Protect Me Carl

15th

Carl and I chose the same bunk, obviously. Beth was right next to us, Hershel, Maggie and her altogether. Maggie gave up her bed fir Beth and she sleeps on the floor, because she knew that Beth was traumatized and Hershel being of his age needed a I bed, so she took one for the team. When we got into our bunk, I could barely move. I couldn't get up to the top bunk so I took the bottom and Carl took the top. I got into the bed. Carl was about to go into his.

"Stay. Just for a little while. please." I said to him. I just felt so vulnerable, and vulnerable gets you killed. I needed him to protect me. So he lay there, right next to me, arms wrapped around my waste. He curved his head over and planted a kiss on my lips.

"I love you. I'm here. every thing's gonna be ok." He whispered into my ear. All I could think about was Amy. I couldn't believe she was gone. I tried so hard to keep her alive. I needed her. but apparently she needed me, too. But the difference between us is I wasn't there for her. If I had known I would have been, but I still wasn't. I hope that in her afterlife she knows how much I cared for her.

I woke up and saw Carl still lying next to me, wide awake. I looked to him.

"Please tell me it was a dream."

" I just watched you all night. I couldn't let you be here alone. You were shaking and crying the whole time" We stared at each other. I could tell that he was nervous.

"Thank you." And with that, we started making out.

"OH MY GOD!" We heard Beth exclaim. She was standing in the doorway. "So I come and try to be nice to wish Carl a happy fifteenth birthday, And here you are making out!" We looked at her smiling. "Unbelievable!" She laughed. We sat up so that she could also take a seat.

"OH! THAT'S RIGHT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" I gave him another hug. " I'm so sorry I didn't remember it earlier!"

" Its okay Thea, You had a rough night yesterday." He kissed me on my forehead. " I'm gonna get to work." and off he went.

"Ouch." Said Beth.

"What?"

"You forgot his birthday?"

"See, that's where you're wrong."

"Then what was that all about?"

"I needed to get him away so that I could go get him a gift. and you're gonna come with me. I had a gift, but the walkers last night..."

"I understand." She put a hand on my shoulder. "Shall we be going then?" She stood up.

"We have to say it's a run." We left the tiny cell space and went to the cafeteria, where everyone was.

" Beth and I are going out on a run. We should be back in maybe... half an hour."

" I should go with you, just for extra protection." Carl suggested.

" No, we'll be fine." Carl looked at me with worried eyes. "Stop worrying Carl! Enjoy your birthday, we'll be back before you know it." And with that, Beth and I were off.

" so where should we go?"

" I noticed a video game store on the way to the prison. it also had TVs."

" What'll that do? There isn't no power."

" I'll explain when we arrive." after maybe five minutes, we were there. We walked in. there were a few walkers, but we took them out easily."

" Beth, grab the biggest television you can carry." I went to browse the video games. All I saw was "Grand Theft Auto". I grabbed it and went back to Beth. she was lugging a flat screen.

"Come behind the counter, Beth. there are boxes." She came with me and boxed the tv. I put the game in a bag.

"He's gonna think you're a sucky girlfriend, getting him stuff he can't use."

"But he can use it." I pulled my electro out of my pocket. "this here is good for 48 hours of power. I didn't know when to use it, though, because I didn't want to waste it. I found it on the floor under a check out counter while on a run. I think he'll enjoy this. help me find the right gaming system."

"Okay then. what does the game say?"

"X-box." we looked through the isles.

"Found it!" I heard Beth call. she picked it off the shelf and put that into a box.

"Ok. now, how do we carry this back?" I asked.

"Pile everything onto the tv, then we each grab a side." she recommended. this is what we did. we went through the back of the prison in order not to be seen. had to kill a couple of walkers, but that's okay. "bring it into my room. carl won't go in there."

Once we had gotten back to the main area, carl approached me.

"Where the hell were you! that was an hour!"

"Well come with me and i'll show you." I brought him to beth's room. Lori followed. Carl saw the bag and boxes. "first, you need this." I showed him the electro. "this has enough power for two days." he opened the tv, then the X-box with the controllers, then the game. his face lit up.

"Thank you! thank you so much Thee! i thought I lost gaming forever! Thank you! Oh my god! THANK YOU!"

"You're welcome! let's hook it up!" We got the whole system up and running. for two days I watched him play, and for the first time in a long time I was happy for two days straight.

Then came my birthday a month later. Carl gave me clothes, food, and jewelry! all of this stuff you can't just find, everything has been completely looted! it must have been so hard to get. he got me a pair of sweatpants, jeans, and shorts, two new t-shirts and a sweater. and of coarse a new pair of sneakers. even though I told him he shouldn't he insisted that I ate all of his food that day, so that's what I did. and finally he bought me a necklace with a diamond in the shape of a heart and bangle bracelets (he must of found a Kay). I was the happiest person on earth. Fifteen. a new beginning. 13 and 14 you still feel like two kids just going on little dates. but fifteen, we're a man and woman in love.