Beth POV
Two Weeks Later
A few weeks after Jake and Sophia's birthdays, everything was shaping up nicely. The Prisoners were keeping their word about staying away from us, Daddy was back on his foot, Jake hadn't upset Shane or anyone else recently, and it had been Walker free for the most part. There was just one problem...
"We need to go on a supply run." Rick announced to the group. "We're running low on water and need some new clothes." He explained. We were thankfully not short on food as the prisoners agreed to share half of theirs with us, and half of theirswas a shit ton.
"Now I'm going to need a reasonably small group to go, as it's not a big pressing issue, and I don't want any casualties." Rick added.
"I'll go." I announced. I desperately needed a break from this place, with Daddy's recover and Maggies constant nagging, I needed a short escape, even for a few hours.
"Me to." Jake exclaimed. I looked at Carl, who was standing beside Me, and noticed he looked at Jake out of the corner of his eye, and looked slightly pissed off. No way. Carl was jealous of Jake. But why? He must know I'd never leave him for Jake. Not that there's anything wrong with Jake, it's just I love Carl is all, and I don't love Jake. Maybe a years ago when I knew Jake before the fall we had a chance, but not now, not ever.
I'm going to." Maggie announced. Damn, the nagging will continue then I suppose.
"Me to." Glenn added. Myself, and basically everyone else, looked over at him with the same obvious expression.
"Can we trust you on this Glenn?" Dale asked.
No, you cannot trust him and my Sister on this at all.
"Of course you can, I'm just going to support anyone who might need it." Glenn explained softly.
"Like Maggie?" Jake asked inquisitively. And I honestly couldn't help but laugh. And as it turns out, neither could Shane of all people.
Glenn just blushed and turned away from Jake,
"I'll go to." Carl said. Damn, I guess either he really wants to see me, or wants to make sure nothing happens between Me and Jake.
"No, I need you here with me." Rick explained. Carl looked like he was going to argue, but I gently squeezed his hand and mouthed to him, 'I'll be fine". He nodded his head and then proceeded to nod to his Dad.
"Good, Shane, I'd also like you to go and be the adult of the situation." Rick added.
"Of course brother." Shane replied shaking Ricks hand.
"Good, I'd suggest you start and head off in ten minutes, the car should be ready." Rick signed off before walking past Lori in a rather passive aggressive way. I noticed Carls hand had slipped out of mine and he had started to walk back to our cell. I followed him and saw he sat on the bottom bunk looking rather down. Was this really all about Jake going with me on this assignment? Or was something else happening?
"Carl, you okay." I asked nervously whilst sitting down next to him and kissing his cheek.
He looked over at me, looking rather agitated,
"You like him don't you." He stated bluntly.
What! What's got him thinking that? I couldn't help but laugh,
"What? No, why do you think that?" I asked.
He shrugged, as if what he said wasn't a big deal,
"Well it would make sense, you're closer in age, he's stronger than me, you knew each other before the fall, and now you're choosing to go with him over me." He moped.
I actually can't believe he's thinking like this. Have I don't something wrong, or has Jake said something?
I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek,
"Carl I'm not choosing him over you, it's just that Rick wants you here to help around, which is just as important as going out there to look for supplies. Do you not trust me?" I asked.
He looked at me dead in the eyes,
"Of course I do." He answered.
"Do you trust Jake, has he said something?" I immediately asked.
He looked away from me, almost as if he didn't want to answer.
"He used to love you; before the fall. Or used to really care for you. One of the two. And even though he doesn't anymore, so he says, what would stop him from falling back in love with you, you're amazing. The best thing that's ever happened to me. And I trust Jake, more than- nearly more than anyone." He started as he nervously looked at me out the corner of his eye. "It's just, I don't want to lose you, neither of you." He finished before huffing
Jake... used to love me? I mean I knew he obviously had a crush on me, he did ask me out once. But love? I'd didn't matter though, my love for Carl transcended anything else, he was the most important part of my life, and no one would or could change that.
"You won't." I summarised. "You won't lose either of us Carl. Jake's your best friend since you were little, and he'd never do anything to intentionally hurt you, and me? I love you Carl, right here, right now. I love you, and nothing can or will change that. Alright?" I finished before kissing the top of his head.
"Yeah." He murmured. "I'm sorry. I'm just being stupid." He said honestly.
I couldn't help but stifle a giggle,
"Yes, you are." I agreed as I kissed him before getting up and heading over to the leaving party.
"Bethy." I heard Daddy say from behind me. I turned around and saw him hobbling on his crutches with Maggie helping him along.
"DADDY!" I cried as I rushed over to him and carefully hugged him. It was the first time he'd walked since his accident; and to see him up and about, was just the best feeling ever.
"Hey Bethy." He whispered as he kissed my hair and tears formed in my eyes as Maggie joined in on the hug.
"Should you be up?" I asked, blinking through the tears.
"I'm quite alright. Just getting used to this." He answered as he nodded down to his stump, although you couldn't see it through the pants I cut for him.
"Beth." Rick called softly, "We need to get going." He said as he walked through the exit towards the car, with Jake, Glenn and Shane following as me and Maggie still were hugging Daddy.
"You two better get going. Don't worry about me, I'll be alright, Carol and Lori will look after me, as will your little man." Daddy assured us smiling.
I know he will I thought to myself, smiling back.
I turned around and saw Carl waiting by the exit for me, and I walked into his arms as we hugged and he kissed my ear, causing a blush to spread across my hidden face,
"What are you going to do whilst I'm gone?" I asked.
"Well, Daryls going hunting so I'm going to join him, and Sofias coming also, apparently she really wants to go into the forest, so her and Carol will be joining us." He explained.
"Oh. Well have fun." I replied as he kissed my lips gently, and I walked out the gate towards the already packed car. Lucky us we had an SUV.
As I got into the car, I turned around and saw Carl and Daddy waving at me from afar, and I couldn't help but wave back, smiling.
Twenty Minutes Later
"How long?" Glenn asked
"Seriously, again. You've actually asked that again! How old are you? Three?" Jake playfully asked.
Glenn just hugged as me and Maggie laughed, I had to admit that Jake hadn't lost his sense of humour, despite being in his own for so very long. Lord knows I wouldn't have been able to stay alive. Neither would most of us I recon. Who would've thought that the ginger teen I knew years ago would be a younger Daryl, a true survivor.
"Only another thirty minutes, hopefully these shops are untouched, filled with everything we need." Rick stated, sounding rather hopeful instead of being realistic.
We sat in silence for about ten minutes, I was looking out the window as we passed by trees, trees, and, guess what, even more trees. Maggie was cuddled up to Glenn, Shane was reading a book, which I'll admit surprised me, I never took him for a reader, Rick was of course driving and Jake just sat in the back, doing nothing I presumed.
It was, of course, Maggie to break the silence,
"So Jake." She started.
"Yeah." He answered sounding rather bored.
"Do you remember the time you asked out my sister." Maggie continued.
I couldn't help but cough at the total and utter embarrassment. Why would she do that, I told her that in secret and in faith and she totally just blown it.
Jake didn't answer back for a second, probably composing himself, before,
"Yeah I do as it happens." He replied, sounding rather, amused? Was that it?
I turned around to see him smiling in amusement and I couldn't help but mouth 'sorry' to him. He shrugged his shoulders in response to somewhat say 'what can you do?'
"Why'd you ask?" Jake queried.
"Just wanted to make sure." She said whilst smirking.
That bitch.
She only said that to embarrass me and Jake in front of none other than Carls Father and Shane, who I kind of saw as his Uncle.
"Maggie, do you remember when you asked out Gabriel Vancrost and he rejected you because he preferred Amy Scalopo?" I asked, knowing how angry she got when she found out, since Maggie considered herself much better looking than Amy and had a crush on Gabriel since sixth grade.
Maggie looked at me with pure venom in her eyes, and Glenn just looked confused as I flashed Maggie my sweetest innocent smile, and went back to looking out the window.
"Who's Gabriel? Glenn asked.
"No one." Maggie answered in less than a second, determined to stop this conversation immediately.
"Oh only the love of her life, in her own words of course." I told him in my sweet, innocent voice.
Maggie was shooting daggers at me whilst Glenn slightly shifted from the uncomfortableness of the conversation.
"Beth. Shut. Up." Maggie growled as I laughed, and Jake and Rick joined me.
"You've got to be prepared to take it as you give it out Maggie." Rick noted as Maggie shot him a look too before Shane grumbled something about 'fucking kids' and 'talking'.
"So Jake, do you still like Beth or not?" Maggie asked whilst giving me a horrid grin and a thumbs up.
I heard a slightly shift in the back, probably like Glenn.
"Nah Mags, I've actually got my eye on her sister now. You know her, short brown hair, lovely silky skin, some lovely ti-" Jake replied before Glenn turned around and gave him such a venomous look.
"I'd stop talking if I was you." Glenn threatened before being turned around by Maggie, and I could overhear her telling him to calm down and that they were only playing.
I turned around to Jake who was smirking like it was his last chance to do so, covering his entire lower face. And I couldn't help but burst out laughing, making him laugh whilst Glenn huffed and Maggie could only just about stifle her laughter.
"So Jake, you've been paying attention to my sisters tits have you?" I asked, determined to make her pay for her attempted embarrassment a few seconds ago.
"Hard to miss." Jake muttered in response.
Glenn suddenly lost it. He pushed Maggie off and started to climb in the back swinging at Jake. Jake, well he saw it as a joke, laughing as he easily dodged Glenn's punches and blocked them with ease. Maggie, with Shane's help, dragged Glenn back up the middle of the car, and Maggie glared at Jake and me, before whispering into Glenn's ear, seemingly calming him down.
"Can you fucking kids behave. Seriously, you're a troublemaker." He accused whilst pointing to me.
How dare he. I mean, he may be right, but that's besides the point.
"You're a fucking nuisance." He growled looking at Jake,
"You're meant to be a fucking adult, I mean seriously what's up with you, calm the fuck down before we make you walk." He finished whilst talking to Glenn.
"And you can join him." He actually finished referring to Maggie.
I held back a smile as I looked at Rick, who had his stern face on, whilst also clearly holding back an amused smile.
"God I'm glad I don't have kids." Shane muttered whilst checking his guns ammunition for about the sixth time since we started to drive.
Twenty-Five Minutes Later
"Finally." I heard Shane grumble from the front as he immediately took his belt off and got out as we pulled to a stop outside of. Glenn climbed out and Maggie took his hand, whilst Jake jumped over nearly falling on my head, before smiling that damn charming smile he has, and asked if I was getting out soon.
"Yeah yeah." I replied nonchalantly before climbing out and helping him, due to his contortion of his own accord.
"Right." Rick started. "Me and Shane will be getting baby supplies, water and some food provisions. Maggie, you and Glenn will be getting clothes, weapons and other useful stuff you find, and Beth and Jake will be getting entertainment things as well as building supplies in case some of the prison walls are down."
"What?" Jake asked, clearly confused. "Why are we wasting our time with 'entertainment things' , the games room has got plenty of good shit, and we can get more useful stuff such as food crops or carry more water." Jake argued.
Rick looked at him, almost like he was studying his face, before giving a calculated answer,
"Because we aren't just surviving anymore, we're trying to build a home for ourselves and everyone else at the prison. We want people to be able to forget they're in such a shit world now, even if it's only for a second, to just be able to live, have fun, without even thinking about the outside world. That's why we need to bring back some fun stuff, to make people feel like it's a life worth living." Rick explained.
Wow, I never thought about it like that. To be honest I was agreeing with Jake wondering why we needed all that stuff, but Rick was absolutely right; and judging by the smile formed on Jake's face, he agreed with him.
"Fair enough." Jake admitted before walking towards the local toy store, Jim and Jams Play Things.
I noticed out the corner of my eye Maggie and Glenn quickly running over to a clothing store, and couldn't help but roll my eyes. Jesus Christ it's like neither of them had had sex before. Thinking of that, I wonder when me and Carl would-
"Hey, Earth to Beth." Jake said as he must've been trying to get my attention.
"Yes Sergeant!" I replied before stamping on the ground and saluting, whilst supporting a grin.
He grinned back at me, before holding the door open for me,
"Why thank you kind sir." I purred before walking inside,
"Woah." I remarked in wonder,
This place is massive! There's racks and racks upon racks of shelves filled with all kinds of toys, from dolls, to miniature cars, to sports toys, to action figures and comics, and so much more.
"Fuck me." Jake said, clearly as in awe as I was.
"So." Jake started as he leaned over to me, "What do we get?" He asked, and to be honest I had no idea, there was just so much.
"I guess, we get whatever we want, leaving enough room for the building supplies." I replied before heading over to the doll section, picking out a doll in a bright pink dress, with golden hair and purple shoes.
"Looks like you Beth on a Saturday night out." Jake laughed as he walked over towards the comic section.
The absolute cheek.
"I'll have you know I have much better dress sense than the person who designed this, this absolute shambles." I huffed, not letting him get to me knowing he was only playing around.
We spent the next five minutes looking around, loading up the trolley we found will all sorts of goodies, before Jake asked,
"What happened to Jimmy?"
I stopped in my tracks. I hadn't thought about Jimmy since we were last on the open road, and that was about a week ago.
"He didn't make it." I answered remorsefully. Maybe if I didn't push him away so much, he'd still be alive. It became apparent to me that he did what he did to try and impress me, maybe to let me know he's a good guy deep down, which, to some capacity, I already did. Or maybe it was to try and get me back with him, which would never have happened since I was with Carl, and loved Carl a lot more than I ever liked Jimmy.
"Well I'm sorry to hear that." Jake responded. "What happened to him?" He asked, clearly inquisitive about the boy I rejected him to stay with.
"He died trying to help out the group." I told him.
"Well, at least he died trying to do a noble thing." Jake said, before picking up a tennis ball .
Suddenly, three walkers appeared from the back and started to approach both me and Jake,
"Don't worry about them Beth, I've got them." Jake said nonchalantly before brandishing his sword and swinging it, taking one walkers head clean off. He quickly pulled the sword around again and cut the other in half, before plunging it into its still alive skull. I quickly walked past him and simply stabbed the remaining one in the head, turned around, and did a small bow.
"You're welcome for me saving your life." I remarked before walking back past him and pushing the trolley out of the front door, heading for the hardware store.
"Oh come the fuck on, you did no such thing." Jake called from behind as I could hear him catching up.
Ten Minutes Later
"And that's it." I stated whilst wiping the sweat off of my brow, we got a couple of bags of cement and some glue, before decided if we needed anymore we could always come back, since the car was going to be packed as it was.
We walked back towards the car where Rick, Shane, Maggie and Glenn were already waiting for us.
"Now what were you two doing in there for so long huh." Maggie asked with a suggestive smile.
"Drop it Mags, that's no even funny." I scowled her.
"Hey, just asking. Don't want my Sister getting caught up with dangerous guys." Maggie smirked.
"Oh trust me, if I need advice on which guys I should and shouldn't date, I'd go to all the other women in the group before coming to you." I answered, clearly making her slightly upset and uncomfortable. I didn't want to make her upset, but making out as if I was being unfaithful to Carl was a step to far, as was making out Jake was a 'dangerous guy'.
"Okay kids, shut the fuck up and load all this shit into the car, you can continue this childish bullshit when we get back. Not in the car, when we get back, we clear." Shane commanded.
"Yes Sue. I mean yes Sir." Jake saluted before picking up the bags of cement and placing them in the back with himself. Shane looked less than amused.
I looked back over to Maggie who still looked slightly upset, before I took her hand and squeezed it, to signify I was sorry and that I didn't mean it. She gently smiled at me, and we started to load the car up.
Fifty-Five Minutes Later
We arrived back at the prison gates as Dale was there to open them up for us. He had seemingly recovered completely fine from his gunshot, which was a relief to us all.
We unpacked all the stuff and took multiple trips back and forth to the prison to drop it all off, with Dale helping us. After we finished, I went over to Daddy's cell, I mean room, and sat next to him sleeping.
"He's been fine since you've been gone. He went for two brief walks, and he got in pretty well both times. He'll be a natural in no time." Lori said whilst talking a sip of water.
"Thank you for looking after him." I told her, as she kissed my head, "Is Carl back yet?" I asked her, hoping he would be.
"No, him, Daryl, Carol and Sophia still aren't back yet, they're probably having the time of their lives, hunting and tracking. Not for me though, and I know Carol isn't a big fan either so I'm preparing for a whole days moaning and complaining from her.' Lori explained as she laughed. Carol wasn't one for complaining, but when she did, she did so in such a way the rest of us just found it incredibly funny.
"Oh okay." I answered, a little disappointed. "Well, if I can do anything to help, just let me know." I offered
"Thank you sweetie. Actually, yes there is something. Can you sort out your Fathers medical supplies, I have no idea how he organises them or what belongs where." Lori asked.
"I'd be happy to Mrs Grimes." I teased.
"Oh, please. Don't start with that." Lori laughed. "Makes me sound like a businesswoman or an elderly lady." She finished laughing as I joined in with her.
Forty Minutes Later
I had finished sorting out Daddys medication as I was cleaning mine and Carls room, before I heard laughter coming from outside in the main hall. I peaked past the doorframe as I saw Carl and Sophia laughing, heavily, laughing, at something. What the fuck could be so funny?
Woah, where did that come from. It's okay, they're only friends. Calm. Down.
I composed myself before exiting our ce-room, and went right up to Carl and kissed him. Right in front of Sophia. Yep, as cool as anything. He seemed too surprised to kiss back as I pulled away,
"Hi." I smiled.
He simply stood there looking stunned for a few seconds, before I started to wonder if I had done anything wrong, but before I could worry myself he gave me the cutest smile and kissed me.
"If that's how you're going to say hello every time I go away, I might have to do so every day." He joked.
"Don't you dare! I'll chain you up to our bed." I answered swiftly, being main humorous, but also a tad serious.
"Hi Beth." A soft voice came from the side of me. I'd completely forgotten that Sophia was there.
"Hi Sophia, how was the hunting trip?" I asked, being genuinely interested as to how Carl, and her, day had been.
"Well, first Daryl taught me to track, which I could do rather well, than he taught me how to aim using a crossbow, and I managed to shoot a rabbit. Then I started to cry, as it's Mommy came out and saw her baby." Sophia told.
Jesus. That's so tragic, no wonder Carol didn't like hunting. I bet she despised Daryl.
However, I was wrong.
Carol and Daryl were both sitting by themselves over at the table we found in the kitchen that we brought back here, and they were in deep conversation, and I saw a look him both their eyes; but mainly Carols as she was easier to read, that said quite a lot.
"Well I'm sorry to hear that. At least it sounds like you've got a natural gift to hunt." I summarised, trying to make it all sound positive.
"That she is, she's much better than I am." Carl admitted smiling at them both.
"Rubbish, Carls like Daryls protege. He's even got the same hair for it." Sophia noticed.
And she wasn't wrong.
Carls hair had been really grown out as it had been a while since his last haircut, he really was starting to look like a little Daryl Dixon.
"Look what I found guys!" Jake announced as he waltzed into the room.
"And a hello to you to." Carl said with his eyebrows raised.
"Shut up Carl, this is much more important than you." Jake playfully said, before bringing out the object from behind his back.
A Radio!
"Oh my god." I breathed. "We could use that to try and communicate with the outside world. To see if there were any other survivors." I planned out.
Jake rolled his eyes,
"I mean yeah, sure. We could be a bunch of boring bastards and use this miracle to find more mouths to feed. Or, I could do this." Jake criticised before pressing play on radio stations.
Suddenly, the room filled with the sweet sound of slow, classical, music. Designed to slowly dance to.
I knew I'd lambast Jake later, but as of right now, I turned to Carl, held out my hand, and said,
"Care to dance my love?" I asked with a smile plastered all over my face.
His face, in return, shot up.
"Always." He replied before taking my hand and we started to dance.
It was like magic was in the air. Being so close to Carl. Breathing in his slightly dirty scent, feeling his warm breath on my lips, almost tantalising them to reach out and warp themselves around his own. We danced for what seemed like hours, before he lifted an arm and placed his palm on my cheek.
"I love you Beth Greene." He breathed out.
My heart skipped a beat,
"I love you too Carl Grimes. Forever and more." I replied before our lips met in the middle.
The End Of Chapter Four
Hello my friends and fellow readers. No, this is not a drill. It's not a dream. And it's certainly not a nightmare.
I'm back. As you'd seen with my original piece of work, but I'm now back to writing this story, and I'm completely and utterly committed to get this chapter in their lives done within the next few months, at the least. Updates will hopefully be scheduled at every week, give or take a few days. I know it's been a long time, and an even longer time since I started this journey with these characters, and if you're still out there, please let me know what you think. And if you're new, please feel free to catch up on the Carl & Beth story, with Beginnings, Finding Home, and the spin-off, Alone: A Walking Dead Story.
Well I've gone on for long enough, I hope I see some familiar faces in the review section, as well as some new ones of course, and for now, goodbye!
