Glenn's pov
My mind buzzed as I thought about how I'd finally built up the courage to kiss her, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I held back a cry of triumph and delight. Maggie seemed to somehow sense it, sending teasing remarks and glances at me. When we got to the pharmacy, however, the joy was dulled as I remembered Lori's request with a chill, worry filling me again. In the midst of this apocalypse, being a parent was stressful, but being a parent to a newborn? I had no idea what to pray about since I would be happy for Lori, but I also was worried about her having to give birth in this poor circumstance. Maggie and I split as I snuck over to the feminine department and got the pregnancy tests that seemed good and accurate. Or at least I think it was… Maggie jolted me out of my thoughts and I hid the box in my jacket before grabbing anything random, which unluckily turned out to be the condom box. I mean out of everything I had to grab the condom box?
"Isn't that a bit too quick?" Maggie teased as I blinked at her, not understanding. "I mean unless Arlynn's the type who makes her needs clear."
I blushed at the thought of her coming to me about her "needs" and bit my tongue to think about anything, anything but-
Maggie brushed her hand on my shoulder lightly, eyes raking up and down my body and leaving a wrong kind of shiver. "We could use one right now, you know?" Her hands drifted to the edge of her shirt before she simply whipped it off. I turned away from her abruptly, trying to politely refuse her.
"I, uh, I'm sorry, but I don't really..."
I avoided looking anywhere near her, grabbing some more batteries for radios and flashlights in case we would need them at any moment before walking out of the pharmacy completely. Maggie returned a moment later, avoiding me as well and we headed back to her farm on her horses. All the time, I kept thinking about Arlynn catching the sunlight just right enough to make her look like the goddess she was. How her darker brown eyes seemed to glow like maple syrup, a favorite snack of mine. Wait… could maple syrup even be counted as a snack or would that be considered simple sauce? But syrup and sauce are two different things-
Maggie got off her horse easily while I had to try and clamber and stumble over my horse to get off. She grabbed my arm right as I brushed myself off, making me look at her.
"Not a word about what happened," she muttered darkly before turning on her heel and marching off to lead the horses back. I blinked after her and just walked over to find Lori and hand her the test. Lori took it secretly, making me feel guilty for being involved in this. I don't know if anyone realized yet, but I am not a good secret keeper at all and I can't bear to keep quiet, especially when it could endanger Arlynn and Aren. Speaking of…
I turned to the house and practically sprinted over to the house. Instead of going to the room I'd been provided, I walked up the stairs in twos and peeked into Aren's room, and found the boy laughing giddily as his sister seemed to tell him a tale with exaggerated body movements and funny voices.
"But mister," Arlynn frowned a little, talking in a really high-pitched voice. "This is a restroom, not a restaurant."
The boy cackled even louder, practically howling as he collapsed face-first into his pillows. Arlynn snickered at his reaction before she glanced in my direction. Her small smile became the most beautiful beam as she looked at me. I felt my cheeks flare up at her slight blushing, grinning stupidly at her with an awkward wave.
"Hi," I mentally slapped myself, making a note to find more efficient words I could've said instead of a short and casual greeting. Aren looked between the two of us suspiciously before getting up and striding towards me with a purposeful glower. He practically shoved me out into the hallway before shutting the door on a confused Arlynn.
"Come here," the boy said, motioning for me to stoop lower. I knelt a little closer in front of him, much to his satisfaction. He proceeded to put his uninjured hand on my shoulder and give me a stare that left me shivering. "You hurt my sister, you break her heart, you make her cry, and I'll feed you to the walkers after I tear you apart, piece by piece, and when you die from that, my other sister will skin you alive up there and my parents will make sure to torture you and empty a whole magazine of bullets each. You get her hurt in any way and I swear that my older brother will haunt you in your sleep like Freddy Kreuger."
I gulped and nodded fervently, feeling slightly scared of this kid before he smiled and opened the door again, and marched right on into his room. I followed after and nearly fainted at the sight of her smiling. How could a simple smile be so warm?
"Did you get threatened by him?" she asked with a smile. I blinked for a moment before glancing at Aren and quickly shaking my head. Arlynn rolled her eyes before rubbing her brother's hair. He swatted at her like a cat batting at a yarn, making me smile a bit. I remembered my sisters back home and missed them intensely for a moment.
"He's like, what, 25? I can't threaten him!" Aren made false excuses and defenses. I gaped at him, appalled at the age he thought I was. I stood up immediately, waving a hand around in excitement.
"I'm not 25! I'm nowhere near 25! I'm 23!" I practically pranced about. "What makes you think this is 25?"
Arlynn started laughing, her laughter burying itself in my heart and ears, never leaving it. Aren laughed too, giggling and cackling. After a bit more teasing each other, the young one finally fell asleep from exhaustion and I helped Arlynn tuck the kid in, making sure not to jostle his injured arm. We sat there quietly, awkward and shyness creeping in.
I coughed quietly and stood up from the chair and gestured to the door. "I better, uh, leave you to rest, then."
She blinked at me and I shuffled towards the door tentatively and opened it. A soft hand rested on my elbow and I looked back at her just as she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down while standing on her tiptoes. I melted instantly and kissed her back gently but fervently, holding her waist to help her stay stable. If this was a dream, I didn't want to wake up from this. If this was real, I didn't want to dream of her, ever, since it would do her no justice. We pulled away after a moment, memorizing each other's faces in close proximity before I stammered quietly.
"Y'know, I sleep alone in a tent outside, a-and there's always the c-cars." I mentally slapped myself. I was being too forward and pressuring her. I was being an idiot. I was-
She grinned after a moment of surprise. "Smooth, Glenn. Real smooth." She traced a light pattern right over my heart as she hummed teasingly, knowing how I was reacting to her.
"Arlynn," I groaned quietly, glancing at the sleeping boy who was snoring softly by now. My heart leaped a marathon, my thoughts were confused, and my blood was flowing the wrong way. I prayed that I'd have enough control over myself, but I knew that if this kept going I'd pounce.
"Call me Lynn or Lynnie. We're more than simple strangers now," she whispered in my ear, breath softly tickling them. This woman… She pulled away just as I aimed to return her teasing, firmly putting some distance between us. "I'm not ready for that kind of stuff, Glenn. I'll see you tomorrow."
I shivered in the empty hallway, wishing for her warmth again and being unable to stop the small smile that was stuck permanently on my face.