Judith Grimes , a love story

Lil Ass Kicker

I stumble along the makeshift road of Safe Island, with Anna Smith , the only girl around my age here , holding her up as she's too drunk to get home herself. Luckily she stay's with Mary and David who live beside us, so I can sneak her in easily. Sam's dad made some intense hooch , stronger than before, so everyone's a bit tispsier than usual. Hopefully none of the adults notice, the only one who's suspicious is Daryl , and he doesn't care.

Attempting to stop Anna from singing songs I have no idea how she knows so well, I speed up the pace and shush her , praying my dad had a long day and is sleeping like a log. That one time Sam , Anna, Joey , Paul and I snuck out attempting to raid Docs stash of pot, the mans far too drunk to wake up , let alone care, Dad was up and yelling at us all for what felt like hours , I hadn't even gotten my two feet out of the window yet, he didn't even know we were planning on stealing and getting stoned.

As we approach her cottage I check my surroundings. No lights are on in any houses so I think it's safe. I just hope Anna's left her window open, and Mary and David haven't noticed . They may not be her parents but my dads got a strict rule on taking responsibility when you foster an orphan. Peeping in her room I confirm it's empty. Lucky thing has no annoying little sister to share with, bet she didn't have to give up her privacy when her little brother was born either. Lucky thing. She's singing a song I recognise now, pocket full of sunshine I think it is, Michonne sang it for Gracie when she got nightmares.

Placing Anna down on the ground and shushing her once more, I open up the window , then pick up my drunk friend again, wobbling a little myself. God I hope nobody's awake at home. I may have been allowed to go " Play cards " at my friend Sam's house , but I think that story will be oh so difficult to tell if i smell like hooch and can't walk straight.

Once i'm sure Anna has stopped singing I climb out of her window and close it carefully, then approach my own house. There's no need to use the window, I don't have to lie about when I'll be home like Anna, who's stayed out longer than anticipated many times, so the front door is fine with Rick and Michonne. I stumble up the porch steps and open the front door, nobody feels the need to lock it , I mean the place is called Safe Island . I giggle to myself and stumble towards the stairs, not even noticing Rick sitting in the corner, a now sleeping Ben in his arms. My foot doesn't even hit the first step when he say's " You said you'd be home a little after sundown."

I wince at the sound of his voice, that is definitely his angry voice. I turn to look at him , giving him my best I swear i'm not drunk look, " Sorry Dad, we just got caught up in the game, we didn't even notice how dark it was , It's a basement you know " I said , giggling to myself again. I attempt to walk towards him , but stumble a little then decide that i'm better off further away.

Dad decides that i'm not better off further away , and gets up , still cradling my little brother. " Are you drunk ?" he asks , tilting his head in that oh so Rick way. I don't need to answer as he gets closer , smelling my hooch stained shirt and pulling a face . The face swiftly turns to anger , and he grits his teeth. " I expected better from you Judith, your only sixteen for god's sake. In times like this you cant be stupid and foolish, you'll be considered an adult soon, once you start working , but as long as you're living under my roof, hell , my island you will behave as you should. Wait until you're 21 at least. If this wasn't our lives, if none of this had ever happened I'd still be a sheriff , and you'd be facing huge consequences that - " . I didn't let him finish , muttering under my breath " If none of this ever happened I wouldn't exist , definitely not in a world where you and mom are together that's for sure . " . He gave me his stare that made me feel guilty as hell , but I didn't back down. If I had to act like an adult and work like an adult, but still not be given the respect and freedom of an adult , then why the hell should I give him any respect.

He looked down at Ben for a minute , then looked up at me again, his grey blue eyes meeting my piercing blue." You know what Judith ? Your right , before you were born my best friend Shane took care of your mom , thinking I was dead. They ended up getting together, which I was never spiteful about, they were tough times. Anyway your mom found out she was pregnant only a couple weeks after I arrived back , then delivered maybe 5 months later. I couldn't be your father , biologically .I hadn't told you yet because I was waiting until you'd learned some more about your mom , I was gonna yesterday after the prison but you just seemed so happy after you'd seen where you were born , I couldn't ruin that moment . Anyway it doesn't change a thing, I love you exactly how you are, you're a constant reminder of the woman that I fell in love with and married before all this. Lori considered you my child all along, not Shane's . You aren't one bit like him Judith. Not one bit at all."

All I could do was look up at him in shock. So he definitely isn't my dad . There isn't a chance , not at all. How could he lie to me all this time? I tried to ask , but just , couldn't. So I did what I do best , act like I don't care.

" Yeah Rick , you must be right . I'm not a bit like him . The person who gave me half of my DNA was nothing like me . I guess I'll have to believe you Rick " I said , placing my hands on my hips , " It's not like I'll ever know him , you killed him ."
With that , I kiss baby Ben goodnight , give dad a menacing look and strut upstairs, backpack full of hooch swinging in my hand .

Thankkssss to anyone who read and voted ! I realise that a lot of Wattpad readers are American and may have an issue with the very young drinking and I agree ! But in all fairness, they're living in an apocalypse! I think it's fair that they live a little . It's also not that strange in my head for 16 year olds to be drinking ( Some of Judith's friends will be older than her actually , some a bit younger maybe ) but I'm Irish , the legal age to buy alcohol in Ireland is 18 , and you can drink on a private premises once you're 16 so my views are a little different. Also my spelling might be different, words like realise and centre. Maybe even a few words like zucchini / eggplant 🍆, we call that aubergine :) Anyway hope you like the chapter, Judith got a bit sassy here and I'm afraid it's not well written but I'm doing my best ! Lots of love xx