new beginnings

Going Up

It was a couple of days until Jordan and I could get out of that room. Jordan had been fine, with just stitches on her cut. I had to stay longer for obvious reasons.

We were dismissed and we walked to the cafeteria. There was a lot to talk about, and people were talking. The two of us passed the tables to get breakfast, and I heard our names and Negan's when people saw us. No one bowed, and I didn't care that much. I didn't want the attention.

Once we got our breakfast, we sat down at an empty table and sat across from the other, as usual. I could tell people were staring at us and at our faces. Specifically mine. It was a train wreck, after all.

My cheeks flushed. We ate silently, avoiding people, when a big, tough-looking man went up to where I had to injure Mark. He whistled and drew attention to himself. Everyone looked at him.

"We all know Negan and Dwight died. Before this place spins into chaos, we have got to choose a new leader. It's hard not having them here to guide us, but we gotta make the best of it!" he shouted, and people eagerly listened for more.

"So, we'll vote. I've spoke to some people about candidates, so if your name is called, get up here," he said, and read names off a piece of notebook paper he pulled out of his pocket.

"Richard, Emerson, Dalton, and Carson," he read, and muscular men went to where the speaker was. Jordan shook her head and rolled her eyes.

"Hey! Shouldn't Carl be up there?" a man yelled. I looked back and it was Mike, the guy who ate breakfast with us with his friends. Jordan grinned.

The speaker looked confused and raised an eyebrow. He sighed and signaled for me to come up. My stomach was in knots as I looked at the other men. They all were a foot taller than me and were covered in tattoos. Some of them had beards. I felt out of place.

"Choose, people," the speaker said. I looked at the crowd.

"Who votes for-" the speaker shouted and was cut off by Mike.

"Wait, wait... Carl was Negan's right-hand man. Shouldn't he be the one to take over?" he said, all eyes going to him.

"...Look at him! He's a fucking kid, how the hell could he manage this place?" one of the candidates yelled, chuckling. I looked down, feeling my cheeks burn.

Everyone looked at the speaker, waiting for him to say something. He sighed once again.

"Okay... Mike has a point. If Dwight didn't die, he would've been our leader no matter what. Carl... is the next man on the line. It makes sense," he said.

Holy shit, someone was sticking up for me.

"So, all in favor of Carl being our leader, raise your hand," he spoke. I was surprised I was even considered for this. Why would I, when I was purposely almost killed by the last leader?

Jordan and Mike's hands went up right away. Jordan was smiling widely at me. The rest looked at each other, and more hands went up. Then more. Then the rest.

I was astonished. I looked at everyone, heart beating faster than ever.

"Looks like everyone agrees. Carl, do you accept?" he said. I smiled a little and said yes loudly. People immediately went into chatter as the other candidates walked off, frustrated. 

It felt like a dream. Jordan ran up and gave me a hug. After that, I saw a lot of people making their way towards me. Jordan stood at my side while I shook people's hands and talked, some people who stared at my eye a little too much as they did. I had a lot of questions and comments.

It seemed like a year until I saw Mike. He gave me a bear hug, lifting me off the floor. "Hell yeah!"

I laughed and we had a good talk. He asked if I was okay and how much my face hurt, then said I'd do well in this leadership position. 

"I don't know if this is inappropriate to ask, but would you want to move into Negan's place? It's the nicest place here," he said, kind of nervous. I looked at Jordan. It was the place where I almost died and Jordan almost got raped. It made me zone out thinking about what Jordan told me what felt like a year ago.

"I was raped," I remember her confessing to me. It made my heart thump harder just thinking about all the damage it would've cost her if it happened again.

"Uhh... Grimes?" Mike waved his hand up jokingly. I snapped out of it and chuckled.

"...Yeah, we'll move into there," I said, and Jordan seemed to agree. We excused ourselves to go to our house and pack up the few things that we had. Then, we went up to Negan's place.

Our place.

It was sad for me, because I really liked our small, green house. But I knew that the newer place would be better. We opened the doors and closed them, scanning the room. There were bloodstains on the floor and on the couch Jordan sat on. She dropped the things in her hands and reached her arms around my neck. I stood there and rubbed her back.

"It's okay. It's a nice place," I said. She nodded and picked up her stuff. I left the room to go to the bedroom. She and I rested on the bed. I nestled up to her and kissed her.

"We are going to be okay. No matter what we've been through," I said. She traced her thumb on my hand. 

"...You know what? We've been through every thing that would make the kids our age before pass out. We are some tough motherfuckers," she laughed. I nodded.

"You're right," I said. "...we are fucking unstoppable. Tell me, did you think we'd be here? Even, just six months ago, would you ever imagine us here?"

"Never in a billion years," she said.

"Being married? Never. Being pregnant? Thought I would die before I'd be pregnant. Being married to the the father of my baby who is the leader of a massive group of people? Hell no," she smiled. "but I wouldn't trade this life for anything since you're in it."

I kissed her and ran my fingers through her hair.

I wondered what life was going to give us next.