not a big deal~carl grimes

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we were both sat on the bottom bunk at opposite ends so that we were facing each other and our legs crossed over in the middle.

'so what's going on with your mom and dad?' I asked. we weren't actually talking and i was wondering about it 'i hate to pry just i noticed something seems weird like they don't act like usual parents, even around you. obviously you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to.'

'no, it's fine.' he shuffled forward so we could talk about it. 'basically, just before all this happened, my dad got shot. he was a sheriff.'

'is that how you got the hat? it was his?' i asked gesturing to the atlanta sheriffs hat perched on his growing out, dark brown hair.

he took it off, just holding it in his hand. 'yeah. but anyway, when he got sot, he went into a coma.'

'your moms mad because your dad was shot and fell into a coma?'

'just let me tell the story.' he said, frustrated with my constant interruptions, but secretly finding it adorable. he continued when i finally sat there, silent 'so because he was in a coma during the start of the outbreak, we thought he was dead. so basically, she started a relationship with his best friend, shane. he found out just after my mom got pregnant. i don't know what my dad thinks, but i'm pretty sure the baby's shanes. obviously i won't say anything though. so basically, he's mad because she slept with shane.'

'how do you know all this? did they actually tell you?' i asked.

he shook his head 'no, they would never. i just picked it up from things i overheard.'

'where's shane now?'

'when we were on hershel's farm, my dad killed him. then when he was a walker, i shot him.'

'damn. that's a lot to deal with.' i got up, looking down the hall. 'hey, i think they're about to get ready to head out? let's go.'

carl and i walked together out of the cell, going towards the others who were huddled around a table with weapons and stuff they took off the guards.

they were all putting on vests while carl picked up a helmet that was far too big for his head so it fell right off. we exchanged smiles before rick took the helmet away from him.

'you won't need that.' he said 'we need you to stay put.' he realised my knife in my hands and put 2 and 2 together 'you too taylor.'

'you're kidding.' we said in unison.

'we don't know what's in there. something goes wrong, carl you could be the lasnt man standing, i need you to handle thigs here. and taylor, you're the only one of us who had any slight idea about the surrounding area, we need that. plus you're not getting anywhere if all you know how to use is a knife. but at some point, carl and i will teach you how to shoot, okay?'

i rolled my eyes.' fine.' as carl agreed 'sure.'

he handed carl the keys 'great lets go.' as they left, carl locked the door behind them as we all noticed lori watching from the balcony above us.

while they were gone, i sat in my cell. carl was also there, except on the bottom bunk as i had now moved to the top. i had my sketch book out and was working on a drawing of the cell from my point of view. i drew everything i saw both inside and out to make the perfect landscape of inside the prison.

i saw carls head pop up 'whatcha doing?'

i took my headphones off, 'sorry, what? did you say something?'

'how the hell do you have music?' he questioned, raising his eyebrow that usually hid under his hair.

i held up the other end of the wire 'i have my dads old walkman. and some of his and my moms old tapes, they have great music taste.'

he jumped up onto the bunk, sitting down next to me. 'what the hell is a walkman?'

'basically an 80s mp3 player.' i opened it up 'you put a tape in it and you can listen to music and there's buttons to stop, play, rewind, and fast forward.' i showed him everything.

'so what tape are you listening to now?' he kept asking questions.

'a mixtape of my parents favourite rock songs. it's currently playing American pie but if i remember the order, i know that carry on wayward son is next.'

'what the hell are they?'

my jaw dropped. 'you don't know american pie-don mclean?! carry on wayward son-kansas?!'

i took my headphones off and put them over his ears. i could still faintly hear the music as i had it so loud so i sang along 'them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye singing this'll be the day that i die, this'll be the day that i die.' i jumped down and started dancing around the room, still singing 'now for 10 years we been on our own, and moss grows fat on a rolling stone, but that's not how it used to be. when the jester sang for the king ad queen, in a coat he borrowed from james dean and a voice that came from you and me.'

carl laughed at my singing and goofy dancing and began picking up the lyrics from listening to it 'oh and while the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown. the courtroom was adjourned and no verdict was returned. and while lenin read a book on marx, the quartet practiced in the park and we sang dirges in the dark the day the music died.'

'wait.' i stopped him 'please tell me you at least know john lennon.'

'the beatles?' he hesitantly more asked the answered, seeming scared of what i would do if he got it wrong.

i sighed from relief 'at least you know something.'

we stopped when everyone came rushing past.