CARL'S POV.
I lean against the kitchen counter and chat to Maggie and dad. Of course they wanted to know what Madison and I were talking about as soon as I left her room. Everyone else must be trying to find somewhere to sleep. Judith is sleeping in an actual cot, it used to be Abbie's when she was a baby. I don't think i've ever seen her go to sleep so easily before.
"So what happened with Madison?"
"Not sure." I shrug casually.
"She didn't want to talk about it."
Dad frowns. "Carl! You were supposed to-"
"You were right Dad."
"About what?" He panics.
Of course he would jump to the worst scenario.
"She has a bad temper."
Dad rolls his eyes but Maggie smiles widely.
"I've grown to kinda like that about her." She chuckles.
"She said she'd tell me later. All I know is that whatever happened between her and her mom has really shaken her up. Though, she wouldn't admit it."
"So you didn't find out anything?" Dad asks.
I shake my head.
"Then why were you up there for so long?"
I roll my eyes and avoid Maggie's teasing stare.
"Just small talk dad. Last I saw her she was going into Nicks room to talk to him about their mom. After a while I heard a lot of yelling and smashing, like a fight or something."
"What is it with these kids and all the yelling?" Dad grumbles to himself.
"You don't think he was hitting her, do you?" Maggie exclaims, concern clear on her face.
Dad scoffs. "Believe me, Madison can handle herself. I'd be more worried about the other kid. Looks like somebody could take him out with a fly swatter."
Dad looks at me now.
"Look, I know I said she could stay but this is too shady. There's something not right about this family"
"All families have their baggage. We did." I snap.
His face turns hard.
"Look. Of this shit isn't sorted by the morning then they're gone and I don't mean we go our separate ways. I don't trust them not to follow us. I mean gone gone."
"Rick!" Maggie warns.
"Jesus dad!" I groan. Dads threats are nothing to joke about. So, I'm surprised that I don't feel angry at him. Somehow I know this will work out because I can stand up to dad too. Not many people do.
"Can you chill the fuck out for two seconds?" I growl.
"Watch your language!" He snaps back but I ignore him.
"Not everybody is a threat. Not everybody wants to kill us. There's more of us than there are of them. It would be a suicide mission going up against us. Why can't you see that? Why are you hellbent on killing anybody you don't like?"
Dad pulls away slightly, shocked by my sudden outburst.
"You're not killing them."
"You don't tell me what to do." Dad argues back.
"I swear to god if you try anything to any of them-"
"You'll what?" Dad smirks.
We don't fight often but when we do it's never pretty. I already feel my hand twitch into a fist.
This is so much more than just Madison and her family. I'm sick of dad thinking everything is a threat. There is still good in the world. He has to see that.
"If they go then I'll go too. I'll leave." I threaten.
Dads face falls.
I'm surprised he actually believed me. No matter how much I like Madison, I'd never leave my family for her. I've only just met her but I'm hoping dad won't call my bluff.
"I don't think thats nessesary Rick. She's just a girl who has been through some shit. Add the end of the world on top of that and I'm sure you can understand what she's going through. She's just adjusting." Maggie interjects and the tension dissolved slightly, making it easier to breathe.
"Fine." Dad retorts.
"I'm not joking though. If any of them sets a tie out of line or gets any of us caught into trouble-"
I walk away, I can't stand to listen to him anymore. Only for Judith is asleep I know he'd yell after me.
I know I'm in trouble tomorrow.
I walk into the sitting room, past Judith's cot and tip-toe over everybody who has set up a bed on the floor for the night.
Abraham is sprawled out massively on the couch. I roll my eyes.
I take a spot on the sitting room floor but I stay sitting up, thinking of me and dads disagreement.
Maggie soon walks from the kitchen to the sitting room, just like I had. Instead of finding Glenn, she sits next to me.
I turn to Maggie, confused.
"So, What did the two of you really talk about? Or was there any talking?" She laughs.
I shake my head. "What are you talking about?"
Maggie shakes her head as if I'm missing something obvious.
"You and Madison."
I sigh. "What about us?"
"You like her."
"Sure. She's alright."
Maggie laughs. "No, you like her-like her."
I scoff. "What are you, five?"
"Stop avoiding."
"This is ridiculous." I lie down on the ground and close my eyes, ignoring her attempts to pull me back up beside her.
"No, it's not. Just admit it, you like her."
"No."
"No, you won't admit it or no, you don't like her?"
"Maggie! Jesus, go away! I'm trying to sleep!" I snap loudly and someone from the other side of the room shushes me.
"Don't act dumb. Michonne, Beth and I have noticed. The boys just aren't observant enough to see it. Jeez, maybe you dont even know it." She laughs.
"She's a friend. Thats all. End of discussion." I say, trying my best to sound convincing.
"I'm not buying it. You spend all your time with her and when your dad talked about her and her family, you were so defensive."
I roll my eyes. "Not for the reasons you think." At least this part is true, kinda.
"So, go on tell me all about her... You like her." She teases
"You realize you sound like the corny, gossip queen bitch from every movie ever made, right?" I snap.
"Ugh! I'll get it out of you tomorrow." She groans.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night Maggie." I mutter as she gets up and walks away. I turn over on my side and shut my eyes again.
I feel myself drifting into sleep when and loud whisper wakes me.
"PSST! psst! Maddie!"
"Madison!" She calls again.
I guess the both of them are in the upstairs hall. I open my eyes and look around the dark room. Nobody else seems to be listen. Everyone is asleep.
I groan as I get to my feet and as the calling gets louder I creep towards the bottom of the stairs.
"What? Keep it down! Everyone is asleep." Madison's voice flashes back rudely.
Her mother's voices comes out quieter now and I have to strain to hear them.
Even though I know it's wrong, I can't help my curiosity. My feet lead me halfway up the stairs until I can just see the tops of Madison and her moms head through the banisters upstairs.
Madison is standing outside Nicks room and her mother stands outside the room next to it. They keep a careful distance.
A deep frown is etched into Madison's face but her mom just looks to the ground.
This can't be good.
"Madison." Her mom calls again.
"I don't feel like talking."
Madison walks towards the stairs and I duck but she's caught in her tracks as her mother leans towards her. I can't see whats happening but when I hear a sharp smack I'm almost sure that Madison has slapped her mother's hand off her.
Madison glares at her mother before turning around and walking towards the stairs again.
I have to kneel down or she'll see me spying on her.
God, I'm such a creep.
Why am I even here?
Why should I care what happens here?
"Madison" she calls her again.
"What mother? What could you possibly say right now that could make anything better?" Madison is right up in her face.
Her mother takes one step backwards to put space between them which was a wise idea.
"Maddie, I, I'm sorry.... I dont know what else to say...what else can I say?" She stutters
"Sorry doesn't change all that you've done to this family. Theres nothing you can say or do to change my mind about you." Madison spits.
"Maddie, I love you. I love all of my children"
"You know, you have some way of showing it."
"Do you really hate me Madison?" Her mother's voice trembles and tears spill onto her cheeks. This just seems to anger Madison.
"....I can't talk to you right now. I can't even look at you. I'll speak with you in the morning."
I don't listen to the rest of the conversation if there is anything left to it. I disappear from the stairs and return to my spot on the sitting room floor. I watch as Madison descends from the stairs. She still looks angry. She clutches her bow and arrows to her side and I watch her carefully.
I know she's about to go cause trouble somewhere. I can see it in her eyes but dads already warned me about her. If she sets one toe out of line...
Without hesitation she walks straight for the back door. I can't see her anymore but I hear the door shut quietly behind her, leaving the house behind in total silence.