Sweet and Salty ~ Carl Grimes

Alexandria - 100

Ain't no way I've written 100 chapters....

In the truck on the way to Alexandria, Brooks had never felt more awkward. Sure, she had her earphones in connected to a Walkman playing some old eighties music, but she was squeezed between the door and Carl. In the three seater, there was Arat who was driving, Negan next to her (who was unnecessarily man-spreading), and Carl beside him who was slightly pushing into Brooks.

Their legs and sides were completely flushed together, and Carl's pinkie finger kept gently nudging the side of her tense hand. With Billy Joel's 'Vienna' blasting in her ears, she could see him fighting the urge to hold her hand and squeeze. Carl knew he couldn't, he knew that she wasn't his to hold, or to touch anymore, but all he wanted to do was pull her close and show her that his love for her is unconditional. To Carl, it didn't matter if she picked up Lucille and ended him brutally herself, a part of him would always love her - no matter what. Like their souls were connected. 

The hated outsider, and the golden boy. It was a tragic love trope that only ever worked out in the movies. Their love was sweet and salty; sweet in an innocent teenage lovey dovey way, but salty in the way they were meant to be - but, would probably never get the chance to prove that.

It wasn't challenging to walk through Alexandria unnoticed, to be honest. As they walked up the steps to their house, and Negan knocked on the door, hardly anyone had seen them. Brooks was aware that news would soon spread, but she doubted she'd see any of the aftermath of that. People would simply be too afraid to approach the house; in their fear they'd forget that Carl, Olivia and Judith were inside with two heartless killers.

Olivia, who was babysitting Judith, opened the door and was greeted with Carl, Negan and Brooks. Arat was sitting in the truck, just outside the gates of Alexandria, as instructed by her leader. Olivia's pleasant smile dropped to horror when she noticed Brooks first, her features remained equally as horrified when she noted Negan. The evil leader's infamous whistle began as he pushed past Olivia and into the suburban home, a shit eating grin on his face as he looked around the well decorated rooms.

"Great, great, great, great, great!" He happily called out, bearing his teeth as he eyed every sparkling surface. His eyes suddenly turned to Olivia once she closed the door and everyone stood in the kitchen together, Brooks' eyes trailed to the stairs, knowing that just up them and in a room to the left, little Judith would be down for her nap. "Where's Rick?" Negan suddenly asked Olivia, pulling Brooks from her thoughts about the toddler who she loved like her own sister.

"Uh, I'm just, I-" Olivia began nervously stuttering, fearfully trailing her eyes between Negan and a stern looking Brooks Dixon.

Scoffing, and singing out. "Don't care!" He took a breath, and continued. "Where's Rick?"

Olivia managed to calm herself and answer clearly. "Out. Scavenging for you."

"Cool. We'll wait." Negan nodded, not breaking the daring eye contact he had with her.

"We will?" Brooks complained.

Negan looked down to Brooks, and his entertained grin turned into a sympathetic smile. "If you're okay to be here?"

Brooks glanced to Carl, before she looked back up to Negan. "Sure." She answered, causing her leader to nod happily. Brooks didn't know it, but Negan and her would've left there and then if she wanted too. He actually cared about her in a way not many people had.

"Uh, he went out pretty far." Olivia drew their attention back. "They might not be back today." She said, as a drop of fearful sweat ran from her temple. She sniffled, but found the courage to continue. "We're running really low on everything. We're practically starving here."