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To say Cali was pissed was an understatement.
She was fuming! She couldn't believe that Shane had lied straight to her face and continued to do so for weeks.
He'd seen how much her father's death had affected her and he just kept the lie going.
Shane knew he was in for it when he saw Cali head to their tent. The girl had finally left Rick for a moment as Lori and Carl showed him around camp.
As much as Shane didn't want to talk to her, he knew he had to try and get her to see things from his point of view.
"Cali... I know this looks bad." Shane stuttered as he zipped the tent shut after entering.
"Oh you think so?" The girl snapped turning around to face him.
"Baby listen to me!" The man pleaded grabbing her hands and pulling her closer to himself. Cali tried to push him off but Shane wouldn't budge. "I thought he was dead. You have to believe me. I checked for a heartbeat and there was nothing."
"Well you must be fucking deaf because clearly he's alive." Cali exclaimed finally removing her arms from his grip.
"I can see that Cal but you have to understand. That hospital was being shot up. It's not an excuse but I was freaking out thinking about getting him out of there and trying to protect you." He desperately tried to explain his thoughts and actions to her. Shane needed her to know that he did the best he could. "I listened and didn't hear anything. Maybe I was wrong and did hear something or maybe I didn't but I had to get out of there before I got killed too. My only thought was getting back to you."
"You left him for dead!"
"I blocked off the door!" Shane shouted getting upset that she wasn't listening to him. "Even when I thought he was dead I still had hope. I blocked off the door so that nothing could get to him because I knew if anyone could survive it'd be your dad."
"Why didn't you just tell me this?" Cali asked wiping away her tears.
"Because I know you!" The man sighed running a hand over his stressed face. "If you thought there was a chance he was alive you'd do anything to be with him even if it put you in danger. I couldn't risk that Cali."
"This is so fucked up." She mumbled shaking her head as she sat down on the makeshift bed.
"I'm sorry Cal." Shane apologized sitting down next to the girl.
The couple sat in silence not knowing what else to say to each other. Shane could tell that Cali wasn't as angry now as she had been a few minutes ago. But she definitely was not happy with him. He could tell from her body language. Even though he was sitting next to her, she was completely turned away from him. Normally the two would have to have some part of their bodies touching.
While Shane and Cali were tucked away in their tent Rick had been meeting everyone around camp. As Lori and Carl introduced him to everyone he couldn't help but notice the absence of two important people.
"Where's Shane and Cal?" Rick questioned looking towards his wife.
Lori sighed not knowing how to tell her husband that their daughter had been sharing a tent with a grown man. She had her suspicions that there was something more between them but she didn't want to believe it. Plus she'd tried to keep them apart but the more she tried the more she ended up pushing Cali away.
"They're probably in their tent." Carl smiled up at his father not knowing the shock his innocent statement would cause the man. "I'll show you where they are."
Carl grabbed his father's hand and began dragging him over to a large tent that was a little bit away from the others.
Rick couldn't help the feeling of unease that settled in his stomach as he thought about his best friend and daughter sharing a tent. The man didn't believe that Shane would ever try anything with Cali. Shane was his best friend. He'd never do anything like that. Right?
"Cali!" Carl yelled altering the couple inside to his incoming presence.
Shane immediately stood from the bed and began to unzip the tent. Cali stayed glued to her spot staring at the ground. She was still trying to process that her dad was alive and that the man she was falling for had lied to her.
"Hey bud." Shane exclaimed putting on his best fake smile. "What's up?"
"Dad was looking for you and Cali." The little boy replied looking back at his father. Shane looked up then finally noticing Rick. The two shared an intense moment of eye contact before Carl spoke up again. "Dad I'm going to go play with Sophia."
"Okay buddy. Just stay close."
A long moment of silence passed between the two friends as they watched Carl run away from them. Neither man knew what to say to each other.
"What's up man?" Shane finally asked breaking the silence.
"Is Cal in there?" Rick wondered glancing behind the man blocking the tent entrance.
"Oh yeah." The Walsh man nodded. "She just wanted a break from everything. She was a little overwhelmed you know."
"Yeah, I can imagine." Rick chuckled awkwardly.
"Hey, man I hope you don't mind that she's been sharing a tent with me."
"I'll admit it's a little weird." The Grimes man spoke honestly.
"I know but she's been having real bad nightmares waking up the whole camp screaming. Lori and Carl were barely getting any sleep so I said that Cali could come stay in my tent." He explained. "I figured this would be better for her because it's not as close to everyone else so if she wakes up screaming she won't wake everyone else up. Plus I'm not even in here half the time anyway. I'm always on watch at night."
"That's really nice of you man." Rick smiled at his friend looking out for his family. He didn't know how he could ever repay Shane for everything he's done.
"It's no problem. Anyone else would do it too."
"Can I uh head in and talk to her?" The man asked noticing how Shane was still blocking the entrance like he didn't want anyone to step foot inside.
"Yeah, sorry didn't realize I was blocking it." Shane chuckled nervously hesitantly moving out of the way.
