A Long Way From Home//Carl Grimes

Chapter 3 - Old Friends

Later that night, I go to meet Carl at the watchtower. I climb up the ladder to the top to find him sitting there.
"Hey." I say quietly, almost to myself. He just turns around and smiles. I take a seat in the chair next to his.

*Carl's pov*

"Isn't the sky beautiful?" I ask Cassie. I sneak a glance at her. I see her dark blue eyes brighten as she looks up. She's so beautiful. What am I thinking? I just met her. This is crazy. I sound so cheesy right now. What has gotten into you Grimes?!
"So what's your story?" I ask her. "What do you mean?" She asks laughing.
"Just tell me everything." I say smirking. I want to know her. I want to know who she is. She laughs and says, "Alright, well, when the apocalypse started around 3 years ago, I was at my house. My family and I heard gunshots outside when the emergency alerts came on the T.V. So, we grabbed everything and drove away. We were doing alright for a while when our camp got attacked. The walkers were everywhere. I told my brother to run to the lake which was about a mile away. He knew the way. I tried to find my mom and dad, but when I finally found them they were being ripped to shreds. They screamed for me to run so that's what I did. I ran to the lake and found my brother, like the coward I am. It was just me and him for the next 2 years, but just a couple of months ago he got bit. I was supposed to be taking care of him. He was my responsibility and I let him slip away. It's all my fault." She's crying now. I wasn't really sure what to say or do. I get what she's going through. The whole 'I lost everything' thing. My mom. She's gone. I was a complete jerk to her. I never listened. If I could go back and change it, I would. I wrapped my arms around her and told her that it wasn't her fault. She wiped her tears and then asked, "What's your story?"
"Well my dad was a sheriff before all this started. He got shot on duty one day and went into a coma. He was still in it when the apocalypse started. We all thought he was dead so my dad's best friend Shane led us out of the city." I say. That all seemed so long ago. I tell her the rest, Hershel's farm, finding Sophia, finding the prison, losing my mom, and now where we are today. She just nods, her eyes full of concern and comfort. She understands me. It's been a very long time since someone has truly understood me. My dad doesn't get. Suddenly, the sound of her voice snaps me out of what I was thinking. "Since I know who you are now, am I aloud to wear the hat?" She says grabbing my hat and laughing. That laugh is so adorable. Stop it Grimes!
"It looks good on you." I say laughing. "But you can't wear it because you haven't been shot yet." I say smirking. "So you're telling me I have to go get shot before I can put on the sheriff hat?!" She asks. At this point we were both laughing so hard we were in tears. It felt good to laugh like this again. Especially with someone who's my age. We stopped immediately when we heard a loud crashing sound outside. "Grab your gun." I say sternly.
"I-I can't." She says.
"Why not?" I ask angrily.
"I don't know how to shoot it." She says embarrassed.
"Well we'll have to fix that now, won't we?" I say, trying to lighten the tension at least a little bit. I begin heading down the ladder of the watchtower. I open the door quickly and look around to see if anyone was out there.
"Carl!" I hear Cassie yell from at the top.
"What?!" I yell back.
"Someone's out there! In the tree line!" She yells back. Of course. I should go get my dad, but I'm sick of him treating me like a 4-year old. I immediately sprint towards the gates and she points where they are. It's still pitch black out, so all I can see is the outline of the person.
"Who are you?" I yell out with my gun aimed. Next thing I know, Cassie is by my side with her knife out. Why didn't she stay back?! The figure comes closer and I can see that it's a girl around my age. All I hear is Cassie say, "Oh God, please no." I look at her confused. Suddenly the girl speaks, "Hey, sis."

*Cassie's pov*

There she is. The girl I thought I had finally gotten out of my life. That sounded a bit brutal, but if you knew her, you'd understand. There in front of me stood my prettier, skinnier, more lovable, half sister. Carl looks at me with a confused look and I just give him a weak smile. Carl goes and opens the gate for her quickly and she runs in. She gives me a hug, obviously pretending she loves me.
"Explain." Carl says looking at me with those blue eyes. God, do I have to? I can't get out of this one.
"My dad was married before my mom and he had some kids. One in which happens to be Becca." I say pointing to her. Next thing I know, Becca is already talking to Carl, flirting with him. Exactly who she is. The sly little-
"So, were you a cowboy before this or something?" I hear her say, with the same fake giggle. She literally met him two seconds ago and she's already flirting. Why am I even worked up about this? He's not mine to get jealous over. I roll my eyes and walk back to the watchtower.
"Where are you going?" Carl asks running after me.
"I'm going to take watch, like I'm supposed to be. Not flirting with some girl." I snap back. Why? Why am I already attached? A day. I have literally been here a day.
"I wasn't flirting." Carl says.
"I saw the way you looked at her Carl. I know she's prettier than me and is the same age as you. There's no need to hide it." I say.
"Why the heck would I be flirting with her?!" He says raising his voice. I just run up to the watchtower and go back to my seat. Carl comes and sits next to me.
"Tell me." He says.
"Something's up. What's wrong?" He adds. Who does he think he is? My best friend?
"Every time I do something great, she always has to one-up me. Whenever I liked a boy she would go flirt with him, date him for a few days, and then break up with him. I would get 1st in a softball tournament and she would somehow manage to win a huge pageant. It just isn't fair. She takes everything from me." I say angrily.
"I'm sorry that she's done that to you, but you're your own person. In a brand new world with new people. Be you." Carl says. Motivational. I've tried that before.
"It's fine. I guess I just got mad because you're the first guy that's actually listened to me. I'm already beginning to trust you." I say quietly.
"I won't leave you Cassie." He says smiling. Yeah, okay. That's what they all say.
"Where is that demon anyway?" I ask letting out a small laugh, even though I'm not joking the slightest bit.
"Daryl brought her inside." Carl says. I just nod and keep watching for anymore relatives that might just walk out of the woods.

~

Again guys, these are really boring, I know. I'm just trying to get the story started. Love you all❤️ ~Lilly