» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

» SILENCE THE WHISPERERS «

Headaches, Hangovers And A Whole Lot Of Problems

The clattering of knives and forks was painful on my ears but I tried to ignore it, keeping the tight smile on my face through the whole meal. I must've slept through most of the day because as soon as Daryl and I finished talking, Michonne invited us down for dinner.

"You okay, Bee?" Judith asked in a hushed voice, her eyes flitting over my slumped, pale figure. I glanced once around the table, the others too engrossed in their conversations to hear, before answering.

"Just tired. It's been a long week, you know?" I shrugged, giving her a weak smile as I stabbed my fork into a tower of fries. I winced slightly as the metal scraped across the porcelain, chewing slowly to avoid any effort.

"Mom said you have a hangover." Judith mumbled curiously, licking ketchup off her fingers.

I raised my eyebrows with amusement. "Your mom is right. So let me tell you now before you grow up a little- drinking is not fun. Don't learn that the hard way." My gentle laugh matched hers as she took a sip from her glass, hiding the smile that rose on her lips. My pounding headache seemed to ease slightly at the sight of the girl, her soft brown eyes sparking a certain familiarity inside.

'She really does look like Lori.'

»« »« »« »«

"You're leaving?" I came across Michonne packing up a wagon, Judith jumping into the front seat with a sketch pad and pencil tucked under her arm.

The woman sighed as she faced me, her eyebrows drawn with hesitance. "We got a call from Hilltop last night. A tree fell, broke the wall." She told me, tossing the last bag into the cart.

"They need help?" I started, immediately preparing myself until Michonne placed a hand on my shoulder, her head shaking gently.

"You're not coming. I need you to stay." Her voice lowered, worry colouring every syllable. "You never drink, Belle-"

I groaned with frustration, my eyes squeezing shut to keep my patience. "Is that what this is about? It was one time, I slipped up. It's never gonna happen again." I urged, irritation running through me like water.

"If you wanna take a break, some time off from the council, I'll support you." She breathed out sadly, her eyes filled with sincerity. "I just want you to be okay."

I rubbed a stressed hand down my face, calming down the spike of fury before agreeing. "I know. But I promise I am. I can't step down, especially not now."

Maybe I could rest after the Whisperers were taken care of, I considered. When things were quiet and our lives weren't constantly in danger.

"I'll see you soon." I gave Michonne a brief hug before she jumped in the wagon, her wrists flicking the reins out as the horses trotted through the waiting gates.

I shielded my eyes from the sun, scanning the community until I spotted something that made my blood boil.

Negan pinned sheets to the washing line, securing pegs at the corners but that's not what I was looking at. I frowned at Lydia as she spoke to him, their conversation too distant to hear.

I knew she had a hard time here, being the daughter of such an evil person, but she wasn't making it easier for herself by associating with the man. I'd been trying since the beginning to make her feel at home, to show her that these people didn't know how kind she could really be, how brave it was to stand up to her mother and tell her she was wrong. It was like she couldn't accept that I cared about her now.