Death Becomes Me

EVEN A WORM WILL TURN

"Here's your coffee Mr. Grimes, are you two ready to order yet, or do you need a minute?" I smoothed down my apron that I had already managed to spill ketchup on.

"I'll take the ham sandwich and Shane will take the bacon burger- "

"-with extra bacon. Yeah, I remember." I finished for him.

Officer Rick Grimes and Shane Walsh work with my dad. I grew up with them. Sometimes I babysit Carl when Lori needs to run some errands, or when her and Rick decide to have a date night, but those seem to be happening less and less.

"I'll have that right up for you two," I say with a smile.

"Thanks Sweetheart," Shane replies. Rick just turns back to his newspaper while he sips from his coffee.

I take their ticket up to the window, taking a moment to fix my ponytail that never manages to stay in place. I use the metal cup from the milkshake machine to see my reflection. I need to redye my hair; my roots are starting to show. Dad says my green hair makes me look like, and I quote, "A queer hoodlum." Whatever that means. He's just being ignorant.

Shane and Rick's sandwiches come up in the window, I turn to see Rick talking into his radio, and I know they need to leave. I pop both of their sandwiches and fries into a to go box and hand them off. Shane smiles and Rick squeezes my soldier before they both rush out the door.

"We left your tip on the table, Charlie!" Rick yells back at me.

The satisfying crack of my lower back is a nice reminder that my shift has ended. I wave goodbye to my boss, Katherine, as I exit the Diner. Luckily, the school is just a block away.

I kick a smooth rock through the alley way, bobbing my head to the music blasting out my headphones. I make it to the school, waiting outside with the parents to pick up their kids. I see Shane and Lori talking, they each toss me a warm smile.

"Sissy!" I here, I don't have enough time to turn around, suddenly two toddler arms are tightly wrapped around my legs, just about knocking me to the ground. I scoop Nik up into my arms and give him the tightest hug I can, refraining from crushing him...mostly.

Between work and school, I haven't been able to give Nik much of my attention, but I have a clear schedule for the weekend.

I look over to Lori and see her crying and holding Carl in her arms. I rush over, crouching next to them.

"Hey, is everything alright?" I look back to Shane, he just shakes his head at me. Rick. Why would Shane be here without Rick? Nik is crouching next to Carl, resting his head on his shoulder, and rubbing his arm. Lori gently covers Carl's ears, and I cover Nik's.

"Rick's been shot."

I rest myself against the door frame, rubbing my temples. Rick's been shot? I always saw Rick as indestructible, but I guess no one is. Not really. I hang my bag up and head into the kitchen to fix dinner.

Dad walks in. He looks even worse than I do. I decide not to say anything. Nik is in his room, the only one in the house with a lock.

"Rick Grimes has been shot" dad sits down at the dining table to take off his boots.

"I heard, from Lori" I turn on the burner to start some water boiling. Dad lets out a scoff.

"Yeah, I'm sure she's just loving the attention from this!"

"You shouldn't say that. She was a wreck when I saw her." Dad looks up at me. It's that look. Why can't I learn to just keep my mouth shut? He pulls a cigarette out of his shirt pocket and lights it, taking a long drag.