Four

A/N: I love compliments and thank you so much to all the people who leave me love on all my stories. You have no idea how much it means to me. I work really hard on everything I write and appreciate the love I get back. If you think it's easy I invite you to do it sometime, but don't stop at just writing. You have to put it out there to the internet, for people to read and critique as well. You have to fret over dialogue and syntax and if people will understand what you are trying to say in your writing. You have to open your heart to the world and let them see what's inside you at your very soul. This is not for the weak or faint of heart.

But feel free to tell me how to write in the meantime so I can delete you.

As I said I love reviews and compliments, but don't think for a minute I am fooled by a back handed ANON compliment meant to drag me. Keep it, I have no time for that. I write for the wonderful people who get it, for my bff Magenta and for me. I ignore any nonsense that is sent my way, seriously don't bother because I will delete you faster than a bolt from Daryl's crossbow.

The back yard of the Grime's house had picnic tables and a barbeque grill set up on the deck. It looked like every parent and kid from the fundraiser was there and then a few more. Some of the teachers were there too, if they worked the fundraiser. Of course, the favorite teacher Tara Chambler was there with her girlfriend Alisha.

Tara taught English Lit and was the Drama coach at school, she took part in most of the activities with the students and had a down to earth style that was very popular with the students.

Sasha and Bob Stokey, who lived next door to Carol, and Abraham Ford and his wife Rosita from three houses down also stopped by. The Grimes family always invited everyone in sight to their parties and they had them often.

It was a full house and that was exactly how they liked it.

Carol was busy helping Lori and the kids were set up at a table off to the side, away from the adults.

For the first week in October it was still really nice out and not dark too early yet. Rick had strung up Christmas lights in the trees and paper lamps which gave the yard a nice glow at dusk. He had hung the same lights up for Carol on her deck and she sat out there almost every night with her tea and a book to read.

Carl and Judith came outside with drinks for their friends and they all set to massacre a bowel of potato chips and pretzels.

They weren't sitting with parents tonight and this was the start of how it was going to be now. Lori and Carol had watched their kids grow up together and still this new territory was like walking through a minefield.

Teenagers were a scary bunch and not for the faint of heart.

Daryl and Carol did an excellent job of avoiding each other after her revelation in the front yard, and that was just fine with both of them. They would hate each other from afar.

She and Lori kept the food coming out from the house and Rick and Daryl were manning the grill. Both on opposite sides of the yard, and all was right in the world.

They stayed out of each other's way, and pretended the other wasn't there and the night went well.

Later, Lori walked over to Carol as she watched the kids playing a game of cards after all the food had been eaten.

"Judith wants to invite a boy over for dinner this week." She said looking over at them with Carol.

"When did our babies grow up?" Carol said to her.

"Right under our noses apparently." Lori said. "Rick is going to have a cow."

"And big brother, look at him, Carl looks like he wants to punch out Travis just for looking at Sophia." Carol laughed.

"She's his sister too as far as he's concerned, Travis better watch it." Lori laughed. "Weren't we just helping them cut out paper dolls and finger paint."

Carol nodded. "And now we have dates and proms to look forward to."

"I'm not ready." Lori said in a whisper.

"Me either." Carol said.

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The party was a success and it was a nice night for everyone. When Carol and Sophia walked across the street to their house after wards they were tired and happy. The bickering they had done over Sophia's outfit long forgotten. Carol couldn't wait to make a cup of tea and sit outside in her oversized lounge chair with a good book.

It had a huge cushion on it and she sat out there as often as she could. There was never time to read and relax before and now she indulged often now that she was free.

"Did you have fun today sweetie?" Carol asked and Sophia nodded.

"It was the best." She replied. "Tomorrow can you take Carl, Judy and me to the movies." She asked.

"What's playing or shouldn't I ask?" She grinned.

"Suicide Squad, want to come see it again."

"I kind of do." She said taking Sophia's hand. "Lori will want to go too."

"I know Judy is asking her and a few other kids from around, ok?" Sophia asked.

"Sure pumpkin."

"I invited Travis and his Dad too." She said skipping into the house and Carol sighed, Sophia didn't know about her acrimonious relationship with Travis' father, she was just a teenage girl who liked a boy.

Carol turned back towards Lori and Ricks house and saw Travis and Daryl talking to Rick. She was going to have to sit through an entire movie with this guy that she didn't like very much, all for her daughter. It was totally going to backfire and she just knew it. But a mother had to do some things they didn't like for their kids at times and this was one of them.

That was motherhood. Sophia had taken a shine to this kid and he was a nice kid. There was nothing wrong with him at all, he didn't pick his father and it wasn't his fault.

It could always be worse, if putting up with one ornery man for her daughter was all she had to do, she would do it gladly. It could be worse.

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Daryl and Travis showed up to the movie late and sat on the outside of the row. Carol was on the inside with Lori and Judith. Carl, Sophia and Travis were next in the row and then Daryl. It was fine and they hadn't had to say a word to each other.

Each kid had a bucket of popcorn and a soda but Carol was eating gummy Bears, her absolute favorite. Now that Ed was gone she could have what she wanted without him checking receipts and saying she had a fat ass.

It was going fine.

Then Carol had to pee, and it wasn't easy being discrete in a movie theater. This was just her luck, she climbed across the kids who all stood up and then she tripped. She couldn't stop herself and then she felt his hands on her steadying her, just above her waist.

"You don't have to throw yourself at me." He whispered.

"Shut up, I'm trying to get to the bathroom." She hissed at him. "You can let go now."

She said looking down at his hands just below her rib cage. "Sorry." He said and pulled his hands off of her, but she thought she felt him squeeze her just a little bit first. She could have sworn his thumbs moved against her too, like a lover's caress.

She contemplated that as she walked up the isle to the lobby and how his touch had made her feel. She felt something.

Carol decided to ignore her obviously misdirected hormones because he didn't have to hold on to her that long. She had been ready to make amends with him too, for Sophia's sake, before she tripped and practically fell on his lap.

Now it was weird.

When she came back he wasn't in his seat so she just climbed her way back to her seat. A few minutes later he came back and sat down next to Travis again handing him one of the bags of gummy bears he had bought.

After the movie Lori was busy telling the kids about the upcoming dance for Halloween and Carol walked over to where he was standing with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

He rolled his eyes at her when he saw her coming towards him, because he knew this wasn't going to be good. So much for being a gentleman and not letting a lady fall. He knew she would have something snarky to say.

"So, I haven't been felt up at the movies in a long time." She said.

"Pfffttt, next time I'll let you fall on your ass." He said, pulling the cigarette out of his mouth and exhaling

"You have no sense of humor at all." She countered. "Seriously, you should remove that stick that's up your ass."

"Remember how you said you don't like me, well I don't like you either."

"Good, I'm glad we're on the same page, hands to yourself next time." She said and turned to walk away.

Snarky

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"His father's cute." Sophia said to her as they drove home from the movie later that night. They had stopped at Sonic for takeout and were going home.

"Travis' father?" She asked, but she knew who Sophia meant. Too bad his personality is godawful.

"They like gummy bears like us." Sophia said taking hers out and popping a few in her mouth. "He can't be all that bad."

It was on the tip of her tongue to say something, but she bit it instead. Sophia's world was still such where liking the same candy made you a friend, and Carol wasn't going to be the one to take that away from her.