Carl Grimes Imagines

Imagine: Not Anymore

You smile to yourself in the passengers seat of the car you were in once Alexandria came into view. You've been at this place for years, enduring so much at your stay there. It came to mind how hopeless you all were when Negan made his first appearance, fear settling into everyone's bones, and how hard it was to conquer him. Well, until you did.

Back when you were seventeen, everything seemed so much harder. So many obstacles to reach salvation. Too much stress for just a teenager. Now that you were older, it seemed as if you had a grasp on the ripped and tattered world. Everything was starting to turn out the way you wanted.

You glanced at Carl, realizing how different yet similar he looked compared to his 17 year-old self. Eight years ago. How far we've survived, you thought peacefully, pushing out the past feelings of hopelessness that still tried to haunt you.

Carl had the same hair as he did back then, but with features more defined, and a black eye patch covering the heavily scarred skin underneath. He'd gotten taller and more muscular over the years.

You had to admit he was attractive, but you chose not to see him that way. You had someone you loved--Kevin--waiting for you back in Alexandria, someone who love you.

Two days ago, like the years before, you and Carl were friends. Best friends, even. But everything was awkward now, all caused by a mistake only yesterday. Last night as you planned your trip back to Alexandria.

Once you've looked for supplies in the area surrounding you for years, everything eventually ran out. It caused you to make longer and longer runs to different places in search of new supplies, extending the time of each mission.

You and Carl were both gone for days, looting stores and rummaging through abandoned houses, loading everything you could in a truck that was connected to your car.

It was fun being with him and goofing around a lot of times, considering you hardly see him in the small sanctuary of Alexandria. You both had completely different jobs, both needing high maintenance and both involving you and him as leaders.

But you both were setting up sleep in one of the houses last night, planning on creating only one quick sleeping area since the mattresses were infested with bedbugs.

You shared the same blanket, backs facing each other as you tried to get some well-deserved rest.

"Hey, (Y/N)?" Carl asked in the dark, his voice breaking the calming silence. You hummed in response, face still pressed again your arm as a makeshift pillow, eyes still shut. "I forgot how nice it was to actually talk to you again." he gave a soft laugh.

You opened your eyes, moving on your back once you realized that he was starting to make a conversation.

"Yeah. Me too," you agreed honestly.

"Do you remember that lake a mile from Alexandria?" he asked. You responded with a confirmation, remembering the way the water glittered in the sunlight. How soft the grass felt beneath your palms when you sat down to dip your feet in the cool deep water. "There was one time when it was winter, and the water froze. You decided to walk on it for some reason--I can't remember--but--" you turned on your side to face him, recalling the memory yourself, but allowing him to finish the story, "you fell in. Oh my God, I was terrified. The water was deep, and I couldn't see you because of how dark it was. Until your head popped up and you were shaking horribly when you got out. Coughing up water."