Playing For Brains

The two girls finished drying the pot in silence, every now and again sneaking glances at the other to gage how they were feeling. Arlie grabbed a bottle of water out of the cupboard and poured it evenly amongst two glasses. She handed one to Beth as she hung the tea towel over the oven handle. Making her way over to the breakfast bar where there were 3 stools pulled up. The youngest Greene took a seat as her friend joined her on the one to her left.

"I want to be honest" she looked up at Beth "I want to tell everyone what happened to me. Maybe not everyone in Alexandria, but I do want to tell our family. I don't want to be the odd one out anymore. I met you all for a reason and you helped me. Its time they all know, to stop being so distant"

"Are you sure?" Beth asked, her eyebrows knitting together.

"You think you could ask everyone to come, it would be better coming from you. People like you more" Arlie asked, as a small smile crept onto Beth's face.

"Deal, but I get to help you make dessert" she stuck out her pinky finger.

Arlie laughed "are we really going to pinky promise this?"

"Swear it or I'm not going to ask everyone" she chuckled back as the pair shook on it.

"I have no idea what I am going to cook though" Arlie began to question her decision, she hadn't had to cook for a large group of people since before the turn, she barely had to cook anymore thanks to Carol's housewife routine.

"I will stop by the pantry on my way around to see everyone. You should go and get some sleep, you look exhausted" Beth added, placing a hand on Arlie's shoulder as she placed her glass in the sink.

...........

Arlie's sleep was disappointing like it was almost every night since the turn. She was just like the dead, she couldn't rest, she was switched on at all times. Beth was right that she looked exhausted, but Arlie knew what she needed, and it wasn't sleep. Maybe she could persuade Rick to go outside of the walls tomorrow, so that she could try and catch something.

Beth had come back after a couple of hours with some pasta and tomatoes, it was simple which was a bonus. Beth had to go to help out at the school for the afternoon, but she had made some cupcakes before she left. Promising to decorate them with some icing once she got home.

The sound of the front door echoed through the house.

"I hear we are all having dinner here, you know something about it?" Daryl asked as he noticed Arlie sat at the kitchen counter watching the pots bubbling.

"Rick knows" he almost misheard her due to how softly she spoke.

"Knows what?" he replied, already knowing the answer. Arlie turned around to look at the redneck.

"I told him everything, it's time I tell the others. I can't keep lying to everyone. They might hate me and throw me out, but I have to tell them" She explained, hoping that Daryl wouldn't be angry that she had in a way thrown him under the bus as well. She knew he was close to Rick, and she didn't want this to affect their friendship.

Daryl threw his bag on the counter and took a seat next to Arlie at the breakfast bar, grabbing a smaller bag from inside.

"You'd better have this before it's too late" he pushes the bag over to his companion, "I caught it just as I was coming back so it should be fresh enough" he looked at her hoping he hadn't offended her, but she smiled at him as she unwrapped the still warm rabbit.

It still felt weird eating flesh while it was still warm, especially with someone watching but it was her new way of life and somehow Daryl accepted that.

"Thank you" she smiled, blood staining her lips. Daryl handed her his red handkerchief from his back pocket.

"Ya got a little bit" Daryl gestures at his own mouth.

Arlie wipes her mouth, handing the handkerchief back to Daryl as she made her way over to the pasta and sauce to give it a stir.

"You should go and get changed, everyone will be here soon" Arlie turned to look at Daryl sat on the stool wearing his usual attire covered in dried blood. He grunted in disgust.

"Couldn't ya have just let Rick or Beth tell everyone so we could avoid this whole thing" he complained in a huff as he stood up, earning a chuckle from Arlie as he dragged himself off to shower.

Less than 10 minutes later he was sat back on the stool watching Arlie prepare dinner, chewing on his thumbnail.

"Something smells good" Beth's voice filled the kitchen taking the two by surprise, they hadn't heard the front door at all.

"Glenn and Maggie are here so I sent them into the dining room, I hope that's okay?" she looked at the two before heading towards the cakes on the side. "I'll just finish these off while you dish up. Daryl, do you think you can answer the door when it goes. I saw everyone else heading over as I got back"

She didn't know it, but she was very good at organising people. There was no wonder she got a job at the school.

"Let's get this over with then" Arlie grabbed the plates and started to dish up the pasta.