The Girl Next Door • Carl Grimes

Chapter 3: It's Not Safe, Is It?

Grace

"Kids! Come here, you two need to go bathe in the lake!" Lori shouted at us.

"Ok!" We yelled back, getting up from the air mattress.

"Hey how about we swim instead?" I suggested, eyeing the lake.

"That's the best idea ever." Carl said with a grin on his face.

We ran down to the lake, excited to swim and saw Carol and Jacqui doing the laundry. We walked up to them and thanked them for their hard work, they were keeping the camp together whether they knew it or not. I think they appreciated it.

"So are you kids doing your bathing now?" Jacqui asked.

"Uhhh sure!" Carl chuckled.

I let out a loud laugh and quickly slapped my hand to my mouth, not wanting our plan to be revealed. It wasn't wrong to swim, but I just didn't know if Lori would allow it. We needed to be able to have a little fun.

We walked on the pebbles that ran around the entire lake and talked to each other before we swam.

"What do you miss the most?" Carl asked.

"My parents..." I mumbled quietly, then quickly said something else, "It's weird to say, but school. I miss school. The teachers, the kids. You." I answered.

"Me? I'm with you." Carl wore a confused expression upon his face.

"I mean, as in how we used to hang out. Like bringing you your toaster waffle every morning on the bus since kindergarten. The look on your face when I gave you the waffle even though you knew it was coming." I said.

He had a big grin on his face and he was blushing slightly.

"What do you miss?" I asked, returning the question.

"Well I miss being on the bus with you, getting my waffle every morning, your smile when you saw that I was so happy about the waffle. I miss when on the bus ride home I always gave you a half of my cookie from lunch and we ate it together." He said.

I reached for his hand. He looked surprised. Once he grabbed my hand back, I started running.

"Wait what are you doi-" he was cut off.

We both fell into the water from the short five foot distance between where we were walking and the lake.

"My goodness you're insane." Carl shouted as he emerged from the water.

"I know. But it's no fun if I'm not!" I chuckled as I treaded water.

We both had a fun time swimming around, splashing each other, racing, and all that kid stuff.

As I was swimming back, Carl was far ahead of me. I was trying to catch up to him when I felt a tug at my ankle.

"Ugh stupid seaweed." I groaned, assuming that some seaweed or something had wrapped around my foot.

I tried to swim away but I couldn't, something was pulling me down. I looked underneath me and I immediately screamed when I saw what was below.

Carl came swimming towards me and I saw Jacqui run up the hill to get someone. My head was bobbing in and out of the water and I couldn't breathe.

Carl was about 5 feet away from me, but I wanted him to get away. It was dangerous.

"W- wa- walker!" I called out, trying to get my words out before each time I was submerged in the water.

Before I went far down under the water, my kicking had so far kept the walker from biting me, but I couldn't do it anymore, not until I saw Rick and Shane dive into the water. They pulled me out and away from the walker. Rick held me tightly and swam away from the walker.

Shane shot the zombie in the head and Rick pulled me up. But by then, I was already unconscious.

Carl

My mom had yelled at Grace and I to go bathe in the lake. But Grace being the hot headed and insane person I know, she said "hey let's go swim instead of bathing." I agreed and we ran down to the lake, thanking Carol and Jacqui on the way.

We walked around the lake talking, then I asked, "What do you miss the most."
I already regretted the question because I knew her answer and I knew it made her sad. She quietly said "my parents."

She didn't think I heard her, but I did. I felt terrible. I missed her parents a lot too, but I couldn't say that without making her feel worse. So I kept those feelings and that grief to myself. They were like my second set of parents, my aunt and uncle by choice. I felt it deep in my chest.

I had always liked her more than a friend. I'm pretty sure she felt the same way too. But I wouldn't act on it for many reasons. First being we're only 13. Second, our mothers have always been best friends and sort of like sisters, same with our fathers.

We were born in the same hospital only a day apart. So it's kind of like we're siblings, but we aren't. We're just best friends. Our parents decided to not have another kid because of us. We were always together, so one set of parents was always taking care of two. It's funny, really.

The next thing I knew Grace was dragging me off the five foot drop and then we were in the water. We had lots of fun. We weren't getting that much anymore.

We were swimming back and I was far ahead of her because she was taking her time. She's always loved to swim. I heard her say something and she looked like she was struggling, so I swam towards her. She started screaming as she bobbed in and out of the water.

I was filled with panic, I looked around helplessly and started screaming for help.

A walker had grabbed her foot! A walker! How the hell was it under the water? I didn't understand. I started yelling more since she couldn't, and I saw Shane and my dad running down. I got closer, but I couldn't grab onto her, the walker's grip on her was too strong. It was a miracle that she hadn't been bit yet. Seconds later, Shane and my dad dove into the water.

Next thing I knew, I heard a muffled shot and saw my dad swimming down to get Grace. Shane pulled me out of the water as I yelled, not wanting to leave her down there. My dad came up and out of the water with her back arched over his arms. Her whole body was relaxed, she looked peaceful almost. My dad was standing as he held her limp body in shock. Her eyes were closed and her pulse was slowed.

Shane layed her down and started pressing down on her chest fast and hard. Her eyes opened quickly and she took a deep breath in. She started coughing and water came out of her mouth.

I rushed over to see if she was okay, and my dad grabbed my shoulder before I could get any closer.

"She just almost drowned. We gotta give her a minute." He held me back.

I tried to get out of his grip but a 13 year old boy was no match for a strong man.

I stood there and watched her cough up water. I felt like it was my fault. Even though it wasn't. Maybe if I had been nearer to her, or if I told her to hurry up she wouldn't have been in this position.

They carried her back up to the camp and put her in the tent, keeping a close eye on her.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you liked it. I wanted to try something different by putting in Carl's POV I may do more of that. I'm trying to post as much as I can. ♥️