sure that this chapter was up and posted.


So in this chapter, Shelby finds out that it was Daryl who saved her.


It could've been Alden that saved her but who else would randomly be on a run and trying to discover something?? Daryl was the one that came to mind and I wanted something like an arrow to go through the skull.


I know that Alden starts using bow and arrows in season 10 but it wasn't shown until the second half of the season and we've seen him use his spear.


So I thought Daryl was a good person to have save her.


Then when she's back at hilltop, she gets questioned by everyone else that lives at the community and kind of says that Alden doesn't seem like he needs her.


Then after Shelby takes a shower, she has a conversation with Alden.


Alden tells her that he does need her and that he does want to get to know her better.


Which then gets Shelby to ask him if he would want to go on a run with her the next day in which he accepts.


I had a lot of fun writing this chapter and I can't wait to post the next chapter where Shelby and Alden are on their run.


It's Halloween weekend so I hope you all have a happy Halloween and eat as much candy as you can.


I hope you all liked this chapter.!!


New chapter every Tuesday and Friday.!!


Vote, read, and tell your friends, and stay tuned for the next chapter.!!!

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