Carl sat in the prison yard ripping small bits of cloth off his hat and tossing it to the side. After he'd taken off he killed a few stray walkers on his way and decided to get some sun. He decided this wasn't the best place to get away from memories of Beth. He stood up and was about to go mope somewhere else when he heard a door open. He jerked his head up half expected Beth coming to talk to him but instead it was Maggie.
"Oh. Hey Maggie I was just going-,"
"Just going to sit your butt on the bench and tell me what that was all about," she finished forcing him to sit. She sat next to him and looked at him.
"Well?" She asked.
"Well what!" Carl shouted standing up. Maggie looked taken aback by the outburst.
"What was that about kid?"She asked keeping her cool. Carl grit his teeth together and threw his hat on the ground.
"I wish you wouldn't call me that," he fumed.
"If you're going to act like a kid, I'm going to call you one," she rebutted. He flared his nostrils and turned around. "Now you're going to sit down. And tell me why you just left Beth crying there like that." Carl supposed it'd be easier to run than resist but in some way the power behind her words made him sit down next to her and start spilling everything.
"It's not that I don't like Beth, heck I might even... Nevermind. But it's just, Beth needs someone who'll be able protect her in this shit world-," Maggie interrupted him.
"Language," she stated allowing him to continue. Carl nodded.
"Sorry, anyway Beth needs someone who will protect her and guard her when something bad happens. I can't do that I'm fourteen! I can hardly protect myself!" He cried to her. Maggie shook her head.
"I've seen you save half the people heres asses boy. You think you can't protect her. I don't think you've ever been more wrong," with that Maggie stood up and left Carl alone again. Carl ran his fingers through his long hair and sighed. He heard the door open and he kept his sight outside the fence.
"Go away I'm done talking about it with you," he snapped.
"Well I figured you'd be happy to see your old man again," Rick said with a smile. Carl jumped up.
"Dad! Oh dad here let me help," he said grabbing hold of him and leading him to the bench.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he muttered sitting down. Carl sat next to him and looked at his bandage worriedly.
"You didn't have to come out here just to help me with my girl problems," Carl insisted.
"Hush boy of course I did I'm your father. Now tell me what that was about in the cell," he said wincing in pain as he turned to face Carl.
"I just-, it's not that I don't like her. I mean heck how could I not like her she's just so pretty and nice. But she's three years older, and when she needs a shoulder to cry on or someone to hold her she shouldn't have to crouch down for it!" He explained roughly balling up his fists in anger. Rick started laughing.
"You made that poor girl cry because you feel inadequate? Boy that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard," he struggled. Carl shook his head.
" wouldn't understand. You a big bad cop who's constantly saving everyones ass. How could you even be close to understanding dad!?" He demanded. Carl shook his head and stood up leaving his dad alone on the bench. As he stormed down the hallway he heard a voice behind him.
"Dramatic much?" The voice said. Carl stopped and waited for them to catch up.
"What do you want Glenn?" He asked roughly shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Well I would ask what the Beth thing was about but the whole prison knows with your shouting," he joked.
"Not in the mood," he seethed quickening his pace. Glenn rolled his eyes and grabbed him by the shoulder.
"It was a joke, come on we're going to talk. Man to man," he said sitting him down on the floor.
"You're the first person not to call me boy. Or kid. Or son," Carl told him.
"That's because I'm not going to treat you that way, right now we are equals. Got that?" He asked. Carl nodded once and Glenn sat down next to him.
"Now kid I know all about feeling inadequate trust me. It's normal when you're with a strong woman like Beth or Maggie. They were born tough and don't need a man to protect them. Makes you feel..."
"Unmanly?" Carl provided.
"Yeah. That. But Carl you don't need to feel bad about yourself. Just because you don't have to protect her doesn't mean she doesn't need you man. You're important to her," Glenn said punching him on the shoulder lightly. Carl nodded.
"But that isn't the point. She's older and taller and needs someone who's older than she is," Carl explained.
"Bull. Like she has a ton of options around here? Even if she did have boys her age lined up she'd still go after you dude. Now I think she deserves an apology," Glenn said standing up and offering his hand to Carl. Carl grabbed his hand and Glenn pulled him up. The two took off heading to the Cell Block together both feeling a little better.
