𝗦𝗜𝗫, 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸

𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗩𝗬 hadn't walked far before they came across a neighborhood. The neighborhood had nice houses.

They reached a street in the neighborhood that caught her eye. Ivy narrowed her eyes and focused in on a can in the middle of the street.

"Is that pudding?" Ivy asked as she snapped her head towards Michonne. Michonne nodded. "Doesn't Carl love pudding?"

"How would you know that?" Michonne inquired. They talked quietly so they wouldn't attract walkers. Ivy and Michonne walked toward the tin can.

"Carl talks loud when you're about to go on runs. He told you before you went on any runs if you could look for pudding. So either Rick and Carl are here or-" Ivy ran her hand over mouth. "Or the universe really wants me to suffer."

Ivy and Michonne walked to the house where the stood in front of. Michonne put her hand on the handle of her sword and Ivy gripped her gun. The weapons were immediately dropped when Ivy and Michonne saw Carl and Rick Grimes sitting in the living room together.

Ivy felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest. The two girls let out a few tears before looking at each other. Michonne bent down a bit and put her forehead onto Ivy.

"We did it." Michonne cried.

"We did." Ivy removed her forehead from Michonnes and grabs her arm. Ivy dragged her to the door.

On the outside of the house, Ivy hesitantly brought her hand up to the door, knocking rapidly.

On the inside, Rick and Carls head shot up and looked at the door. They put down their bowls of cereal and grabbed their guns. Rick looked through to peep hole.

There they were. Ivy and Michonne. Safe and sound.

Rick laughed slightly before sitting back on the couch. Carl looked at his dad like he was crazy.

"What?" Carl whispered. Rick continued to laugh.

"It's for you." Rick said. Ivy put her head against the door as she waited.

"What do you mean it's for me?" Carl lowered his gun and put it on the floor. Rick got up from the couch and started moving it away from the door.

"Help me move it." Rick ordered Carl and he obeyed. The two moved the couch out of the way and removed the ropes keeping the door close. Rick opened the door and revealed Ivy and Michonne.

Carls mouth gaped. They all couldn't move. It was like they were frozen in the moment. Like someone had picked up a remote and hit pause.

Ivy's eyes flickered from Rick to Carl. Michonne stepped forward and engulfed Rick in a huge hug.

Ivy and Carl looked at each other awkwardly. They weren't friends, they didn't need to hug. If anything, Carl thought he had made Ivy totally uncomfortable and she hated him. Carl put his head down in embarrassment, all the hope of him and Ivy becoming friends was crushed.

All the hope was gone until Carl felt a pair of arms wrapped around his waist. Carl looked at Ivy, whose head was laying on his chest. Ivy looked up at Carl who was completely shocked. Carl wrapped his own arms around Ivy's shoulders.

After about ten seconds of the hug, they released each other. Carl looked down at the girl and pushed some hair out of her face.

"I knew you were alive." Ivy managed to say. "I never gave up hope." Ivy smiled at Carl.

"I did for a bit. Hope kind of wears out when you've been through shit loads of disappointment." Carl laughed slightly.

"Watch your mouth Carl." Rick scolded. Ivy turned around quickly and pulled Rick into the biggest hug. Rick basically squeezed the life out of her, lifting her feet slightly off the ground.

"Well hello to you too Rick." Ivy joked.

"Was gonna do it to Michonne but she has a huge sword on her back if you haven't noticed." Rick put Ivy back on her feet. Ivy looked over to Michonne who had a smile on her face.

"Nah, really never noticed it." Ivy joked. Rick patted Ivy's shoulder before speaking again.

"I missed you kid. I'm glad you're back." Rick smiled. Ivy had took notice of his beaten face and frowned. She assumed it was from the governor.

The governor.

The name that would haunt her for the rest of her life. The name of the man whose head she cut off. It was for a good reason, but it will most likely always sting.

"Yeah, i'm glad too." Ivy faked smile before Rick and Michonne started talking. Ivy turned back to Carl who had a huge smile on his face.

"Come on, I have something to show you!" Carl beamed. Carl brought Ivy upstairs and showed her the room filled with comics and all sorts of things.

"So you've basically been leaving in teenage boy paradise." Ivy laughed as she looked around. She saw a stack of play boy magazines. "Definitely teenage boy paradise."

"Yeah. These comics are awesome." Carl said as he sat down on the bed. Ivy walked over and sat next to him.

In Carls lap, he had a comic. Carl picked it up and flipped through some of the pages so Ivy could see.

"Seems cool." Ivy smiled. Carl nodded happily. He was so happy they were on good terms and that they we're actually spending time together.

"Yeah it is! Like there's this man character-" Carl cut himself off when he realized Ivy was basically staring at his face. "Do I have something on my face?"

"No."

"Then what is it?" Carl laughed awkwardly. Ivy's eyes flickered to Carls lips, and Carls eyes flickered to Ivy's.

"Nothing. Just keep talking." Carl obeyed and started talking about it.

Ivy admired the boy as he ranted on about his nerdy comic. Ivy felt butterflies just being around him. They way he waved his hands around while he spoke, and his laugh, everything was perfect.

"And that's the how far I got." Carl ended his rant. Ivy smiled widely and nodded.

"It sounds really cool. You can catch me up on more of it when you get further." Ivy told him. Ivy placed her hand down in between the two. Carl saw his opportunity and put his hand on top of hers. She flipped her hand around the their fingers interlocked.

"I'm sorry." Carl whispered as they got closer to each other. Ivy put her head on Carls shoulder.

"Don't apologize right now, apologize tomorrow or something." Ivy said. Carl turned to look at her and cupped her face.

"No, i'm gonna apologize right now. I'm sorry Ivy. I'm so so sorry." Carl apologized and pulled her into a hug.

"It's ok Carl. I forgive you."

"I really want to be friends with you Ivy."

Friends. The word that practically made Ivy jump. That's either one step closer to dating or another step away from dating.

"We are." Ivy flashed a fake smile. Carl put his hand behind Ivy's neck and kissed her forehead. Ivy's heart stopped. It took everything in her to not kiss him.

"I'm glad."

Ivy released Carls hand and stood up. Carl tilted his head in confusion. Ivy walked around the room inspecting it. Ivy looked towards Carl once she didn't find what she was looking for.

"So now that we're friends...." Ivy started. Carl nodded and tapped his fingers on his legs, awaiting an answer.

"Where's that sheriffs hat Ranger Rick?"

𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘
I feel asleep 3 times while writing this lol... BUT IVY AND CARL ARE FINALLY FRIENDS WHOOP WHOOP YAYAYYAYAYA!!!
sorry this one is kinda shorter than the rest of the chapters I didn't really know what to write