A Secret

Chapter 11

A/N: Haven't worked on this for a while. Back at it! :) Enjoy!
McBrideReedusLover.~

Carol was doing the dishes when the phone rang. Sophia must have picked it up, because it stopped ringing before she got to it. She shrugged, and went back to washing the dishes. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs, and then Sophia entered the room. "Mom, it's Lori." Carol took the phone from Sophia.

"Lori?" Carol asked, leaning against the counter.

"Hey Carol!" She could tell Lori was smiling. "Guess what!"

"What?" Carol was curious as to why Lori was so excited.

"Maggie just called me. She said Glenn proposed to her! They're engaged now! Can you believe it! And she's having a girl's night out on Friday, she wants you to come! We'll be going to a bar around nine, and staying there for who knows how long! It will be such a blast." Lori explained. Carol knew she couldn't handle alcohol very well, but she still wanted to go. It would be nice to have a girls night.

"Sounds good." Carol smiled. "Well who is going to drive us home? We'll all probably be drunk by the time the night is over."

"That would be me." Lori said.

"You? Come on Lori, no way you could resist a drink." Carol scoffed. "No offense."

"I know you're right." Lori chucked. "But I can't drink."

"What do you mean? Is something wrong?" Carol asked. Why couldn't Lori drink? She would always drink if the opportunity presented itself.

"Well..." Lori paused. "I'm pregnant."

"What?!" Carol shouted. "Sorry, what? You're pregnant? When did you find out? I didn't even know you wanted another kid."

"It sort of just happened. And we found out yesterday." Lori explained. "Carl is excited to have a new baby brother or sister."

"Well congrats Lori." Carol smiled. She had always wanted two kids, but didn't want to risk it, not with Ed. He wasn't a good father at all. He would beat on Sophia is Carol didn't step in.

"We're all going shopping tomorrow for something to wear. You should come with us!" Lori exclaimed. "You could use some fancier clothes hun, no offense."

"Alright." Carol chuckled. "I'll go."

"Great! We'll pick you up tomorrow! See you later Carol!" Carol said goodbye, and hung up the phone. Now, who would she ask to babysit Sophia?

"If you're going away, you should call Daryl." Carol hadn't even realized Sophia was still in the room. "He can teach me more about the crossbow. So call him." Sophia stood up. "Plus he's cool." She smiled. "Go on, call him."

"Calm down Soph." Carol shook her head. "Let me atleast finish the dishes."

"Fine. But then call him." And with that, Sophia left the room.

Carol stood back as the other three looked at different dresses. Carol didn't know what to pick, and she didn't feel like she'd look good in any of these dresses. She didn't have the body for it. She was too big in some places, and then too small in other places. "What do you think of this dress Carol? It would look cute on you." Lori held a purple strapless dress against Carol's body.

"Lori, I don't exactly have the body for a dress like that." Carol responded.

"What do you mean? You're thin." Lori continued to hold it against Carol.

"I mean, I don't have the body for it." She kept glancing down. Lori still looked clueless. Carol sighed in frustration. "My chest, Lori!" She said that louder than she should of. Her cheeks turned a light rosey color. "I don't have the chest for a dress like that..."

"Oh don't be rediculous Carol." Lori laughed. "You don't need to have a huge chest to wear this kind of dress. But if you don't want it, we'll keep looking." She hung it back on the rack. Carol sighed, and started looking for a dress.

"Oh, I'm going to go try this one. Y'all tell me what you think." Maggie hurried into the change room. The girls waited outside for her. She came back out wearing a beautiful emerald green dress. It had one strap, and the bottom was flowy. "What do you guys think?"

"Oh my god Maggie it's gorgeous!" Andrea grinned, walking over to her. "You've got to get this dress. It's amazing."

"I agree, that dress makes you look sexy!" Lori laughed. "You have to get it."

Carol just nodded. The others said everything she thought of. "Get it Maggie, it's perfect." That's all she could come up with. One down, three to go. Of course, it didn't take long for Lori and Andrea to find their dresses. Lori found a pretty purple dress, and Andrea found an amazing blue dress. Now it was just up to her to find something. Nothing in this store would fit her. They would have to go somewhere else.

"Well what about this one?" Maggie walked up, showing her the strapless red dress. Carol loved the color red. It was her favorite. The only problem with the dress, was the fact that it was strapless. And it was pertty short. It looked about mid-thigh. "Come on Carol, before you judge it, just try it on. I bet you'll look great. What do y'all think? Wouldn't she look great?" Maggie turned to look at the other two. They nodded in agreement. "See? Just try it."

"Fine." Carol grabbed the dress. She did not want to do this. She walked into the change room, and held the dress up to herself in the mirror. It was really short. "I can't believe I'm doing this." She muttered. Sure, she had worn a bikini before, but that was once, when no one would see her. She was able to hide her scars in the water. Sighing, she pulled off her shirt. She looked at herself in the mirror, seeing the scars on her side. Stupid Ed. He always made sure to leave the serious marks where no one could see them. He made sure the leave what would be permanent in a place no one would look. Somewhere it was always covered up. Carol slipped off her jeans, and then stepped into the dress. She didn't realize it would be a tight fitting one. And she was right about it being short on her. Once she finally adjusted it, she realized, it didn't look half bad. The tightness of the dress made her chest look bigger, but that wasn't why she liked it. It was actually a simple dress, no beads or anything fancy. It was just a black belt around the waist. She walked out where Maggie, Lori and Andrea were waiting.

"Wow..." Lori was speechless. She had never seen Carol look so good since she'd known her.

"Carol... You look amazing!" Andrea exclaimed. "You'll definately be the better looking one of us all!"

"I told you Carol!" Maggie smiled.

"You really think I look good?" Carol asked, a small blush appearing on her cheeks.

"Super good!" Lori nodded. "Buy it. Guys are going to be all over you."

There was only one guys she wanted to be all over her. Oh god, did she just think that? She turned around and disappeared into the change room before any of them saw her very red face. Looks like she'd be buying this dress afterall.

"Mom, Daryl's here!" Sophia shouted up the stairs. Tonight was the girls night out.

"Just a minute honey!" Carol called back. She was still putting on her makeup. Nothing crazy, just a little lip gloss and some mascara. She straightened her dress, and walked out of the bathroom, back to her room. She had bought one of those little purses to go with the dress. They all had. She grabbed it and then headed down the stairs. She didn't see Sophia or Daryl. Just then, Sophia zoomed past her, up the stairs. "Alright then..." Carol said as Sophia shut the the bathroom door. She continued down the stairs, and found Daryl in the kitchen. He had his back turned to her, reaching into the fridge. "Excuse me, do you live here?" She asked, a smile on her face. He always acted like he owned the place, and it made her laugh.

Daryl took a long drink from the water bottle, and turned around. He instantly spit out all the liquid that was in his mouth as soon as he saw her. His jaw dropped at the sight of her. She looked so... He didn't even have words for it. Well, he did, but those were better left unsaid. Her dress was just... Wow. "Uhm..." Daryl was speechless now.

"Whats the matter Daryl?" Carol walked up to him. Was she trying to act innocent?

"Uhm..." Fuck, say something dumbass. "Uhm..." Fuck. Carol was laughing at him. Well played Carol, well played. "Ya look..." Cute. Hot. Sexy. "Nice." Smooth idiot.

"Thanks, I think." Carol chuckled. Boy, he was blowing it right now. "Are you sure you don't mind looking after Sophia? I don't want to trouble you."

"No, no s'fine." Daryl said quickly. He still couldn't get over her. If they were alone, and she didn't have to go anywhere...

"The girls will be here soon, I should probably go wait for them." Carol interrupted his thoughts, which was probably for the better. He really wanted to kiss her right now. He hadn't really kissed her since the hotel. And that was nearly two weeks ago. Should he? Sophia could come down any minute. But if he didn't he wouldn't be able to for who knows how long. He didn't want to kiss when she was drunk, considering how she got when she was drunk. Perhaps he should just go for it. They heard a honk outside. "Oh, thats them." Carol smiled. "I'll see you later Daryl." No, fuck that. He grabbed her wrist when she tried to walk away. "Daryl, I-" He cut her off by crashing his lips to hers. He heard her little purse drop to the floor. Perfect.

Carol started to walk away, but Daryl grabbed her. Why did he do that? Her friends were waiting. She had to go. "Daryl, I-" She was cut off by his lips. She closed her eyes and dropped her purse. This was much better than going to the bar. Her friends could wait. She wrapped her arms around him, and he slid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. She did not want this to end.

Sophia heard the horn outside, and watched from her bedroom window. She didn't see her mom walk out. Did she hear it? Maybe she should go tell her. She hurried down the stairs in search of her mother. She was probably in the kitchen talking to Daryl. "Mom, your friends are- Woah. Okay." Nope. She did not want to see that ever in her life. In the kitchen was her mom and Daryl, in a serious tongue battle. Nope. Nope. Nope. Time to move out. Time to leave the country. Never come back. Ever. For that image would be burned into her memory forever.

"Oh god." Carol jumped back when she heard Sophia speak. Her daughter had to be more loud when she came down the stairs for crying out loud. She just had a heart attack, and now her face was very red. She did not want Sophia to see that. The poor kid did not need to see something like that ever.

Daryl mentally freaked out when he heard Sophia's voice. He was introuble now. How was he going to be able to face her without things being incredibly awkward. Hell, what kid wanted to see their parent making out? It must've been horrible. That's what he was afraid of. But hey, the risk was worth it. He cleared his throat, trying to break the very awkward silence.

"Well I better go..." Carol said. "Sophia, why don't you go put on a movie in the living room?" Sophia practically tripped trying to bolt out of the room. "That was awkward..." She said quietly, looking up at him. They heard another honk.

"Lil bit..." He agreed. "Well... Guess ya better go."

"Yeah..." Carol nodded. She bit her lower lip, and went for one last kiss. It last a lot longer than she has thought it would. "I'll see you later." She said breathlessly, and then ran off to go to her friends.

"See ya..." Daryl said. He needed something stronger than water now. Maybe she had some beer in her fridge...

A/N: Woo, that heated up didn't it ;) Poor Sophia though... Haha! R&R lovelies!
McBrideReedusLover.~