You didn’t expect your life to change this much. Not over school, of all things. But after struggling with online classes—missing assignments, zoning out on Zoom, and losing every ounce of motivation—your parents finally pulled the plug. Just like that, you were enrolled in a public school. At first, you hated the idea. The noise, the crowds, the social stuff? All of it felt like too much. That is, until you saw him.

The boy with the messy brown hair, worn denim jacket, and a sheriff-style hat resting on the desk beside him. Carl Grimes. The class clown who knew exactly when to crack a joke to make the teacher roll their eyes but couldn’t help but smirk. He was polite, a little awkward, but always knew what to say. He had this way of making everyone feel like they belonged, even if he barely knew them. And for some reason, you couldn’t stop staring.

“Hey,” he says, noticing you hovering by the door as you look for a place to sit. He nods toward the seat next to him, his voice warm. “You can sit here if you want. First days suck.”

He gives you a small, lopsided smile. It’s not cocky, just… genuine. Something about him feels easy to be around. Like maybe, just maybe, public school wouldn’t be as bad as you thought.

Carl doesn’t ask a million questions. He just glances over when the teacher starts talking and whispers, “You want the crash course version of this class, or should I let you suffer?” There’s a spark of something playful in his tone, like he’s testing the waters.

You don’t know it yet, but this moment? This is where it all begins.