~Carl Grimes/Chandler Riggs Imagines~

Best You Can Do?

            "Is that the best you can do?" I laugh, hanging my head back.

"I'm not even trying." he smirks, and pushes my back, swinging me forward. My hair blows in the wind, long curls left behind as I sway on the makeshift swing outside my house. The fragile string and splintery wood hanging from the old tree on my lawn is one of my favourite things in Alexandria, Carl being another. He pushes me with greater force, sending me a tad bit higher. "Not trying my ass." I laugh. I feel his playful glare and giggle. "Is it my turn yet?" he whines like a child. I put my feet to the ground and stop the swing. "Isn't this more of a girl thing?" I poke at him. "No offence." He glares at me yet again. "No, swinging can be masculine!" he says, pretending to be offended. "Sure, whatever makes you happy." I laugh and let Carl have his turn on the swing. "Thank you." he smiles and places his large hat onto my head. I fix it a bit, and he sits on the log. I give him a push and he moves his legs to swing higher. "I feel like we should be doing something helpful, or productive." I say after a moment of silence, continuing to push him. "Yeah but this is more fun, don't cha think?" he looks back at me from above. "I guess, but there are creatures out there that could eat us at any second, and we're here on a swing." I laugh, and stop pushing him. "Yeah, but we can still enjoy life, ya know?" I sigh and sit down on the grass, and he soon joins me. "True." I smile and lay on my back. The big hat on my head pushes forward, and covers my eyes. I take it off and place it on my stomach. I feel Carl lay on the ground next to me. We both lay in silence for a few moments, as the pink clouds move across the sky. "We'll get through this, don't worry." he sighs. "I hope your right." I look towards him. "Of course I am. You're strong! We'll get through it together." He looks at me with a grin. I laugh playfully. "Your such a dork sometimes, but yes, friends through thick and thin." I grin, punching him lightly on the shoulder. His smile weakens for a split second. I look at him concerned. "What's wrong?" I question. "Oh, nothing! I just-" "Y/N! Bedtime!" a loud voice yells from the house door. My mother, interrupting things as usual. I let out a groan, and exaggeratedly roll my eyes. "Sorry, you know my mom... she hates when I'm late. I'll see you tomorrow!" I take his hat off my stomach and place it on his face. "A-Alright! See ya!" he smiles as I run up the driveway. I send a quick wave as I close the front door. I sigh and smile. I've had the biggest crush on Carl ever since he and his group got here. I don't know what is about him that just makes me want to wrap my arms around him and call him mine. "What's with you?" my mom laughs, as she walks around the corner from the kitchen. Her voice knocks me out of my reverie, and I find myself standing awkwardly in the middle of the entranceway. "Nothing! I'm just... happy. I can't be happy?" I joke, but she still looks at me suspiciously. Then suddenly she gasps, the reason clicking in her mind. "You like that boy! I knew it!" she states, pointing at me. "No! I-" "Don't even try! Your blushing, and non of your lies get through me." she winks. She's right. Mom and I are really close, and I'm a terrible liar. "Fine. A bit. Now leave me alone." I complain, and run up to my room. I hear my mom say something about "love" or some shit like that, but I ignore her because she's most likely trying to bug me. When I get to my room, I flop down onto my bed. I hadn't realised how tired I actually was, and find myself falling asleep almost immediately.

I shoot up in my bed, my body startled from the loud noise that came from outside. I jerk my head to the window, peering out for something that may have woke me. It's still dark outside, except for the dim lights from the other houses across the road. The neighbours are all probably wondering the same thing as me. *BANG* The noise again. It was familiar, and most expected. A gun shot. I don't know why anyone's shooting so late, everyone knows not to use their guns at night. The hallway lights outside my bedroom flick on, and mom appears outside my door. "Damn, it woke you up too?" she says, and I laugh at her tone. "Yeah mom, its a gunshot." "Oh, well I guess so. Let's go see what they're up too then." she says, placing a hand on my doorframe. I smile, quickly get out from my bed, and walk out the door, mom close behind me.