Unbreakable threads

Chapter Ninety Four: Settling in to Alexandria.

She towel-dried her hair quickly, leaving it wavy and loose. Catching her reflection once more in the mirror, she studied herself again, this time with a faint smirk. She looked cleaner, sharper—a far cry from the battle-worn, dirt-streaked girl who'd walked into the house an hour ago.

As Alyssa descended the stairs, Carl looked up from the kitchen and did a double take. "Wow," he said, half-joking but also genuinely surprised. "You actually look clean. Like, properly clean."

Alyssa rolled her eyes but smirked faintly, tugging the sleeves of her plaid shirt up as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "Yeah, well, enjoy it while it lasts," she said dryly. "Might not happen again anytime soon."

Carl grinned, but as he looked at her, he couldn't help but notice how different she seemed. Cleaner, sure, but also... older somehow. The sharp edges she carried before seemed a little softer, but there was still that fierce, unyielding strength in her posture. And now, more than ever, she looked like their dad—so much like him that it was almost unsettling.

Rick, who had been sitting on the couch watching Judith, glanced up at her as she stepped into the room. His gaze lingered longer than usual, as if he were really seeing her for the first time in a while. The tension between them hadn't disappeared, but in that moment, Rick couldn't help but notice just how much she'd grown—both into herself and into a reflection of him.

Alyssa caught his glance and looked away quickly, grabbing a seat at the table to avoid any potential interaction. She could feel the weight of Rick's gaze, and even though she didn't want to admit it, it made her uneasy. Things were still too raw between them for her to figure out what to do with moments like this.

Rick went upstairs, leaving Carl and Alyssa downstairs. The sound of running water echoed faintly through the house, and Carl continued to marvel at the working faucets, flicking them on and off as though it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

When Rick came back down, Alyssa turned in her chair to glance at him—and froze. He was clean-shaven, his damp hair brushed back messily, and he wore nothing but a pair of jeans. For a moment, she saw the man she'd met outside the hospital, the man her mother had sent her to find. He looked the same—just older, wearier, with more scars. The sight tugged at her thoughts in ways she wasn't prepared for.

Her moment of reflection was interrupted by a sudden knock at the door.

Rick, still adjusting to his new appearance, moved cautiously to the door and opened it. Standing there was a blonde woman with a box in her hands, her warm smile immediately disarming.

"Hi," she said brightly. "I'm Jessie. Welcome to Alexandria."

Rick nodded, his posture still tense but polite. "Rick," he replied curtly.

Jessie nodded, then glanced past him into the house, her eyes briefly landing on Alyssa and Carl. "I thought you might need these," she said, holding out the box. "Just some toiletries, little things to help you settle in."

Rick took the box with a small nod. "Thank you," he said gruffly, stepping aside to let her in.

Jessie walked inside, and Alyssa's eyes locked onto her. There was something about Jessie's warmth, her calm energy, that immediately caught Alyssa off guard. She couldn't look away, her usual guarded expression faltering ever so slightly.

Jessie smiled at Alyssa. "And you are?"

"Alyssa," she said quickly, standing up from her chair, trying to keep her voice steady.

Jessie's gaze softened. "It's nice to meet you, Alyssa." Then she turned to Carl, who was still hanging around the kitchen. "And you must be Carl?"

Carl nodded, grinning slightly. "Yeah."

Jessie turned her attention back to Rick, her eyes lingering on his freshly shaven face. "You know," she said casually, "I used to be a stylist. If you'd like, I could cut your hair."

Rick hesitated, glancing at Alyssa and Carl. Alyssa, still unable to take her eyes off Jessie, blurted out, "You probably should. It's been a while."

Jessie let out a light laugh, her smile brightening. Alyssa felt her face flush as she quickly added, "I mean, it'd probably feel better."

Rick raised an eyebrow at Alyssa but didn't comment. "Sure," he said to Jessie. "That'd be good."

Jessie nodded. "Great. I brought my scissors just in case."

She set the box down and pulled out a small pouch with her tools. As she gestured for Rick to sit in a chair, she talked as she worked. "I also help out at the pantry," she explained, carefully trimming Rick's hair. "We're lucky to have plenty of supplies, but it's always a balance to make sure everyone gets what they need."

Carl leaned on the counter, watching her curiously. "You've got kids?"

Jessie nodded, her expression softening as she smiled. "Two boys. Ron, my oldest, and Sam. They're both adjusting, but it's a lot to take in sometimes. I think they'll be happy to meet some new people."

Alyssa stayed quiet, but her gaze never left Jessie. There was something about the way she moved, the way she spoke, that made Alyssa's heart beat a little faster. She tried to shake it off, telling herself she was just tired, but she couldn't deny the magnetic pull she felt toward this woman.

When Jessie finished, Rick ran a hand through his freshly cut hair, nodding slightly. "Thank you," he said, his voice softer than before.

Jessie smiled warmly, packing up her tools. "Anytime. If you need anything else, just let me know."

As she headed to the door, Alyssa followed her, blurting out, "Thanks for, uh... the stuff. And, you know, the haircut."

Jessie turned, giving Alyssa a kind smile. "Of course. And if you ever need someone to talk to, my door's always open."

Alyssa felt her face heat up again, nodding quickly. "Yeah. Okay."

Jessie left with a wave, leaving Alyssa standing at the door, her thoughts swirling. Behind her, Carl smirked. "You're blushing."

Alyssa glared at him. "Shut up, Carl."

Carl burst out laughing, clutching his sides as he leaned against the counter. "Alyssa likes Jessie," he said, his voice filled with amusement. "What is she, like, double your age? And she's a mom! Come on."

Alyssa shuffled awkwardly on her feet, her face heating up even more. She scowled at Carl but couldn't resist a sly grin creeping onto her face. "Yeah, well," she shot back, "she could be my mommy for sure."

Carl froze mid-laugh, his eyes widening at her remark before doubling over again, laughing even harder. "Oh my God, that's so gross!" he managed to get out between fits of laughter.

Rick, who had been silently watching the exchange, let out an involuntary snort but quickly masked it with a shake of his head. "Alright, enough," he said firmly, his tone trying to rein in the situation, though his face betrayed a mix of amusement and exasperation.

He shot Alyssa a look, his brow furrowing. "Watch what you say," he warned. "Not exactly appropriate."

Alyssa shrugged, her smirk still intact. "What? Just being honest," she muttered under her breath, glancing back at the door where Jessie had just left.

Carl, still laughing, threw up his hands in mock surrender. "You've got issues, Alyssa," he teased, shaking his head as he walked back to the living room.