𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 - carl grimes .

❻ - once upon a time

act one - chapter six
"once upon a time"
- soobriety -

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COMIC BOOK NIGHTS have become almost a nightly thing. After dinner, it's only a matter of time before Carl Grimes trickles into May's cell. Sometimes he doesn't even bring comic books, and they just sit together and talk. They never run out of things to talk about; events within the day keep them occupied enough.

Things are never serious. It's like their very own escape away from the world — their secret. No one knows, well, except for Carl's father. He caught him, one day, sneaking back into the cell. May and Carl laughed about it the night after, after Carl had said his dad was okay with it. May hadn't expected it, Rick Grimes' leniency, but she wasn't complaining. Not at all.

During the day, it's them and Patrick. Part of May feels bad for keeping Patrick in the dark about Her and Carl's time together. Part of her relishes in not having to deal with his overzealousness all the time.

Tonight, they sit across from each other, cards in hand. Earlier in the day, Hershel taught May and Beth the rules of War. Carl and May took the opportunity to sneak into the library to grab the cards.

"I've been trying to name the pigs," Carl speaks up, placing down a card. Nine of Spades. May does the same as she hums in acknowledgment. Seven of Hearts. "My dad doesn't want me to."

"What are you naming them? Bacon, Ham, and Pork?" May retorts, as Carl takes the cards.

"Violet, Willow, and April."

"Oh." May's a little taken back as she places down another card. Three of clubs.

"What, are they bad?"

Carl's card is less than May's. She takes the cards. "No, they're good. Pretty, even. But why those names?"

"I don't know. I think they're good pig names. And I like nature-themed names." Carl sighs. He's at his last card.

May barely thinks about the topic, as she now has the whole deck in her hand. "I win." She chirps, a cocky smile.

"You got lucky." Carl sulks. A small smile plays on his lips, May knows he's not mad in the slightest. But she's feeling a little reckless.

"All skill, Grimes," With the cards in one hand, she presses firmly until they fly out of her grip, and directly onto the teen boy's chest. "52 card pickup." She whispers, conniving pride filling her chest.

They end the night both collecting the cards from around May's room. Carl bids a goodbye before slipping away into the hallway, and May swears she can see light peaking through the windows.

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Just as she thought, she's standing behind the grill a mere few hours later. The skin beneath her eyes burns an uncomfortable tingle. It's been a while since she's stayed up all night. It's all she ever used to do. Daryl brought in deer last morning, that's what they — Patrick, May, and Carol — have been cooking. Flipping a piece of meat, she sees Carl sauntering down to the Pigpen to meet up with his father.