BETH'S TWIN ¹ ( THE WALKING DEAD ) ✓

chapter eight

     "CHARLIE, THEY'RE PUSHING into the prison!" Beth shook me awake the next morning. I was startled for a moment before my brain processed her words.

"I'm going with them," I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

"No. Rick said no," She placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to talk me down.

Still, I stood up and sighed dramatically, causing Beth to roll her eyes. I pulled my gun out of its holster and checked if it had ammo. It did. I walked over to where some of the group was gearing up and preparing.

"You're not coming," Rick said sternly.

"Why?" I insisted with a slight whine.

"Not this time," Maggie shook her head.

"Fine, but be safe," I breathed. I was assigned to kill the walkers through the fence. Derek smirked at me briefly, insinuating he heard me get shot down. I made a face at him but didn't say anything.

They opened the gate and walked in, killing walkers left and right. I didn't argue any more and started killing them through the fence with a knife.

"Cheer up, Charlie, I never get to go in there," Carl muttered beside me.

"That's cause you're, like, five," I said back with an eye roll. He didn't respond.

"That's a civilian," I heard Daryl say as I listened in on their conversation.

"We need to do a search, make sure there aren't any blind spots," Rick said in agreement. I watched as they ventured inside the prison, crossing my arms. Once they cleared it, we were allowed into the cell block and I could see a large letter 'C' painted on the wall. The men carried out the bodies as we all picked cells.

"Charlie! Want to share this one?" Beth gestured to one of the random, dusty cells.

"Sounds good. Top bunk!" I claimed the better bunk and tossed my back pack up there. She rolled her eyes as she set her bag on her bunk.

I walked out and saw that Carl's cell was to the right and Derek's was to the left of mine and Beth's cell. I smiled slightly at what we'd accomplished, glancing around the building.

Eventually I returned to my cell and hopped up into my bed. One of my arms acted as a pillow while the other laid across my stomach. The cot wasn't exactly comfortable but it was a lot better than most of the places we'd slept throughout winter.

"You're starting to annoy Rick," Derek stated as he walked into my cell and leaned against the wall.

"Tell me something I don't know," I sighed, still staring up at the ceiling.

"Why can't you just follow his orders?" Derek started to  evidently get frustrated.

"Because, his rules are stupid," I shrugged. He rolled his eyes and walked away.

"Looks like you managed to anger everyone," Beth sighed as she lied down on her bed.

"I'm good at that," I pursed my lips. She laughed.

"You're not good at making me mad," Beth pointed out, her voice small from below me.

"I'll make sure to try harder next time," I smiled at the ceiling and Beth laughed again.

"This was a good day for you," Beth said once she quit laughing.

"Why?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"You didn't try to run in and help," She hummed lightly.

I scrunched up my nose.

"Seriously though, it was good you actually listened," She said. I turned my head when she stood up beside out bunk bed, a smile stretched out across her face.

"I'll try more often, then," I poked her nose. She rolled her eyes and sat back down on her bed.

"This place could be good for the baby," Beth suggested.

"It could," I agreed. This place seamed secure. Hopefully it would be.

BETH'S POINT OF VIEW

"It could," Charlie agreed. I stood up and walked out of our cell, letting her get some peace and quiet.

"Really?!" I heard Carl squeal from inside his cell. I walked closer and listened in. I couldn't help but be a little nebby.

"Shut up Carl, stop mentioning it," Derek sounded annoyed and maybe even embarassed.

"Then how will Charlie know you like her?" Carl asked. My jaw dropped slightly at the sudden news. To be honest, I'd never expect Derek to like Charlie. She had never had a boyfriend before and Derek and her were barely friends in my eyes.

"She won't, and I don't even actually like her, I just think she's hot," Derek stated. I frowned at this.

"Can we please tell Beth?" Carl suggested.

"No," Derek said firmly. I rolled my eyes at their combined stupidity.

"Too late," I snickered as I entered his cell. Carl flinched while Derek looked like he had seen a ghost. I grinned widely, "You like Charlie!"

"You can't tell her!" Derek insisted right away, his face turning a bright red.

"Why not?" I squealed. They would honestly look cute together. I couldn't even imagine what their children would look like, though it was a bit early to be thinking like thay.

"Because, I will," Derek avoided eye contact. He was clearly lying.

"But I thought you said you weren't going to," Carl tried to say quietly to Derek.

"Shut up Carl!" Derek yelled at him.

"Charlie!" I shouted out of the cell. She came running in with her gun raised.

"What the fuck? I thought you were hurt!" She put her gun in its holster, an irate expression clear as day.

"No, we're fine, but I needed to tell--" Derek slapped down his hand over my mouth before I could spill his secret.

"She needed to tell you that Maggie is looking for you," Derek quickly lied. Charlie looked to me as I tried to telepathically tell her the truth. She arched an eyebrow as she left the cell and Derek moved his hand from my mouth.

"Seriously? Maggie is looking for her?" I placed my hands on my hips at his on the spot lie.

"Hey! I tried!" He barked. He got so worked up over dumb things.

"Ugh," I groaned as I exited Carl's cell. I walked into mine and Charlie's and plopped down on my bed.

"Maggie said she isn't looking for me," Charlie said as she crossed her arms and entered our cell.

"Huh. That's strange," I nodded. I'm terrible at lying, especially to Charlie. She furrowed her brows and hummed as she came closer.

"Right. Very strange," She looked down at me. I nervously laughed and smiled.

"Well I should go!" I stood up just for Charlie to lightly push me back down.

"Spill," She sat down next to me.

"I-I can't! I promised!" I blurted out.

"Who did you promise?" She leaned in a bit.

"I have to go!" I shrieked and ran out of the cell.

"Beth!" I heard her calling after me. I ran outside and all the way to the guard tower, hiding in there.

"What are you doing?" Derek called down from the top. I jumped and shrieked, not knowing he was in there.

"Just hiding from Charlie," I explained. He nodded and I joined him at the top, "Wow, the view is pretty from up here."

"Yeah," He nodded in agreement. I turned to look at him, "Listen, what you heard Carl say, he was confused. He misunderstood."

"So. . . You don't like Charlie?" I asked, confused.

Derek gulped and nodded. Next thing I knew, he had leaned in and our lips were connected.