Chapter 28

Author note at the end. Enjoy.

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The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and freshly turned earth while a breeze unsettled a strain Beth's hair. Which she placed back behind her ear, while her eyes was fixed on the half full moon. Admiration plain to see in her eyes.

Alex sat atop Dale's RV alongside her, his eyes scanning the darkened fields that stretched out before him and the forest beyond it.

The moon, offered little light, but his eyes had long since adjusted to the night. He could see a couple of figures walking aimlessly at the edge of the forest before disappearing in its shadow.

Though he still found the walkers creepy, he was used to it by now. If any started walking towards the farm, the plan was to wait until it reaches the trenches and fall down. Then take care of them in the morning. For a moment, his eyes turned to Beth, only to find her deep in thoughts, a silent giggle leaving her.

Deciding to distract himself, his arm turned to his own weapon. His machete lay within easy reach, a reminder of the dangers that lurked beyond the farm's boundaries. And if he was honest with himself, Alex found the act "badass" since it reminded him of warrior in stories or old eras. Their weapon always by their side.

Beside him, Beth sat cross-legged on the picnic chair, a rifle that was scavenged during one of their runs laid across her lap. She needed practice to hit the head of the walkers from distance, but if she had to focus on their torso, 7 out of 10 shots. After tomorrow, the group planned to hit a close town just for Beth, Katjaa, and others to practice in a "safe" environment. Such as how to deal with walkers, the strategy used, how to hide from other survivors or cover tracks. Even simple things such as how to aim and anticipate things.

Most thought by Daryl which almost everyone agreed to. Though some of the participants were too afraid to get out of the farm, a reality check from Kenny quietened them down. Especially Katjaa who didn't want to leave Duck behind.

A sigh brought him back from his thoughts to the blonde girl next to him. A sigh filled with melancholy. Beth seemed relaxed, her posture easy as she gazed out into the night.

But Alex, on the other hand, felt anything but calm. His mind raced, replaying Lee's casual revelation over and over again. Beth liked him.

Beth liked him.

Him of all people.

The thought felt foreign, almost absurd in its normalcy midst their chaotic world.

"So," Beth's soft voice broke the silence, startling Alex from his spiraling thoughts. "How are you settling in? It's been a while since you all arrived, but I realized I never really asked."

Alex blinked, caught off guard by the simple question. "Oh, uh, it's been… good. Yeah. Your family's been really welcoming." He awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

He winced internally at how awkward he sounded. But Beth smiled, either not noticing or choosing to ignore his discomfort.

"I'm glad. It's nice having more people around. Makes the farm feel alive." Alex nodded, unsure how to respond. Was this small talk? Or was there more to it? He found himself analyzing every word, every gesture, searching for hidden meanings that probably weren't there.

"What about you?" he asked, desperate to shift the focus away from himself. "How's it been for you, having all of us here?" Beth's smile widened slightly. "It's been an adjustment, for sure, I mean, I wasn't expecting to share my room with mom and dad. Maggie and I always argued on closet space. But now, we just shrug and deal with it."

As she spoke, Alex couldn't help but notice the way the moonlight caught in her hair, the genuine warmth in her eyes. He quickly looked away, his heart rate inexplicably picking up. What was wrong with him? This was Beth. Just Beth. His friend. Nothing more.

As the night wore on, the couple feeling more awkward with each other, while Alex found himself increasingly aware of Beth's presence beside him. Every small movement, every soft sigh and gaze towards her, seemed to amplify in the quiet darkness.

He tried to focus on the task at hand—keeping watch—but his mind kept drifting back to Lee's words and the implications they carried. Beth liked him.

Beth liked him.

Beth shifted in her chair, reaching for her canteen. "Want some water?" she offered, holding it out to him with a genuine smile. "Oh, uh, sure. Thanks," Alex replied, accepting the canteen.

As their fingers brushed during the exchange, he felt an inexplicable jolt run through him. Was that normal? Or was it a side effect to his overthinking? Had that always happened when they touched, and he just hadn't noticed before?

He took a sip, hyper-aware of the fact that Beth's lips had been on this same canteen just moments ago. Stop it, he chided himself.

You're being ridiculous. "You okay?" Beth asked, tilting her head slightly as she studied his face and Alex noticed himself mimicking her head tilt. His neck grew stiff at that realization. After a fake cough, he nodded.

"You seem a bit… distracted." Alex nearly choked on the water. "Yeah, no, I'm fine," he managed, handing the canteen back perhaps a bit too quickly. "Just, you know, keeping an eye out." Beth nodded, but her expression suggested she wasn't entirely convinced. "Well, if you want to talk about anything, I'm here," she said, her voice soft and sincere.

There it is again, Alex thought. Is she being kind because that's who she is, or because she… likes me? The idea still felt foreign, almost laughable. He'd known Beth for weeks now, even though it felt years, and he'd never once considered the possibility that she might see him as anything more than a friend, a fellow survivor.

His mind raced back through their past interactions. The times she'd brought him water while he was working on the trenches. The way she always seemed to end up sitting next to him during meals.

Her eager participation in his slingshot lessons with Clementine whenever she had nothing to do.

Had there been signs all along that he'd been too dense to notice? "Alex?" Beth's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. "You sure you're okay? You look like you're a million miles away." He blinked, realizing he'd been staring blankly into the distance.

"Sorry, I just… I've got a lot on my mind, I guess." Beth's expression softened with concern. She shifted in her seat, torso facing him now instead of being side to side.

"Anything you want to talk about?"Alex opened his mouth, then closed it again. How could he possibly explain what he was feeling? The confusion, the uncertainty, the fear of misinterpreting things or, worse, of hurting her if Lee was right? "I…" he began, then shook his head.

"It's nothing." Beth nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving his face. "If you say so…"A comfortable silence fell between them, but Alex's mind continued to race. He sneaked glances at Beth when he thought she wasn't looking, trying to see her through this new lens.

She was kind, sure, but she was kind to everyone. She was pretty—he'd always known that objectively—but did he find her attractive in that way? The more he thought about it, the more confused he became.

He'd spent so long focused on survival, on keeping everyone safe, that the idea of romantic feelings seemed almost laughable. And yet, here he was, his heart rate elevated, his palms sweaty, all because Beth Greene might like him.

"What's your favorite song?" She suddenly asked, bringing his attention to her. "Favorite song?" He paroted and Beth gave him a polite smile and an encouraging nod.

Taking the hint as what it was, to change the topic of the conversation, he thought deeply about it. He could give her numerous different answers, such as the most popular one before the apocalypse or the one he heard the most or the "indie" ones.

But seeing the eager look of Beth, Alex decided to be honest. "I've never liked listening to songs." He revealed to her and saw her go still for a moment. "Why?" She asked, not confused or exasperated or shocked. Just simple curiosity, she simply wanted to know.

"Because their mostly the same thing. A repeat of their predecessors. All the mainstream songs are written by a group of song writers that recycle the same formula over and over again." Alex shrugged, his eyes scanning the parameter of the farm for a minute.

"What about the small artists?" She probed and Alex thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. "They aren't interesting or fun to listen to. They see the formula for more fame and money and they copy it. The end product? An inferior version of what everyone listens to the radio." He told her, staring at her eyes, face serious. She looked disappointed and maybe even guilty?

He decided that he didn't want to see her like that. A smile did land on his face a second later.

"I rather like poems better."

Immediately, Beth straightened in surprise, her eyes going wide. "Really?!" She whisper exclaimed and Alex embarrassingly nodded, dodging her beautiful eyes. "Yeah… That's what songs were before all the mainstream ones." He affirmed lowly and Beth looked giddy.

"Do you also write sometimes?" She immediately shot back and Alex looked away, checks turning a bit red. Though Beth couldn't see the blush, his attitude gave her enough of an answer. A giant smile showcased itself on Beth's face, leaning back into the chair a little as her eyes looked up and down Alex.

She never expected that out of him.

Alex felt Beth's gaze on him, studying him with newfound interest. He shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling exposed. "It's not a big deal," he mumbled, trying to downplay his admission.

"No, it is!" Beth insisted, her voice hushed but excited. "I think it's wonderful. Would you… would you maybe share one with me sometime?"

Alex's heart skipped a beat. The idea of sharing something so personal made him feel vulnerable, but the genuine interest in Beth's eyes was hard to resist. "Maybe," he said noncommittally. "If I can remember any good ones."

Alex still hesitated and to some degree even regreted a little. Stories and songs were mostly thoughts and what ifs. But poems were feelings and emotions. Alex wasn't sure he wanted to expose that to someone.

Beth nodded, seeming to sense his discomfort. "No pressure," she said softly. "Does Glenn know?" She asked, a little bit of competitive edge in her tone that Alex missed. "No, I've never shared it with anyone." He shook his head, turning to her for a moment.

"Except you, I guess." He mumbled, while Beth felt like she had won something. Her chest puffed up in victory while a playful hum left her.

"What about you?" he asked, partly out of genuine curiosity and partly to deflect attention from himself. "Any hidden talents or interests I should know about?"

Beth's smile turned a bit shy. "Well, I used to sing a lot. Before all this, I mean. I still do sometimes, but not as much." She replied as she put a freed strain of hair back behind her ear. The action had him feel weird.

He carefully looked at himself and tried to bury the feeling away but the desire was still there. The desire to cup her face, to hug her, to cuddle with her, to kiss her checks, her forehead, her lips, her eyesbrows.

At first, he thought it was lust but Alex couldn't let himself imagine her like that. He simply felt that she needed to be hugged tightly but not to tight as to hurt her.

"Really?" Alex found himself leaning in slightly, intrigued. "I'd like to hear that sometime." Immediately, he caught himself before regretting saying it. The words were out before he could stop them, and he felt his face heat up. Was that too forward? But Beth's face lit up, and he felt a warmth spread through his chest at the sight.

"Maybe we could trade," she suggested.

"A poem for a song?"Alex found himself nodding before he could overthink it.

"Yeah, that… that sounds nice." They lapsed into silence again, but it felt different now.

He snuck another glance at Beth, watching as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The simple gesture suddenly seemed incredibly graceful.

Stop it, he chided himself again. You're reading too much into things.

The two found themselves settled in a comfortable silence after that discussion. Due to it, the young man found himself thinking of scenerios of him and Beth. Of cuddling and playing and slow dancing to nothing.

He shivered for a moment and shook it off. But Beth, mistaken it as cold, put their chairs right next to each other. Alex simply looked at her with confusion, as she dug into a bag that was next to her and took out a cover, wrapping it around him and herself.

Alex couldn't help but feel himself wanting to lean into her. Something in him changed and he decided that he didn't care if she liked him or she was simply being kind. To him, none of that mattered, except one thing. She was far more important than the mission on the floating screen. She was more important than Lee to him at that moment.

And he wanted to protect her at all cost. He wanted her to always be her. Even if he couldn't allow himself to like her back.

The memories he hadn't revisited in a long time crashed at him once he thought of that. The conversation with his mother—or rather, the simulated memory of his mother—played vividly in his mind, as fresh as if it had happened yesterday.

He could see her clearly: sitting at the kitchen table, a mug of green tea cradled in her hands, her eyes warm but serious as she looked at him. It was half a year before the accident, moment frozen in time during one of their arguments.

A moment that never happened yet did and hurt him all the same. "Alex," she had said, her voice gentle but firm. "I'll say it again, focus on your studies, I know about the party hosted by the Wayne's kids."

"But everyone's going to be there!" The younger him shot back, feeling the unfairness while all that was in his head at the moment was his best friends having fun there while he was stuck at home. With her.

"I know, but you have exams in two days and I haven't seen you study at all." She shot back with a glare.

"Mom, I've been studying!" His younger self protested, the lie tasting bitter on his tongue. "I just… I need a break. One night won't hurt!" He remembered of his ginger crush that was also attending the party.

His mother's eyes softened, but her resolve remained firm. "Alex, honey, I know you want to have fun with your friends. But right now, your future is the most important thing. These exams could determine which college you get into, which could affect your entire life."

"But that's just it!" Alex had exclaimed, his frustration boiling over. "It's always about the future with you! What about now? What about living in the moment?"

His mother had set down her mug then, reaching across the table to take his hand. "Sweetheart, I know it seems unfair now. But trust me, there will be plenty of time for parties and fun later. Right now, you need to focus on building a foundation for your life."

Seeing him not budging, she sighed and left her grasp on his hands. "Didn't you tell me you wanted to become a lawyer?" She asked with the same tone and Alex knew he was defeated. "I just…"

Walking around the table, she settled next to him, running her hand through his hairs. The feeling soothed him far more than anything. "I know, believe me, it's frustrating isn't it?" She asked and he nodded. "But that's what life is all about. Sacrifice and responsibility. Everything else is second to those things." She had told him.

"If you want something, you'll have to sacrifice something else in return. Otherwise, you have the responsibility of going through it to the end." She continued and Alex could only remember feeling frustrated at that saying.

But now, glancing to Beth, he knew he added another responsibility on himself whilst sacrificing his own wants and needs. And contrary to what he thought he would feel, burdened and exhausted, he could only find determination in himself.

"What is that?" Beth's gentle and confused words brought him back to the present. "Hmm?" He wordlessly asked and Beth pointed towards the edge of the forest. Following her finger, he noticed the same figures multiplying. Though they still were at the edge of the forest, some of them were slowly and aimlessly heading towards the farm.

Immediately, Alex stood up, surprising Beth. "Alex?" She asked but Alex didn't leave his eyes from the figures, frowning at them. But once he saw a couple of those figures run straight at the farm did he snap out of it. "Beth, go inside, wake everyone up. Tell them there's a horde coming."

Seeing no movement, Alex turned to her, "Beth!" He snapped her out of her fear, making her turn towards him. "Did you hear me? Wake up everyone!" He repeated. Immediately, Beth stood up and climbed down the RV, with Alex following her. Rifle holstered to his shoulder.

He looked through the scope of the rifle and his suspesions were confirmed right. Runners and walkers. "Fuck!" He cursed. "Alex!" Rick, Shane, Kenny, Daryl, and Lee were the first ones to exist the house, followed by Glenn, Meggie, Carol, and everyone else.

"What we got?" Daryl gruffly asked, standing next to him, while everyone else looked at where Alex was aiming at. "A horde, a big one, I think." He told them. From his estimates, a full on sprint from the edge of the forest to the farm would take about 10 minutes and they could maybe 5 at best.

"We won't be able to handle all that." Kenny muttered, fear and despair evident in his tone. Immediately, Daryl turned and ran to the house while Shane martched up to Alex, snatching the rifle. "Give me that." He spat.

"Shane!" Rick called out, worry and anger clear in his tone, but Shane didn't care. He cocked the chamber, aimed, and-

BANG

-fired at one of the runners.

A head shot.

Alex heard a few gasps behind him but he ignored it. "Wha-" Rick was cut off by Daryl joining them, "Alex, I'm taking your car."

"You're running?!" Kenny shouted in the chaos.

"No," Daryl growled, his eyes fixed on the approaching horde. "I'm gonna lead them away. Make noise, draw 'em off."

Rick's eyes widened in understanding. "That's too dangerous, Daryl. We can't risk-"

BANG

Another shot, another runner down. Or at least, that's what Shane and everyone who saw him shot the rifle thought. Until the runner stood back up with no struggle and continued to run. "Fuck!"

"We don't have a choice," Daryl cut him off, throwing his crossbow inside. "It's that or we all die here."

Alex's mind raced, weighing the options. The farm, their safety, was at risk. His promise to himself. Beth's safety, his mission, everyone else. Everything they'd built, everyone they'd protected - it could all be lost in minutes. Without thinking, he stepped forward with his own weapon, his machete.

"I'll go with you," he said, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him.

Beth gasped behind him. Alex didn't know when she got that close to him, but Alex didn't turn. He couldn't bear to see the worry in her eyes right now. "Alex, no," Glenn protested, grabbing his friend's arm. "It's suicide."

"We need two people," Alex insisted. "If one gets stuck in a situation, the other can help him out. It's the only way to draw enough of them off while lowering the risk as much as possible."

Daryl nodded grimly, already moving towards Alex's truck. "Kid's right. Let's go."

Alex nodded back, already running to the truck, "Alex." The voice stopped him-

BANG

Another shot, another curse from Shane. Rick ran inside to get his gun and came back up. They glared at each other. "Alex." He turned to the voice, finding Carol in front of him. "Come back to me, okay?" She cupped his face, a look of intense worry and fear in her eyes, a look a mother has for her child.

"I promise." He told her and she lowered his face enough to kiss his forehead. "Good."

That was all it took and Alex turned and ran inside the truck. Daryl didn't wait for him to get comfortable, as soon as one leg was inside, he floored the vehicle, making Alex jump inside and close the door as the truck left the farm.

Heading straight towards the horde. "Oh-" Was all Alex could mutter.

BANG

Another shot, a runner down.

He glanced at the farm through the mirror, finding Rick ordering everyone. He saw the kids go inside, Shawn and the other men grabbed whatever weapons they had scavenged, Hershel had his shotgun.

As soon as they were close enough to the walkers, Daryl pressed hard on the honk and sharply turned into a dirt road, slowly down enough that most walker's attention turned to them. But strangely enough, if Daryl created too much of space, the walkers' attention would turn back to the horde and then the farm.

"There must be an Einstein in there or something." Daryl cursed, slowing down almost to a stop as the walkers were close enough to grab the truck.

Whatever Alex wanted to say was swallowed down as another dozens of walkers appeared from the sides of the road. "Daryl!" Alex shouted. Without hesitation, the hunter floored the accelerator. The tires screeched and the engine roared as Daryl dangerously swerved once more before hitting them.

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Author Note:

Hey guys, long time no see-

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Long time no interact!

First of all, sorry for the long inaction, was handling all the responsibility from the internship and then the finale project. Been doing well so far. Got competent teammates for the projects, so less burden on me. Though now, I'm the "incompetent" one compared to them. They are carrying my butt.

Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. Took me about a week or two to write it, but I'm thankful for that. Because, the main thing about this chapter was opening up Alex to Beth and wise versa. And after rereading through it, I decided to throw my plan for this chapter and the followings out of the window.

Leonard Snart plan meme here please.

I realized I wasn't going anyway with the plot if I really took my time. I've come to the realization that the reason the plot wasn't moving much was due to a reason that I will not disclose here because it will be spoilers.

But NO MORE!

You, as my readers, will get to see the plot advance!

No matter what!

ANyway, I havent proof read this since I wrote it at work, so if you spot any mistake, point it out. I might fix them.

For the following chapters, the plan so far is facing the horde, aftermath of the horde, any consequences? If so, what are they? (These are mainly for me, so that I can open it up at work and have a direction to what I'm writing towards. Lol.)

I hope all of you are doing well.

Stay safe. Author Out!

PS: I'll try to upload another chapter next week maybe? Or this friday. We'll see.