*Carl*

"Daryl why!? I could teach her just as good as you could!"

"Kid if you don't stop buggin' me, I swear to god…"

"Daryl give me three reasons why I can't!"

I was really getting annoyed with Daryl. All afternoon I have been thinking about Iris. I was just in my bed in my room trying to figure out what had happened between us. Ever since our little "conversation," I've would catch myself staring at her. Or catch her staring at me! It wouldn't work anyway. I mean, we had just gotten the prison, my mom wouldn't stop worrying about everything I did; coddling me like a baby, when she already had one inside of her, and on top of that my dad monitored my every move. I had way too much on my plate. I had just met her like two days ago. It wouldn't work, but she was flirting with me. Then she just left. Did I come off too strong? Was it that obvious? Still a part of me would wonder if she'd like me. Then I remembered that she was going to get her first post today. With Daryl. After that I have been trying to get Daryl off his post so I could be up there with Iris. To see where things could lead. That is if it lead anywhere. Which I will never know unless Daryl backs off.

"I don't have to explain myself to you!" Daryl yelled.

"So why not?"

"Why do you care so much?" He shot back.

I took a step back and let his question sink in as I really began to think about what just came out of his mouth.

"No reason..." I whisper as that blush that's been taunting me all day came back.

"That's not a good enough reason. Listen I don't have the ti-," he instantly stopped from him rant as he began to look at me. I could've sworn he was making some sort of scan; reading my face like a fortune teller ready to give me my reading.

You like her?" he ask pointing to the garden. I turn around to see Iris tending to our garden looking as if she was deep in thought. I couldn't help but smile.

"That's none of your business." I say in a not at all threatening voice as I continue to look at her.

"You just met her. Not even three days ago. I- you…when did this happen?"

"Shut up! Just… please can I have this post?" I asked not able to look him in the eye when he smirked and shoved me lightly.

"Yeah man. Just don't shoot unless you need to ok? Show her all the fundamentals, talk about what has to happen in case of emergency."

"Of course! When did you become so nice?" I said and he started to walk away. He turned around and glared at me but he didn't say anything. He just began to walk again.

"And use a condom!" He shouted possible so loud that Iris could've heard.

"Shut up!" I yelled and glared at him and he just shrugged disappearing into the prison. I turn around to see Iris again but instead of seeing her back like before I was met with her gaze. This way; towards me. Before I even knew what was happening I was running back into the prison back to my cell, back to my bed.

Well that was easier than I thought.

*Iris*

Well, here I was. Just sitting here staring at a bunch of vegetables; again. I didn't know why but every time I would think of all the bad things in my life, staring at vegetables was all I could do. Like I was letting the colors blur my vision instead of the memories I would like to forget. But I can't. I can't forget. I can only prevent them from clouding my memory for so long until they come back. Like they're overriding the system. Ever since I was a baby that is all I could remember. It was only the good things in life that could bring out all of the bad things like magnets.

"And wear a condom!"

What the hell? Who was that? I look to the left and see none other than Carl. God what was wrong with that boy? He was always near. Not that it bothered me.

But… damn.

*Carl*

So here I was. Alone. With Iris. And it was completely silent. What did I do? What do I say?

"Soooo…" She says very awkwardly. "What do you usually do on watch?"

"Well you just stand guard and watch the gate, I guess. Make sure the people are safe and the walkers stay out."

"Right."

Ugh! There's that silence that hangs around so much.

"Hey you want to-"

"Carl I have to tell you something." She says as she cuts me off and looks into my eyes. Like she had something heavy on her chest.

"Ok."

"When we were playing that game earlier," she paused and bit her lip. "I wasn't 100% completely honest with you."

And here it is. The thing that scared me the most. The thing I was dreading. The word I'd fear would leave her mouth. The word I had heard from every girl I had ever liked. Well then just hurry up and say it. Put me out of my misery quickly so I would at least have a fighting chance of recovering.

"When you had asked me what my full name was; I didn't give you my full name."

"Oh…" I replied relived that it was all she was concerned about. "It doesn't matter it's just a game."

"But it does matter. Friendship isn't built on dishonesty and deceit. That ruined past relationships with people I knew. If we're going to be friends then I need to be honest with you."

There it was. That word. I hated that word with a burning passion in my heart that just wouldn't let up.

"F-Friend. Right." I sighed in a hushed tone. Maybe she wasn't flirting with me. Maybe I was so misguided that I was looking too hard. Yeah; that was it.

"So what is your name?"

"Iris Josephine Noel Diker."

"Diker, Diker… why does that sound so familiar to me? Diker- Wait! Diker as in Christopher Diker? As in the CEO of T.E.C.H? As in you're his daughter?" I asked stunned.

"Yep."

"Wow. I didn't know he was married, let alone had children!" I couldn't believe this. The girl in front of me was a Diker. Which means she had come from a wealthy family. Christopher Diker was the CEO of T.E.C.H which stood for Technological Education Center Headquarters. He was always on the television presenting new software for computers and electronics. He was rich and lived in a huge mansion and was making millions each year.

"Why would that be something to hide? If that was my dad I would-"

"You wouldn't want him as a dad! You wouldn't-" She looks down and sighs before talking again. "If I'm being completely honest I didn't like most of my family. I had a… dark history I'm not proud of. We just met and I wasn't sure I could trust you with something s-so…" she started to choke up as tears began to swell her eyes; she furiously trying to blink them away. "I didn't know what to tell you so I didn't tell you at all. We just met and I haven't had a friend in a long time and… I just don't want to make the mistake of lying to you and paying for it in the long run. That's all."

"Iris, it doesn't-"

She looks up and I see a tear run down her face. As if it was instinct I walked to her and wiped it away with my thumb, and sat closely next to her

"Thank you for being honest." I whisper to her.

"So what did you want to ask me? You know… for you last question?" She asked with red rimmed eyes. She had caught me off guard with that question. I had been wanting to ask her so many things it was driving me crazy.

"I uh... I was um…"

"What?"

"I was j-just gonna… I, well…"

"Carl…"

"It's stupid."

"Just spit it out already!" She yells laughing.

"Do you like me?" I ask instantly regretting the words that had come out of my mouth. She stares at me with a shining in her eye from the residue of the tears. I knew this would happen. I'd ask her, she freeze in horror, I'd hope for the answer I wanted, she thinking of everything else but that. I knew what that meant.

Game over…

*Iris*

I could not wrap my head around this. Carl Grimes; a boy I met merely three days ago, the boy I barely knew anything about, was asking me if I liked him. It sounded weird but I didn't complain. Part of me; a huge part of me knew it would be unnatural for two people who knows nothing about each other would be able to start a healthy relationship based off a premature friendship; yet it seemed perfectly healthy and… right. I knew I should've said something, something other than what I did. Anything else would be better than what I was currently doing. I kissed him. On the lips. It was like my whole body was working against me; but I didn't care. He grabbed my waist lightly and I gasped against his lips. I've never been kissed before. And I never thought it would feel like this. I felt needed, wanted, trusted… safe. It has been such a long time since I felt safe. With Carl, I felt safe. I don't know how I could. Considering the fact I had trust issues and never had anything like this before. But this didn't feel right then I don't know what did. His lips were soft and sweet, moving almost perfectly with mine. It was perfect.

He started to pull away when I grabbed the collar off his shirt. This boy is making me do things I never would've under normal circumstances. I finally let go and looked into his dark blue eyes.

"Is that a yes?" He asked a hopeful look in his eyes. I just laughed and slightly pushed him before I brought my lips back to his as we laid in silence; and for that moment…

Everything in the world was perfect.