Just a Dream

Trust

"Ava, go upstairs and look in the rooms. I think we are clear on the walkers," Michonne said.

I didn't want her to go alone. "I'll go too. Just in case."

"No. I got it Carl. I'll scream if I need help." Ava hugged me then walked up the stairs.

I followed Michonne into the kitchen. "Did you really mean what you said? Back at the house. About Judith."

"I think so." I really don't know what I think these days.

"What do you mean then?" she asked.

"I mean," I paused. "I guess I had no hope with her being alive." I turned around to look at the stairs. "But then I found Ava, so maybe I should have hope."

Michonne looked at me. "Hershel always said to have faith."

I suddenly felt a lump in my throat. I haven't thought of Hershel since the attack. "He was an amazing guy. I don't think I could've had as much faith as he had." There was a silence for the rest of our search.

As we were about to finish the downstairs, someone touched my shoulder. Thinking it was a walker, I quickly turned around and smacked whoever it was. It was Ava. "Oh my God, Ava! I'm sorry! I didn't mean too."

She started laughing. "It's fine. Trust me, I would've done the same thing."

Her cheek was very red. "Oh my God, Ava. I really slapped you hard. I feel really bad."

She gave me a small grin. "Maybe a little kiss would make it feel better."

"On the cheek," Michonne cut in.

"If you think it will help." I leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. It felt amazing, but the first was still the best. I leaned back and looked her in the eyes. Ava then leaned forward and kissed me on the lips.

She quickly shot back. "Sorry, I just." She looked at Michonne.

Michonne smiled back. "As long as you two aren't kissing twenty four- seven, I'm fine with it." She looked at me. "And I won't tell your dad."

"Thanks. He'd flip out." I felt really relieved.

We grabbed our stuff and walked back to the house. "Michonne," Ava started saying. "You are awesome. I think you are the funniest person I've met during this whole thing."

Michonne smiled. "Well, I was good with toddlers, but not exactly teens."

"What do you mean by toddlers?" I asked.

We paused in the middle of the street, in front of our house, "I had a three-year-old son. He thought I was very funny."

"I'm sorry," Ava replied. "Have you told anyone else?"

Michonne looked at her in the eyes. "Only you two. You are the only two people I really feel I can tell these things." She laughed a little. "I can tell this stuff to two teenagers."

Ava hugged her. "You can trust us, that's why. It's hard to find people you can trust."

"Quiet frankly, I wouldn't really trust my dad. He can sometimes go a little crazy." I looked at the house, making sure he wasn't listening. "What was his name?" I asked. I had a million questions.

She tightly shut her eyes and tilted her head down. "His name was Andre Anthony."

Ava smiled. "I love it. I'm sure he was a good kid."

Michonne giggled. "He was a hand full, like someone else I know." She tilted her head towards me.

Ava laughed. "I think he was better than Carl."

"Hey! I can hear you!" I said to them.

Ava was still laughing. "Just kidding, babe." I crossed my arms. "Babe, I'm seriously kidding." She leaned in and kissed my cheek.

Michonne giggled. "C'mon you two, let's go find the others. It's getting dark." I grabbed Ava's hand and we walked back to the house.