Carl, a cheerleader, has been having a hard time at school.
The star football player, Ron, has been targeting him with his bullying lately.
But that doesn't stop Carl from having a crush on him.
Ron's mom died when he was born, and now he lives alon...
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He sat in silence and surprise, looking at the open door. He wiped away his tears, thinking of Ron's apology to him. It seemed genuine. Ron had never apologized to him for anything before. Only if it was another "joke." Carl had never found them funny, and he honestly wasn't sure if Ron did either.
His mind wondered to when Ron's hand was on his. He had never touched him like that. Gently. He pondered it for a moment. He wanted to feel it again.
"Hey. What's going on? Are you ok?" Rick said, seeing his tears. "Im ok." Carl replied, wiping his face. No more tears fell from his eyes now. "What happened? Did Ron do something?" Rick said, already mad.
"No. It's fine. This project is just stressful." Carl claimed.
He didn't know why he covered for Ron. Maybe if he told his dad he would get the school involved. Maybe they would give him a new partner, or maybe they'd suspend Ron. He didn't know. But he didn't want to find out. "Alright. If you need anything, come get me. And if Ron does anything.. let me know." Rick said, having a bad feeling about him. "Ok." Carl said quietly. "I love you." Rick said, giving him a kiss. "I love you too." He replied, hugging him.
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Rick returned to the table, everyone staying silent. "He was crying." He informed them with a sigh.
"I told you." Daryl said, his previous theory of Ron being mean to Carl seemingly likely. "He says the kid didn't do anything." Rick said, even though he didn't believe it.
"Bullshit. He's got a crush. That's why he's protecting blondie." Negan gave his opinion. "I agree." Merle said, shaking his head. "Nah. He's smarter than that." Shane figured. "I hope so." Rick added.
"I thinks negan is right. And I think we need to teach blondie a lesson." Abraham said, pointing at the group. "Well, I mean, we know he doesn't have any guns." Merle observed.
"That's true." Shane said with a smile. "And what are we going to do? Shoot some kid for something we don't even know he did? We'll all just end up in prison." Rick said, shaking his head at the idea. "I think we need to know what actually happened first. The punishment has to fit the crime." Negan said, trying to think of how they could know.
They all went silent again when Carl walked into the kitchen. He got a glass of water and sat at the table, right where Ron had. "What are you guys doing?" He asked, picking up one of the newly cleaned guns. "Cleaning guns and playing cards. You want to join?" Daryl said, picking up the deck. "Yeah." Carl said, putting the gun back.
He had known these men his whole life, and saw them as family. And as for the guns, he loved going shooting.
