Past and Present

Questions and Shock

"Why would you do such a thing!" Lori screamed as she slapped a tissue filled with rubbing alcohol on Carl's face.

"Ow, mom," he screamed as his hand flew up to his face. I took his other hand and squeezed.

"These guys were talking about Jocelyn," he continued.

Lori glared at the boy,"And what were they saying?"

He glanced at me and then back at his mother,"Bad things."

She sighed and I kissed his hand, I felt honored that he put himself in the way of jocks just to help me, but I really wish he wouldn't. These are the type of things that someone would do in the apocalypse, but we weren't in there anymore.

Lori turned to me,"Jocelyn, your mom invited us over for dinner, so would you like me to drive you home then or would you rather walk?"

"I'll stay," I said.

She nodded and left me and Carl in the bathroom. I looked at the boy and then slapped his arm.

"What the hell was that for?" he asked as he rubbed the area.

"What did the jocks say?" I demanded.

He stood up and I followed,"It doesn't matter. I know that they won't say it again."

I rolled my eyes,"You're really not going to tell me what they said?"

He shook his head and I sighed. He took my hand and led me to his bedroom. We both pulled out our book bags and started the homework that seemed to be endless.

Eventually, Rick opened the door with difficulty because Judith was in his arms. The small child was just starting to learn how to walk, but Rick and Lori insisted on holding her considering that they missed out on a decent amount of her baby years.

"Guys," Rick said,"We're about to leave. I think you guys should take a shower first. I don't want to go over to your house and have you two smelling like school. Especially you Carl."

I looked at him,"It's okay, Rick. We're family."

He tried to keep his stern face, but I could see a smirk creeping onto his face,"Shower."

Carl took my hand and led me to the closet. He opened it and pulled out two sweatshirts, a pair of jeans, and sweatpants. He handed me the sweatpants and a sweatshirt,"Here. Go use my parents' bathroom."

I kissed his cheek and walked to the linen closet and grabbed a cloth. I had come to think of this house as a second home.

After my shower, I lifted up the sweatshirt and I smelt the scent of Carl. I pulled it over my head and finger combed my wet hair.

When I came out of the bathroom, Carl was standing with his parents by the door and he was holding his little sister.

We walked out the door and into the chilly air to the car. Lori drove down he few roads and pulled into my driveway. While Rick and Lori took Judith out of the car seat, Carl and I walked to the door and unlocked it with my key. As soon as I opened the door, I was met the familiar faces of Daryl, Beth, and Maggie.

"Hey, guys. Where's Glenn?"I said as Carl and I met each person with a hug.

Maggie responded,"He's in the kitchen with your mother."

When I got to Daryl, he looked me up and down,"What happened to you? You dressed better when we were living in tents and sleeping on the floor."

I smiled,"They're Carl's. I was over at his house and Rick insisted that we shower."

He nodded and I walked past all if my family and went up the stairs to my room. I realized that I had left my clothes at Carl's house and just didn't care. I would be back over there tomorrow so it didn't matter.

I closed my door and opened the closet. I pulled out one of my better shirts and jeans and placed them on my bed. I pulled off Carl's clothes and placed them folded them. I heard my door open and turned around to see my boyfriend standing there.

"What're you doing up here?" I asked as he shut the door behind him.

"I've seen you in your underclothes before," he said,"It doesn't matter now does it?"

I smiled as I pulled the jeans up over my waist,"Yeah, but my mother wasn't in the same area as we were and we only had Daryl and Glenn."

He smiled and plopped on my bed.

"Your clothes are there if you want to take them when you leave. If not, I'll bring them to your house tomorrow."

"Keep them."

I smiled and pulled the shirt over my head. When I was fully clothed, I opened the door and motioned for him to come with me.

We walked down the stairs together and into the dining room, where everyone was already seated and dinner was in the middle of the table. Rick next to Lori. Glenn next to Maggie. Beth and Daryl and Judy and Jacob. There were two empty seats left in between Glenn and Daryl, so Carl and I walked over to them and sat down.

As soon as we sat down, Rick initiated the prayer.

"Amen," we all said and the food was passed around the table.

After a while, we all had our food and were engaged in various conversations. My mom got up and came back with two bottles of wine and then apple juice. She went around the table and poured the age corresponding drink in each of our cups.

When she sat down, Lori stood up with her cup in hand,"I just want to say how thankful I am that our family has been graced and that they are all well and out of the simulation. All except, Michael, who is still in there. I want to thank our lucky stars that we have each other."

We all cheered as she sat down. I felt a movement on my side and looked over to see Carl stand up.

"I've wanted to say this for a long time. I first met Jocelyn Matthews in our sophomore year of high school. Of course, at the time, she didn't know who I was. For years, I kind of acted as a creeper and stalked her."

Everyone laughed, but he continued,"When Maggie and Glenn brought her to the prison, I felt as if I couldn't hold in my feelings for her any longer, so I turned them into something negative. She saw right through me. As the days and weeks passed, we loved and fought, never leaving each other. I lover her and I'm pretty sure that she loves me too. We never got to anything properly, but now that this is over, I want to. I want to ask Jocelyn on a date and since we're already sort of dating, I want to know if you'll go steady with me."

Both of our mother's awed and marveled at him.

"I knew since the moment that I met you that I loved you Jocelyn Matthews," he said,"Will you?"

"Yes," I said with a smile.

I stood up and kissed him. We wrapped our arms around each other and everyone around the table applauded.

We held hands throughout the rest of dinner and when the meal finished, my mom and Lori offered to clean up while everyone else went and found something to do. Rick, Glenn, Maggie, Beth, and Daryl took the babies and went to play games in the living room.

I took Carl's hand and we went back up to my room. We plopped onto my bed and I lay down on his chest.

I turned on the tv and we snuggled as we watched a show about a girl with cancer and how she tried to make the best of her life as it was.

I looked up at my boyfriend and how focused he was on the screen. I guess that he noticed I was looking at him and he looked at me. Carl smiled and kissed my forehead.

"This show is totally the story of our lives," he said,"Minus the cancer."

I snuggled closer to him and nodded. My eyes started to feel heavier.

I had jsut closed my eyes when I felt Carl jump up.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He pointed to the screen. The show was no longer on.

There was a warning flashing on the screen,"Virus Epidemic."

Then there were walkers.