An Odd First Impression ¦ Carl Grimes

Chapter Nine: Effective Emotions, Part Two

Carl's POV:

She looked up at me with this incredulous expression, looking more vulnerable and innocent now than she did not three minutes ago.

I slowly stood up, putting my hands on each side of her face for support. Almost immediately after I was fully standing, she sat up and curled her body into a ball, burying her head into her knees, covering up with her arms.

We remained still in the silence for about two minutes before I heard a soft sniffle. I looked down at her, noticing her body shaking every other second.

My face fell and my heart immediately dropped down to the pit of my stomach. I bent back down to carefully sitting beside her, wrapping my arms around her fragile figure, almost thinking that if I squeezed too hard, she'd shatter.

As soon as I came in contact with her, she began sobbing harder than I'd ever seen anyone cry. It broke my heart.

I released her from my grip, pulled her legs across my lap and rested my head on the back of her neck, bringing her closer into me.

She took her arms and wrapped them around my neck, soon soaking it and my shirt around my shoulder with her endless years.

Just seeing her in this sensitive and fragile state made me want to cry. And just as soon as that thought and into my mind, I was frightened by the feeling of several hot drops trailing from my eyes, down my face, and falling off the line of my jaw.

I didn't know how someone like her, with who I'd met about two weeks ago, and not even speaking to her for most of it, could possibly make me feel such a way that it hurt to tears. And honestly, it kinda scared me.

Maxi's POV

He held me.

Like my sister did, but different. It felt different. It felt new.

It felt loving.

But I couldn't let him. Even though he's already gotten too close, I couldn't let him love me because anyone who's ever loved me in my life has left me. And it's not as if they were taken from me either; they left on their own. It was their opportunity to rid themselves of their problems and a massive nuisance, and they took it as fast as they could.

He can't love me for the sake of my sanity. If one more person I love left, my mind would destroy me to the point of leaving. And I don't mean leaving the prison, I mean leaving this life. This world that has somehow succeeded in slowly clawing through most of its population.

And with my luck, I'll be the next one it takes.

Sorry this one's short..

-M 462