#v;preapoc

“Carl," Lori's sock-clad feet stepped out of the kitchen as she looked down the hall toward Carl's bedroom. This was the second time she'd called him in the hour. Her eyes drifted down to the small kitchen towel and glass bowl in her hands. She had been wiping it down for a few minutes now because, for whatever reason, the cloth wasn't absorbing the water. 

She shifted her weight as she was starting to become restless with her young son. "Carl, honey,“ her tone was a little impatient now - trying his name for the third time. 

 When there was still no word from her son, she sighed heavily, defeat coursing her veins as she stalked toward his room. The door was shut fully. Lori rolled her eyes, starting to feel her patience being tested. Putting the bowl down on a nearby table, she went for the handle and pushed the door open. ”Carl, how many times have we told you to keep this door open-“ Lori's voice was tense as she gripped the knob and put her other hand on the frame. 

 There, under the blankets, Lori heard him sniffling. “Oh, no, baby," her demeanor instantly changed from annoyed to worried as she rushed into her son's room and fell beside him, wrapping him up in her arms. Carl turned into his mother's chest and cried as she rubbed his back, pressing a few kisses to his head. 

"He'll make it through this, baby, I promise.“ Lori pulled back a little to look at her young son's distraught, tear-strained face, her slender fingers gently pushing back his dark hair soothingly. “I miss him, mom, I miss him so much. I want him to come home,“ Carl cried. It broke Lori's heart to see her baby in so much pain. But she shared that pain with her little man. "Your daddy's gonna come home, I know he will.“ Lori kissed Carl's head again as he continued to cry. Her eyes fluttered shut as her heart ached for her son, tears of her own, streaming down her cheeks as she cried silently while her son cried himself to sleep. 

 As his little sobs started to die down, and Carl was finally asleep, Lori slipped off the bed. She pulled his blanket up to his shoulders and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek before she left his room. 

 Gently, she shut the door just a little and wiped her eyes the best she could before snatching up the bowl and continued to clean it with the towel. 

 Just as she was heading back into the kitchen, there was a rapid knock on the front door. She jumped at the unexpected sound, glancing at the clock on the wall. Who the hell is that at this hour? Instead of heading into the kitchen to put the bowl away and the towel back, she went to the entryway. The knocking came again, this time a little louder. "I'm coming!“ She snapped, her voice a little hushed.

Unlocking the door, Lori flipped the foyer light switch on before she pulled the antique wicker handle, her eyes furious as she pulled the door open, her hair flying back from the force of her pull. "Shane?! Do you have any idea what time it is?! Carl’s asleep!“ She hissed, her eyes furious, but also full of sorrow and pain - a clear indication that she'd been crying.

Summer in Georgia was always hot and disgusting.  It wasn't’ the heat that made it so gross, but the humidity just lingered, making it feel hotter than it actually was.  And today was one of those days.  A day like this where Lori wished they installed the pool when they bought the house - that was a mutual decision though, knowing that neither of them would actually go in it.  And actually cleaning the thing in the summer put another chore on her shoulders.  Not that she minded doing such things around the house, but a pool was definitely one of those things they didn’t need.  Except maybe today.

Running out of the bathroom with her damp head from her midmorning shower, Lori’s feet padded against the wooden floor of the hallway as she headed toward the kitchen.  The smoke alarm was blaring, going off wildly at 11 am without any concern for those in the house.  “Dammit,” Lori coughed as she waved some of the smoke out of her face while she tried to get to the oven.  Leaning over the sink, Lori cranked the window wide open and tried to fan some of the smoke out of the house.  Coughing still, she went to the oven and shut it off before she grabbed oven mitts and pulled open the door to take out the extra crispy cinnamon rolls.

After she’d opened a few more windows and got most of the smoke out, Lori knocked on Carl’s bedroom door, pushing it open.  The alarms finally stopped blaring.  He was sitting in front of his tv screen with headphones in playing video games.  Lori clenched her jaw.  “Carl,” she said sternly, folding her arms over her chest.  Carl paused his game before he turned and pulled his headphones down.  “Morning,” he said in a tired ten year old voice.  “Didn’t I ask you to take those out twenty minutes ago?” Her eyes were disappointed as she looked at him.  Carl shrugged.  “I forgot.” Was all he gave her.  Lori ran a hand through her hair as she nodded before she just walked away and went to go finish getting ready for this party.

Sometimes she wished Rick didn’t work so much, sometimes she wished things were different between them - better, like they used to be.

But, those were thoughts for a different time.  

As the doorbell rang, Lori greeted her friends and neighbors with a smile, a light touch of makeup, her long hair pinned back as she took the food and wine when it was handed to her.  It was just a small beginning of summer kind of party the Grimes home always hosted.  Carl was running around with his friends out back in the yard.  Some of the men were drinking beers already and even taking control over the barbecue.  Rick wasn't going to mind.

Lori carried the food into the kitchen and set it in the oven, just as the doorbell rang again.  Her blue and white summer dress flowed quickly behind her as her sandals stopped near the front door for their next guest, hoping Rick would be home soon.

Lori’s hands shook as she stared at the phone.  She couldn’t do this.  Taking in a breath, her eyes closing briefly as she put the phone on the nearby table and fell into the seat.

They’d just gotten home from the hospital to see Rick. Carl could barely stand he was so distraught, and Lori - she could hardly breathe since the moment Shane came to Carl’s school to tell her.  Shane drove them to the hospital because Lori knew there was no way she’d be able to drive herself or Carl safely.

As Lori looked down to her phone again, she closed her eyes and let out a soft breath before she dialed Lena’s number.  Her eyes flicked to the clock just above the doorway, checking the time in case her eldest child would be in class or not.  Lori waited for Lena to answer.  When she didn’t the first time, Lori sighed and ended the call.  She waited a moment again before she called back - still getting her voicemail.

This time, the frantic mother left a message. “Lena...call me.  Now. Please”.

for : send me a ♥ and I’ll fill out @wexarethewalkingxdead​ (Shane) asked

If we kissed?

[] Quickie. [] Tongue. [] Softly bite your lip. [x] We wouldn’t. [] Long and meaningful. [] Let’s hit up the bedroom. [] You remember last time?                    [x] Awkward… [x] Lol no.

Would I go out with you?

[] Yes, definitely. [] No. [] I want to, but it wouldn’t work. [] Maybe. [x] Nope, you’re like family. [x] You’re cute, but probably not. [] Just simply not my type. [] If I knew you better. [] Already did. [] I don’t know.

If we took a picture together, we’d be…

[x] Hugging each other. [x] Just chilling. [] Holding hands. [] Kissing. [] Acting dumb. [x] Normal picture. [] You holding me from behind.

You are…

[] Cute/Pretty. [x] Good looking. [] Sexy. [] All of the above

You + me + room = …

[x] Movies. [] Cuddling. [x] Hanging out. [] Kissing. [x] Playing games. [] Everything. [] Wouldn’t let you in.

You should…

[] Hit me up. [] Be mine. [] Marry me. [] Reblog this so I can send you a heart.     [] be studying

If we got married, I’d…