Alone Together - Carl Grimes

Forget

          Annalise wakes up the next morning feeling slightly guilty about the day before. Yet she still can wrap her head around Carl's curiosity with Enid. The group had been at Alexandria for less than a month, yet here he was, risking his life to follow a girl he barely knew.  She shook the thought out her head and headed towards the bathroom. The hot shower cleared her head, but it also reminded her of what Rick had said that day in the church. 

" It only takes one second, one second and it's over" 

She walks out the shower thinking about how unpredictable this world has become and even the walls of Alexandria might one day come down with a crash. She would never forgive herself if Carl died and she was holding a pointless grudge over him.

It didn't take long for Annalise to find Carl, as he was sitting on the porch steps with Judith in his lap. She sat next to the boy and Judith reached her arms out towards the girl, making Annalise smile as she grabbed her.

" You've always been so good with her. "  Carl says looking down at the two girls. Annalise doesn't say anything back. " I'm sorry about yesterday. "  Annalise blurts out, not even bothering to look at the boy next to her.  " You were worried, it's fine. It was a dumb thing to do.  "  Carl reassures. Carl sometimes feels like he knows the girl better than himself, this being one of those times.  He knows sometimes emotions make the girl anxious, so he knows changing the subject will ease the girl's nerves. 

" You're going to the party tonight right? "  Carl asks, hoping that she is. Annalise nods her head thinking back to yesterday when Ron had told her about the event. " Yeah, Ron told me about it yesterday. I'm hoping if I'm on my best behavior I can convince my dad to take me on a run. "  She said, slightly joking on the last phrase, knowing Glenn would never let her out on a run this soon. She remembered the relief that washed over her when Rick never brought up the fact that he had found her and Carl outside the walls to them.

" Since when do you talk to Ron? "  He questioned, playing the question off as a joke as he let out a small laugh. " And you know no matter how good you act, Glenn won't let you out theses walls for a while. "  He adds, knocking his shoulder lightly into Annalise's. The girl laughs and nods her head, knowing that Carl is right. " I guess that means I can let all hell break loose at this party, right? "  Annalise finally looks up at Carl, being met with his eyes already looking at her. They look at each other for a while, no one saying anything. " Right. "  A smile forms of his face once the words leave his mouth. Their eye contact breaks as Judith begins giggling on Annalise's lap.

The sound of boots hitting the ground make Annalise and Carl look up from baby Judith. Both being surprised when they see Ron starring back at them. Annalise's eyes widened as she remembered that Ron had wanted to hang out with her sometime soon, she just didn't anticipate soon to come so fast. " Hey, Ron. "  Carl said before Annalise could get a word out. 

He looked at the boy, looking uncomfortable as the silence got awkward with each passing second. " Hi. "  He said, voice sounding timid. " I just wanted to see if you were free to hang out, Mikey and Enid were both kinda busy, but I see you're busy. "  He adds shoving his hands in his pockets. Annalise realizes that he wasn't talking to the two of them, he was only talking to her.  

The girl looks down at Judith before looking back up at the boy. " I just realized my dad needed me to do something. "  Carl lied, picking up Judith and standing up. Annalise stood up with him and gave him a confused look. " You sure? "  The girl questioned, hoping he would tell her the truth. He nodded his head a sent the girl a reassuring smile, knowing she felt bad. " I'll see you two at the party. "  Carl says as Annalise makes her way down to Ron