Weak//c.g ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Three

MEADOW FLETCHER'S POV
September 24, 2017
5:09 AM

EVERYONE sat at the kitchen table, some people standing. Everyone still giving Rick, Michonne, Carl, and I weird looks. I shifted in my chair, clearing my throat, I looked at Jesus. "So, how'd you get out?" Rick asked Jesus, "One guard can't cover two exits or third floor windows. Knot untie and locks get picked. Entropy comes from order, right?" Jesus asked. "Right." Daryl said, leaning up against the wall.

Jesus leaned back in the chair, "I checked out your arsenal. I haven't seen anything like that in a long time. You're well equipped, but your provisions are low. Very low for the amount of people you have. Fifty-four?" "More than that." I crossed my arms.

"Well, I appreciate the cookie. My compliments to the chef." Jesus said, pushing the plate away from him, "She ain't here." Daryl spat, Jesus looked at him, "Look, we got off to a bad start. But we're on the same side- the living side. You, Rick, and Meadow had every reason to leave me out there, but you didn't. I'm from a place that's a lot like this one. Part of my job is searching out other settlements to trade with. I took your truck because my community needs things, and the three of you looked like trouble." I looked down at the table. "I was wrong. You're good people and this is a good place. I think our communities may be in a position to help each other."

"Do you have food?" Glenn asked. Jesus nodded his head, "We started to raise livestock. We scavenge, we grow. Everything from tomatoes to sorghum." "Tell us why we should believe you." Rick sighed, looking at Jesus,  "I'll show you. If we take a car we could get to my community in a day, maybe less, and you can all see for yourselves who we are and what we have to offer."

"Wait, you're looking for more settlements?" Maggie asked, "You mean you're already trading with other groups?"

Jesus smiled, "Your world's about to get a whole lot bigger."

I helped pack the RV, I wasn't going because I don't think I could handle sitting in an RV with Rick, especially Abraham, after last night. I kept my distance from certain people. I couldn't think of anything to say if they asked why I was there last night. Do I lie? Do I tell the half-truth? Do I tell the whole truth? 

Someone touched my shoulder, I turned around, it was Maggie. She grinned at me, I knew what she was about to say. "Just friends, huh?" My face turned red, I looked around making sure no one was near, "Just friends who shared three intimate moments." Her eyes widened, "What do you mean by intimate?" My face got darker, "Not that. Only kissing." I muttered. It was like talking to an older sister. "Except last night, if I didn't hear Jesus, it would've been that." Maggie let out a sigh, I continued, "I can't look anyone in the face after that. I'm scared Rick will think differently and I'm scared of what everyone else thinks. He was reading comics and I was reading a book, that's what happened." Maggie swallowed, nodding, "You just, stay safe, okay?" I nodded, she pulled me into a hug, "You too, Maggie." "We'll talk more when I get back, okay?" I nodded, "Okay," I whispered.

We let go of eachother, she entered the RV. Carl looked at me and I looked back at him. I know that we needed to talk but I wasn't ready for it. I broke our eye contact, looking directly at the ground, I began walking into the direction of my house. I listened as the RV engine roared, they were gone.

I closed the front door behind me, my eyes closing instantly, I let out a shaky sigh, walking away from the door and into the kitchen, I turned the sink on, splashing my face with the cold water. I nodded my head. The front door opened and closed, Carl emerged into the doorway leading into the kitchen, he leaned on the white frame. I stood up straight, I couldn't look him in the eye. "We don't have to talk about last night, but we should." He spoke up. I stayed silent, nodding my head.

"We can just pretend it didn't happen, we were reading comics and eating those weird pretzel bites I love so much." He let out a breathless laugh, I found myself gazing at him, "Carl-" "No, it's fine. I understand," He took a deep breath, "I mean, I wouldn't wanna kiss a kid with a messed up face either." My eyebrows knitted together, "No, that's not it and you know it. We've kissed before, it's just something that happens with us." "Not like that."

"What are we doing, Carl?" I asked, "I mean what are we doing?" "I don't know." He answered honestly, "Being kids, I guess?" It sounded more like a question than a statement. I nodded, looking back at the sink, "I guess." "We are just friends who read comics together and have talks about stuff that's bugging them and we annoy each other, but that's okay." My heart fell, just friends.

"Just friends."