𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 ✔️- 𝑐. 𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠

12: Gun Training

Rick's P.O.V.

Hershel said we could hold gun training for anyone who wanted to participate. I needed to talk to Carl and Glenn about Elle. She kept staring at Carl. If looks could kill, that would be the one.

"You coming to gun training?" He asked her trying to get her to talk to him. She nodded and walked away rolling her eyes.

"Carl, come over here." I called him. He walked over to the tree I was standing under.

"Yeah, Dad?" He asked looking up at me.

"Tell me, and answer me honestly, did you really say those  things to Elle?" I asked him.

"What are you talking about?" He tried to play dumb.

"Carl. Did you say those things to Elle?" I asked again. He hung his head town as a yes. "Why? Why would you say those things?" I asked picking his chin up. 

"It's true. You're my dad, not hers." He claimed.

"I know that. She knows that. But she just recovered from a gunshot that was this close to killing her. She doesn't have her parents, and she saved my life. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have found you, or Mom." I explained to him. "She's currently mad at you, because you said that, over a hat. A hat, Carl. I could run to a costume store and get you one that looks just like that for 13 dollars." He continued to stare at the ground.

"We'll continue later." I said. We all drove over to where we were holding practice.

Elle's P.O.V. 

I was doing pretty good. I missed a few shots, but I was doing good.

"You're doing pretty well there." Rick told me.

"You think this is good? Give me a shotgun." I chuckled before hitting my target. Carl wasn't doing so good. He was sighing in frustration. I rolled my eyes.

"Aim a little to the left." I said. He was confused as to why I was talking to him. I refused to repeat myself, so he tried. He hit his target. 

After a few more minutes of shooting, Rick and Shane said we should be done. We drove back up to the house. I hopped out of the car and went inside hoping to find something to eat. 

"You wanna go hunting?" I heard a gruff voice ask. I turned to see Daryl. I nodded. I put on my purple flannel and grabbed a shotgun from the RV. We headed out into the woods.

-------

"Can I ask you something?" Daryl asked as we haven't found anything yet.

"Fire away." 

"That story Rick was talking about. When we were going in Atlanta. Can I hear it?" He asked. I chuckled and shrugged.

"Glenn made that joke because when we found Rick, I was wearing an orange jumpsuit. That group we ran into that took Glenn, said they remember me from the news. I knocked Merle on his ass by punching him, once. The truth is, I was arrested before all this. About 1 month. I nearly beat a kid to death on the football field at my school." I explained.

"Why'd you do that?"

"He was picking on my friend and I told him to stop or else. He decided to push it, I warned him. He made it worse by trying to fight back. When Shane cuffed me, kid started blubbering like a baby. A year older than me too." I chuckled.

"Shane arrested you?" He asked.

"Yup. Saw him at camp after I was done puking. Don't ever get in a car with Glenn driving." I warned. He chuckled. I heard a snap, like a twig, and heard Daryl fire his crossbow. He picked up a squirrel. 

"Nice. I gotta learn how to use that." I smiled.

"Another time." He said. 

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After a while, we only managed about 12 squirrels and I caught 2 rabbits.

Rick's P.O.V. 

"Glenn, we need to talk." I called him over. He had an expression on his face that said he was worried. 

"W-what is it?" He stuttered.

"Have you talked to Elle today?" I asked. He shook his head. "Well her and Carl got in a little argument and Carl said some things he shouldn't have."

"What were they arguing about? What did he say?" He asked.

"I gave Elle my hat, to keep. Carl made a big deal about how I should have given the hat to him instead of her, because I'm his dad."

"They argued over a hat?" He chuckled. "That all?" 

"No. She gave him the hat, but I had a conversation with her as to why." I started. "She said she liked feeling like the good guy. She always questioned what she did after her incident, wondering if it made her better or worse. She then said she felt like someone actually cared to make her better." I finished.

"What about her parents? She never said anything about them treating her or her brothers poorly." 

"She says her parents were always busy working, so most of the time it was just her and her brothers." I said looking around. "Everyday shes reminded that she doesn't have her family. Her words. Just make sure to keep any eye on her, and she doesn't kill my son." I chuckled. Glenn nodded. He started to walk away with the same worried look he approached me with. I decided to leave it. 

Elle's P.O.V.

Gun training was fun. It was good to get my hands on a weapon again. I was still reading as Glenn approached me. I looked up from my book to meet his eyes. His face had a worried expression on it.

"What?" I asked breaking the silence.

"Rick told me." He said emotionless. I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

"You two can never just mind your own business, you know that?" I asked. I left the room, frustrated. I swear, if someone tries to talk to me right now, I might just punch them. As if right on cue, little sheriff wannabe comes up to me.

"What now? You wanna tell me how a specific pebble on the ground is yours too?" I asked throwing my arms in the air.

"I wanted to say sorry." He corrected. Why? 

"Cool. I accept your apology. Bye." I tried storming off, but was stopped by Carl grabbing my arm. I glared at him as a signal to let go of my arm before I cut his off. He dropped my arm. "What?"

"I mean it. I guess I was just frustrated that my dad wasn't paying attention to me. He seems to be focused on every other kid. Finding Sophia, getting you here." He started. 

"To be fair, I almost died, and Sophia is missing." I said crossing my arms.

"I know. But I never had siblings, so I just got used to being the center of attention." He took a deep breath. "I want you to have this." He said taking the hat off.

"Carl-"

"Really. You are a part of the club, I'm not. So it only makes sense."

"Carl, no. It's not mine. There's no club, I honestly think Rick said that so I would stop asking to help look for Sophia. You keep it. But I'm gonna borrow it from time to time." I said with a small smile. He nodded. 

"See you later." He said before running off. Sometimes I forget Carl and I are the same age. With my experiences, and what I've done, and being in the city, I feel so much more mature. I feel older than him, mentally. I know things he doesn't. Hell, he's like two inches taller than me. I continued to think these thoughts, but stopped when I accidently bumped into someone. 

"My bad." I said looking up to see Shane.

"We actually could use your help with something." He said. 

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shortie