Author's Notes: Well, first of all, thanks for reading! I suppose you haven't really started reading yet but, thank you! This has kind of been a work in progress for a few months, I started, stopped, missed writing and then started again (and then repeat a few times!) I realize this isn't a Pulitzer Prize winner or the Dublin Award winner of the century but, I like to write in my spare time and I love the Walking Dead. So here it is.

I do not own the Walking Dead, this is a fan fiction story. I do, however, own the original character of Josephine May "Jo May" Whittaker.

Enjoy!

One

Andrea was the first to discover me. I was hungry, cold, wet and couldn't stop shaking; I was scared as hell. I had run out of food, water and worst of all – the will to go on. The store had been empty, no walkers when I found it, thank God. I crawled into the bathroom hoping to find some water but, dry as a Don Mclean's levy. At that point I became a little delirious and decided it would be easier to die in a department store bathroom than go back out and try to live on the streets. The cold tile of the bathroom was welcoming against the heat of Atlanta. So, I laid back and closed my eyes, waiting to die. I laid there, under the line of sinks surrounded by my collection of survival gear: two guns, empty of bullets, a kitchen knife, a bone dry milk jug and a jacket that reeked of the dumpster I had been living in and the dead man I had pulled it off of.

After a quick bite check, Andrea had pulled me out of restroom and Jacqui had found me some clean, fresh, designer label clothes [not that labels mattered any more – geeks would eat you Prada or K-Mart – they were real "it's what's on the inside that counts" kind of monsters.] After a few hours of T.L.C. from Jacqui and Andrea, I found my place in the group, hiding behind Andrea – away from Merle. I couldn't shoot a gun or wield the knife I had. I had lived a life of pageantry and luxury before the outbreak; a pink tulle, bubble of protection. Until now. I suppose you would call them survival instincts that kicked in. I became as jumpy and as flighty as a sparrow. My ears and eyes had become expert at hearing and seeing movement in the three weeks on my own. My nose on the other hand, I had trained to not notice the smells of the dead or the garbage in a dumpster. My only goals had been to run and survive. Find out where the walkers were and head the other direction.

At night, we all made our way to the mattress section of the store, wish I'd have found that sooner. It would have been nice to say I died on a Sleep Number. Andrea and I shared a bed and she turned over to me and smiled, tucked hair out of my face, behind my ear, "You remind me of my little sister," she whispered, "Do you have siblings?"

"No," I said, "Only child."I had never been quiet or shy before… never an introvert like I was now. I became wild and almost animalistic. For three days I had hidden in dumpster eating flour tortillas I had snatched from an ownerless cart – well, semi-ownerless as two hands were still attached to the handle.

I shook a little as memories of the outbreak – from day one onward- flooded back to me. I turned over and quietly cried to myself, Andrea gently rubbing my back as my mother used to – the thought made me cry harder. Merle groaned, "Could you shut the hell up for one night?"

"Fuck off, Merle," Andrea said over her shoulder.

I wiped the snot and tears off my face and buried it in the pillow, slowly falling asleep.

Her dark hair was wild, somewhere between curly and wavy – frizzy from the heat and sweat – her thick bangs were in her eyes, making the dark irises look all the more feral. Andrea watched her go through the racks and hold shirts and pants up to herself for size. Jacqui and Andrea had thought maybe a little shopping trip would bring Jo around – she still wasn't coming out of her shell any. She was terrified, they could all see it – her quick, jumpy movements and flashes of adrenaline lit up her eyes at any sudden movement. She was like a deer- ready to run at the first sign of trouble with a flick of her tail. Andrea guessed her to be about twenty or so – just a kid. Poor thing; parents were probably dead along with anyone else she knew. Her deep, Southern drawl made Andrea think that she wasn't from around here. She reminded Andrea too much of Amy. She didn't mind her either… Jo had become a little stick-tight, Amy's own personal shadow.

We rode in the bumpy cargo truck; I clung to my bag of clothes I had taken from the store, sitting next to Andrea. Glenn went around us, alarm screeching. I giggled and Andrea looked at me and smiled, "That is the first time I've seen your teeth," she said, "They're perfect!" I quickly looked down and concealed my grin behind my hand. Rick looked behind him and smiled. I liked him; he had found our way out of Atlanta. He patted my knee and turned back around, focusing on the road ahead. I did not flinch away from his touch and I took that as either I was improving mentally or, I just didn't care anymore.

We continued for awhile, down into a little valley with a big, blue pond. We stopped short of a camp. Tents and an R.V. surrounded a couple of fire rings, smoldering in the late afternoon sun made up the little community. People were gathering to greet their returning friends and family members.

Everyone climbed out, Andrea left my side and ran to who I assumed would be her sister. People greeted each other, families and friends reunited. I stood next to Rick, hiding behind him and clinging to my belongings. And then, I was alone. I felt tears burn my eyes as Rick held his wife and son; the two he had promised to find. I stood off by myself, watching the reunions. Andrea walked p to me and held my hand, "This is Josephine May," Andrea smiled, "Jo, this is Amy and Dale. These are good people, Jo May." She tucked my hair behind my ears, like a mother.

I nodded, feeling a little more comfortable in the warm sunshine – absent the scent of walkers, "Nice to meet you," I said, quietly.

Amy and Andrea walked off, talking together, leaving Dale and I. I stared at the ground and dug a hole with the toe of my shoe, "Are you from around here," Dale asked, he seemed like the friendly, approachable type.

"No, sir," I said, "Lousiana."

"Louisiana," Dale said, "What are you doing way up here?"

"We heard that there was a safe place here," I said, staring at the ground. I closed my eyes and barred the memories from showing themselves again, digging the hole deeper with my foot.

Dale took the hint and nodded, "Let's find you a place to sleep, huh?"

I nodded and followed him. The camp was full of life – quiet, secluded, happy life. I followed Dale to a pile of camping supplies underneath the awning of an aged R.V., "We'll get you your own tent, Jo May," Andrea said as we approached, "Give you some space, a little privacy, won't that be nice?"

"Yes ma'am," I smiled, I knew that bugged Andrea.

She straightened up and looked at me, "What'd I say about that?"

"You'd make me in charge of waste management," I said, smiling at the ground. The other cop, Shane I think, walked over. He had a nice face and was very built, handsome and he had a friendly smile.

I took a quick step behind Andrea, he seemed surprised by my avoidance, "I'm Shane," he said, holding out his hand. I stepped back and Andrea shook her head quickly. Shane nodded, "If you need anything, Miss…?"

"Jo May," I said quietly.

"Miss Jo May," Shane smiled, "If you need anything, please don't be afraid to ask," he nodded and swiftly turned around to walk away.

"Yes sir," I said, my Louisiana drawl and manners drew more attention than I liked. Shane turned back and smiled and mouthed Sir? Andrea smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

We set up my own tent; it was tiny but, safe. Andrea and Amy put it next to theirs, in front of Shane's and to the side of Daryl's – whoever that was. Apparently Merle's brother which wasn't very appealing. We all gathered, at sundown, around the fire. I sat between Dale and Andrea, quietly taking in my new group. Rick kept his family close. It was no mistaking that Shane had taken to Lori and Carl – the way he looked at them was apparent. Andrea and Amy sat together, touching arms.

I looked back to Shane - the leader. He was a little bit over zealous with his duties but, I guess everyone needed a job after the end of the world. Dale, Andrea and Amy seemed to be a little family and I delicately inserted myself into it. Everyone else stayed with their families. I had no desire to become close to any of them. I trusted Amy, was thinking about trusting Shane.

After it was decided that we would tell this Daryl about Merle, the crowd dispersed. I quietly snuck off to my new house. It was humid in the tent but, the comfy cot and pillow and blankets were inviting. I kept the lantern low while I undressed and changed into my pajamas. I put on the linen pants but elected to just wear a sports bra – the heat was too much for a shirt tonight. I lay down on the cot and turned the lantern off. Andrea had put a wooden box on end and set the lantern, a flashlight and a bottle of water on it. My bag of clothes and spare pair of shoes had been set in the corner neatly. I closed my eyes and slowly fell asleep in my new home.

"She's kind of weird, Andrea," Amy said, crawling into her sleeping bag.

"Amy," Andrea said, giving her that look, "Something bad happened to her, okay?"

"Yeah, so," Amy said, fiddling with the zipper pull on the her makeshift bed, "Bad things have happened to all of us but you don't see me jumpin' around and having staring contests with the ground."

"Be nice," Andrea said, "She opened up to me a little. I think she's just been on her own for awhile too long."

Amy didn't respond, thinking about her own hardships. Everyone's. She thought it was a little dramatic to think that any of them was worse off than the other. Especially one who had been living in a department store. Amy would have loved to live in a Macy's.