The Next World

Chapter 18

I got home and got started on spaghetti. We needed a break from Carol's casseroles. Carl came in just at the right moment.

"Hey. You're just in time for dinner. Sit down and I'll serve you some," I said grabbing a plate.

He took a seat but was silent.

"You okay, bud?" I asked.

"Yeah. I just...I'm kind of starving," he replied.

"Well what did you do today?" I asked pouring the sauce over the pasta and placing it in front of him.

"Not much. Helped out where I could. Went on watch for a while," he said.

"Well that does tend to work up an appetite. Eat up. Get your strength back," I said.

"Thanks, Amelia," he said taking his fork and twirling the noodles around it.

I sat down and enjoyed some with him. After dinner, I started cleaning up the plates he and I had left behind. I saved the rest of the spaghetti for the rest of our family when they got back.

"Hey, I'm gonna go and sit on the porch with Judith for a bit. I'll be back later," Carl said when he came downstairs holding her in his arms.

"All right. I'll join you when I finish these dishes," I said.

"Okay," he called back.

I heard the front door open and close. Right when I was just about finished cleaning up, I could hear Carl and Michonne shouting outside. I went ahead and quickly dried up then headed for the porch.

"Then why?" Michonne asked when I stepped out.

"What's going on?" I asked closing the door.

"Carl went outside the walls," Michonne said.

"What?" I asked turning to look at him.

"It was nothing," he said looking at me.

"I thought I had talked to you about going outside the walls," I said sternly.

"I needed to be out there. Just for a little while and then..." he trailed off.

"And then what?" I asked.

"I saw Deanna. Michonne and Spencer were out there and so I led her to them," he said.

"Wait. You led Deanna to them? Why?" I asked.

"Because it should be someone who loved her, someone who's family and I...I'd do it for you. I'd do it for both of you. I would," he said.

I understood. He led Deanna to Spencer and Michonne so that Spencer could be the one to kill her. My mind went to when Carl had to do that for Lori. Although I wasn't there, I understood the meaning behind what he was saying now.

"Come here," Michonne whispered.

Carl went ahead and moved forward and Michonne gave him a hug.

"Me too," she said.

They parted and he looked at me.

"You lied to me," I said sternly.

"I didn't want to worry you," he said.

"I'll always worry about you. But being inside these walls, I've learned to ease up. And I know I really should. You had to be out there, I get it," I said.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Get over here," I said opening my arms for him.

"Next time, just tell me the truth okay? Please? There is no need to keep anything from me. Ever. I want you to be able to talk to me," I said.

"And me if you can't talk to Amelia. Just know that we are here for you, Carl. We aren't going anywhere," Michonne said.

"I will. I'm sorry for freaking you guys out. Not what I had intended," he said.

"You're forgiven. Now, go on and put Judith to bed. You should get some rest too," I said.

He nodded and went back inside.

"So, Spencer went out to find Deanna and you followed him?" I asked Michonne resting my arms on the railing.

"Yeah. I liked Deanna a lot. So when her son goes off by himself, of course I was curious as to why," she replied.

"I wonder how she made it out there. Maybe we had missed her back when we were taking out all the other walkers?" I asked.

"I don't know. Maybe she had turned long before night fell. Then she made it outside before we could," she answered.

"I'm sorry. It sucks because she seemed to be coming back around," I said.

"Yeah," she said then got quiet.

"We gotta keep this place going. Not only for her but for us too," I said wanting to lighten up the mood.

"So we'll do everything we can to make sure we do just that," she said.

"Damn straight," I said.

She smiled then nodded.

"Hey so uh, there's some spaghetti left over. In case you're hungry which I'm sure you are," I said.

"Thanks, Amelia. You coming in?" she said.

"I'll be there in a bit," I said.

She patted my shoulder then went inside. I went and sat on the chair to my left. I looked up at the sky. The stars were shining brilliantly. The whole time since we've been here, I never once stopped to look up at the stars. It was peaceful, made me feel at ease. I curled up and continued looking up. My eyes suddenly became droopy. I tried my hardest to keep them open but to no avail.

"Amelia," someone whispered.

They gently shook me. I jumped up.

"What?" I whispered.

"Hey. It's me," Rick whispered back.

He had knelt down next to me.

"Hey. You're back. You haven't been here a long time have you?" I said still a little groggy.

"No. We just got back a few minutes ago," he said.

I hugged him.

"Everything go okay?" I asked when we parted.

"At first, yeah. Daryl's watching some guy we found," he said.

"You found a guy?" I asked.

"Yeah. We had a truck full of supplies too but unfortunately, it's all at the bottom of a lake," he replied.

"Wow. You guys had one hell of a day," I said.

"Yeah. What are you doing out here?" he asked.

"I must have dozed off I was looking up at the night sky and well, my eyes had different plans," I said rubbing them.

I stood up and stretched. He then looked up at the sky.

"They are shining brightly tonight," he said.

"Yeah. They are," I said.

I looked over at him and he looked exhausted.

"You should go inside and rest. You look like shit," I said.

He stood up.

"Thanks. Always good to be reminded of what shit looks like. I probably should though huh?" he said rubbing his neck.

"Wow. Look whose making jokes now," I retorted.

"You're mom wasn't the only one who could make jokes," he said.

"But she did it so much better," I said.

"Yeah. She did," he said chuckling.

"You should turn in. I'll go and check on Daryl," I said.

"He's guarding the spare room," he said.

"All right. Go inside and rest. Glad to have you back," I said hugging him once more.

He kissed my forehead before I took off down the street.