You, Me, and a Hollowed-Out Tree
Carl and Enid return to their spot in the forest. Drabble-ish Fluff.
Inside the tree was musty and dank, like an old attic. Spiders and ants could have been crawling in and out of the nooks and crannies in the rotting wood, but Carl wouldn't have noticed. The girl he was afraid of was inside this capsule of safety with him, and his mind raced. Instead of his usual thoughts about walkers, how fast he could get to his gun, the quickest escape route, and other strategies of survival, this time Carl's brain could focus on only what was in front of him. Enid. She wasn't a beautiful girl, but she didn't have to be. She was sweet and mysterious and damaged, and Carl was drawn to her. And as she had noted, terrified of her.
Hoping the pounding of his heart wouldn't give him away, Carl pretended to peek out and survey the landscape. There were no snarls or growls this time. All in the forest was quiet.
Neither Carl nor Enid asked the obvious question: what were they hiding from? The hollowed-out tree gave them enough privacy and darkness to share a bit of what they had been thinking at home all week. It was nice to just be alone together; the teens were always busy at the compound and someone was always showing up.
So this was it. The tree that had become their special hiding place.
Carl wished it had a door so he could seal out the harsh sunlight that streamed through the crack, but he was thankful he and Enid fit so well inside the warm wood. He felt connected to the earth somehow. Safer. The arms of the tree wrapped around them, sheltering them from the walkers and busybodies.
The only problem so far was that it was getting warmer and warmer. Carl couldn't tell if it was their run to the tree that generated the heat, the tree itself, the sun beaming in, or just the excitement of being so close together.
He was desperate to kiss her, but again, terrified. She moved a bit closer, if that was even possible, and he could feel her sweet breath on his face.
Their hands touched gently, and Carl felt a tingle down his spine. It was now or maybe later, but he definitely wanted it to be now.
He leaned toward her and she met him halfway, their lips touching gently. They lingered for a moment before Carl pulled back, blushing furiously. He turned his face away so Enid wouldn't see, but her hand snaked up behind his neck and pulled him close for another kiss. His hands rested on her hips, fingers digging in slightly.
This second kiss lasted much, much longer.
A snapping branch in the distance interrupted them, and Carl's attention once again focused on walkers. They peered out from the tree, waiting to see what might come their way. A minute passed and no other sounds came from the forest outside of birds chirping and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze.
"Are you still afraid of me?" Carl whispered into her hair.
"Yes," she whispered back.
"Why?"
"I'm afraid to care about you."
Carl's heart ached and he leaned his head down, embracing her as best he could in their close quarters.
"Me, too," he said, and kissed her again.