A/N For those who have note seen yet, I changed the ending of the last chapter. :)
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Carl was absolutely losing it, this was wrong, so very very wrong. He wasn't supposed to spy on his friends! That's not what friends do, that's just so, creepy.
Deanna's party was due at sunset and the day had already gone by so quickly. Carl really didn't know if he was ready to face Ron so soon. Hell, they hardly knew each other… he didn't know jack shit about Ron but somehow Ron knew a bit more about Carl than they both thought.
An angry huff escaped Carl's lips as he threw aside the clean clothes and dug around to find something flattering for the evening. He'd depended on a simple blue plaid for so long that any other form of wardrobe was unthought of. After digging around in the closet he settled on a red flannel with a casual black tank under, not far from the routine necessarily but definitely a chance to show that he did have somewhat of a sense of style. Now that he was actually in a world where style mattered again, the shirt would be covered in blood, guts, and anything else that lingers outside the walls. He missed having the smell of laundry detergent stick to his skin after the clothes were done the washing.
He /really/ missed that feeling.
And he was really going to miss the party as well if he didn't start walking.
-=0=0=-
Ron paced the room, eager for his little brother to quit complaining about his mother's choice of attire, Sam was quite upset about the fact that he couldn't wear his superhero t-shirt to the party.
Frankly, Ron just wanted to tell the little squirt to suck it up and deal with it so they could just leave and not be late, he really really wanted to see Carl and finally, get a chance to have a genuine moment alone together outside of their education.
They've got some things to…work out. Sam really didn't have any regard towards people with actual urgency. The kid was in his own damn bubble, constantly.
"Sam come on, mom is waiting for us downstairs."
Sam let his brother practically drag him down the stairs. Their parents were waiting at the door, his dad finally sober for once, presentable enough. Their mother smiled back at her children.
"You two be on your best behavior alright? And please Try not to get into trouble."
They both nodded and want to walk to Deanna's
-=0=0=-
The lights inside were brighter than anyone had ever seen, the grimes family arrive a bit fashionably late, Carl looked around the party finding that they'd set up Christmas lights and all sorts of foods on the table, candles, beer, companionship. It's all too surreal. He gently touched the edge of the table running his fringes around the smooth polished edges as if the table was the sharp blade of a machete. He then took a cracker and savored the buttery taste. It's been so long since he'd seen that much food. Laid out for the taking. The house soon filled with guests. People congratulating him and Rick on making it safely to Alexandria. The residents seemed to fall in love with Judith. People here had time to love. To feel emotion, Carl envied that but now that he was he, he could and would be given the chance to feel too.
The adults drifted into their own cliques with the survivors which left Carl to wander outside and sitting down in the grass next to the lake. He listened to the hum of crickets and the low breeze. The night was one of many that exposed the stars. Since city lights were no longer able to function the sky was visible, even if there were a few clouds. The stars looked as beautiful as ever.
Carl raised his hand and traced where he thought the constellation Leo would be.
A pair of feet appeared just out of vision on his right side. He turned to face the figure, his smile faded. Instead, above him, Ron smiled back.
"Hey, man."
"Hi…"
He sat down next to Carl looking up at the stars
"Do you think we could ever find a telescope?" He said, laying back in the grass.
Carl shrugged, looking away from his peer and back up into space. He tried to block out stubble movements such as Ron's breathing and shifting.
"I came here to… apologize actually."
"What for?"
"Well, uh… there's the thing, Sam said you came over, and ya know… came upstairs."
"Oh…" Carl cringed, again at the mention of the previous encounter.
"S-sorry you had to, you know, see… that."
"Ok…"
The two awkwardly looked away from each other. Ron knew that his actions probably destroyed their friendship. Carl would probably find him gross and then never want to talk to him again. He scolded himself for being so stupid to leave the door open and to be openly thinking about Carl like that. God, he couldn't even keep one friend, that's disappointing... Well, on the other hand, it was Carl's fault for looking, and same could have just said that he was busy. Maybe finding someone to blame isn't the best solution…
Carl leaned away from Ron and closed his eyes listening to the grass rustle against his ears and then before he knew it someone had pinched his neck, hard. Ron had gotten the same treatment and they both sat up immediately
"E-Enid!" They said, partially in unison.
She simply waved back with a small, wicked grin.
"What's up dorks?"
Ron shrugged, leaving Carl to explain.
"We were just star gazing."
"Mm, interesting."
She laid down, literally in the small space between The two boys. Carl showed her the constellation Leo and then traced over Cancer. Enid was particularly interested In stars, she said she enjoyed them because they all look the same from far away but every star is beautiful up close. Carl found this statement to be somewhat moving.
"So, you guys wanna play a game?"
"Does it require us to go over the walls?" Ron said.
"No."
"So, what is it?"
"Here, hold on." They watched as Enid walked through the front door of the party, returning a few minutes later with a bottle in hand. As she drew closer it was clear that the contents were liquor.
Ron shook his head. " if it involves alcohol count me out..." they all understood his hatred towards the drink.
Carl shot him a sympathetic look while Enid shrugged and opened the bottle, inhaling the bittersweet aroma.
"We'll play, never have I ever."
The two boys looked at her confused. Carl knew that if the game involved alcohol his father would strongly disapprove, scratch that, if Rick found out he would be disowned. Ron looked more intimated then anything.
"Well, if you guys are gonna play we've gotta get away from the adults."
"How about the attic at my place?" Carl said, rather nonchalantly.
"Sounds good, porch-dick won't be there to bother us and you're parents are nice."
The trio ran to Carl's home and up into the attic. The fort still intact and ready if anyone were to stay over. Enid put three pillows in a circle and turned on the lantern on a small crate where she set the bottle of whiskey. The boys sat down in the circle and pulled at the loose nails in the floor while Enid smiled back rather devilishly. Carl was concerned that she had the knowledge of a game that involved liquor, but it would be rude to involve himself in her past life.
"H-how do you play?" Ron stuttered.
"Well, each one of us asks the group a question like 'have you ever played hide and go seek?' And if you have you lower a finger and take a sip of this bad boy." She said, holding up the bottle.
"So? Who's going first?"
The boys exchanged looks. They were both a tad bit uncomfortable with the whole situation as a whole but, leaving now would be embarrassing and they both knew Enid would never let them live it down. The consequences kept them a tad fearful but curiosity had overtaken that.
"Well, I guess I'll go," Carl said, raising his left hand. Tugging at the leather brim of his boots nervously with his right. He thought a lot about his question, should he ask if they'd ever eaten an exotic food...? or something pre-apocalyptic? post-apocalypse might be too much...
"Uh… have either of you ever had straight A's?"
Carl remembered middle school being unbearably easy, A's were never a real problem. Before the virus hit he got his report card, lo and behold, a straight line of good grades.
Both Ron and Enid lowered a finger, she opened up the bottle and took a good swallow of the liquid, then, handed the bottle to Ron. Who followed in her footsteps. They both cringed at the aftertaste, bitter.
"Have you ever broken a bone?"
Carl didn't raise his hand but, Enid was the only one who did. She shrugged and threw back.
An hour had passed and it was now rather late in the night. Slurred a speech echoed throughout the room. Enid had thrown up and passed out in the bathtub. The boys put a blanket and pillow in there as well, so they didn't feel too bad. They continued playing the game but Ron figured they had enough liquor due to the fact that he could no longer make out how many fingers Carl was holding up. Carl, who was significantly less intoxicated tried to coax his friend into laying down. Ron refused and kept playing, he was, at least, a happy drunk. Unlike some other members of his family.
The smell of straight up liquor filled the air like fog, engulfing the two teens in a drunken aura.
"H-have *hic* have you had… your first k-kiss yet?" Ron slurred.
"No, no, no, haven't met anyone…"
Ron shrugged and flopped down on the floor with a thud, the bottle fell and spilled the little liquid left over the wood.
"Dude... Don't you wanna lay d-down with me?"
Carl was hesitant but sat down next to his friend's Limp torso. He could feel a light sweat break out on his neck. Ron leaned in and wrapped his arms tightly around Carl's waist and hugged him. Tears dripped from Ron's eyes and onto his jeans.
"You p-promise not to leave me r-right? I don't wanna be alone…"
Carl couldn't help but pity him. His stomach began to twist and turn, maybe from the alcohol. He awkwardly patted his friend's hair, then running his fingers through.
Ron looked cute, even if he was crying and Carl felt ashamed to noticing this. The way his lips were red and parted. His grin slightly lopsided.
Ron pushed his body closer and closer, displacing his friend's balance and forcing Carl to the floor.
"Ron! Wha-"
He completely laid out his body on Carl. It's not like he'd never felt weight like this before but it felt larger than the last time.
Now he felt really queasy, his head was spinning. He pushed Ron to the side so he could breathe. His body rolled off and onto a small pile of blankets. Ron grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer to his face...
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Cliffhanger :0 bc I'm lazy and it been a while since I've updated. Geez, school.
