Dont look back ON HOLD

Safe

( Carls POV )

" We're Leaving... We will be safe..." Kenz sighed. " When?" I asked."Soon" I hugged McKenzie. " You sure we'll be safe?" I gulped. " Yes." She groaned. " I trust you Hunts." I winked. "thanks Grimes" she giggled. She kissed my cheek and skipped away. I put down the crutches and started to walk around on my own. I stepped off of the porch and made my way to the pond.

I reached my hand into the pond. I formed my hands into a bowl and filled my hands with water. I splashed the water on my face. " I knew i'd find you back here" A manly voice snapped. It was my dad. "When are we leaving?" I croaked. "Soon, go pack some of the food that they're letting us keep." He demanded. I got up and ran to the house and straight to the kitchen.

I already saw Kenz packing a couple cans of beans. " Don't be fartin' up a storm, Hunts." I joked. She just smiled and kissed my cheek. I accidentally turned my head and we kissed. On the lips. McKenzie and I. I kissed her and closed my eyes. She kissed me too and then she stopped. "Carl. I don't think of you that way. And we have other things to worry 'bout. Like walkers and..., well I can't love someone right now. I'm just-well- no, I can't. But I hope we can still be besties!" she squealed out the end and interwined our fingers. She forced my hand with hers up so we could both see them. "I'm sorry. I started it. And yes, we still are besties. I love you Kenz. But not like that..." I pulled her into a gentle hug. "I love you too Grimes." "well we gotta get packing." I sighed. "Oh! I finished!" she exclaimed.

"Bye maam. Thanks for letting us stay here." My dad thanked one of the ladies that let us stay. I waved and started to walk away with my dad and Kenz. "Now where we going?" I simply questioned. "Nobody knows. I've seen nothin' but woods out here." Rick explained.

( McKenzies POV)

"what if we find more people. Good people." I was very nervous. "We won't. I know we won't." I grunted at Carls words. "You. You don't know. We could be lost forever. Still find people along the way. God knows what will happen." Rick was now angry. Carl started walking faster than us. "I'm sorry. I'm worried. I'll never find my daddy. He's the only one I got left. Is he okay? At camp, after I left, what happened. I just hope he's okay.." I cried slightly. "Baby girl. You're okay. Safe. Loved. By us. We won't let you get hurt. Don't worry about your daddy right now."

I caught up to Carl and nudged his shoulder. "What do you want?" he questioned with a bad tone. I glanced back at Rick. We met eyes and I quickly looked away. "I wann' know why you're so...grumpy" I said In a manly voice. "Go away." "I refuse to. You will not tell-" I started. A gunshot was heard in the distance. I looked around. Nobody. Rick put his fingers to his lips and made a whistling sound.

A rustling noise came from the bushes and Rick, Carl and I loaded our guns. We aimed at the bushes as a tall brown haired girl walked out. "Don't fire. I bring no harm. 's just me." she had a southern accent and a plain black scoped gun carried on a strap around her back. She carried a knife. "Im Rick. Who are you?"

"Ellie. I'm just lookin' for a shelter. You know of anything safe round here?" she asked.

"Yeah. You're standin' by it. Stay with us. You seem quite young"

"I'm 13. I can stay on my own. Just tell me if you know of anywhere safe."

"Stay with us. We can use a new person." Rick demanded.

"One day, one night. I leave at sunrise tomorrow. I'm not staying with you three."

"Stay for a while. We won't keep you forever. Just a couple days. Please?" I butted in.

"that's all. If I like it I'll stay. Three days. That or nothin'. " she fought.

"Deal" Rick Continued walking.

I studied Ellie's features. Green eyes, a round nose, small lips and small ears. She had her hair tied up and a small, colorful headband wrapped around her head. She had a grey t-shirt on and black shorts. I looked down at her light blue converse.

"I'm McKenzie." I greeted her.

"You know my name so why bother tellin' you..."

"Rude" I mumbled.

I walked away. What a great talk i thought to myself. Hint the sarcasm.

* * **

(Ellie's POV)

I walked around the big house and let my eyes wander around. "I call dibs on this room!" yelled Carl, from upstairs. "Hellllllll nahh. This is my room! There are posters of the Beatles. My favorite band! Get out!" McKenzie proved. I walked upstairs to see what was happening. I passed the room the two were fighting over. I walked into a gigantic room with a drape over a queen sized bed. Kenzie didn't see this one, for sure. I looked around the room. Blue and yellow walls, a walk in closet, the queen sized bed, a huge mirror and a whole shelve of books. My specialty, reading. I walked into the closet and saw a selection of clothes. A few summer tank tops here and there, a lot of shorts and a lot of tee's.

I closed the door and sat on the bed. Blue sheets matched the walls and a white pillow that matched the carpet. Maybe I'll stay here. Just a few more days then I expected. Only if it means I get to stay in this house.

McKenzie got the room with the posters and Carl got a room with old video games, a tv, a window leading to the roof, and a separate room that held his bed. Rick chose a room with a nightstand, a king sized bed, tan walls and a wooden floor. I picked up an old copy of the first HARRY POTTER book. I opened the pages and began my fantasized journey to Hogwarts.

I read to page 224 and folded the corner of the page in then closed the book and put it down. I walked to the door. I twisted the knob clockwise and opened the creaky door. I made my way down the stairs and into the main room. The couch blocking the door was empty. Where is everybody? "Hello?" I asked into the humid air. "yeah?" A voice echoed through the kitchen. I walked in and saw Carl reaching for a huge can of pudding. "Looks yummy. Can we share?" I pleaded. "It's 12 pounds...sure. Come with me to my room. But first, grab two spoons." he smirked while walking towards the stairs. I followed behind with two spoons. Big spoons.

When we got onto the roof I let my feet dangle off the edge. "So...Why were you so grumpy when we first met?" Carl took a huge spoonful of pudding and shoved it into his mouth. I stared at the Walkers roaming the street and gulped. "I-I-I lost my brother, Travis, to a-a walker. They got into the shed we were in. Not a smart move." tears brimmed my eyes. "Oh, sorry. I shouldn't have-" "it's fine. I've gotten over it. Well not fully. Almost fully over the fact that I watched him get ripped apart and eaten..." I was now facing Carl. He pulled me into a hug. I hugged back. We sat there in peace with his arm around my waist. "well. I forgot to tell you, Rick and Kenzie went to other houses. Lookin' for some supplies. Stuff like that." he informed.

I stayed with Carl in his room until there was a banging on the door. "Let's go see. Load your gun." Carl demanded. I picked up my gun from the floor and loaded it. We tip toed downstairs and looked through the peep hole. "Just Rick and Kenz." Said Carl. I moved the couch so the door could open. Once the two were in I place the couch in the same spot, in front of the door. "What were you guys up to?" Rick cleared his throat. "Just, y'know," I started. "eating the whole thing of a 12 pound can of pudding." I rushed my words. "The whole thing?" Rick questioned. "Yes." Carl scratched his head.

(Carls POV)

It was getting late. Rick had made us un-molded bread with stale Cheetos.

"Thanks" I shrugged when I snatched my plate off of the counter. I stared at my plate. The bread smelled like crap and the Cheetos were hard as a rock. I set the wooden plate on the floor. I sat down next to it and McKenzie joined me.

"This all tastes disgusting." she whispered.

I widened my eyes and nodded my head in agreement. I wonder where Ellie is. Maybe Kenz will know. "Hey, have you seen Ellie?