AUTHOR'S NOTE:

hey everybody,

so i know I haven't updated this story in a while so my apologies. I really love the reviews I've been getting and I would love it if ya'll left more! ( I especially love the descriptions of the reactions you guys get after reading a chapter) I've had this chapter laying around for the past few months but for some reason I didn't post it. So keep leaving me reviews so I don't forget to write. Thanks!

Carl's POV

"Get up." My father says as he kicks my foot. It's still dark outside and the only light in the room is coming from his flashlight.

"What time is it?" I ask.

"It's early. Now get up."

"Why?"

"You want to be a big man? Stay out and do your own thing like a big man? Well now it's time to work like a big man. Get up. Meet me downstairs in two minutes."

I wipe a hand down my face, and try to bring my exhaustion with it. There is practically no light in the room, but I can see the outline of Riley, she glows like that. I wish I didn't have to leave right now, but I do. I carefully pull my arm out from underneath her head, trying not to wake her.

I put my hat back on along with my jacket.

"Carl?" Riley asks. "Where are you going?"

"I'm in trouble with my dad, meaning I have to get up early to do whatever chores he needs done."

She sits up. "I'll help."

"No, he won't let you." I say as I touch her cheek. "Just go back to sleep, okay?"

I kiss her forehead and give her a quick hug before I race down the stairs to do whatever my father has planned for me.

"Waste bucket duty? You've got to be kidding me." I say as I stare into the bathroom.

My father smiles a real smile. "Nope. We don't have plumbing, Carl. This has got to go somewhere."

Now I am literally on my knees begging. "Please, please, please. I beg of you. Don't make me do this." Yeah, he is enjoying this way too much. "I'll be a good child. I won't run off again."

"Have fun." He says, and walks off to his cell to go back to sleep.

Okay, how bad could this be? I think as I walk in to collect the first two bucket. All I've gotta do is take each of these buckets, empty them into the fertilizer pile, wash them out, and put them back. But as I pick up the first bucket, it the smell hits me.

"Oh my God." I gag.

Riley's POV

I wake up just as the sun starts to rise and the sky has turned to an ombre sort of color. And all I can do is just smile and laugh, because for the first time in a while, I feel as if the world is spinning on.

I can smell the autumn in the air as I step outside. I can also feel it. The air has grown chillier and I have to pull my flannel around myself even tighter to stay warm.

I race up to the prison with both Carl and my packs, but I stop once I reach the courtyard. Michonne is standing by the basketball hoops shaking. I run up, thinking something might be wrong, but nothing is. She isn't shaking, she's laughing. Or at least she's trying to conceal it.

"Michonne?" I ask as I place the packs on the ground. She notices me. "What's so funny?"

"Carl." She says simply. She points to where Carl is carrying two buckets. "Rick put him on Waste Bucket Duty." She laughs.

Carl is gagging as he dumps and washes out the buckets. It's not even that funny, but if you've ever been around somebody laughing hysterically, then you know it's impossible to not join in.

We try to sober up our laughter as Carl comes back up the hill, but seeing Carl with a pouty face makes me break, and soon Michonne and I are both doubled over in laughter.

Carl approaches us. "It's not funny." He says seriously. "You try carrying two buckets of shit and God knows what else."

I straighten up as best I can. "Oh no. I'm fine thanks." I sniff. "Carl?"

"What?"

"You smell like shit." I laugh, and that's it. Michonne has lost it. Carl takes a step closer and I take a step back. "Oh no, no, no, no. You are not something I want to smell like."

Carl smiles. "Too bad."

I turn to run, but Carl grabs me from behind and wraps his arms around me. "Ahh," I laugh. "Carl, you smell so bad!"

"What did you say?" his voice coated in laughter as I try to wrestle away. I can feel his breath on my neck.

"I said you smell like shit!" I gag.

Carl starts to tickle my sides as he laughs. "Really? I wonder why."

"Will you two hush up before you wake up the entire prison?" Michonne says with amusement in her voice.

Carl laughs one more time before kissing my cheek. I push him away. "Go take a shower." I laugh.

He picks up the buckets and bows. "Anything for milady."