Are You Sure?

Chapter 4

Emma's P.O.V.
He doesn't remember? He doesn't remember. When we were in second grade, he told me he'd take care of me, this was right after my grandpa, God rest his soul, passed away. I told him he didn't have to, and Carl said that he had to do it. He looked out for me when my mom and dad worked long shifts. Mrs.Lori used to come and pick us up. She'd take me back to their house and me and Carl would play 'guns'. Ironic, because I never knew I'd have to use one. Well, I was always too afraid to. My parents always used the guns, only taught me how to use a blade. I guess they didn't expect to leave me so suddenly. Just as well, neither did I.

"Emma?" Carl asked, looking down at me. He jumped over the gates. Why did he follow me? Really?
"Yeah?" I asked as he sat down.
"Why do you keep running away?" He asked timidly.
I took a deep breath.

"Carl?" He nodded toward me, signaling that I had his full attention," Do you remember when we used to ride back to your house together after school? You told me you'd look after me? Well look at us! I have a dead dad, a most likely dead mom, a most likely dead boyfriend, and a broken ankle. You, well, you have a dad, a girlfriend, and a group. So to answer your question, I keep running away because me being here is going to make you sad. You seem happy with your current situation, I just don't want to mess it up for you." I said finally giving in.

"I said I'd take care of you and I meant it. We are friends. And Enid is not my girlfriend. My dad isn't all he is cracked up to be. You are right about my group, and as for being here, well I don't want to put my guard down. Not just yet." He said, confiding in me.

"Sure seems like it." I said.
"Sure seems like what?" He asked.
"She seems like she is your girlfriend. I mean come on Carl. She is totally in love with you. Plus, you are always worried about her and tell her what is best for her." I said making my point.
"Do not! And I've known her for a month. What makes you so sure that she's jealous?" He countered.
"She is jealous of me!" I pointed out.
"What is there to be jealous of? We are friends." Carl said while picking at a leaf in his lap.
"We should be getting back." I said dodging his question.

His eyes shot up to me as if he had wanted an answer, but decided against it, and the flare in his eyes went away.

"How did you get down here anyway?" He asked, "It's like a 30 foot drop."
"See that tree?" I pointed to a tree that had a branch hanging over the gates,"Climbed the ladder with my good foot, shuffled up the tree branch, and climbed down." I said.
"Experience?" He asked me.
"You could say that." I answered remembering the herd of walkers my dad had given his life up to.

I climbed back over the fence, with Carl's help, because he insisted. When we got over, Enid was standing with her backpack on her shoulders, stitches on her right eyebrow and a paper mâché cast on her left arm. Which you could tell she had painted pink.

Carl's P.O.V.
"Enid? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be resting?" I asked.
Emma gave me a look up: 'I told you so', written all over her face.
"I... mean," I corrected myself, "What are you doing here?"
Emma rolled her eyes and I rolled mine.

"Did you guys go on for a run?" She asked intensely, looking directly at me.
"No. Just uh sat." I said.
Emma reached down and grabbed her crutches and starting walking toward the house.
"Where are you going?" I asked her.
She turned around, "To give you two," then mouthed 'lovebirds',"Some privacy.
She turned around again.

"I'll catch up with you later." I said to Enid.
Enid rolled her eyes dramatically and her fat cheeks puffed more with an annoyed sigh.

I ran up to Emma, "Not cool." I said.
She giggled, "Was to me. I think I'm going to take a nap. I haven't slept in 4 months or more."
"Okay. I have to take a shower."

We walked into the house and she threw her crutches down. I went down the hall to my room and grabbed a clean green shirt, my leather jacket, and my black jeans. I set them down on the bathroom counter and turned to see Emma lying on the couch.

"Oh, no. You are sleeping in a bed." I said walking around the side if the couch, but she was already asleep.
I bent over and scooped her into my arms. She jerked. I carried her over to my room and laid her down. She instinctively reached for the blankets and pulled them up, nudging into my shirt. I smiled at her, pull the blinds down and left, leaving the door open of course.

When I got out of the shower it was 6:30pm. Emma was still asleep, and my dad still wasn't home. I made myself some dinner and felt tired. I picked up Emma's crutches and saw her in my bed. I couldn't just move her, but I couldn't sleep on the couch because I knew my dad was going to set out ammo there. So, I moved her over and slid in next to her. She turned toward me and I heard the faintest snore. I stared at her and fell asleep to the sound of her soft snoring.

Emma's P.O.V.
I was jolted awake my a shrieking baby at 2:30am.
"Carl," I nudged him,"Carl. There's a baby cryin'. I said.
"Hmm?" He asked in a raspy voice.
"There's a baby cryin'.
"Oh, that's Judith. I'll go check up on her." He said crawling out of bed.
He was wearing a green shirt and black boxers.
"I'm coming." I said crawling out of bed. I looked down and realized that Carl must have changed my clothes. I was wearing a white t-shirt and my spandex that I had shoved in my old pants when I got here.
"Okay." He whispered.

We slowly entered what seemed to be a nursery.
"Hey there Jude!" Carl whispered in a baby voice.
Judith stopped crying and sat up straight holding onto the bars of her crib.
"Hey there babe." He said as he took her into his arms and bounced her up and down gently.
"She's adorable." I said in awe.
"Hear that? The pretty girl thinks you're adorable." He said.
The baby laughed the most wonderful laugh.
Carl rocked her back and forth until she had fallen asleep. He slowly laid her back in her crib and walked out.
I limped behind.

"Carl? Where did you learn how to do that?" I asked.
"Taught myself. Dad's the leader, doesn't have much time. So, I stepped in as her older brother."
"That's your sister?" I asked.
"No, she just stays in my house and calls me Budder for no reason." He answered sarcastically.
"Yeah, shoulda caught that." I said laughing at myself.

"Carl?" I asked when we had crawled back into bed. I checked to make sure he hadn't seen my chest without a bra and that I still had the same underwear on, and sure enough I did. Good boy.

"What?" He asked.
"Do you ever feel happy?" I asked seriously.
He turned his body to face me, as I did him.
"Not often. Why?" He asked confused.
"Because you seem happy with Judith." I answered.
"She can't back talk me. She just sits there and listens. Like a trained puppy. I hope when she can learn to talk she will have some answers to my questions." He answered honestly.

I smiled at him and he to me.
"You are so cute with babies." I said.
"I get that a lot." He laughed.

He fell asleep, and I fell asleep to the slow breaths coming from his mouth.

Hey! Thanks for checking out my story. I really hope you like it! I spend a lot of time thinking about what to write. If you have any compliments or constructive criticism you have for me, leave them in the comments! Please don't be rude, because even if this story isn't what you expected, I still work really hard.
Ta loves! <3