Something To Fight For

Embarrasing

After I finished telling Carl everything that happened before I found them, he gave me a hug. He gave me the biggest hug anyone had ever given me. I was still having trouble with people touching me so I flinched. He noticed and I guess he understood. Me and Carl hung out the rest of that day and sat together at dinner that night. When ten o'clock came around, Rick said that everyone should head to their cells.

"What do you think?" Carl asked when we reached our cell. I looked up at him as he got into the bottom bunk. I was grabbing some clothes from this bag that Beth had given me.

"Think of what?" I replied to him not knowing exactly what he was asking me. He put his hands behind his head and began to relax.

"The prison. All of us." I smiled and looked at Carl.

"I think I'm going to like it here. Everyone seems real nice," he chuckled and then closed his eyes. I went and changed in a place more private then walked back in our cell. I walked to get on the top bunk and tried to fall asleep. The last thing I heard before I dozed off was Carl telling me a sweet voice,"Good night, Lucy." I went to sleep with a smile on my face that night because of Carl.

When I woke up, I looked at the prison wall beside me. How blank and utterly regular this wall was. Yet how it was already starting to become a home to me. I laid there for a second before making any other initiative to get out of bed, wondering what time it was. I climbed down the ladder and went to put on my shoes that I had laid down in a corner of our cell. As I sat down on a bucket up against the wall, I looked at Carl's bunk to see if he was still asleep. He was. He looked so peaceful. His cheeks were slightly flushed and his hair was all in his face. I could have honestly stared at him forever. I looked down to tie my other shoe string. I wondered what he was dreaming about. Was it about life before? Finding a cure? Or something totally different? I looked up at him to see if I could try and decide which one it was, but when I looked up, I saw him staring at me.

"What," he said with a small smile on his face. He still looked the same as before. Everything about him was captivating. His hair was still in his face and his cheeks still rosy. He turned on his side; I guessed so he could get a better look at me. I shook my head. I could not think of someone like this during the apocalypse. Especially when I had other things to worry about.

"Whatcha thinking about, Lucy?" He asked when I didn't answer him. I looked at him again and thought about what to say. I obviously couldn't tell him that I had just been thinking about how beautiful he looked. That would be silly. I didn't even know him.

"Nothing," I said, nervously. He chuckled and rolled back over on his back.

"Okay, weirdo," he said while laughing. I got up, shaking my head at his silliness. I guess when you were behind concrete walls, you could sometimes forget about what was going on around you. I wondered if I could ever forget. If I ever would. I walked out down the hall and down the stairs to where everyone was.

"Mornin," Rick said from where he sat. He was sitting beside the same guy who carried around a crossbow. I waved to him in acknowledgment and sat down at a table by myself. I had to admit it felt kind of weird being there. I could feel everyone staring at me.

I sat alone maybe five minutes before Beth carrying a sleeping Judith came and sat down beside me.

"Hey," Beth said smiling at me while bouncing Judith. I smiled back at her and nodded.

"How was your first night here?" She pressed. I shrugged.

"It was good," I replied. She continued smiling. How were these people so happy?

"Do you like rooming with Carl?" She pressed. I looked at her and smiled slightly.

"I'll take that as a yes," she said laughing. I felt my face get red. That just made her laugh more. And something even more embarrassing? Carl came down the stairs and sat down right beside me. I looked to Beth and pleaded with my eyes not to say anything that would embarrass me further. She chuckled, I think getting the message. Or at least I hoped that's why.

"What are y'all talking about?" Carl said, trying to add himself to me and Beth's conversation. I looked to Beth and she giggled before answering.

"Nothing much. Just boring girl stuff," Beth said, plainly. He looked away then looked to me and nodded. I was so thankful that Beth hadn't embarrassed me like I thought she would have. Except maybe I spoke to soon. Beth started to talk again which made me jump because of how nervous I was.

"Also, Lucy had mentioned something about how much fun it was rooming with you last night," she continued giggling ferociously. My face was a deep tomato red I was sure. I covered my face with my hands and dropped my head to the table. I was so embarrassed that there were no words. Carl didn't say anything that I could hear but, then again, I probably wouldn't be able to hear him if he did say anything due to Beth's superfluous laughing. I felt like I might die. I felt an arm nudge me on Carl's side. I slowly raised my head and look at him.

"You did?" He asked. I thought he might be teasing me but when he asked me that, he wasn't laughing or anything. He was completely serious. And I appreciated him for that. I decided that I should answer truthfully. Even though I hadn't told Beth for sure that I actually had, she had been right when she guessed that I had liked it.

"Yes I did," I said quickly and quietly. He smiled at me and nodded.

"Good. I'm glad." We were all quiet for a few moments before Rick called Carl over to his table. He told me that we'd talk later. I felt butterflies. Seriously this was getting ridiculous. I just couldn't understand how he had this effect on me. I didn't even know him for cripes sake. I sat there with Beth the rest of the time thinking about what would happen next time me an Carl talked, feeling like a real teenager. I definitely think I could like it here.