The Girl Next Door • Carl Grimes

Chapter 63: Dreams

Grace

"Thanks for coming back." I said as Glenn kept Maggie and I in his embrace.

"I can't leave you guys behind." Glenn said as he held us tighter.

"Beth, get over here." Glenn added, seeing that she was standing alone.

Beth walked up to us and joined our hug. It was like our family again, like how we used to be back at the prison. But something was missing. Someone was missing. Hershel.

"Guys, I have some gossip I need to tell you like right now. But don't be acting all parental with this news, okay? I need you as my friends or like siblings right now." I said, changing the mood.

"Oh god, what is it?" Maggie asked as she put her hand on her hip.

"Beth, do you know already?" Glenn looked at Beth as she was wearing a strange expression on her face.

"Yeah, I may have told her." I said as we walked into a more private corner of the room.

We all sat against the wall as I whispered to them and told them everything that happened with Carl.

"Oh no he didn't." Maggie said angrily, beginning to stand up.

"Maggie, stop. I just don't know what to do." I grabbed her arm and she sat back down.

"I just can't believe he said that. When did he get the nerve?" Glenn said as he was laughing, taking amusement from my situation.

"Me either. I just don't know what to do. It was so random. And I don't really feel like I wanna date someone. Not in this world." I said, looking sadly down at the dusty floor.

"Glenn and me got married in this world. Heck, we only even met in this world. You've known Carl forever. How you feel about him isn't just from this world." Maggie said as she layed her hand on top of mine.

"I don't understand my feelings about him. That's the problem. But- but I know I love him." I explained.

"See, that's what matters. You love him. Let him know. That's one thing you can't get back- time." Glenn added.

"Yeah Grace, tell him." Beth said with a smile on her face.

"Not right now. Right now im with my family." I said as I layed down on Maggie's legs.

I turned my head and looked across the room. I saw Carl sitting against the wall with his head back, and Judith in his arms. He looked over at me, and started to look away. I smiled at him before I turned my head back to Maggie and fell asleep.

***

I walked off the steps from my house and looked at the house beside mine to see Carl already sitting on his front porch.

"Morning!" He smiled as he walked towards me.

"Hey, good morning. You excited?" I asked him as he pulled me in for a hug.

He held me close and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips.

"So excited. My girlfriend and I are gonna get our licenses today. Now we can drive wherever we want." He smiled at me.

"I'm so glad. I love your mom, but im getting tired of her always driving us places. Her music taste is the worst." I laughed as we stood close together.

We looked at the street as the yellow school bus pulled up.

"This is the last time we'll ever have to ride this bus. Now we can drive to school together, just us." Carl said, pointing to the bus.