Found Book One

Stop

I go to Carl's house after school. I knock on the door and Carl answers, "Hello beautiful," he says as he pulls me into the house. "I have homework," I say as I walk into the living room. 

Carl nods and sits down on the couch, he pulls my feet into his lap as I do my work. "You know, I'm so happy that I get to be dumb," he says. "You actually have to know about things and stuff," Carl says. 

"Yeah well that's a perk of being a doctor," I say. "But I have to finish my finals and that means I have to study because for everyone else they are next month. Rosie said she'd give me two extra but I refused," I mutter as I write down something from the book. 

"Well that is totally your own problem," Carl says sarcastically. We talk about our days and how they went before yelling from upstairs becomes loud enough for us to hear. 

I look at Carl, "Who's home?" I ask, "Rosita and Abraham," he tells me, "So it's probably just a lover's quarrel." I nod and turn back to my notes. I jump when something heavy thuds over. 

"Abraham! Please!" Rosita yells, Carl stands up and I follow, another bang and the crash of glass makes me dash out of the living room.

I run up the stairs and to the lavender colored door, I open it to find Rosita on the floor in front of a broken mirror. "What the hell!" I yell pushing Abraham out of the way to get to the woman, "Ro, are you okay?" I ask kneeling beside her.

She sits up and I pull her out of the broken glass, "Ro baby I'm so sorry. You know that isn't me," Abraham says. Rosita stands up and pushes Abraham's chest, he stumbles slightly. "Get out! I never want to see you again!" she screams.

The large man huffs and grabs a duffle bag, I sit her down on the bed and place my hands on her cheeks. 

I run my thumb over her busted lip, "Are you cut?" I ask she shakes her head. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up," I say pulling her into the ensuite bathroom.

"I'll see you in an hour," I say pushing Carl out of the room, he nods and leaves. 

I walk back into the bathroom and start up a hot bath, "Do you want me to go?" I ask she shakes her head. 

"Come on then," I say pushing her arms above her head, I lift her shirt over her head.

She pulls off her pants and climbs into the tub, "Was that the first time he's gotten physical with you," she sniffles and chokes back a sob. 

"N-no, it's not but it's the first time he's ever hit me," I nod rubbing her back, I bunch up her hair and pull it to the top of her head. 

I glance around the bathroom. My blood runs cold when I see a pregnancy test on the back of the toilet. 

"Ro," I say cautiously, she looks up at me. She already knows what I'm looking at. "Three months, I think," she says. 

"That's why he got so upset," she mumbles. I nod and take a deep breath, "Don't tell anyone," she whispers. "I won't," I say before I move to the door. 

"I'm gonna go make you some tea," I say shutting the door to the bathroom. I walk down the steps and into the kitchen to see Carl boiling water I step toward him. 

"You are the most thoughtful person I know," I say.

He smiles and turns to me, "You helped," he says. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close to me. 

"I think that we all brought one another back," I whisper before I kiss him. "That's why we're family," I say against his lips, "I'm gonna marry you someday," he mutters. I let out a giggle.

"Really?" I question, "Yeah. I am," he says against my neck. 

I lace my fingers in his hair as he trails his lips over my collar bone. "I love you, Carl," I mutter he pushes me lightly against the counter, a laugh tumbles from my lips.

"Did Abraham leave?" I ask he nods, "He stormed out with a bag, I think he went over to the gray house," Carl replies. 

"Well, I'm gonna go back up. Can you make the tea, I don't want her to be alone for too long," I say pecking his lips once more before walking away and back up the stairs.

Rosita smiles lightly when she sees me come back into the bedroom, I walk over to the glass on the floor and start picking up the larger shards. 

I hear a knock on the door, I open it slightly and take the cup Carl is holding out to me.

"Thank you," I say closing the door I blow on the warm herbal smelling water as I walk into the bathroom. 

I hand the cup to her, "You should go, I'll be fine," Ro says taking a sip of the tea, I nod and leave the room.

I sit back downstairs with Carl, "Do you think that the plan for the herd is going to work?" I ask. Carl nods, "It should, there's no reason that it wouldn't," he says. I lean my head against his shoulder.

"Hey guys," Michonne says walking into the house, "Hey 'Chonne," I say, she sits on the other side of Carl with a sigh. 

She slips off her jacket and leans back, "Rick went out with Daryl to scout out that quarry. We're leaving to set up walls tomorrow. You in Carl?" she asks. 

"I'm always in for building walls and rerouting walkers," Carl says with a smile, "I know you are," Michonne says with a smile. 

"Cars need collected and set along the route. We can't miss a second and we need all hands on deck," 'Chonne says. "Understood," Carl mutters. 

"If you two want to go do something else, I'll watch Judith," Michonne says.

Carl and I walk down the street, Rick and Morgan are talking, I spot Ron watching them.

"Hey," I say quietly, "How are you doing?" I question. Ron turns to me, "How do you think I'm doing?" he asks.

"My dad is dead," he says, my brows furrow, "Didn't he beat you?" I question.

"Because when my step mom started hitting me, then my mom. I hated her," I say. Ron shrugs, "It's none of your business," he says, "But I can help because I know what you're going through," I whisper.

"Yeah well I don't need your help or your pity," he says as he pushes past me. Carl takes a few steps forward, I grab his hand to stop him from doing anything.

"You're like a guard dog, you know that right?" I mutter. He laughs and presses a kiss to my shoulder.