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“You can’t just leave!” You hollered, marching across the field after Shane.
“Just watch me.” He retorted, not even bothering to turn back to look at you when he spoke.
“Where you gonna go, huh? There’s nothing out there!”
He turned, eyes hard and pointed a finger to the ground motioning to the farm.
“Yeah, well there’s nothing here either!” His voice was loud and accusing and you flinched at the harshness of it.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do,” he scoffed. “There ain’t nothing here for me worth staying for.”
His words stung.
“You’re wrong Shane.”
He laughed. “Oh, yeah? I could walk away right now and no one would give a damn.”
“That’s not true!”
You took a step closer, saw he was vibrating with pent up anger and your voice softened. “What about Carl? Rick? He’s your best friend.”
His head lowered at the mention of Rick, “Nah, Rick don’t want me here. Not no more.”
“You don’t know that,” you countered. “We need you here, all of us.”
You reached out with a hand but he backed away from your touch, eyes darting around the field like a wild animal.
He wet his lips, his jaw tight and you watched as his fist clenched from his side.
“I can’t stay here Y/N, you don’t understand I…” He trailed off, looking up from the ground to you with glassy eyes.
“Then make me understand. Please.” You begged, “I don’t want you to go, I need you here!”
Your chest felt tight as Shane shook his head and took another step away from you.
“I’m no good for you Y/N, you can’t.. We can’t-”
“I’m not asking for you to.. or for us to be…” Your voice wavered and you blinked away at the wetness forming in your eyes. “Just stay, please.”
He took off his cap and rubbed a hand over his head. Your heart was pounding, tension and adrenaline raced through your body and you moved to get closer.
“This thing with Rick. He’ll understand.”
Shane looked defeated but allowed you step in front of him. “It ain’t that simple.”
“It’s Rick, he loves you Shane.”
You reached for his hand and he let you hold it, his large palm was hot in your grasp and you gave it a squeeze.
“It’ll work itself out, you and him, you’re family.” Your voice was low, calm, and you rubbed his hand soothingly.
Shane looked down to your joined hands, your smaller one around his and he watched your thumb run over his knuckles softly. He didn’t deserve this, didn’t deserve you caring for him and he swallowed the lump in his throat.
“Where you go, I go.” You told him. Your thumb hit a scar on his knuckle and you traced it gently. “But this is home. Safe.”
You reached for his other hand and tugged them both towards you, making him look up.
“Will you stay? With me.”
Shane watched you closely, noticing a neediness in your eyes as you begged and it broke him.
He sighed and used your hold on his hands to pull you forward. His hands wiggled out of yours and he wrapped you in a hug, his strong arms closed around your back and you held him tight around his waist. He rested his head on your hair for a moment, breathing in your scent before bringing his lips down to kiss your hairline.
“I’m sorry for shouting,” he whispered.
He pressed his lips firmly against your forehead and you closed your eyes, hugging him tighter.
“I’ll stay.”