Summer McDonald

it's not simple to say that most days i dont recognize me. these shoes and this apron, that place and its patron have taken more than i gave them. Summer McDonald was forced to grow up at a very early age, empowering her with the gift of maturity beyond her years. However nothing could have prepared her for the way the world changed after a zombie broke into her home and almost killed her. After that was when she met the love of her life, Bobby Harrison. And though she would never truly admit it to anyone else but him - Summer is scared of the way life is and would give anything to make things the way they were. The woman tries her best to ensure everyone around her is comfortable despite their circumstances. And with the help of Bobby, Summer is definitely more of the woman she ever thought she could be. im a survivor in more ways than you know.

[summer-mcdonald]

b-harrison-2

“I know you ain’t no child, but that don’t mean I ain’t gonna worry,” Bobby sighed. “I’m not tryina fight, you know that, and you know it ain’t about trust - ya know I trust ya - My brother, the kids, and you, I need to know yer all safe. You can’t hold that against me, can you?”

He stopped himself, he really didn’t want to argue or drag out whatever this was, he had dealt with the townspeople for most of the day, and was tired. He just wanted to go home, eat, and go to bed. Adjusting the bow on his back, he moved past Summer, starting off in the opposite direction toward home. “Don’t stay out too late, darlin.”

For a brief moment, Summer became fascinated with the dirt on the ground, her teeth finding the inner part of her cheek. It was to her knowledge who much Bobby cared about those he wanted to protect; especially spending the last five years with him. By now, they all expected some kind of military to form up against the walking dead, or something to relieve them from having to fight for their lives every day - however nothing surfaced. 

“I guess I can’t hold that against you,” Summer mumbled under her breath as she looked up to see a tired Bobby. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t see it before - but his low brows and bags under his eyes told her it was time for him to lay down. As he moved to walk passed her, Summer put a hand on his arm. Giving it a light squeeze, the woman embraced him in a light hug - a hug which thanked him for all he’s done for the group and continues to still do. 

“How about I go with you back to the house?” she offered, her face raising to meet his with a small smile.

[summer-mcdonald]

b-harrison-2:

“What are you doin’ out here? It’s gonna be dark soon.“ Bobby questioned as he approached Summer. He didn’t like her being out close to curfew. Sure he knew she could hold her own, but he couldn’t help but be nervous when any of his group were out and about this time of evening; he’d just gotten his family back together and didn’t want to let any of them out of sight.

Before she had a chance to give him the I’m a big girl routine, he continued, “I know, stop bein’ paranoid. Try ‘n stop me - it’s not gonna happen.“

For a split second, the woman believed she was in the clear when Bobby approached her. Of course, her hopes were striped down when the man scolded her for being out when the sun was just about to fully set. Because of her partner, Summer was beginning to feel as if she - herself- was going crazy while being stuck inside the home they shared because of him. It was hard enough listening to everyone from the town during their therapy sessions; having Bobby on her ass about being out was not helping her mental stability. 

Summer resided the urge to roll her eyes as her arms folded across her chest as Bobby stopped just a few feet away from her. “Bobby I’m not a child; I can take care of myself. For Christ’s sake, I helped you with the group before building this town. I get why you don’t want me outside of the walls, but why not trust me to be walking around a little later than usual?”

[summer-mcdonald]

hopefulcassidy-1:

Finding Woodbury was the miracle Cassidy had been praying for. But she hadn’t expected so many new faces. Realizing that her family would have to merge with this new group was a little overwhelming. She had always been a bubbly, positive person. Whenever a new member joined their group, she was the first to welcome them. Seeing a smiling face amongst a group of strangers always made transitioning easier. At first, she was still able to fill that role. Both groups were weary of the other; in this world, you always had to be careful–you never knew who wanted to steal what you had. She was the smiling face to keep the peace, reassure both groups that this could work and there was no harm to be had. But after a while it became exhausting–especially when she didn’t believe it herself. Sure, there were people in the other group that Cassidy really liked. But that didn’t mean everyone wasn’t dangerous.

She had withdrawn from others, and the bright and optimistic smile was replaced with worry and concern. She had the innocence of a child when the outbreak happened, but now she had the wisdom of an adult. She knew things weren’t getting better, this was it. Accepting that had been hard–especially when Woodbury had seemed like salvation.

She sighed as the wind picked up. As the leaves blew away with the cold air, she pushed her thoughts away as well before rounding a corner. A smile slowly spread across her face as she tried to pretend the thoughts she had been dwelling on had never existed. Summer McDonald had been one of the new group that Cassidy had grow attached to. The woman had almost become like an older sister to her. While Cass wasn’t aware of it, but there friendship was proving hope to everyone else. It showed that both groups could get along and make things work.

Her smile widened at the ‘Sunshine’ comment. “It’s hard to find time to make friends when you’re a nurse in a world that desperately needs medical attention.” Her tone was light, joking, but her words held a depth of truth to them.

Though the woman knew Cassidy had meant her statement to be comical, Summer knew the depth of truth within them. Though Summer didn’t know first hand how it was to be the one with the knowledge to take care of wounds and nurse the sick - the woman did know the responsibility and the toll it took on an individual with that kind of weight on their shoulders. Lightly rubbing Cassidy’s back, Summer beckoned for the blonde to follow as they began walking the empty streets of Woodbury. 

“I know how hard it’s been for you Cass; hell I know how hard it’s been for everyone since I have to listen to everyone piss and cry about the new way of life. But know you I’m always here for you if you need to vent.” Summer flashed the younger woman a comforting smile while they passed the town’s square. “And listen, if by any chance you don’t want to sleep in your house, you’re more than welcome to stay in the guest bedroom in my house.” 

[summer-mcdonald]

jaxxcommaroxanne:

Roxanne shrugged her slim shoulders at the brunette’s question. “Nothing particularly interesting happened,” She answered. “Got the supplies we needed and got back here.”

Which was always a good thing. Usually anything interesting happening meant the group had been in danger or had lost someone. And whether or not you knew the person lost it was always hard on everyone. Losing anyone felt like a failure, and with so few people left they needed all the survivors they could find. Quite honestly, Roxanne could barely believe she was a part of the raiding team. When the outbreak had first happened she could barely hold a gun, let alone shoot one. She had been scared of her own shadow and now, here she was a capable survivor.

“So what’s new with you?”

Nodding at the woman, Summer understood. Things had been rather quite around the town with no walker attacks, all the hunters, raiders and everyone else that leaves the walls had no issues whatsoever. Of course it was really a relief for Summer to know things were panning out to be great for everyone in the town who had lost everything and anything they had had. However, there was something in her heart that felt something wasn’t right. Like something big was coming because everything was going good.

Blinking her thoughts back to where she didn’t hear them, the woman gave a small shrug to the blonde. “Oh nothing really. Same ol’ same; housing with Bobby, counseling those in the group who actually want it and being watched like a hawk to make sure I don’t leave the walls.” Though Summer knew Bobby was doing it out of love - Summer hated who stuck she felt within the confines of the town. For years they were free to roam - of course with the possibility of encountering a walker - but Summer still liked the feeling of being able to roam. “It’s weird isn’t it? It’s like leading a normal life.”

[jaxxcommaroxanne]

Security. Safety. Home. These were all the things Roxanne thought she should feel, but as she walked along one of the roads within the walled community those were the furthest feelings from her mind. Woodbury came at a time when Roxanne had given up hope that they’d find a place to settle down. This place was exactly what she had been wanting, what her entire group had been needing. But as she looked around the small settlement they had created, everything felt wrong. She thought if they had a place to call home then she’d be able to relax, be able to feel safe. But she just didn’t. After being out in the real world for so long, after fighting for her life, it was hard to play house. This wasn’t normal anymore. Normal was fighting, struggling, surviving. Being able to make a meal in a kitchen and laugh with friends… it was strange and she didn’t think she’d able to grow accustom to it. 

The wind picked up and Roxy pulled the sweater she was wearing tighter around her small body as she quickened her pace. It was almost curfew which meant she needed to head inside soon. Though maybe not her own place. She’d seek shelter with David tonight she decided as she turned left at the corner, away from her own place. And she smiled, there was a familiar face walking towards her. Summer. While she had grown to call everyone in this ‘town’ familiar, it was comforting to see someone from her first group before they merged.

“Hey, Buttercup.” Roxanne always had a knack for handing out pet names left and right.

[summer-mcdonald]

Hearing the pet name only caused Summer’s smile to widen. Not very many people adopted the habit to use terms of endearment unless it was for an actual significant other. She had only heard pet names from Bobby; the man she had happily been with for a few years now. Summer, however, didn’t mind the pet names from Roxanne; it had reminded her of the previous life she led before zombies walked the earth.

Stopping where she was, Summer placed her hands in her pockets while Roxanne approached her. “Well you look like a ray of sunshine,” Summer poked jokingly. She knew first hand being a raider was a bit time consuming and rather tiring; something she’d rather have been doing instead of picking apart the minds of the group. As much as she loved her therapist job before the new world, Summer hated it now. The brunette would rather be out scavenging or hunting, or even having either the morning or night shift to stand guard at the walls. But Bobby insisted she stayed within the walls in fear he’d lose her. “How was raiding today?”

[summer-mcdonald]

Woodbury was a miracle for the survivors of the world’s most deadliest epidemic. Though the woman wasn’t too thrilled about her own occupation with the town, Summer always took time to check on the rest of the members in the group like she did before when it was just her own people. Walking through the slowly winding streets of Woodbury, Summer wrapped her arms around her shoulders as the wind began to pick up. The sun was just about to set; almost curfew time. And as she walked through the streets, Summer was happy to see a familiar face. “Hey there sunshine; long time no see,” she greeted with a smile.

[alswearengen]

[tousdesanges]

Evangeline Lilly for Fashion Canada Winter 2015

[b-harrison-2-blog]

Leaves on the Wind || Bobby & Summer

[b-harrison-2-blog]

Bobby surveyed the room, crossbow at the ready in one hand, flashlight in the other. “Housekeeping.” He called out, fairly certain no one was here, survivor or otherwise. The first thing he had noticed when the door opened was that there was a distinct lack of the telltale stench of death that the Walkers had about them. This place, at least while the hurricane was in the area, was home.

Setting his pack down in the den, he shouldered his crossbow. “Let’s get all the windows covered, then we’ll take a good look around.” He looked at Summer as the he noticed the rain was coming down much harder now. “Least we ain’t sleepin in the car in the middle of all this. Just cross your fingers the roof doesn’t come off.”

[summer-mcdonald]

Gun at the ready and her adrenaline pumping, it took exactly Bobby's joking words to calm her nerves. Playfully rolling her eyes, Summer looked up to the man, a slight chuckle escaping her lips. Leave it up to Bobby to have a weird sense of humor in a time like this. Pulling Sadie into the door, Summer directed her over to the empty and clearly dusty couch, helping her lay so she could continue to nap. Turning on her heel, Summer went to follow Bobby - her eyes scanning the windows. 

With her teeth attached to her bottom lip, the woman looked around their surrounding area. There wasn't much to barred the windows up with nor was there much around in general. It seemed whoever had lived in the house before the turn of the new world lived on a strained budget. In a light whisper, Summer beckoned for Bobby to follow her to the kitchen area, their way lightly illuminated by the lightening crashing outside. "What's the plan? Stay here until the storm subsides then keep moving? There's no way we're going to be able to travel with the way the winds are going."

[b-harrison-2-blog]

Leaves on the Wind || Bobby & Summer

Mid day, dark, rolling storm clouds let almost no light in. Tired eyes remained fixed on the road ahead. It had been raining for three straight days now, and the wind howled fiercely. It was hurricane season.

Jimi Hendrix’s All Along the Watchtower came through the speakers of the 2008 GMC Yukon Denali that Bobby had commandeered from a grocery store parking lot several weeks ago. Thank God for CD players. Belongings tied down on the roof, under a blue tarp, the three of them had left the prison when a herd came through and managed to crash the fences.

Their group scattered in the chaos, and though they waited for days at the agreed-upon meeting spot, no one had showed. At least he had his new family with him, Sadie and Summer, both of whom were sleeping in the back seat. They would wait a few weeks, let the walkers clear out of the prison on their own, and then go back to see if anyone else came back. Until then, they were on their own.

Bobby’s eyes fell upon the fuel gauge for the fifth time in the last 10 minutes. They were down to less than a quarter tank. His eyes returned to the road, as a Walker in the distance caught his attention. The creature struggled against the gusting wind, and was barely able to remain upright. It’s struggle failing as they drove by, Bobby watching it fall to the asphalt and as it lunged for the truck, the shift in its movements now with the wind. He shook his head in disgust. He wanted to stop the vehicle, get out, and stomp its skull in. He was so tired of the grind, sick of seeing those fucking things every single day. Was there no where left that was peaceful?

A little ways further up the road, Bobby spotted a house that sat atop a hill, at the end of a long driveway. Turning at the intersection, he circled once, his lights off. Save for a small cluster of trees behind the property, he could see the house from all directions. “Looks Promising.” He told himself.

The small, off-white bungalow-style house with cobblestone pillars flanking its front door looked almost untouched. The windows had no coverings of any kind. There were no signs of looting, nor fortifications of any kind - except for the overgrown grass, it looked rather out of place, almost as if untouched by the apocalypse. He pulled in and followed the driveway around to the back side of the house and backed in beneath the carport.

He sat there for a moment, before turning the engine off. “Guys?” He said softly before grabbing his crossbow and backpack off the passenger seat. He fished a small flashlight from his pocket and shone it through one of the windows close to the door. Nothing seemed out of place. “I don’t think anybody was home when shit hit the fan.” He’d been out in the rain for less than a minute, and he was already feeling the cold rain soaking through his clothes. He shone the light at his feet and flicked the beam along the ground, examining the flower beds, and then the welcome mat. He nudged it with his foot. “Where would they hide a key?” he asked himself.

A soft whistle attracted his attention. Summer was holding the hide-a-key rock in her hand. “Lookin for somethin?” She said with a smirk on her face as she moved past him to let them in.

[summer-mcdonald]

It was disastrous but expected. In this world, nothing was meant to last forever – except those dreadful fuckers that inhabited and took over their world. In a way, Summer was kind of thankful for the zombies rampaging and killing – in their ‘normal’ world, impending danger was never really known. With the zombies, they knew exactly what would happen to them if caught. This was her mentality now; a messed up acceptance of what had happened.

After the prison was attacked by the zombies – Summer had immediately gathered the two most important people in her life; Bobby and Sadie. Sure she cared about the rest of the group but it was this small family that Summer wanted to keep safe and alive in fear she’d be alone for the rest of her limited existence. Lives were lost with blood spilled everywhere imaginable as Summer and her family escaped by the skin of their teeth to a getaway car.

While they looked for a new place to call a temporary camp, Summer peaked through her eyelashes, staring into the grim sky. It had been raining since the prison matching the woman’s dreadful mental state. Losing people, especially group members, hurt Summer and had always affected her harshly. Living humans were so rare to find; she hated knowing their population was only depleting even more. The walker on the road hadn’t even processed in her mind until it was long gone from the side view mirror. In it, Summer peered to Sadie who had fallen asleep in the back seat. The young girl looked so innocent despite the dirt smudged across her face. Letting out a soft sigh, Summer shifted in her seat as her leg began with a tingling sensation. As the brunette massaged her leg, trying hard to get the blood flowing and wake her leg up, Summer looked to where Bobby had pointed to.

Up on a hill, she spotted, was a small ranch home; looking to be untouched. However, Summer was a bit skeptical. It seemed no matter what they thought, it was always the opposite. Shrugging to it, the woman decided she’d keep her negative comments to herself and leave it up to Bobby to help protect them if something were to happen.

Once they were there, Summer turned and lightly awoke the sleeping girl. With a small smile, Summer advised her to stay in the car while she and Bobby explored. Exiting the vehicle, Summer stood behind Bobby as he examined the place. And at the corner of her eye, Summer spotted something strangely familiar. A false rock – a hide-a-way key. She had something like it for her own home when she lived in Austin. Picking it up, Summer lightly whispered to her man, giving him a wink as she pulled out the key with a smile. “Comes in handy.” Walking toward the door, she pulled out her pistol from her holster as she put the key in the lock. “On my mark,” she whispered, turning the key. Hearing the lock giving access, Summer counted with her fingers to three.

As she lightly pushed open the door, Summer moved her gun in defensive mode, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness inside. Nothing inside had moved to attack her just yet, and as she stayed behind Bobby while he lightly pushed her back Summer had a slight feeling for relief. Maybe this could be home for a little.

[summer-mcdonald]

Dust to Dust || Bommer

[b-harrison-2-blog]

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[summer-mcdonald]

With each movement the couple had made, it seemed the man was flowing through her veins. Summer was completely loss within their moment of vulnerability and love-making; and there was nothing in the world she’d rather be feeling. It had been too long since the brunette had any assurance that she’d be safe, loved, and whole; even with the impending dangers going on outside the prison walls. And as a shiver traveled down her back from hearing his voice, Summer couldn’t help but let her body shudder with goose-bumps. The words were so natural – so instinctive – and she knew he meant every word.

Love. Such a mysterious feeling – something that every individual person feels differently. But for Summer, love was feeling safe. Love was feeling as if she would give herself completely and know she would be trusted, protected and happy. Love, the woman had hoped, was the cure to her broken nature; Bobby proved this. There was no longer any recollection of the horrors that happened to her when she was younger – she was no longer afraid. And this she was thankful for. All these thoughts flooding her mind simply made the woman smile into her kiss.

It didn’t take long before Summer began to reach her limit; it had been a very long time after all. Feeling every muscle in her body begin to tighten and her toes being to curl, Summer sank her nails into Bobby’s back as she let out a sharp moan. 

[summer-mcdonald]

Dust to Dust || Bommer

[summer-mcdonald]

b-harrison-2:

 It wasn’t fair the way she made him feel. His sole focus should have been surviving, but here he was, alone with Summer, and he felt like a fucking school kid about to ask a girl to prom – at least what he figured that had been like, because he hadn’t gone; he’d had better things to do back then. He had no idea how she managed to make him feel the way he felt – he didn’t recall these feelings when he met Mary, but then again, he was a lot younger and plenty dumber back then.

Bobby kissed her again, pulling her close as he lay her back on his bed. His heart was in his throat, and he was as nervous as if it were his first time, and he struggled not to let it show. He caressed her cheek as their kiss faded, tracing his fingers along her skin. He studied her eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation, and upon finding none, pulled her thighs around him and pressed his body close, giving himself to her after all this time. As the moments passed, the nerves faded and instinct kicked in and he was able to relax and find his rhythm. Burying his face against her neck, he began to kiss and suck softly at her skin, giving the occasional bite.

Looking into his crystal blue eyes, Summer felt herself falling onto the unusually comfortable mattress. Clinging onto him as if she’d be lost if she let go, the woman wrapped her long legs around his torso, a light smirk playing along her lips. A burning desire began filling her insides; the desire for his lips on top of hers, his hands caressing her skin, and the desire for her to completely and finally give all herself up to him. For Summer, this moment was a moment of vulnerability; but also the moment when she’d understand how people can love unconditionally. And she could tell Bobby was nervous as well; it was apparent when he stopped to make sure she wasn’t having second thoughts. But how could she? He was everything she ever wanted in a man – no matter how broken and distant he seemed at times; they were broke together.

Slightly biting her bottom lip, Summer let out a small gasp as her mind completely went into full euphoria. Knowing full well their activity could be heard outside the iron bars, Summer kept her noises faint and steadied her breathing; though it was even harder to control as she felt Bobby’s lips on her neck. Moving his head to face her, Summer brought his lips down on hers, moving them along with their movements. Lightly licking his bottom lip, the woman messaged her tongue with his. Parting their lips briefly, Summer looked up to him. “I love you,” she whispered before kissing him again.

[summer-mcdonald]

Dust to Dust || Bommer

[b-harrison-2-blog]

It was not the ideal place that one typically imagined for a secret rendezvous, but then again, nothing about life was typical anymore. Pulling the ‘privacy’ sheet across the bars on the cell he called home, Bobby looked at Summer now with a level of adoration that before today had only been for one other woman. Slipping his t-shirt over his head, he cast it aside as he neared her, his fingers found their way beneath her top next, it too falling to the floor. His lips returned to Summer’s quickly, and over the next few moments, more of their clothing ended up on the floor.

[summer-mcdonald]

The woman watched as Bobby pulled the sheet over the bars; a slight realization that there wasn’t an actual door to really hide anything happening behind the sheet. However as she stared while Bobby peeled his shirt off, everything in her mind completely went blank. It had been a very long time that Summer would envision this moment – this day when the two of them would actually open themselves up completely to each other. It amazed the woman to remember when she’d shake underneath his touch upon meeting him, thinking he’d hurt her to now when she was shaking underneath his touch as he peeled her shirt off, Summer willing him to do so.

Moving her lips with his, the brunette tangled her fingers in his pant belt loops, pulling him closer. With her eyes closed and lips occupied, she traced her hands up over his chest, seeking his warm skin on hers. Detaching her lips from his, Summer gripped his hand, beckoning him with her. Letting go as soon as she reached the bed, Summer climbed on it, standing with her knees so she was just about his height. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she placed her lips upon his again, lightly licking his bottom lip, begging for permission. 

[three-choices-run-hide-or-die-d]

[summer-mcdonald]

"We can start again, give each other a clean slate."

[summer-mcdonald]

[summer-mcdonald]

[summer-mcdonald]