When The World Caves In |C.G.

thirty five

Carl's right arm is curled around my waist, the other holding a flashlight towards the comic book I'm thumbing through. Everyone around us is asleep, technically I'm supposed to be too. Except usually I sneak in here after lights out and we read comic books until we fall asleep.

Rick is usually the one that finds us, waking me up to tell me to go back to my cell before Daddy notices I'm not there. He also says something about not sneaking into Carl's cell at night but... I pretend I don't hear that.

Sleeping in here with Carl is the only way I wind up sleeping. Too many nights, I'm kept up with thoughts of Lori or Merle. Thoughts of the Governor coming back and killing us all. Then when I do fall asleep, I'm plagued with nightmares. One's where everyone I love die, or I die. I dream of death quite often.

Maybe that's why Rick and Daddy don't say anything about us sleeping together. It's just like a sleepover anyways. We spent many nights on the road curled up next to each other, waiting for night to pass.

"Want to read another?" Carl asks and I shake my head, leaning into the crook of his neck.

"It's probably like three AM, we should put them away." I say and he nods, shifting a little bit to toss the comic book on the make shift nightstand. Gently, he takes the flashlight out of my hand as well, setting it on the ground. It's rolled off of the bed or nightstand one too many times, waking us all up with a start. "Even the walkers are probably asleep."

"Good one," He says, flicking me in the forehead. I scowl at him before pulling the blanket it further up on my shoulders, purposely leaving his body exposed. "Give that back."

"Whatever." I grumble and he kisses my forehead and takes his half of the blanket, covering himself.

"Goodnight Roo."He whispers and I keep my head on his shoulder, using him as a pillow.

"Night Cowboy."

+

The next morning I wake up to Rick peeking in the cell. Slowly, I peel myself away from Carl straightening the blanket over him as I do. I grab my flannel from the floor and my knife from the nightstand

"This is the last time Rory." Rick says lying, and I nod, rolling my eyes as I head back to my own cell to get dressed for the day.

"I know, it won't happen again Ricky." I tell him. I'm also lying as I slink into my cell and throw my flannel on the pile of clothes I have in the corner.

Quickly freshening up, I throw on a different shirt and the same pair of pants I've worn all week, fastening my knife onto the belt that keeps them up. I run a brush through my hair, braiding it the way that Beth taught me too.

There's a run happening today, and I'm crossing my fingers that Daddy lets me go. Slipping out of my cell, Rick's long gone. He's probably out farming, that's all he does these days.

I find Daddy by the grill, speaking to Carol who is serving food. Daddy gets hollers of "hey Daryl" the entire time he stands there.

"Morning Daddy," I say. Getting up on my tip toes to place a kiss on his cheek before turning to Carol and waving. "Morning Carol."

"Morning Ro," She says with a smile, handing us both a bowl of venison. I take mine gladly as Daddy looks around at all the voices calling his name with an awkward look.

"Smells good." He tells Carol, taking his own bowl out of her hands.

"Just so you know, I liked you first." She says sarcastically. "Both of you."

"Stop." Daddy groans, picking up a piece of meat to eat. He stuffs it into his mouth unceremoniously and I copy his actions. "You know, Rick brought in a lot of them, too."