Amber Grimes

Sixteen

After my conversation with dad, I decided I needed to have a big conversation with Shane. I walked around the property before finding him at his tent.

I nervously made my way over to him. " Hi, Shane," I spoke up. Shane turned to me with a smile. " I was wondering when you'd come see me." " Do you have a few minutes to talk?" I asked, playing with my fingers. " Always for you, doll."

I took in a deep breath. " Well, I'm pregnant." I gave him an awkward smile as tears began to fill my eyes. " My parents aren't too happy about it.", "  You could say that again. My face still stings from your dad." ," Sorry about that, I did try to stop him.", " No need to apologise. He has every right to be pissed at me.".

" I guess my question is, what should we do?" " What you mean, sweetheart?" Shane asked. " I mean, should we abort it?". Shanes  dark eyes suddenly widened. " Woah, woah woah, slow down." He smiled, grabbing my arms slightly. " Who said anything about aborting?". I stared up at Shane's bruised face, confused.

" I- I thought it would be something we'd have to do." ," We don't have to do anything. Amber, I want to have this baby with you. Alright? I ain't going anywhere.", " This world is too dangerous for a newborn, Shane. A single cry could kill all of us. It wouldn't be fair to the group to risk their lives for a baby."

Shane licked his lips like he usually did when he was getting annoyed. " Amber darling, I couldn't give two shits about the people in this camp. I feel nothing for them compared to how I feel about you. You are the woman I am in love with, alright? You are the one I want by my side. You have told me some great news, we're having a baby." He smiled at me.

His large hand suddenly pressed against my stomach, " You are carrying our baby. This is a miracle, and I will not let everyone else in this camp risk our miracle. I want this baby with you, Amber. Like I said, I ain't going nowhere."

I had tears slowly falling down my cheeks at Shane's speech. " I have said my piece, now you tell me momma. What do you want to do?" Shane asked, stroking my cheek. " I want my baby," I cried.

Shane pulled me into a tight hug, " Then you'll have your baby, I'll handle everything, alright, darling? All you gotta do is grow our kid. I'll handle everything else."

Once Shane had calmed me down, I wiped my eyes, " I'm sorry for crying." ," Something tells me I'll be hearing a lot more of that over the next few months." He smiled, making me laugh. " Amber!" I turned my head to see my mom waving me over. " I should go, but I'll catch up in a bit." ," I'll be right here, momma." Shane winked before he watched me walk away.

I made my way over to my mom, who pulled me in for a hug immediately. " Mom, is everything okay?", " You're pregnant," she cried. " I always wanted to be a grandma, but not this early." Mom pulled away and held my face, " I can't believe this. This world is too dangerous, Amber."

" We have a strong group mom, we'll be okay." " Abort it." My eyes widened. " Excuse me?" ," Abort it, honey. When you're older and find a safe place and a good man, you can try again." I pulled myself out of my mother's grip." Mom, I'm not aborting my baby. Shane and I already talked about it, and we decided to keep it."

"What kind of mother would let her baby be born into a world like this? A world where one little cry could kill Al of us?". I stared at my mom in horror. " Shane said he'd protect us.", " That doesn't matter. You can't ask this group to risk their lives for you to have a baby that isn't fair."

I stared at my mom and noticed she kept one of her hands on her belly. I looked up at her, confused before the realisation hit me. " You're pregnant too." Mom turned around as the tears fell from her eyes. " You're trying to convince me to abort my baby so you feel better about doing the same thing? What's wrong with you?".

" We can't have these babies, Amber. We just can't. We can't let them be born into such a cruel and vicious world.".  " I will not kill my baby before it takes its first breath. You can't ask me to do that."  " I have the pills okay, I have enough for both of us.". " Mom -". "  I almost lost Carl, I can't risk losing you and this baby, okay? It's not worth the heartbreak."

I pulled my arm from her grip. " You can do what you like, but I am not going through with it." I spat before storming off.

I started doing my normal routine of laundry when Glenn suddenly came up to me. " So you're pregnant?" " I am. " " With Shane's baby?" " Yeah." ," Shane, really Amber?." " What's that supposed to mean?" ," I thought Shane was hurting you. Dale and I had so many conversations about how to get you away from him safely, and it turns out you've been having sex with him of your own free will."

I looked at Glenn disgusted. " What the hell have you been saying about me ,Glenn?" ," Dale said Shane was hurting you, that he forced himself on you countless times, and yet here you are happily carrying his baby.". I slapped Glenn as hard as I could, tears stinging my eyes. " How could you say something like that to me?"

" Hey, what's going on here?" Shane asked, clearly angry. " Nothing," Glenn spat. I cried into Shane's chest. " You've clearly done something, or else my girl wouldn't be crying." " What are you trying to say, Shane?" Glenn asked, standing up to Shane.

" That if you don't back the fuck up I'll knock you out right now." " Shane" I tried to intervene. " Go ahead, Shane, you've been dying to hit for weeks." " Imma give you one chance to step down or imma knock you on your ass, you understand me?".

" Shane, please don't do this." I begged. " No, if he wants to act like a big man, I'll treat him like a big man. Come on, Glenn, let's see what you got." I quickly stood in between the two men." Guys, please don't do this, " I begged. " Stand back, Amber, I don't wanna risk hitting you or our kid." ," Shane, please!"

" Come on, Shane, hit me. Prove to all of us what we think." " Why? What is it that you think?", " That you're abusive, you're an angry man who takes it out on Amber." My eyes widened at Glenn," Glenn said. " What did you say? Let me tell you something. " Shane started, but I put my hands on his chest." No, Shane, please calm down."

" You're all bark and no bite, Shane," Glen spat. " No wonder Amber doesn't want to be with you.", " That's it.". Shane threw his fist, punching Glenn in the face. " Shane, stop!" I yelled out in fright. Daryl quickly ran over and pulled Shane off of Glenn, throwing him to the ground and standing in between them.

" I don't know what your problem is, but you both need to stop!" Daryl yelled. " This ain't your business, Daryl." " The hell it ain't! I've been looking after this girl since this camp started, " Daryl yelled as he pointed at me. " Inaint seeing her or her kid get hurt under my watch, and especially not to you two idiots. I don't care what your issue with each other is but if she's next to you and yells stop, fucking stop."

Shane wiped his head before turning to Daryl " If I didn't know any better I'd say you like her Daryl." Shane smirked before lickinf his lips. " She's a good kid, stop acting like fools or ill treat ya like fools" Daryl spat before taking my arm and walking off.