I posted a chapter prior to this, but the site failed to sent out alerts for any updates. If you haven't read chapter two, read it before reading this. Or you'll be a little lost going forward.


Disclaimer: I own nothing.

– – –

Carol shuffled through the kitchen and found her mom making something. It smelled really good in here, and Carol wanted to take whatever it was and drown it in maple syrup. She regretted not eating last night. She was so hungry. She could happily devour a cow wrapped in bacon and smothered in steak sauce.

"Whatcha making?" Carol leaned against the counter.

"Yogurt bark." Karen offered her a misshaped piece. "It's mixed berry."

"Ooh." She accepted it and nibbled on it. "That's good."

"Thank you." She helped herself to a chuck. "So, how do you feel?"

"A little lousy." She lowered the bark from her mouth. "I think I should stay home. My uh, stomach's all...soft, or something. I might be sick."

"Sick?" She reached over and felt her forehead. "You're a little warm."

"Yeah." She pretended to cough. "I think I shouldn't go out. It might turn into something really bad, and I don't think Coach Williams wants puke all over her gym floor. I mean, I wouldn't."

"No."

"No to...what exactly?"

"To you staying home. I know you're not sick. You take vitamins like the rest of us, and I heard the blow dryer. So go get cleaned up for breakfast, and if you're honest with me about why you don't want to go, maybe I'll let you stay home."

She heaved a sigh. "I'll go get dressed." There was no way she could tell her she didn't want to see the guy she had sex with in three of her classes. She would rather die than ever have to say that to anybody.

––

"Hey." Andrea dug through her locker and smiled at Carol. "You look glum."

"I feel gross." She set a hand on her stomach. "Don't eat yogurt bark for breakfast. I think it's evil."

"Do you want me to take you to the nurse's office?"

"No, I'm okay." She didn't move her hand. "How are you? How's your...life going?"

"Awkwardly."

"Why? What's going on?"

She opened her mouth to reply when Michonne and Lori joined them, she then closed her locker, said she had to talk to the guidance counselor and took off at top speed, and Carol could only frown after her. Michonne and Lori asked happened, and Carol told them she had to speak to guidance counselor, though Carol suspected she knew what was eating at Andrea.

"So, after school today we're going to the mall." Lori leaned against the lockers. "We already did the back to school shopping, but I need to find something to wear on a date."

"You have a date?" Carol's brows shot up. "Since when? And who with?"

"I don't have a date yet, but if I do have a date, I'd like to be prepared." She calmed her sister. "And I haven't gotten to see much of you guys since school ended last year. I spent my summer working, so I just want to hang out and spend some of my savings. Do you want to come with us? Michonne's driving."

"No, thank you. I ate something that set my stomach off, and I might spend my day on a toilet. Let's just hope I'm sitting on it."

"I'd say that was too much information, but honestly, you've shared worse." Michonne unlocked her locker and set her backpack inside, pulling out her gym bag. "We're dressing out again today, but we ought to get our books, so that's a plus."

"I'd rather dress out every day of my life than do book work." Carol groaned at her indigestion. "Or I could be sick the entire period then have Mom take me home. Who knows?"

"Well, you did eat a lot this morning."

"I didn't eat last night."

"You can't skip meals," Michonne cut in before the argument began. "You're a growing teenager. You need to eat three meals a day and a snack."

"Well, she had two meals at breakfast," Lori teased.

"Yeah, eggs and berries don't mix well in my stomach, I think. Or it could have been the salsa."

"Salsa?" Michonne's nose scrunched in milk disgust. "Salsa on what exactly?"

"The eggs." Carol tucked curls behind her ear. "It was really good. A little spicy, but I'd eat it again. Maybe with some sour cream and no yogurt next time."

"You ate the bark on the eggs?" Michonne felt like she'd be sick.

"No, I had the yogurt bark then the eggs and salsa. I hate how boring eggs are, so I try and spice them up. Sasla worked a lot better than the marshmallows."

"Yeah." Lori could still taste the s'more omelet. Biggest mistake of June.

"You two are gross." She shut her locker door. "How are you not puking?"

"I have a strong gut." Carol smiled a little. "I never throw up. Unless I'm drunk. I did throw up a lot after the party."

"I remember. It was almost in my car." She met her eyes. "I'll see you in first. I have to find your mom and ask about try outs. You two should join with me."

"Maybe." Lori looked at Carol. "But maybe not. Carol's not the best dancer."

"Forget dancing. We'd have to do it in front of people, and I have stage fright, remember?" She paled at the thought of it. "I'd probably get out there and drop like a sack of potatoes."

"Oh! Remember the fourt grade play?" Lori giggled. "She was the pumpkin, and the teacher insisted on giving her lines?"

Michonne busted out laughing too. "Oh, and the song. Don't forgot the song!"

Carol grew bitter at them laughing at her expense, but honestly it didn't last long, because in walked Daryl Dixon. He watched her for a moment then scratched his upper lip and continued down the hall to his locker without another backwards glance. If she thought her stomach had calmed even a little, it was roaring back to life right now. Her nerves and guilt and rue weren't helping to ease her churning intestines. She might actually be sick now.

"Did you see that?" Michonne pointed after Daryl. "He...seriously just stared at you."

"Did he stare, or did he check her out?" Lori didn't look back to see if he was still looking. She didn't want to make it obvious.

"A bit of both." Michonne turned to Carol. "I'll talk to your mom later. What was that about?"

"How should I know?" Carol was trying to will herself to throw up. If she threw up, they wouldn't push her to talk. They wouldn't find out what happened about that night. They wouldn't know and think less of her. Honestly, what kind of person has sex with a stranger? At a party? Hell, in the party thrower's parents' bed! Where they probably made the party thrower.

"Carol?" Lori didn't like how pale she'd become, and suddenly Carol was lurching forward, throwing up her breakfast. "Oh!" Gross!

Both girls shot backwards to avoid the chunks, and it was apparent that Carol had indeed had eggs and salsa, even sausage. There was even some visible bits of fruit. If Michonne had a weaker stomach, she might have thrown up too. Andrea definitely would have, and Lori might if her expression was to be believed. Carol didn't just stop with the once, no. She stopped when her entire breakfast was lying in front of end of G start of H's lockers, and then she moaned softly.

"Hey." Michonne caught her arm before Carol fell into her own vomit, and she pulled Carol to the side. "I got you. Lean on me."

"I'm never eating meat again." Lori covered her mouth. "It's pink. Why...?"

"Stop looking at it. Find the janitor, and I'll take Carol to the nurse."

"Yeah." Lori jogged off towards his office.

Michonne half carried Carol towards the nurse's office, and thankfully the girl barely weight ninety bucks wet, and half way there Daryl came up on the other side, locked his arm around her waist and helped Michonne.

"Hey, let go," he told her, and Michonne did. He picked Carol up and adjusted her in his arms. "Just help me with the doors, please."

"Yeah." She opened the doors that lead to the cafeteria and office, her eyes landing on an ashen Carol who had to be too weak from the puking to argue with her about this means of transportation. Michonne wasn't sure why he was suddenly coming to her rescue, but she was grateful. She could hold Carol's weight, but now she could stop by the lounge and get Karen. Karen could take her to the doctor's if she needed it.

"The nurse's office is open," Michonne told him, knocking on the door to the lounge. "I'll get her mom."

He nodded and continued down the hall, ignoring the looks people were giving him, and he stepped inside the nurse's office, finding Jacqui rushing over to him. She opened the door to the exam room, clearing off a wide and cushioned bench for him to put Carol down on, and Daryl gently placed her on it, minding her head.

"What happened?" Jacqui demanded at the same time Karen and Michonne came barreling in.

"Carol." Karen sat by her head, moving it into her lap. "What happened?"

"I don't know. We were talking one minute, and the next she was bent over...heaving everywhere." Michonne explained, "She said she didn't feel well, that she'd mixed the wrong food."

"Wrong food being what exactly?" Jacqui pulled out a thermometer, handing it to Karen to take her daughter's tempature.

Karen felt heat on her forehead as she smoothed her hair back, more heat than from this morning, and she felt guilt eating at her. She told Carol to open her mouth and held the thermometer once it was in place. She lifted her head as Michonne listed off her breakfast, and her eyes fell on the other person in the room.

"What do you have to do with this?" Karen asked him.

"I just uh, saw her get sick, and I saw Michonne tryin' to carry her down here, so I lent her a hand," Daryl replied.

"Well, thank you. I appreciate it." She smiled warmly at him. "But class is about to start, so you oughta to go."

His eyes fell to Carol, but he nodded. "Yeah. Uh, I hope she feels better."

"Thank you."

Daryl departed, and Lori rushed inside, panting and nearly falling. Jacqui made her sit down on the floor and catch her breath, and Jacqui took the thermometer when it began to beep. Carol hadn't spoken, likely her throat was sore, and Karen just wanted to call Axel to take her home. He was off today, so she wouldn't be left alone. Karen would take her, but it was too late to call a substitute. Although she was tempted to say fuck it and take her daughter home anyway.

"She has a low grade fever," Jacqui informed the group. "She probably did just eat the wrong combination of food, but just in case it's something more why don't you take her home and fill her with liquids to avoid dehydration. I'd suggest some rest too. If she doesn't feel better by Friday, take her to your family doctor."

"Okay." Karen smoothed down her hair. "I'll call Axel."

"Uh, Mom." Lori stood up. "Dad went out of town today. He...uh, it's a bit hush hush, but he isn't home."

"What?" Karen groaned. "Why not? What was so important?"

"I dunno. He didn't give me details. He just won't be home."

"Then I'll take her home."

"I'll stay home with her. It's the beginning of school, so I won't miss anything today, and I can take care of her. I can make soup, set up an appointment with Dr. S, and I can ride my bike to the store if she needs anything we don't have at home."

"I can't have you both miss school."

"It's not big deal, Mom. At least for today."

"She's right," Michonne added. "It's just filling in time until we get our books. She won't miss anything."

Karen pressed her lips together and looked to Jacqui.

"We have a meeting after school," Jacqui commented. "And we can't find anyone to fill in for you on such short notice. Morales can watch your class while you take them home, but that's about it."

She sighed. "Okay. Run and get my keys out of my desk, please."

"Right." Lori inhaled and hurried out of the office.

"I'll go to class." Michonne set a hand on Carol's arm. "I'll see you later. I hope you feel better."

Carol smiled weakly and croaked out a thanks.

Karen kissed her temple, Michonne headed out, and soon Lori returned with the keys and her purse. They helped Carol to the car, Carol curled up in the backseat, and Karen gave Lori instructions on how to take care of her. She told her to call if she needed anything or wasn't sure about what Carol might need. Lori knew how to take care of her sister and sick people, but she agreed to make her mom happy and less worried about what would happen for the next eight hours.

They helped Carol to her bedroom, Carol apologized for making her miss her first class and for making Lori miss the whole day, and Karen told her not to worry about it. Things happen, and it would be okay. They would take care of her, and for now, Carol's only job was to rest, to drink fluids and to ultimately get better. They would worry about the root of this sudden bug if she worsened.

"I'll make you some tea before I go." Karen rubbed her arm and kissed her forehead before rising and heading upstairs.

"I'll text Michonne and Andrea to let them know you're home." Lori lied down in bed beside her. "Later, though."

"I'd apologize for making you miss school, but you'd only laugh."

"I'm glad to not be in lecture city, but I'm worried about so it's not a vacation." She searched her eyes. "How are you feeling right now?"

"Tired. Thirsty. My throat's dry, and it hurts."

"Mom's making you tea. I'll add some ice to it so you can drink it right away."

"Not too much. I want it hot, just not scorching."

"You got it, dude."

Carol smiled faintly and buried her face in her pillow for a second. "Daryl carried me to the nurse's office?"

"Yeah. It was really nice of him. I didn't know he was so strong."

"Yeah." He had a lot of muscles.

"I think he's into you."

"What?" Carol's eyes widened. "You're insane."

"Dude, he checked you out then came to your rescue. What else does the guy have to do?"

"Lori, he's not into me. He's just..."

"Just?" Lori prompted.

"Look, he's not. Trust me. He went off on me the other day, and he doesn't like me at all. I think he even hates me. He might have felt guilty, because I was upset, but he so doesn't like me."

"Why did he go off on you?"

"I just... It's complicated."

"You have a complicated relationship with a total stranger?" Lori frowned. "What's going on, Carol?"

Karen entered with the cup of tea and a glass of water. "Don't stop talking on my account."

"I'm about to take a nap, so Lori oughta go anyway." Carol rolled onto her back. "I'll see you tonight. I'm sorry I threw up in the hallway."

"Yeah, Negan's not going to be fond of you for a while, but it's okay." She rubbed her daughter's stomach with her thumb, and Carol had a feeling she did that a lot when Carol was a baby. "Just feel better, okay?"

"I'll try."

Karen reached over and cupped Lori's cheek, giving her girls a final smile and peeling out to hurry back to school. Carol sipped her tea and got ready to take a nap, and Lori climbed the stairs to head upstairs to her bedroom. She would make Carol soup for lunch, and hopefully she would able to receive some answers.

– – –

"So, do you think Carol wants to switch lockers with me now that's claimed the floor in front of mine?" Andrea opened her carton of orange juice. "No?"

"She didn't do it on purpose." Michonne squeezed out barbecue sauce from the plastic package. "She likely has food poisoning, or a severely upset stomach. You didn't hear about all the crap she ate."

"So? She stuffs her face every morning when she skips a meal the night before. This is the first time we've seen it."

"Don't be so rude."

"I'm not. I'm just...a little grossed out. I should be happy my locker's tall, and it was closed, and I am. I really hope she'll be okay." She folded her arms on the table. "Do you think we should stop by her house on the way home?"

"I can't. I have to go by the grocery store on the way home. I can still give you a ride, though. I just can't make a half hour detour. Mom's gonna be waiting on me."

"That's okay. I'll ask my dad to come and pick me up. It's no big deal. He'll probably be glad to get out of the house." She lowered her eyes to her plate of chicken nuggets, fries and a small salad. It didn't look, smell or taste appetizing. She couldn't be sure on the taste. She wasn't thrilled to eat it. She had money to buy some chips and a pack of crackers from the machine, but honestly she wanted to save up. She wanted to go to the first game of the season, and while she could ask her parents for the funds, she wanted to take her friends and then go out for pizza or whatever afterwards. She wanted to have fun this year, do some school activities and just hang out with her friends. Be normal...even though the last thing she felt right now was normal.

"Are you going to eat?" Michonne gestured to her plate.

"No. You can have it. I might pick at the salad."

"Thanks. I missed breakfast. You can guess why."

She laughed, resting her cheek against her knuckles, and she watched Michonne. She had been an odd mood today, but that was to be expected when your best friends blows chucks and nearly faints into it. She didn't know what to know say exactly. She'd known Michonne and Carol since fifth grade, but they'd know each other since first grade. She knew there was a bond there that she couldn't fully understand. Michonne was a like a sister to her by now, and maybe Andrea was too, but honestly she didn't want Michonne to think of her as a sister...

She blushed and turned her gaze away, clearing her throat to try and erase that thought from her memory. She wasn't going to go there. She wasn't going to think about that or what happened at the party. She wasn't. She made Carol promise she wouldn't, and now all there was left to do was forget. She was drunk that night, and it was nothing. It had to be nothing. She couldn't think of her best friend like that. She shouldn't.

"If she's not in school tomorrow, we can go over there then," Michonne's broke through Andrea's harsh thoughts.

"Y—yeah, that'd be great." She messaged her shoulder and cleared her throat. "We can bring her soup."

"Yeah." Michonne smiled at her, and Andrea failed to properly return it. "We can get her those peanut butter crackers she likes."

"I'll pick them up on my way home. I like them too, so if we don't see her I'll just eat them."

"Would you mind sharing? I happen to like them as well."

"Oh, yeah, totally."

She caught the time on the clock on the wall and finished off her drink. "I have to meet with Karen. Or see if she's back so I can meet with her. I'll see you in third."

"I'll walk with you." She hopped up, collecting the empty trays. "It's not like I have anything better to do right now."

Michonne's smile widened. "Okay then."

Andrea trashed the Styrofoam trays and sauntered down the hall towards the Marketing classroom. She could smell Michonne's floral perfume, and she remembered how they spent hours at the mall trying to decide which one to buy. Carol and Lori were dead set on something named after dusk, but Michonne was fond of this subtle floral scent. It suited her very well, and you had to be a close to even really smell it. You caught small whiffs of it, but when you were beside her, it was more potent. It was sort of a sweet scent, but not too overpowering. It was a little...mature, she supposed. It made more sense for her to buy and wear this than the other one that was named after dusk.

Michonne's hand brushed against Andrea's, Andrea looked down, and Michonne grasped her hand and stopped. "We should've taken the long way around."

"Huh?" She lifted her gaze to find Phillip Blake strolling over to them with an all too pleased smile on his lips. If only Carol was here to barf on him.

"Hello, ladies." He rubbed his hands together. "Aren't you two adorable."

"What do you want?" Michonne didn't want linger here with him for longer than she had to.

"Your other friend. Small, red hair, blue eyes?"

"She's sick."

"Oh. That's too bad. I wanted to ask her out."

Andrea scoffed. "Yeah, I'll bet."

"I'm being serious. She's kinda hot. I've been waiting for this since, like, seventh grade. I knew she'd get hot over the summer, but I didn't think it'd take so long." He chuckled. "I'm gonna take her to homecoming, so I might as well ensure nobody else gets the chance to ask."

"There wasn't even a second of that little dialogue that was sweet and deserving of Carol." Michonne stepped closer to him. "If you ask her out, I'll knock your teeth down your throat. In fact—stay away from her."

"Is that a threat?" He leaned down towards her. "If so, I go back to my previous statement. Aren't you just so cute. I'll date who I'll date. If she's lucky, I'll take her out to dinner before I fuck her."

"Not on your life." Andrea glowered. "She won't go out with you. You've bullied her—and us—for years. Her self-esteem isn't that low."

"I'll just to win her over. I'm quite the hero. You'll see."

"I'm sure we will. I bet we'll see her rejecting you." Michonne folded her arms over her chest. "Over and over and over again."

"Guess we'll find out soon." He slipped in between them and traipsed towards the cafeteria.

"Pig." Andrea shook her head. "There's no way we're letting him anywhere near Carol."

"You don't have to tell me that. I'm already trying to figure out how to get his assigned seat moved in our second."

"Let's just go talk to Karen, and we'll figure out how to deal with that creep."

"You want to come over for dinner tonight?" she offered. "We can hang out and talk then."

She nodded. "Yeah! Yes, I'd love to."

"Calm down. It's gonna be about Phillip."

"Well, it's better than my sick sister."

"That's true." She nudged her gently in the ribs. "Come on. We only have fifteen minutes left."

They continued to Karen's classroom, Andrea inhaled and bit her bottom lip, and Michonne was curious to know what Phillip meant by he was quite the hero. Carol didn't need rescuing right now. She needed to get better from being sick. So what did that fucker have up his sleeve?

– – –

They didn't find out the next day at school, nor the week that followed, but it mattered little when Carol was back in school and was cheery as ever. She assured them it was just her anxiety coupled with all of that food that didn't blend well together that made her spew. They were just happy to have her back. She'd missed only two days, and they were now into their third week of their sophomore year. And Michonne had a feeling things were about to get hectic.

Lori and Rick were having breakfast together, giggling over pancake wrapped sausages, and Carol felt a little envious. Lori rarely had to try when it came to talking to people. She just had this way about her, and Carol did not. She knew she would find someone someday, and she wasn't in a rush to find that someone, but it wouldn't be too awful if somebody noticed her. Someone nice and mature and...fictional, because they were in high school. Nobody was nice. Well, that wasn't true, but nobody that wanted to date her was nice.

Andrea sat beside Carol, glaring somewhat at Lori and Rick. She wasn't angry. She didn't have a crush on Rick or anything, but she was jealous. Lori could just approach her crush and flirt and talk and giggle. The thought of Andrea even attempting to flirt with her crush made her stomach hollow out and her guts flee to her throat. She'd probably choke on them if she tried to speak in a flirty way. It wasn't like it was a simple matter either. None of it was simple, and she was so confused and torn, and she felt...so many chaotic emotions. She feared they'd burst through her and hit the one she was trying to avoid the most.

"Hey." Michonne jogged over to them. "Since Sasha has an appointment, we're in study hall with Mrs. Jones' class."

"Awesome." Carol dunked her pancake dog into maple syrup and chomped down onto it.

"I have to go." Andrea collected her books and bolted off.

Michonne frowned. "What was that?"

"She might have to pee. She's been twitching all morning." Carol drank her chocolate milk. "Where do we meet then?"

"In here. She hasn't gotten a classroom yet. It's been used as storage over the summer, so they're moving it into one of the storage rooms. Since we all got our books, the book room has space. They're probably going to purchase portables or something for her classroom."

"How do you even know this? My mom works here, and I don't even know this."

"My dad's company is the kind of the company they hired to install the portables," Michonne replied. "He told me about it this morning. I was curious."

"Right." She nibbled on the now stripped stick. "I could use about two more of these."

"I can get one for you."

"No, but thank you. I don't want a full stomach in case I get sick again." She crossed her legs. "Besides I don't need it."

"Need it?" Michonne's brows furrowed, her mouth flattening into a disapproving line. "Carol, your weight is fine."

"Tell that to my jeans. I can't really fit into them. It's why I'm wearing a skirt, and I had to borrow my mom's sweat pants. The string in mine is knotted up, and I don't want to cut it, because it'll loosen them up too much."

"Well, you look good today. You're just bloated. It happens. It's just that time of the month."

"How do you even know that?"

"We're always lined up. Mine came last night. You?"

"This morning." She nodded. "I'm glad it came too. Kinda freaked me out."

"Why? Were you late last month?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing. I just...thought I counted wrong."

"Well, I doubt you're pregnant. You have to have sex to get pregnant." She smirked. "And you want to wait. I don't see any boys hanging around who ardently love you."

She forced a laugh. "Yeah, no. No...sex for me."

Michonne eyed her, and Carol averted her eyes. She knew there was a story there, but clearly Carol didn't want to talk about it, so they wouldn't. They wouldn't until she was ready. "I'll buy us some chocolate at lunch. It always puts me in a good mood."

She smiled. "Me too."

"C'mon, we got book work today."

"Oh, yay." She stood up, collecting her tray. "I can't wait."

They threw away her tray and weaved through the students to get to their lockers. Michonne noted the snickers and gestures students—mostly the guys—were throwing their way, and she tried to make sense of it. They weren't wearing anything odd, and Carol wore skirts all the time in grade school, so it wasn't anything new. There was no need for all this attention...unless something happened that they didn't know about.

"Andrea." Carol rushed over to her friend.

Michonne was snapped out of her thoughts at the sight of Andrea sobbing by her locker with Shane trying to comfort her. "What happened?"

She shook her head and pulled away from Shane. "I—I have to go." She was gone before they could even blink.

"Andrea..." Carol frowned and whirled around to face Shane. "What the hell happened?"

"You haven't seen it?" His brows shot up. "The whole school's seen it."

"Seen what?" Michonne demanded. "What made her cry like that? Who?"

He pulled his phone out of his pocket. "It's kinda...gross."

"Gross?" Carol's heart began to pound. "What do you mean?"

"Well, it ain't somethin' you'd play in church." He found the group text and played the video for them.

Carol covered her mouth with her hand at the sight, and Michonne saw red. She knew exactly who was to blame for this. That motherfucker.

It was a video of the party that took place at the end of the year. It was images of students partying, but mostly it was close up shots of students making out or groping. Carol lost all color when she saw herself and Daryl making out the couch. You couldn't make out his face due to his hair being in his face, but people wouldn't care when she was letting him grind against her or run his hands over her body. She felt sick all over again and hot tears burned in her eyes at the number of people who'd seen this.

The part that made Andrea cry was the last shot of the video. It made Carol look even worse. They had gotten plastered that night, and it didn't mean anything. It was just all the wine coolers and beer, and Andrea had taken some little pill to just try it once. She was drunk and high, and Carol was drunk. It happened between the kitchen and going back to the couch with Daryl. It was brief, and it meant nothing, but there was it in full color with HD quality: Andrea kissing Carol. Unlike the other shots this was just a photo, so nobody knew it was quick, and they laughed it away. Andrea even apologized the next morning. She didn't want to talk about it, so they didn't, but now it wasn't just between them. The whole school knew, and the labelling would begin. Carol was a slut, plain and simple, but Andrea was on the line between slut and lesbian.