Everyone was still just staring at me and I decided, I had guests I needed to offer them something. A grabbed the big plate of cooked deer meat and held it up.
"Anybody hungry?" I asked waving the plate toward people.
"I am!" Carl's loud voice helped break the silence.
I giggled as he took a handful of deer meat strips and started chewing on one piece. He walked over to Lori, his mama I'm guessing, he offered some that he had taken and she took some smiling at him. She looked up at me and nodded her head in thanks. I felt a blush overtake my face, shock filled my brain, and my heart felt warm. No one had ever thanked me for anything before, I smiled so big it hurt and tears ran down my face. Carl handed the rest of his deer meat to his father while he ran over to me and wrapped me in the tightest hug. I hugged him back immediately, he didn't know why I was crying he just wanted me to feel that he cares. I love this kid we just met and he feels like a brother to me. I laughed as he pulled away and ran back to his mother. Daryl looked at me like I was insane, honestly, I probably am. I set the plate on the kitchen counter and walked back to the living room to my couch. I claimed the sucker, everyone else can use the beds upstairs. I laid back and stared at the ceiling, I was still scared but I think it was mostly because I want people to want me in their lives. But there is still a chance they'll leave and I won't be allowed to go with them, I was tired of being alone, I wanted a group, a family. Please accept me as one of you, I don't think I can make it much longer on my own. I thought towards the group. Lori came and sat near my feet as the rest of the group debated with one another about me, Carl was the loudest so he was the only one I heard say anything.
"Dad, please I promise we can trust her," I smiled at this, Carl wanted me around at least someone did.
"Dad! She literally had tear stains on her face and she was hiding in a cabinet if she was dangerous do you think we would even be having this conversation right now?!" Carl practically yelled.
Lori giggled and I looked at her, she smiled at me making me feel happy. Her smile is perfect, with pearly white, and straight teeth. I loved her smile. I smiled back at her, a shy no teeth showing smile, but a smile nonetheless. I sat up so she would have a little more room, I looked at her stomach it was swollen, pregnant I'm guessing. I sighed as she wrapped one arm around me like a mother does her child, well what a good mother would do anyway. She pulled me close, I rested my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes as she petted my hair. I fell asleep as she hummed the song, you are my sunshine. "Kailee! What did I tell you!" Screamed the awful woman in all my dreams.
"Mommy, I was just playing with the kitty. I didn't mean for anyone to see me," the little girl cried(I cried.)
"Don't you ever let anyone see again you hear me, you worthless waste of space?!" She yelled in my face grabbing my hair.
"Yes, mommy, no one will see me again!" I sobbed.
I jolted awake to Lori shaking me as hard as she could, her eyes were glazed with fear and worry, and when she realized I was finally awake she pulled me into a fierce hug.
"Oh, thank goodness your okay sweetheart," she whispered in my ear, "You were completely out, whimpering in your sleep about someone hurting you," she gulped.
"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to worry you," I cried.
"Baby girl you don't have to apologize for having a bad dream and being scared," she comforted me.
"Thank you for waking me up, she was awful," I whispered shakily.
"Who was dear, who hurt you so much?" She asked her grip tightening around me.
"That awful woman who gave birth to me!" I said through tears and clenched teeth.
"You're mother?!" Lori gasped.
"Yes, according to her I was a mistake, I was never supposed to be born. All because my dad decided to rape a teenage girl, her," I sobbed my voice broke. She wrapped me in a more gentle hug, she whispered you are my sunshine while she rubbed my back.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away, please don't take my sunshine away." She sung.
I finally calmed down when Rick and the rest of the group were done with their hour-long discussion. Rick looked confused when he saw how his wife was holding me. Daryl came up next to me and wrapped his arms around me as well. Carl had a worried look in his eyes, he pierced his lip and decided to go in for a hug as well. I was calm till I was in all three of their arms I started to cry again. More tears poured down my face and I started to laugh. I guess I am crazy, I was crying and laughing because I had never felt so loved in my entire life. Rick cleared his throat and everyone released their hold on me. I turned to look at him, eager to hear what he had to say, he smiled clearly amused by the way I acted.
"Kailee, I would like to say, welcome to the group," his eyes shined when I grinned, "Welcome to your family." He continued. I stood up and jumped into his arms. I hugged him so tight he let out an oof of air. He hugged me back gently at first then as tightly as he could as well, knowing that I needed it. I ran and grabbed the plate of deer meat and brought it out to the living room table. I noticed no one ate much of it.
"Ya'll go ahead and eat a have a whole cooler full of deer meat," I spoke sternly. I grabbed the cooler and started to cook more meat, while everyone ate some more. Carl stood next to me and watched.
"Kailee?" He murmured.
"Yes?" I smiled.
"What's your favorite color?" He asked.
"Purple most of the time, and others usually orange," I answered.
"Your eyes are pretty," He whispered.
"Thank you, your hair is cool," I giggled.
"Thank you," He laughed.
"Tell me a joke," I told him.
"Knock knock," He said.
"Who's there?" I asked.
"I love," He stated proudly.
"I love who?" I replied.
"I love you!" He grinned.
"I love you too!" I whispered, close to tears.
He hugged me and then ran back to Lori. I looked at Daryl to see him glaring at me. I narrowed my eyes at him and mouthed, "Get your dumb big brother butt over here."
He huffed but came over to me. I grinned at him, after all, he is my big brother. I handed him a piece of freshly cooked deer. He threw it in his mouth quickly and swallowed not bothered in the slightest by how hot it was. I laughed and set my head on his chest as he pet my hair like a dog. I let out a big sigh of relief, I never felt so happy and peaceful it was hard to let out how good it felt. As it turns out my big brother Daryl had been with the group almost since the beginning. Carl is the funniest kid I have ever met, even before the apocalypse. Rick seems to like me okay but in all honesty, for some reason, I want his approval. I sat down with Lori after cooking the rest of the meat and watched everyone laugh and talk. Family, my family. I can't believe it I found my blood brother and a huge group to call my own. My thoughts trailed. Lori was so motherly and I saw Rick as a true father figure and Daryl as a protector. I felt at home for the first time. Thank you apocalypse, please don't take this away. I thought. I joined in the talking and laughing no longer afraid of being alone. I was no longer alone and never would be again. I have a family.