The Girl Next Door • Carl Grimes

Chaper 68: Cows and Ducks

Grace

I exited the party feeling devastated. I felt like my lungs were being crushed and I couldn't breathe. It was dark outside and the breeze was cold. I wrapped my arms around myself as I felt my eyes burn and get watery. All of the sudden my whole body began to shake as tears streamed down my face.

The cold air hurt my face where the tears were falling. I walked through the darkness and to my new house. I noticed that there was a light on in there before I entered. I found it strange, but with all the people living in that house I wasn't surprised.

When I entered the door I saw Carol and Rick standing in the living room with a zipped up bag.

"Grace- what are you doing here?" Carol asked nervously.

"Nothing. Parties just aren't my thing I guess." I said as I wiped my eyes.

"Wait, what's in the bag? Why are you guys not at the party?" I began to question them.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it." Rick grunted.

"No, you're hiding something. What's in there." I said as I walked up to them.

"Just go upstairs Grace." Carol said sternly.

"No. Tell me what's in there or I'll go back to the party and tell everyone that you're doing something shady." I said as I crossed my arms.

"Fine." Rick said, frustrated as he unzipped the bag.

Inside was about half a dozen guns and some ammunition. As well as some extra food. I stared at the guns and I saw my handgun that I turned in on our first day here.

"Give me that gun and I won't tell anybody about what I saw. It's between us." I negotiated as I pointed toward my gun.

"Deal. But you can't tell anyone. Not even anyone else in this house. You hear me?" Rick said as he held out the gun.

"Loud and clear." I responded as I went up the stairs, gun in hand.

Now I had a gun, and a secret. Guess I wasn't so powerless after all.

***

I sat in my room against the door and held my gun. I stayed there in complete silence as I just looked at it, observing every scratch in the wood of the gun. I was disrupted from my thoughts when a rhythmic knock came at my door.

"Grace? You in here? I saw you leave the party." Noah said, placing his head against the door.

"I- I'm in here." I said frantically as I shoved my gun underneath the mattress before I let him in.

"What's up?" I said with puffy eyes.

"Just thought you might need a friend. That's all. You were a friend to me when you first met me. Thought I might return the favor if that's cool with you." He smiled.

"Sure. I'd like that." I answered as I sat down on the foot of my bed.

"You haven't really talked much. Not since we went back to your old house." I said, wanting to get Noah to open up to me.

He didn't reply. Instead he just looked down at the floor and squinted his eyes in such a way that seemed like he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"It wasn't your fault you know. Tyreese. It wasn't your fault. And your family- that wasn't your fault either. I hope you know that." I turned my head to him.

"I just can't help but feel like it was." Noah said sadly.

"I know. But what you know is different than what you feel." I comforted him.