Hello

by SweetpeasHat

Summary:

Clementine has recently been placed in Ericson's boarding school to "deal with her trauma". Title is based off Evanescence's song of the same name so take that as you will.

Notes:

I know I just said I was busy in school but the creative bug bit me so I had to share this. Please enjoy and we'll talk after the read.
Edit: As of Oct. 30th, this chapter will be revised and changed cuz it was super rushed on my part. idk how updates work after you edit a work but hopefully you guys get the memo.
Edit: Ok, i've changed a few things and gave some descriptions. If you've read this before, I'd still give it a quick reread. Thanks for being patient and hopefully I'll get a new chapter out soon!

Chapter 1: Who's the New Girl?

The usually busy hallways of Ericson were empty, save for a few stragglers that were slow at their lockers. A few conversations could be heard while friends waited for others to stop yapping to the teachers or collect their lunches from their lockers. The vacant hallways summoned the janitors to take to the floor, clearing it of any balled-up wads of paper and discarded rubbish that never made it to the trash can. 

Louis leaned on the locker with his elbow as he stared across the hall, eyes locked with a mysterious beauty. Pools of gold happened to glance his way, making him turn into a blushing mess, though she wouldn't notice. The owner of the golden eyes didn’t look for long, too busy trying to figure out how she was going to cram all her new textbooks into a tiny locker. She tucked a curly lock of brunette hair behind her ear before she ducked her head behind the metal door to rummage through the confined space. 

“Shit.” A curse echoed from the locker beside him, making him remember where he was. A blonde surfaced with a scowl that seemed permanently stuck to her face. She held up a Ziploc bag containing a rotting sandwich to the boy, who recoiled at the smell, before she chucked it in the waste bin, “When I find Mitch, he’s fucking dead.”

“Why would he even put that in your locker?” The taller teen asked.

“I don’t know, because he’s an asshole?” She shrugged, “In all seriousness, he said something about needing a quick place to put it and forgetting he put it in there.”

“But it’s your locker and it’s had to have been there for what, 3 weeks? Do you even use that thing?” He knocked on the metal.

The blonde answered with another shrug before slamming the locker. She swung her bookbag over her shoulder before starting to walk towards the dining hall. She got about halfway when she realized an annoying voice wasn’t following her and telling her an unfunny joke. Instead, she heard something worse; Louis’ attempts at flirting.

“Hey new girl, having trouble with your locker?” 

“Name’s not new girl. It’s Clementine.” The locker door slammed, causing the tall flirt to stumble back. “I think I’ve got it just about handled. Thanks though.”

The tall teen raked his fingers through his locs as he flashed her a bright white smile, “Pretty name for a pretty girl. Question is, are you as sweet as an actual clementine?”

She snorted, having found his flirtatious to be ludicrous, but still, she decided to play along, “I don’t know. Must have been pretty rotten to be sent here.”

“Pretty, yes. Rotten… um, still to be seen.” This time the girl snorted as she tried to hide the amusement on her face. 

Clementine put her bookbag on her back, carefully grabbing her hair and placing it on the other shoulder before the straps of the bag pulled them. Once the bag was secure, she flipped the curls, causing it to fall a little past her shoulders. Now situated, she stood awkwardly for a moment while she waited for him to move or at the very least, do something other than stare. “Um, bye?" She said curtly before scootching past him.

The boy snapped out of his trance, "W-wait! Don't you wanna know my name?"

"Uh, ok...what's your name?" She asked, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

“Louis, but my friends call me Lou.” He tugged at the collar of his flannel and flashed her another award-winning smile. It dropped when he heard someone release a snide command.

“Louis, stop harassing the new girl.” Violet then appeared beside him. Looking annoyed as usual, she casually crossed her arms over her chest.

The brunette looked between the two before a smirk appeared on her face. She referenced to the newcomer as she joked, “She didn't call you Lou. I take it she’s not a friend?”

“Nope, she's actually my best friend.” He slings an arm over the blonde's shoulder. 

“Yeah, not even close.” Violet grimaces and plucks his arm off. She crossed her arms again, “That honor goes to that brain dead football player who’s probably wondering where we’re at. Let's go.”

She started to walk away but the boy stopped her, “Don't be so rude, Vi. Say hello to my new friend.” He noticed the brunette’s eyebrows furrowed with skepticism but ignored it. He animatedly gestured between the two girls, “Clementine, this is Violet. I promise you she's only an asshole when she hasn't had her food.” 

“Fuck off.” Violet flips him off without a second though. Seeing as Louis has already introduced her, she found no need to give Clementine a greeting and she turned on her heel to leave. “It's chicken nugget day and I'm not missing that to watch you flirt.”

Her attempts to get food had been spoiled once more by long lanky arms wrapping around her shoulder. He pulled her aside, shooting Clementine a smile before whispering in the blonde’s ear, “You can’t leave now Violet. I need you as my wingman.”

“I'm not your wingman.”

“Ok, then. Wing woman if you want to be inclusive, but I still need you.” 

Violet’s arms found themselves crossed over her chest for the third time within the past five minutes. It was a new record. She let out a groan, “For what?”

“Playful banter.” Louis smiles, happy that she’s entertaining his foolishness, "You say something snarky and cynical, I respond with humor then the cute girl laughs.”

Clementine, who was totally not listening in on their conversation, stifled back a laugh. Realizing she was caught, she faked a cough and looked down towards her feet.

Louis smirked, “Point and case.”

The blonde corrects him, “Case and point, dumbass.” As the growls from her stomach grew louder, as did her anger, “Ok, I’ll be your wingman, but can we please go to the cafe.” 

The boy excitedly nodded in agreement before turning back to the new girl. He bowed dramatically, “This way, Madame.”

Confusion was stuck on her face as Clementine seemed to struggle to understand the tall goof and his very theatrical personality. His smile seemed genuine, and she noticed how it grew whenever she let out any sound that resembled a laugh. Key word: seem. This Louis, seemed chill, he seemed nice, but Clementine reminded herself of one very important detail; he's a still a boy. Boys have eyes for one thing, and he made that very clear during his introduction. She'd play along for now, seeing as he was the only student that acknowledged her without snickering, but she'd still keep her guard up. Beside she's not here for friends or relationships. She's here to get better- whatever that entails and get home as soon as possible.

As the trio walked down the hallway, Clementine dared a glance at the seemingly always angry girl. Her long ashy blonde hair, that stopped at her shoulder blades, was cut into a layered shag. Her fringed bangs grew out on the sides, highlighting her strong cheek bones and bringing more attention to her prasiolite eyes, which were more prominent due to her smokey and glittery eyeshadow. Under her plump powder pink lips, were a pair of snake bite piercings that gave her face even more of an edge. The girl was admittedly very pretty, and Clementine couldn't help but blush as she felt her glance turn into a stare. Sensing the pair of brown eyes that were now burning into the side of her face, Violet's eyes narrowed, and she shot a glare towards the perpetrator. Embarrassed at being caught starring, Clementine went to slow her pace, but the sound of the blonde's husky voice stopped her, "I take it no one told you we only wear uniforms on certain days."

The group's pace slowed as the leaders looked back on the newcomer, assessing her clothing choice. Clementine then looked down at her outfit and grimaced with ever-growing embarrassment. The deep red blazer had accents of gold and white with the school emblem patched onto the chest. Her black pleated skirt fell well below her knees and damn near to her ankles.

Louis pointed at her out-of-reg footwear, "Though I love the individuality, the headmaster doesn't. You'll get in trouble if they see you traded in your loafers for chucks."

"Oh yeah." With attention now at her feet, she nervously pulled her skirt down to cover them. She eked out an excuse, "I'm still not used to the schedule, so I woke up late. My roommate wasn't there to let me know about the uniform thing."

All day she's heard whispers and snickers from the other kids and knew they were all giggling about her being in uniform. She thought she could just blend into the background and not bring too much attention to herself but there was no such luck. She looked to her classmates and checked their attire. At first glance, it looked as if Louis dressed more causally with his fern green flannel, cream cotton shirt and plain boot cut jeans but upon closer inspection, Clementine noticed that he had expensive taste. A Rolex watch that was hidden just underneath his flannel, accompanied by the Louis Vuitton belt that peaked from his partially tucked in shirt and Gucci sneakers, told her that just like his personality, his choice of clothing was also extravagant. Violet's style was a little more alternative with her dressed in a hooded jean vest with a dark purple long sleeved shirt underneath it, dark ripped jeans and a studded belt that was used as an accessory rather than for its functionality. Her shoes had seen better days, as the checkered Vans looked faded and washed out. She also wore a couple of colorful thin bracelets and rings on each arm and hand, and her dark blue nails were chipped.

Violet grabbed Clementine's attention once more and successfully stopped her analysis of the other teens' clothing. She smirked, "Apparently, she couldn't tell you about the difference in the normal uniform and the winter one." 

Though it was mid-October, it had yet to get cold enough for the winter uniform; just another thing Clementine didn't account for when getting ready this morning. "Oh, I'm always covered like this...I'm, uh...I'm anemic." She sputtered out, hoping her lie wasn't obvious.

The confession caused both pair of eyes to widen and the taller of the two sent an elbow to the other. The blonde muttered out before stuffing her hands in her pants pockets, "Shit, sorry."

The trio continued to walk but it wasn’t in blissful silence like Violet had hoped. Nope, Louis was laying it on thick and to add salt to the wound, the new girl was actually laughing. Sure, some of them classified as chuckles or giggles but she still found his shenanigans amusing and it only encouraged him to continue. Violet tried her best to tune him out, but he was asking questions that she wanted to know the answers to, so sadly, she couldn’t block him out entirely. He had asked if she was single, in which she played it cool and avoided the question by asking one of her own.

“So let me guess, you're the charmer of the group?” Clementine’s once guarded wall seemed to come down slightly as she played along with the boy’s silly antics.

Violet couldn’t help but scoff and roll her eyes, “There's nothing charming about him.”

“Are you kidding?” Louis feigned offense, “I'm Prince Charming, thank you very much. I’m filled with so much charm, I've got it coming out my-”

“Yeah, that's very charming.” Violet retorts, and Clementine snorts, in turn making the blonde smirk, somewhat happy she got her to laugh. She liked the sound of her laugh, but only if it’s from her more meanspirited jokes. Violet continued at the boy’s expense, “He’s more of the group’s jester than any kind of royalty.”

Not pleased with being dissed or the fact that it made Clementine laugh, Louis cut in, “Anyways, where you from new girl?”

“Clementine and I’ve moved a couple of times but I’m originally from Georgia.”

Equipped with a heavy accent, Louis jokingly mocked, “Ooh a true southern beauty.”

Violet let out a loud groan, “If you say something about her being pretty one more time, I'm gonna throw up.”

“Oh, come on Vi, you're a lady lover. You're telling me Clementine isn't the prettiest thing to walk these halls?”

Her eyes widened at the realization of being outed to the new girl, by her loudmouthed idiotic friend. Unaware of his slip up, he turned Violet, so the two girls now faced each other.

Despite her tries to avoid those warm honey eyes, Violet locks eyes with Clementine. She expects the same disgusted looks she receives from the girls that know her "dirty" little secret but instead she's greeted with a shy smile and an awkward wave. The blonde feels the blood rush to her face, and she quickly pulls away from Louis, “I'm not saying she's not pretty.” She sputters, “I’m just tired of you constantly mentioning it. I'm sure there's more to her than just her face.”

“Oooh, so you mean like her laugh?” Clementine giggles again causing Louis' smile to grow and Violet to roll her eyes. Thankfully, the cafeteria was in reach and the chatter of teenage drivel could now drown out the obnoxious flirting.

Chapter 2: What ya in for?

Summary:

Clementine means the gang.

Notes:

*Does the butterfly meme* Is this, a new chapter? Also just a few announcements! I don't know if I mentioned this but you could probably already tell but the updates on this fic will be slow. I'm not only working on another fic, but I'm in college and I'm still working on the outline of this fic. Lastly, I decided to fix the tag for Clem/Vi only. If you were here for some Clouis, get tf outta here! Jk, you can stay lol but seriously I love writing about this hunched back lesbian too much. That's not a snub to Louis; he is super cool too but something about w|w relationships speaks to me more. Anyways, hope you enjoy!

“So, what you in for, new girl?” A boy with a punk rock style, reddish brown hair and black studs asked.

Clementine placed her tray down, deciding to take a seat in between her new classmates, Violet and Louis. 

“What ever happened to just saying hello?” She asked herself in her head. 

The large circular table she found herself at was full of other teens she assumed to be Louis’ friends. Next to the dreadhead, was another teen with an awfully unique haircut that resembled a dead cat and the teen that had asked her the question. Next to him, was a girl with shoulder length auburn hair and a chubby girl with long red hair pulled into a French braid. 

“What is this; prison?” Violet asked sarcastically.

“Have you seen the food?” The bad haircut showed them his bowl of gray mush, making the others look at theirs as well, "If it’s not a prison then I don’t know what is.”

“That's why you get the nuggets, dumbass.” Violet said before popping one in her mouth.

“Anyways, new girl, what’s your story?” The auburn girl asked, her voice laced with a slight country twang.

“Don’t call her new girl. She doesn’t like that.” Louis whispered jokingly as he gave the brunette a soft nudge. He smiled at her, “Her name is Clementine.”

“Yeah, and I’m not sure how I feel disclosing my “issues” to strangers.” Her once warm demeanor seemed to turn cold, and her walls of distrust built back up. 

A rough pale hand that belonged to the teen with the bad haircut and scrappy facial hair, reached over Louis’ food, waiting to be shook, “Name’s Marlon.”

Clementine hesitated to reach out, afraid that her sleeve might ride up and expose her scar. After a few moments of her just staring, Marlon retreated and cleared his throat to shake off the awkward failed interaction. 

Thankfully, fixing awkward moments were Louis’ specialty. He jokes, “No one wants to touch your grimy sausage fingers, dude. Who knows where they've been.”

This got a chuckle from the group and seemed to ease some of the tension. The girl with the short auburn hair spoke, “I’m Brody.”

Then the soft faced redhead spoke, “Ruby.”

“And I’m Mitch.” Said the first teen with the pierced ears, “Now back to my question. You look decent enough. What’d you do to end up here?”

Clementine felt her face get hot as she tried to think of an appropriate way to explain her situation. She just met these people, so she didn't want to disclose her reasons for being here in fear she’d scare them off. Then again, they seemed welcoming, nonjudgmental and not easily frightened. To be honest, she figured they've probably done worse from the nonchalant way Mitch asked. His tone suggested a challenge, actually, like he was trying to size her up. 

She pondered for a second before settling on what she thought to be an acceptable answer, “I got in a fight.”

 “That’s it? They sent you to a school for troubled youth because you got in a fight?” Mitch asked, suspicion in his voice and eyes.

Clementine shrugged as she played with her mystery mush, "Among other things but yeah pretty much. This was their last straw.”

“Those other things being?” Louis pushed the question further.

Clementine looked up at the others who shared the same curious faces. She let out a deep sigh, “It's on a need-to-know basis and I don't think you need to know.”

“Well, we kinda do if you're tryna hang with us.” Mitch started, his serious expression quickly melting into a smirk, “I mean if it came down to it, I know I can hold my own and everyone knows not to fuck with Ruby but Louis…”

“Hey!”

Clementine paused her playtime with her food to lock eyes with the tall boy across from her, “Trust me, I don't attack unless provoked." Her eyes went back to her food as she mumbled, "She had it coming.”

Before anyone could ask, more teens appeared. Two more redheads joined their trays on the table, along with a round darker skinned boy and a lean boy with a goatee and a book. The taller of the nearly identical redheaded girls shot Clementine a cold glare before making her way behind her. Holding the tray with one hand, she jabbed her painted nail into Clementine’s shoulder, “You’re in my seat.” Her voice was everything but nice.

Brown eyes narrowed as they scaled the taller girl. She had shorter hair than the other redhead, with one side of her head being buzzed and the rest of her hair ending at her chin. Her face could set off a metal detector with the eyebrow and lip piercings as well as various studded piercings that lined her ears. Like Violet, she wore dark makeup which contrasted with the bright blue of her cold eyes.

“Assigned seats? Isn’t that a little elementary?” Clementine asked with an attitude. Under the table, she clenched her fist, ready for things to get ugly. Then she thought about the warning given to her by Carley, then Lee and then the multiple warnings she got from faculty. Her fists uncurled and she instead gripped her skirt.

The girl still stood over her and smirked devilishly. It was as if Clementine’s action of fighting back ignited something in her. Clementine couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but her gut told her to be cautious. This wasn’t Richmond. And this time, Lee couldn’t bail her out if things turned ugly.

“Minnie, be nice. I told you she was my new roommate.” The other twin warned before looking at Clementine, “Also, sorry if you were late today and about the uniform thing. I tried waking you up, but you wouldn’t budge.”

Clementine looked up at the longer haired girl in realization. She’d seen her roommate during move-in but to be honest, with everything going on that day, she wasn’t paying her much attention. While everyone was already here since the beginning of the school year, Clementine just moved in. She was so busy unpacking and dealing with her new reality, that she didn’t bother giving her roommate so much as a passing glance. She does however remember waking up that morning in a rush and falling out of bed.

Clementine went to give her roommate a smile to show her there was no ill held against her, but Minnie's hip slammed into her, wiping any show of joy, clean from her face. Minnie spoke to make up for Clementine's newfound irritated silence, “Calm down, Soph. I was just testing her.” The two held eye contact until Minnie took her seat across from her where the two continued their staring contest. The redhead looked down at the other girl’s hands, “Tacky fingerless gloves aren’t apart of the uniform, just by the way.”

The boy next to the curly haired brunette whooped like a siren, “Look out guys! It’s the fashion police!” After Minnie was silenced by the chuckles Louis elicited, he changed the subject, “Anyways, I see you’ve already met Sophie, seeing as she’s your roommate. Luckily for you, she's the nice twin.” He watched as Minnie flipped him off, “Case and point. Tall asshole over here is Minnie, even though she's everything but.”

She looked between the twins and without having a conversation could tell the two couldn’t be more different. Minnie, who already gave Clementine the idea that she was going to be a problem, wore a black bomber jacket with various buttons on the chest with a black band shirt underneath, faded ripped jeans and worn-out combat boots. Sophie had a more artsy and welcoming look to her but still held traits of a more rugged character. 

Her long hair was pulled back into a long ponytail, and it had light orange and reds mixed in, making her hair look like flames. She had a couple of extra piercings that traveled along her ear, and she wore light pink makeup. She wore a pink hoodie tee with white stripes that ran along the bottom. Her jeans looked more distressed than her sister’s with it being covered with old washed-out paint splotches. And although the two were different, they shared a colorful bracelet; one that also resembled the one Violet wore.

Ruby cut off Clementine’s observations in order to gush about her boyfriend, Aasim. Minus the growing blush from the embarrassment, the boy seemed well put together with this well-groomed black hair and collared tucked in shirt. His simple tech watch glistened under the fluorescent lights, as he tried to bring attention to the nameless boy next to him. Omar waved and introduced himself. He gave a smile but not much else. Like Aasim, he wore a similar outfit and there wasn’t much to him that made him stand out besides a couple of Band-Aids on his fingers.

“So, what brings you here?” Aasim asked once the laughter of the group and his blush died down.

“She beat someone up.” Marlon answered for her in between chewing his food.

Sophie’s eyebrows quirked up in confusion but after she locked eyes with her roommate, her face changed into an emotion Clementine couldn’t quite understand. What she did feel was a sense of shame wash over her, which was weird considering she didn’t know Sophie well enough for her to have this effect on her. The curly haired girl looked away and towards the other twin who looked at her, unconvinced.

“Really, that's it?” Minnie asked.

“Yeah, it is.” Clementine was tired of having this conversation and wanted to steer it in another direction, so she asked, “Enough about me. What are y’all here for? I’m assuming since y’all are so friendly that you’ve been here for some time. Must’ve done something pretty…spectacular.”

“You’d assume right,” Minnie said, pointing her plastic knife towards the brunette, “so don’t fuck with us.”

“Minnie.” Her twin warned again.

“I’m just teasing! Lighten up!”

Mitch raised his hand, effectively getting everyone’s attention, “Ok, well I just like to blow shit up and punch people.” He leaned his elbows on the table with a smug grin that danced across his face.

Her amber eyes scanned the rest of the group, looking for anyone else that was willing to share. Her eyes laid on Omar, who had quietly been eating his food that looked suspiciously better than everyone else's. He put his fork down, “I killed a man. With this thumb.” 

Clementine’s eyes widened before they narrowed with slight irritation. She looked to the others for confirmation and was shocked and somewhat scared by how they all causally nodded in agreement. She looked back at Omar who had went back to eating as if the most asinine thing didn’t just come out his mouth. She knew there was no way it was true and just deduced his reason to be an inside joke. It was just something to scare the new meat.

Clementine looked over to the blonde who’s tray was now clean, “Uh, how about you, Violet?” 

The loudmouth to her left let out an obnoxious noise that sounded like a gameshow buzzer. He answered for Violet, “Sorry, bud but you’ve got to have a friendship level of 100 to get her story. Not me though. I’m an open book.”

“Ok then, why were you sent here,” she asked through gritted teeth, trying not to let her irritation show.

“I didn’t finish. I’m an open book after the first date.” He wiggled his eyebrows, and leaned his elbow on the table, “So, what do you say, you, me and a fancy dinner by candlelight?”

The group erupted with oohs and awws, some groaned and some even giggled while Marlon and Mitch cheered him on. All eyes were on her and Clementine couldn't help but blush. Sure, she thought Louis was cute and charming, but she did not like to be put on the spot and the boy was laying it on thick. Asking her on a date literal minutes after they met, was a little concerning. Either he was desperate, he fell too easily or he's the type of boy that just wanted a few extra notches on his belt. 

She tried keeping a cool head and calmly asked, “I thought we were supposed to stay on campus?”

“If we’re cleared with good behavior or have a job, the shuttle will take us into town. Get back before curfew and you’re golden.” Marlon’s arm grappled Louis’ neck and pulled him closer, “You’ll have such a good time with my boy Lou, that you won't want to come back.” 

Clementine watched as the boy and his friends, who were very active participants, waited for her answer. She lowkey hoped that Violet would step in. She seemed like the type to speak up when someone was uncomfortable, but the blonde just sat smirking. Her eyes laughed and basically told Clementine she was too entertained to stop the madness that was Louis shooting his shot. Again.

With no help in sight, Clementine coughs out an excuse, “It’s just, I kinda just got here and you won’t even tell me why you get sent here. What if you’re some kind of woman abuser?”

Brody pauses her eating to let out a small laugh, “Does this jokester give you that impression? Louis wouldn’t hurt a fly. Marlon on the other hand…”

“Hey, this aggression helped Ericson get how many championships?” Marlon brags, “Tch, they better be lucky their therapists are shit, otherwise we’d have a losing streak a mile long.”

“Didn’t you say you got sent here for fighting, Mike Tyson? I’m sure you can take Louis the stringbean.” Minnie added.

“Either way,” Clementine starts, “I rather not take that risk. Besides, my dad doesn’t want me dating right now. Wants me to focus on “getting better”.”

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Louis joked as he continued in his attempts to persuade her.

“I’m more afraid he'd hurt you.” she clarifies.

Ever since she fell into his care, Lee was very protective. When Clementine's little league coach became too friendly, she was pulled from the team, and the coach received a black eye, busted lip and a restraining order. When it turned out the neighbor turned friend Gabriel García wanted to be more than friends, Lee was there to throw him out the house like Jaz from Fresh Prince. He chaperoned every school dance, employed Aj to spy on every tutoring session and made sure every boy within a ten-mile radius knew her dad and knew his strength. She found it admirable but at the same time, she felt like he couldn't trust her to make the right decisions. Not that she had to worry about boys and dating anymore anyways. After the accident, she learned she was better off alone.

Aasim looked up from his book, finally decided to contribute to the conversation, “Dude, have you seen her dad? Guy looks like he’s pushing 50 and still lifts. He’d knock your scrawny ass out.”

The group laughed but Louis continued to stare, in hopes of getting an answer. Clementine avoided his gaze and asked Aasim, “Wait, you’ve seen my dad?”

“Yeah, I help out in the main office sometimes and saw him at registration. I’m sure he’s a nice guy but I can tell he doesn’t play when it comes to you.”

“Pssh, you don’t know the half of it.”

“UH! Enough about the new girl!” Minnie groaned, “Let’s talk about something exciting, like the Winter Ball. Who’s taking who and all that.”

The group then fell into mindless chatter. Some even broke off into little groups and had private conversations. Now that the spotlight was off of her, Clementine took the opportunity to eat. Just as the food touched her taste buds, her tongue retreated back into her mouth. This so-called Salisbury steak was nothing like Lee’s. Where his was dry and overcooked, the school’s was sopping wet, which left her with all kinds of questions.

“Here,” A low feminine voice beside her spoke, “I was gonna eat them later, but it seems like you need them more than me.”

Clementine hesitated at first. She didn’t want to take the blonde’s food but the longer she held out, the louder her stomach growled. Wanting her stomach to shut up, she caved and accepted the snack. She flashed a quick smile, “I appreciate the save but I really could’ve used your help earlier.” Clementine nodded her head towards Louis who was loudly conversing over the table.

Violet smirked, “Are you kidding? Seeing Louis make a fool out of himself is the highlight of my day. Besides, you caused that all by yourself.”

“How?” She asked, before popping a Cheez-it in her mouth. 

“You laughed at his jokes. First mistake, ya noob.”

Clementine playfully rolled her eyes and continued to munch on the small gifted cheesy crackers. While she ate, she listened in on some of the chatter. The boys, Marlon and Mitch, were talking about some football game while Louis shouted over to Sophie and Minnie about some concert. Aasim had gone back to his reading while Ruby rested her head on his shoulder as she listened to Brody's fishing story. Much like her, Omar and Violet had just quietly watched the shenanigans unfold. After some time, she started to tune out the overlapping voices and the faces of the teens started to blur.

These teens seemed to have let her into the group and didn’t appear to have a disdain towards her. Well, Minnie did but there was always gonna be one hater. Besides her, the group seemed cool but this didn’t actually make Clementine ease up; it made her tense. She was weary of people, especially other teens. Her track record for friendships was never the best and she’d thought coming to Ericson would only worsen that fact.

For most of her life, Clementine has been a kind person, and she had been liked in school but never had real friends. They were more like faces that would come and go. She never knew if it was her or them, but she'd always had an invisible barrier that she couldn't break through when it came to connecting with her peers. For the longest time, it was only her and Duck, then eventually came Sarah and the García siblings. She liked them for the most part, with Duck being her closest friend but after some time, she would disappear. She wouldn’t want to text or hangout and would rather talk with the voices in her head than her friends. Though there were never any voices, just her thoughts and the heavy blanket of depression.

Her friends back home, at the very least, knew about some of her issues and what caused them. She didn’t have to hide or explain her behavior with them, but Ericson was a different story. Sure, this place was full of kids with their own set of unique problems, and she should have no reason to feel judged but something in her brain wouldn’t let her relax. It told her that these kids were just like the rest. They’d pick away at her insecurities, say things that hurt worse than physical blows. And the worst part? She couldn’t do a damn thing to defend herself. Clementine was warned from the very beginning; if she got into a physical altercation of any kind, her violence would be met with criminal punishment. That being juvie. 

When she was dropped off by her family, she didn’t say much to them. To be honest, she hadn’t said much to them for the past two years. After the accident, she’d disappear in her room or busy herself with the school work she’d missed during her recovery. The only person she really let in was her little goofball. He was the hardest to say goodbye to though it was the opposite when it came to Carley and Lee. She’d been furious they sent her here and even more upset at the words they exchanged days before her arrival. 

During the drop off, she’d only spoken to Aj and squeezed him til he damn near popped. She didn’t offer the same kindness to her guardians. She only nodded or shook her head when spoken to, which pissed Carley off a great deal but Clementine relished in her annoyance. She later begrudgingly let them hug her but not soon after, she was given a firm squeeze of the shoulder. Lee told her, “You get better, you get to come home.” Whether it was meant to be taken as a sign of encouragement or a warning, Clementine couldn’t tell, and she didn’t dare to ask.

“Earth to Clem- it’s cool if I call you that?” Light brown eyes, freckles she hadn’t noticed before and a bright smile now caught her attention. “Hey, it’s time to go, dizzy dreamer.”

When she looked around the table again, it was basically empty with the group now disbanded, their trays and untouched food abandoned into the trash and most of them waiting by the exit. She had been so deep in thought, that she hadn’t even heard the bell ring. Clementine blinked in an attempt to collect herself and thoughts before clearing her area as well.

“Know where ya headed?” The teen asked as the two walked towards the door. He walked with his hands behind his head in a nonchalant manner and took a few long strides as the shorter teenage girl next to him basically had to jog to keep up with him.

“AP Calculus with Mr.McGovern.” By time she answered, they had caught up to the group. They cringed, shook their heads and sighed in disapproval. Clementine let out a puff of frustration at their reaction, “Let me guess, he’s a super fun teacher who’s really chill, everyone loves him and he isn’t a major asshole?”

“Everything you described and then some. You’re gonna have a lovely time.” Minnie smiled and for once it seemed genuine, which made Clementine all the more worried about the teacher.

“I’m telling you, all the smart kids get punished in this school.” Aasim chimed in, “I have the same class. He’s an asshole all the time but an even bigger one when you’re late, so we should get a move on.”

“Sure Aasim, you’re being persecuted for your intelligence.” Mitch said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Violet smirked and now joined in on the conversation with her own joke, “Wow, you used two words that consists of more than two syllables in one sentence. That’s a new record for you.”

A joke that would have sent Clementine into a rage, seemed to roll off the taller teen’s back and the group shared a laugh. She wondered how long they knew each other and just how long they’d been here. She would’ve never let something like that slide, even if it was just harmless jokes amongst friends. Clementine was initially weary of these kids but maybe she could learn from them and if she found the time, maybe even befriend them.

Marlon now joined in, “Says the girl that just used “consists of” in a sentence. Who are you, my professor?” 

The group then laughed again but it was quickly cut off by Aasim, “I was dead serious about the asshole thing. It’s an hour of detention per minute of tardiness. We’ve really gotta go.”

He didn’t even bother to so much as wave to the group before dashing down the hall. Clementine followed in pursuit with another person she wasn’t expecting in tow. As they jogged, the dreadhead hummed and kept that same grin on his face. Aasim rolled his eyes, “Dude, isn’t your class in the other wing?”

“Hush, I’m not here for you. I’m here for darlin’ Clementine.”

“Very persistent, aren’t you?” Clementine asked slightly annoyed, “Look I’m sure you’re a nice guy and all but-”

He put his hands up in defense, “Hey, I’m done flirting. Don’t wanna be a pest.”

“Too late.” Aasim muttered.

“Pretending not to hear that.” Louis said to the other boy before turning back to Clementine, “I was just gonna invite you to hang out with the group on Friday.” He walked backwards through the hall, “They have movie night in the auditorium but we usually dip halfway through to hang out at the fire pit.”

She shook her head immediately, “No. I don’t do fires.”

“Ok, not a problem. We can hang out anywhere in the school. The music room is another place we chill if that’s more your style. You can also listen to me play piano. I’m basically black Mozart.” Louis yapped.

Maybe Violet was right and she opened up a can of something she wasn’t equipped to handle by laughing at his jokes. At that moment, they were funny and she hadn’t laughed in a long time. Had she known him to be so flirtatious and not having an off button, she wouldn’t have pushed on in the first place.

“Uh, maybe.” She answered curtly.

“A “maybe” doesn’t sound as good as a “yes” feels.”

“Louis, man, lay off.” Aasim warned, “I don’t think “harassing the new girl” is a valid excuse for being tardy.”

“You mean being a role model student by showing the new girl to her class?” He asked. “Besides, Ms.Sarita loves me and she doesn’t give detention.” 

“Look, I’ll think about it, ok? Still kinda trynna get settled in.” 

“Cool! Aasim will give you my number so you can text me if you want to be added to the group chat.”

“Ok, whatever, can you please leave now?” She hurried him.

He gave a cheesy salute and then nonchalantly walked through the crowded hall, presumably to his class.

Notes:

Thoughts and opinions are always appreciated! Catch you in the next update!

Chapter 3: In the Eye of the Beholder

Summary:

Clementine gets to see her family again for family weekend. She's not ready.

Notes:

Guys idk what I'm doing with this fic, bear with me.

The next two weeks go by faster than Clementine liked or expected and before she knew it, family weekend was only days away. She figured it was something she had forgotten but it was more than likely that it was information given to her by her guardians that she ignored due to her anger towards them. Either way, she wasn’t mentally prepared to see them. 

Since coming to Ericson and getting her affairs in order, she’s felt better, though it hurts to admit it. There were as many whispers at home as there were whispers in the hallways of Richmond High. All were out of concern, but Clementine still didn't like to be the subject of people’s conversations, and it hurt even worse to know it was coming from people she cared so much about. Deep down, she knew Carley and Lee just worry about her and given her past actions, they are right to be concerned. She just wishes it wasn’t at the cost of her freedom and independence. 

As much as she missed Aj, she wasn't ready to face her guardians to talk to him, seeing as he was only five and didn't know how to work the phone. Luckily for her, they would call her first. Every other night, they’d ring to ask about her day, if she was eating well and if she was fitting in, as if they were parenting from afar. Though this clingy behavior somewhat annoyed the teen, most of her friends found it endearing. From what she gathered from the other kids, they were envious at how much attention she was getting from her folks. Sophie, her roommate, gushed to the group about how often they called and how she found it cute. While the others groaned about how lucky she was, she mumbled something suggesting her parents were micromanaging from a distance. Another untrue truth she had told them, though one she did feel guilty of. 

After a couple of hangout sessions, she learned a little more about the other kids’ backgrounds and had come to the conclusion that like her, these weren't bad kids, just troubled or misguided youths that needed care and attention from qualified adults. Most if not all had issues that stemmed from family drama. Though she didn't fully disclose all her shortcomings, she had made them aware of her relatability when it came to troubled family ties, albeit hers was a little different. While their family squabbles were caused by abusive and neglectful parents, Clementine feared and believed she was the sole reason for all her familiar problems. This did interest the group, but she had refused to share any further information; she had already said too much.

---

Friday had fallen upon them once more and after completing her homework, she prepared to head down to the music room. It had become a two-week strong routine of hanging out with her new friends, though she was still iffy on gifting them the title. As she waited for Sophie to get ready, she gave herself a once over to make sure everything she wanted hidden, was properly covered. She donned her iconic yet tattered hat, as well as her red Brooklyn hoodie, oversized jeans, “tacky” fingerless gloves and busted converse. Satisfied, she waited, now sat on the edge of her bed and let her mind wander. Before she could get far into her daydream, a ring of the phone would pull her from it. 

Sophie gave her a knowing look and didn’t even bother to look at the caller id before handing the phone to her roommate. The teen sighed before answering the phone with an exhausted, “Hello?”

“Hey Sweetpea, how are you? Did you have a good day today?” Lee asked from the other end.

“Yeah, it was alright.”

Whenever he called, he would ask the same things and she would remind him that for the most part, nothing had changed. Especially since he called so often. Most times, the food was flavorless but was still edible. The students, other than Louis and his group, paid her no attention after her first week. The teachers were surprisingly not all assholes, except for Mr.Craver, the assistant principal that always scoured the halls giving any passing student a pink slip, and her math teacher Mr.McGovern, who was all too excited to pick on the new kid by questioning her intelligence. The most shocking part, and a detail she failed to mention to Lee, was that the therapy was tolerable.

Clementine hated therapy with a burning passion and has since she started when she was 9. She hated how they all shared their judgmental looks and snooty know-it-all attitudes. She’d had a few therapists in the past but Ms.Yvette had taken the cake for worst therapist that she ever had the displeasure of meeting. It was as if she tried prying the secrets and insecurities out of the teen’s mouth with a crowbar and then blamed Clementine’s unwillingness to cooperate on the teen herself. While she now had video sessions with Ms.Yvette, Ericson required one of their therapists to be assigned to students and Mr.Thomas just happened to be assigned to Clementine.  

His attitude was vastly different from her other therapists and Clementine attributed this to him being younger and less abrasive. Though Clementine warmed up to him rather quickly, she made sure not to let it show and kept her guard up. During introductions, he asked the typical therapist questions about her life, goals and her trauma but the way he worded his questions and the way he carried himself made Clementine feel at ease. Mr.Thomas made every session feel like a hangout more than a professional legally obligated chat and Clementine was grateful for that. Instead of having a therapist that poked and prodded and made her feel like she had a time-limit to getting better, Mr.Thomas had godsent patience and truly felt like he gave you the reins to let you control and dictate how you wanted to disclose your trauma.

“Well, we’re looking forward to seeing you this weekend. As you could imagine, Aj is very excited. He’s practically bouncing off the walls.”

The teen hummed in response as she looked over her and Sophie’s shared space. Her side wasn’t as heavily decorated as her artsy roommate and was the exact opposite. Clementine’s side was actually quite bare and dreary. Her parents had sent her things to decorate her room, such as whatever baseball awards and academic trophies survived the fire, but those ended up tucked under her bed. All her crutches, canes and mobility aids were hidden in the closet along with her photo album. The only things she displayed was a framed photo of their small family, a few pictures of her and Duck and a small Disco Broccoli plush given to her by Aj.  

“Have you looked into any extracurriculars or clubs yet? I saw they have photography, oh, and what about yearbook? I can bring your camera down this weekend if you'd like." He tried to excite her, "How about baseball? I saw they had a batting cage around there."

“No, I haven’t.” She answered plainly. This is how most of their conversations go; lots of talking and showing interest from them, and one-word answers from her. But since Mr.McGovern wasn’t a complete asshole today, she would be nice and give Lee a little more effort. “Um, I’m tutoring. It’s not official; just trying to help a friend out.”

It sounded like he rocketed off his seat with excitement at her response, “Oh really?! Um, I mean, that’s great Sweetpea! Which friend?”

She hesitated in her answer, confused on why saying the girl’s name to her father figure slightly caused a panic in her. She’d only been at Ericson for a few weeks and most of the group was still a mystery to her but something about the blonde-haired teen had Clementine intrigued. “Violet.” She answered rather quickly before saying, “We’re actually supposed to be hanging out now so…”

“Oh, I get it. Don’t let me hold you up; go be with your friends.”

Clementine looked over to see her roommate frantically waving her arms. When the brunette gave her a confused look, Sophie whisper-shouted, “Ask him about the fair!”

“Actually, before you go…there's this fall fair that's gonna be here this weekend. So I was wondering if you’d want to go to that? I mean, we don’t have to...it’s just a suggestion.”

During one of their casual hangouts, the fair was brought up by Brody. Clementine had heard people talking about it and seen the flyers, but she wasn’t really interested in going until she had a moment of realization. Like mentioned before, she wasn’t on the best terms with her folks, especially Carley. Spending a weekend with just them doing face paint and school approved activities was not something she was jumping with joy about. But if they went to the fair and she invited the group, she could use them as a barrier. Louis was very excited to be asked, though she asked them all and not him individually. After she talked about it with the group further, it was decided that most of the boys, Brody, Violet, the twins and their little brother Tenn would go. 

“Oh, that sounds like fun. I’m sure Aj would love that.” Lee answered and she could practically hear his smile.

“Ok, cool. Um, I gotta go now.” She looked over at Sophie, seeing the girl was finally ready. She started for the door, “Ok, bye.” 

“I love you.”

Clementine blushed, and looked over to her roommate that definitely heard her dad voice his mushy affections. Sophie smiled sweetly before heading out the door to give Clementine the privacy she needed to repeat the three simple words.

“Yeah Iloveyoutoo. Bye.” 

Then she hung up before he could start blubbering.

---

So her plan of dodging her family didn’t go exactly as she wanted. Clementine had hoped that she would be able to meet up with her family later on in the day at the fair, but instead, her folks decided to show up at the earliest time available and took her out to breakfast. She knows she shouldn’t complain, and she was actually thrilled at eating something with flavor for once, but she couldn’t help but feel tense around her guardians, mainly Carley. The two haven’t been on the best of terms as of lately and it was reflected in how much they avoided each other. Lee was always the one trying to reach out, while Carley kept her distance. That’s not to say she didn’t try with Clementine, but her patience was thin when it came to the moody teen. She would not be jerked around and manipulated by tears like Lee was. And she certainly wasn’t letting Clementine get her way.

“Do you mind not being on your phone?” 

Clementine sent a quick text back to the group chat, agreeing to meet up at the fair around 4:30pm. She then narrowed her eyes at the woman across from her before silently agreeing by placing her phone in her hoodie pocket. She then directed her eyes to Lee who then looked at his wife but before he could speak Carley silenced him, “I really hate when you do that Lee.”

“Do what?” He asked innocently.

“That!” She gestured between the two, “All she has to do is give you a look and then I’m made into the bad guy. Is it really too much to ask that I have my kid interact with her family, that she hasn’t seen in two weeks, rather than that damn phone?”

“Swear.” Aj didn’t even bother to look up from his coloring book.

“Aj, not now.” Lee looked to his wife again, “No, it’s not.” He looked back to his daughter, “Carley’s right, Sweetpea. Just like at home, we keep phones away from the table.”

Clementine nodded and then went to slouch back in her chair as she waited for her pancakes. As she waited, she ignored the concerned looks she garnered from her guardians and peeked a look at her little brother who was peaceful coloring.

“What ya doing there, Goofball?”

She looked at his Science Dog mask and slightly frowned. His mask had become his way of hiding after the accident. Before she left, he really only wore it when he was upset or feeling insecure, but she noticed that he hadn’t taken it off, even when he was just around her. It made her wonder how often he’s wearing it at home, and if this is causing issues at school. She’d ask about it later. 

“Coloring the giant waffle. You can color the bacon if you want. I don’t have red, only pink.” He said offering a crayon. Though his sister couldn’t see it, a smile spread across his face when she joined him, and he couldn’t help but giggle.

“What’s so funny?”

“I don’t really know. Just seeing you makes me happy and that makes me smile and then that makes me laugh.”

The older sister didn’t really know how to respond to the overload of cuteness that was just thrusted upon her, so she just smiled and shook her head, “You’re such a goofball.”

They colored for a while as they waited for their food and played a couple of rounds of tic-tac-toe while Aj talked her ear off about Disco Broccoli and some not so interesting school drama. After a while, the interactable paper was colored to completion and there was nothing left from them to do. With their private sibling conversation coming to an end, Carley attempted to chat with her daughter once more.

“So Clementine, how’s your classes going? I know they put you in some advanced classes, I just want to make sure it’s not too much.”

Clementine shrugged, “It’s fine.” 

“And how's the new therapist?”

“Fine.”

It was soon made very clear that the teen wasn’t interested in a word that came out of Carley’s mouth. It was even more evident as Clementine would regularly sneak peeks at her phone, more than likely waiting for a text back from friends. Although the mother took offense to being ignored, especially when she was really trying to reconnect with her emotionally disgruntled daughter, she did like that Clementine wasn’t completely alone while in Ericson.

“Clementine, please try and make an effort to talk to Carley.” Lee chimed in, “It’s one thing to one-word answer us over the phone, it’s another to do it to our faces.”

Carley gave her husband a grateful look before going back to Clementine, who stuffed her hands in her hoodie pocket where she had placed her phone. “Lee tells me you’ve made some friends, which is great, but do you know why they were sent there? I’m sure they’re nice kids but I just want to make sure you’re not hanging out with any bad influences.” 

“I go to a school for troubled youth, but you don’t want me to hang out with “bad influences”," Clementine muttered, "makes perfect sense.”

“You know what I mean Clem. I don’t want you getting into more trouble. You’re there to-”

“I know why I’m there.” The teen grabbed her hood and pulled it over her hat. She then tightened the pull strings to make her face disappear, but it only swallowed most her face, not all. With her thick hair spilling from the sides of the small hoodie opening, she mumbled, “You don’t always have to remind me.”

Lee nudged Carley, and without even looking at him, she knew he was telling her with his eyes to ease up. As she looked across the table, she could see the cocoon Clementine had formed with her hoodie; a silent gesture that let her know Clementine was closing herself off. This act, one that Carley has seen many times before, made her decide to quickly shift her attitude, as well as her approach, “Tell me about your friends. I heard you’re tutoring one of them. That’s good.”

The girl ponders on answering the question. She would rather not talk but this method only really worked in the comfort of their home, where if she wanted out from the conversation, all she needed to do was disappear into the confines of her room. Being at a restaurant clearly disrupted that plan, so she just muttered, “I’m not really tutoring. I’m just helping her with math.”

“Oh, is this that Lavender girl you were telling me about?” Lee asked as he recalled their phone conversation, “Are you going with her to the fair?” He hoped his intentional screw up would get a laugh out of the girl and was ecstatic to hear a small chuckle. 

She playfully rolled her eyes, as she sat up, slightly coming out of her shell, “Her name is Violet and yeah, I was wondering if it was ok if a couple of her friends tagged along with us.”

“Of course it is Clem. We want you to have fun while you’re here.” The father answered.

“Couple of her friends? What about yours? Do y’all not have the same friends?” Carley asked.

“We hang out with the same group, but I don’t know if I’d call them friends just yet. They’re cool for the most part.” Clementine tried to hide her smile at the memory of the Ericson kids, but failed miserably as she thought of Louis, “This one guy, Louis, is a musician. He played “My Darling Clementine” after I finally agreed to hang out with them in the music room. He's like if Duck was Mozart.”

“Aw, that’s sweet.” Carley clasped her hands together, pleased that it seemed like Clementine wasn’t utterly alone. She expected her husband to share in her joy but when she saw his face scrunch up, she knew she had to intervene, “Lee, relax. It was just a song.”

“One song my ass-”

“Swear.”

Carley rolled her eyes, knowing once he got started, he wasn’t gonna stop. Lee puffed his chest and pointed a stern finger at Clementine, “Look here, you tell that fresh little boy that he’s got the wrong one and he better-”

Clementine, having lost all interest in his anti-boy spiel, leaned back in her chair, once more closing herself off. She removed herself from the conversation, having grown ridiculously tired of Lee harassing her about boys. Louis, although very charming and attractive, was not someone she wanted to pursue, especially with only knowing him for two weeks. Besides the fact that she wasn’t seeking a romance relationship, she lacked the confidence to be in one. Her insecurities coupled with Lee’s protective father lectures were enough to keep her off the market for years to come.

Even before the accident, she hated how he would police her body. She could understand him wanting to protect her from the dangerous men out there, like that one dairy farmer that had her and Duck under a watchful predatory eye, but she felt as if he’d constantly overdo it. It was one thing if someone was harassing her or if she simply didn’t reciprocate the feelings but no matter the situation, Lee found a way to cockblock. She wouldn’t be surprised if his dad powers could outstretch and reach from afar. 

Clementine sighed, “Theres nothing to worry about. It’s not like I’m getting anyone looking like this.” She mumbled the last part, and it was barely above a whisper, but it was loud enough for Carley and Lee to hear.

The mother reached out with a smile, “Clementine, you’re a beautiful girl. Besides, looks don’t matter. It’s the inside that counts.”

Clementine didn’t feel like explaining her feelings so she just grunted and focused on anything that wasn't the adults seated across from her. Her further engagement in the conversation would only result in a try-hard supportive pep talk that she's heard many times before. And though she appreciates their support, it feels empty, knowing they don’t actually understand. 

She's only a teenager, turning sixteen in October, she’s not looking for the love of her life but socializing and romance are a part of the teenage experience. It used to be something she looked forward to but now it's just something she dreads. Being self-conscious and insecure about your body is normal for teenagers but after the fire, it was amped to the highest degree for Clementine. It’s part of the reason it’s hard for her to envision herself with anybody, especially Louis. 

After getting to know him a little more, she could tell that looks were important to him. That, coupled with his expensive taste, flair for the dramatics and a need to show off, let her know they weren't compatible. Even if she did like him, her fear of rejection and possible exposure would stop her from shooting her shot. Dating her would be void of any romance, unless you're a lover of romantic poetry, for her affection would only be received through words. There would be no fancy dates where she’d dress up and possibly show skin. No dinners by candlelight, no romantic walks on the beach and absolutely no fooling around. 

All that to say, there would be no attempts to give any form of intimacy, which she felt was unfair to whoever tried to win her heart. Her fear has stopped her from pursuing any kind of human touch, no matter how small. Though her therapists call it a mental block, she calls it guarding her heart. She much rather be alone, than have someone confirm her fears of being unlovable.

Clementine checked back into reality just in time to hear Lee finish off with, "-but you shouldn't even be focusing on boys right now, so it really doesn't matter."

"Lee," Carley said in a warning tone before going back to Clementine, who didn't even seem to notice her food was now in front of her. The mother reached across the table to touch her daughter's hand, "Love is going to happen regardless of if you're looking for it or not. Someone might catch you eye that you'll think is worth telling them about your problems. If they care about you enough, they'll work through it with you and if not, that's ok. You're only a kid; you don't have to have your love life all figured out."

It was sound advice, and something she could come to appreciate later in life, but not right now. The girl just wanted the conversation to be over, so she gave her mother a small smile in hopes this would soothe her, but Carley was an investigative journalist; she could see right through it. The smile was fake, her words had failed to reach her daughter and now the mother could do nothing but think about her failures as she watched Clementine pitifully pick at her pancakes.

Notes:

So I still don't really know where I'm going with this story so again, expect very slow updates. Until then, my walking dead hyperfixation lives through my art on my tumblr. Be warned that I draw a lot of ideas for this fic so it's kinda spoiler-y. Tumblr is https://www.tumblr.com/bigbisickle if you're interested.

Chapter 4: Johnny's So Long at the Fair

Summary:

Clementine and the gang head to the fair.

Clementine held the camera to where Aj could see the photos she took during their day together at Ericson. There were photos from the student versus faculty dodgeball game that Mitch and Marlon participated in, Lee stuffing his face with Omar’s caramel popcorn and Clementine dunking Mr.McGovern at the dunk tank, something Minnie and Violet were happy to bear witness to. Aj laughed and giggled as he looked over the recent memories he created with his big sister while he waited in the line to get his face painted. Clementine had convinced him to give it a try, seeing as they didn’t allow masks on the fairgrounds. She had told him that her roommate was doing the paintings and that she was very sweet and wouldn’t judge, so here he stood with her hand in hand as the line in front of them slowly dwindled. 

He looked up from the camera to see the guy that played the keyboard for musical chairs, “Music man!” Aj pointed to the jolly dreadhead that jogged in their direction.

Clementine chuckled at her little brother’s cuteness and affectionately rubbed his fro, “His name is Louis, ya goober.” 

“Hey Clem, and hello again little man.” He put his hand up and received the most painful high five one could receive from a five-year-old. In an attempt to hide the pain, he tenderly rubbed his hand, “You guys almost ready for the fair?”

“Just about. We need to get his face painted first.” Clementine nodded her head over to Sophie.

“But they have that at the fair. Why don’t we just get it done there?” 

The two siblings exchanged glances before the older of the two spoke, “Well, Aj is a little shy about people getting close to his face. I promised Sophie would be nice.”

Louis didn’t understand, nor did he know why the kid wore the mask for the entirety of his time at the school, but he shrugged it off, not wanting to pry further. “Cool, cool. Might I suggest a tiger? She’s really good at those.” 

Aj shook his head and pointed to the mask, “I want Science Dog.”

“I’m sure she can do that too. Her brother likes Science Dog too and they’re both pretty artsy.” He said, taking a place in line next to them.

“Oh,” Aj let go of Clementine’s hand and played with his fingers instead, “Is…is he here?”

“Uh, he’s not here as in at the school but he’s gonna be there when we go to the fair. His name is Tenn.”

They moved up in the line, finally coming face to face with the artist. 

“Hey, Clem. Hello Aj, I’ve heard so much about you.” She greeted him, “I heard you’re a little shy. Do you want to come under the tent so you’re a little more concealed?”

“That means covered.” Clementine answered when he sent a confused look her way.

Aj nodded and began to follow the redhead into the tent but stopped when he saw his sister following close behind. He put a hand up to stop her, “I got this. I’m a big boy.”

She smiled proudly, “Ok. I’ll wait for you here.” She waved as she watched as he disappeared behind the tent. 

“So I take it you two are close? That’s cool. I’m an only child.” Louis spoke from behind her.

“It shows.” She joked before pulling out her camera. She looked back at the photos again. For most of the shots, she was the one behind the camera and most if not all the photos were of Aj. Seeing that Lee and Carley were near absent in the photos made her feel a tad bit guilty because they were there the whole time, she just didn’t take any photos of them. Even though it was meant to be a family outing, she treated it like it was just her and Aj. She’d been blocking them out a lot lately and she knew it hurt them, she just wasn’t ready to fix it.

“Sooooo, the fair.” Louis started, a mischievous look in his eyes.

“What about it?”

“You excited?”

“Um, not really. I’m really just going for Aj.”

There was a time where she liked fairs. It would come every year around fall. She and Lee would go to the petting zoo, and she’d get to ride on the ponies. They’d eat their weight in sugary sweets like cotton candy, caramel apples, elephant ears and funnel cake. She’d force him on all the rides and laugh when he had to run to the nearest trash can to throw up all the corndogs and turkey legs they’d eaten prior to going on the rides. Because Aj was so young, there wasn't much he could get on so he and Carley would spend most their times in the shops or holding a spot in line for the father-daughter duo, so they didn’t have to wait long for their next thrill.

To end the night, the family would ride the Ferris wheel. Every year, Lee would give Clementine the small, family shared digital camera and when the family got to the top, they’d take a selfie with the busied fairgrounds as their backdrop. After which they would head home, and despite her denial of being tired, Clementine would pass out before they’d even exited the fairgrounds. The next day she would wake up in her bed, with Lee having carried her there the night before. Now that she thought about it; she loved the fair.

---

Disappointed but not surprised was the motto Carley found herself using any time there was something that happened with Clementine. Tonight was no different when she found out that not only did the teen practically ignore them during the school activities at Ericson, but she also had planned to ditch them at the fair with her friends. The mother looked at the teen and her new group of misfits. For the most part, they looked decent enough, minus the abundance of facial piercings, tattoos and roughed faces. Though she didn’t trust them, she trusted that Clementine wouldn’t do anything crazy with Aj in tow. At the very least, she could still trust that.

“Fine, you can go with them. But remember the rules.” Lee warned.

“Ok, thanks.” Clementine waited for Aj to get done giving their parents a hug before going to walk with her friends. It was obvious they wanted a hug from her too, but she wasn’t ready to show them affection, especially in front of her friends. “We’ll catch up with you guys later.”

“At the Ferris wheel?” Her father asked, eagerly.

Carley watched her husband; she saw the longing in his eyes. Saw the want for his babygirl. But then she looked at Clementine and how she blushed, embarrassed by her father’s seemingly needy request.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll meet you there.” She grumbled and deflected her eyes so she wouldn’t see the hurt she caused the man.

The wife put a hand on her husband’s shoulder as a show of support, “We’ll be in the shops if you need us.”

“Ok.”

“Stay together.”

“I know.”

“No talking to strangers!” Lee called out, “And Aj, your hair doesn’t count towards your height. If you’re too short, do not get on that ride!”

The order made his big sister's cool friends snicker, causing him to blush wildly. “Daaaaaadddd!” He whined.

“Alright Papa Bear, time to go.” Carley said as she practically pushed him towards the antique guns store.

As the parents made their exit, the kids made their way to the other teens. They started walking towards the fair rides, each pointing out which rides they wanted to tackle first and how they should split the groups. Mitch, Clementine and the twins had brought younger kids with them, and it was suggested that the people that didn’t want to go on intense rides, should stay behind with the younger ones. Brody, Mitch, his younger cousin, Willy, Minnie, and Marlon all dashed ahead to get in line while Sophie, her little brother Tenn, Louis, Violet, Clementine and Aj, were left behind. 

“What do y'all want to do first,” Sophie asked the boys. “There's a petting zoo, house of mirrors, freak show and of course, plenty of rides.”

Though it was made very apparent that she was talking to the younger boys, Louis found himself cutting in with his grand suggestion, “I say we hit the games.” He ignored the scoffs and eyerolls from the other girls and flung his arm over Clementine’s shoulder, “I bet you I can win you a prize, but if not, don’t worry. Your prize can be me.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

She didn’t even have time to respond before she felt another body touch hers. Aj wiggled his way between them and stayed by Clementine’s side to keep them apart. He held on to her thigh, “I’m sorry Louis but dad said no boys. Even if you are pretty funny.”

“Pretty and funny, two words that describe my personality perfectly. But you forgot one thing.”

“What?”

“I’m also a catch.” Louis pulled at the collar of his coat and winked at the girl.

Violet made herself heard with a loud scoff, “God Louis, being around you and your flirting is going to make me hurl faster than the Tilt-a-Whirl.”

“What happened to being my wing-woman?” Louis asked.

“I never was!”

“Anyways!” Sophie cut in and leaned down to get a better view of the boys, “Ok guys, what do you want to do? Games or rides?”

Once the boys were told they had control of the plans, the two huddled together and formulated the perfect itinerary for the night. First, Tenn wanted his face painted to match with his new friend, then, they wanted to get on rides. After that, they wanted to play some fair games and if there was still time, they wanted to cap the night by pigging out on artery clogging deep fried desserts. 

After getting nods of agreement from the others, Sophie sat up, “Cool, sounds like a plan. Let's head to the face painting lady before the line gets too long.”

---

Clementine stood by the goofy musician as he tried his hand at the rigged fair game for the fifth time. At this point, all the fair rides they could manage to get on had been ridden, and after the boys complained of hunger, the teens decided it was time for a snack break. Louis then suggested killing two birds with one stone and that's how they ended up with Aj’s face covered in whipped sugar in the form of cotton candy and Louis twenty dollars shorter than when he entered the fairgrounds. 

“Man, this is bull-!” He looked over at the little boy that paused his eating to send a glare. Louis cleared his throat and put on a stereotypical surfer accent, “I mean, this is total bogus brah.”

“Or maybe you just suck?” Violet said as she took a break from eating her candied apple. “Just give it up already.”

“I shan't give up! I promised the fair lady a prize.” He gestured to the curly haired girl that shook her head in amusement. 

“I don’t need any toys from the fair.” Clementine argued, “With all the money you spent, you could’ve bought me the whole plushie section of Toy’s R’ Us.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Louis asked as he went to pay for another round, “Besides, I promised to win you a prize and I am a man of my word.”

Sophie snatched the ball from Louis’s hand, right before he went to throw it. Ignoring his protests, she then tossed it to her roommate. She smirked maliciously, “How about we switch it up and let Clemmy give it a go.”

“ Clemmy? ” The brunette asked in confusion and disgust.

Violet scoffed from her seat beside Tenn, “Soph, you’re so fired from nicknaming.”

Sophie ignored the blonde and went to fling an arm over Clementine’s shoulder, “Didn't you used to play baseball? I bet you could probably win it if you tried.”

Clementine scowled at the twin for even mentioning something about her past, especially since it piqued the other’s interest. While she’d gotten closer to Sophie due to them being roommates, it doesn't mean she was ok with having her secrets exposed. To them, this was just an interesting fact, something they could add in their information tabs under Clementine's friendship file but to her, it was just a painful reminder that her baseball days were over. The sport and the memories from it, now like the trophies that collected dust in her closet, were relics that she didn't want to bring up. So, while saddened by the mention, she was also annoyed and the smirk that appeared on the redhead's face, didn't help.  

“I’ll give you three reasons why you’ll lose that bet.” The brunette counted off her fingers, “Number one, I haven't played in years. Number two, I wasn't even a pitcher and number three, my parents didn't give me enough for games.”

Louis jumped in, “Well I technically already paid for this game, so consider this a freebee.”

“Problem solved; the bank of Louis got you covered.” Sophie said as she flashed a shit-eating grin.

While Sophie knew how reserved Clementine was, she felt like it was her job as a friend and roommate to bring the newcomer out of her shell. That and the girl was nosy as hell. Clementine had never once said anything about playing baseball, let alone a sport to the group. Sophie might have done a little snooping and looked into the package of old trophies the Everett’s sent the first week of her arrival. She didn't mean any harm.

“Ok, a new number three; I don't wanna play.” Clementine crossed her arms in defiance.

Aj jumped up, “But Clem, they have a giant disco broccoli and Louis said after he won you a prize, he'd win me Disco. If he doesn't then you have to. Pleeeeaaasseeee!”

Louis joined in on the begging, “Aw come on Clem, you can't say no to a face like that.”

With arms crossed, she leaned on her hip and narrowed her eyes at the boys, clearly not swayed by their begging or puppy dog eyes. Just as she was about to shut them down, Sophie grabbed her attention.

“Hey, Clemmy. I didn’t know you had a twin” The redhead then pointed to the prize counter and the group followed her finger to the giant stuffed chicken she brought attention to. This joke caused the immature boys to chuckle and snicker. It then became full-on deep belly laughs when Sophie began to inmate the chicken.

Clementine rolled her eyes in annoyance, “Haha, very funny. I’m still not doing it.”

“Clemmy Clem, my darlin’. Don’t underestimate my manipulative powers. You are friends with the troubled youths, you know.” Sophie then leaned on the fair game’s counter and banged her fist down to a simple rhythm. She shouted, “Peer pressure, peer pressure, peer pressure!”

Tenn, who had been quiet, minus the few laughs that managed to escape, joined in on his sister’s antics. Louis followed suit, then Aj and surprisingly, Violet, though she didn’t shout.

“Aw, man, I love peer pressuring! A familiar voice called. Mitch smirked, “Who are we bullying tonight, Soph?" 

The group looked around to find their other friends tunneling in. They all had smiles splayed across their faces, seeming to have enjoyed their times on the rides. 

"Oh, we're just hassling a lil' baseball cap wearing shorty into playing the rigged fair game Louis couldn't beat to save his life." The teen leaned an elbow on her twin and pointed finger guns towards her roommate, "But it's all in good fun, right Clemmy."

Minnie chuckled heartlessly, “That loser couldn’t hit a target if it was three feet in front of her.”

“Hey,” Aj narrowed his eyebrows at the taller teen, “Don’t call my sister names.”

“Sorry, squirt. I’m just calling them like I see ‘em.”

The big sister mirrored her brother’s face. Without saying another word, she took her place in front of the tower of bottles, took aim, took breath, then threw it. The ball swizzed by, toppling the bottles with a loud clank, and hitting the back of the tent’s tarps. She then went to the other targets, throwing the ball with all her pent-up anger. As the bottles crashed, the group roared with congrats and high-fives.

Though Clementine saw her flaws and needs for improvement, she was still slightly proud that she still had some fire in her. That, and that her actions effectively silenced the naysayers. She smirked with confidence as she strutted over to the twins. With her pointer finger, she closed Minnie’s mouth. Gold met with bright baby blue eyes, “Make sure to keep this shut, sweetie. You’re attracting flies with all that shit talking you do.”

The tall rebel's cheeks went up in flames due to the boldness received by the little woman and the group's laughter. Mitch had to hold on to Marlon to keep from falling as he excitingly continued to dogpile the insults, “Keep getting burned by Clem and you’ll be as red as your hair!”

Marlon joined, "You think she blushed from anger or because she was turned on?"

"Yeah," Willy added, with a snort, "the L she threw up wasn't for loser, it was for lesbian!"

At this point, the trio was holding their sides. Their cackling grabbed the attention of the bystanders, but they didn't care. Marlon grabbed his best friend, "Looks like you've got some tall competition!"

Minnie’s anger bubbled and the visual of her face turning red only helped further their jokes, “Oh, shove it up your asshole!”

Brody, the resident mom of the group, elbowed the jock, then turned to the brash redhead, "Hush now! We have little ones."

The game vendor cleared his throat, grabbing some of the teen’s attention but his words were directed at Clementine, “Since you technically knocked down all the bottles, you can pick up to three big prizes.” He then pointed to the array of plushies above him.

The winner didn’t even get her chance to answer before her brother ran up to her, jumping up and down gleefully, “Disco! Get Disco! Disco Broccoli, Clem, pleeeeaaassseee!”

“Calm down, Aj. You knew I was going get it for you, you spoiled little cutie.” She giggled as she watched him sway from side to side, struggling to clutch the plushie that was almost as tall as him. When Tenn showed up beside him to get a closer look and help carry the prize, Clementine asked, “Hey, Tenn? Why don't you pick something?”

The shy boy looked to his sisters for approval before picking a prize. He thanked the girl and went back to politely play with Aj. With one prize left, Clementine claimed the last one for herself, and grabbed the stuffed chicken Sophie had pointed at earlier. She then gifted it to the quiet blonde, “Sorry it’s not chicken nuggets but at least it’s close.”

“A giant chicken. I must be the luckiest girl in the world.”

"Damn skippy."

Violet chuckled. She was about to say something witty as well but was interrupted by Clementine's phone ringing. She excused herself and a moment later returned saying she had to leave. The sister called for her younger brother, and they began to walk hand in hand when Louis, now freed from Marlon's freaky teenage strength, came running in, “Heading back to your folks? I'll walk you."

"I like you Louis, but I think you should say with your potty mouthed friends for your own safety." Aj said, "My dad would kill you if he saw you walking with his precious babygirl."

"Trust me little man, I think I'll survive."

"And when you don't, I call dibs on all your expensive shit!" Mitch called after them.

"You?" Mullet scoffed "I'm his best friend, dipshit. If he dies, it all goes to me!"

As the boys squabbled, Clementine, Aj and Louis, took that as their chance to escape and rushed off to meet her parents at the Ferris wheel. With Louis in tow, she just hoped Lee had chilled out since breakfast and wouldn't bring up any nonsense around him. Then again, maybe she should ditch him before they got the chance to meet. It could possibly save both of their lives.

Chapter 5: The Five Year Plan

Notes:

Trigger Warning for mentions of suicidal thoughts

The fair had been a fun escape, full of excitement and times that will be long remembered with the help of her trusty digital camera, but like always, it ended on a somewhat sour note. Like originally planned, the siblings went to meet their parents at the Ferris Wheel, with their tag-along, Louis. Lee was less than thrilled to meet the pianist and after his departure, relentlessly hounded his daughter about the dangers of boys, especially those from Ericson. While most of Lee’s anti-boy lecturing was blocked out, Carley had mentioned something that caught the teen’s ear. Aj was in trouble. Correction: Aj was causing trouble.

According to Carley, Aj had been a little terror without his big sister around. He was disrespectful to his teachers, and his misbehavior was escalating to the point of physical violence by biting other kids and in one case, even hitting. This seemingly random and sudden change caused alarm, and the parents had worried of the possibility of unresolved trauma resurfacing. Interestingly, Aj would only terrorize when under a watchful eye, as if he wanted to be caught. It didn’t take long for the investigative journalist to find out that his bad boy persona was only a front and put on for the goal of achieving one thing: Clementine. The boy only missed his big sister and wanted nothing but to be with her again. 

His plan, though extremely childish, was simple enough. Get in trouble, go to Ericson. With his plans revealed, the parents attempted a dialogue to get him to understand but the stubborn kid wouldn’t listen. It was then put on Clementine to fix it. Carley and Lee were the adults in the situation, the parents, they knew this but the way they saw it was different. Clementine was someone Aj looked up to. Maybe it was because she saved his life during the house fire in which they both suffered severe burns and therefore permanently bonding them. Whatever the reason, he had an unhealthy habit of listening to her, before anyone else.

Any other time, Clementine would be fine with helping guide her brother down a better path. Normally, it was easily fixed with a “do as I say, not as I do” but it appeared he needed more convincing. From Aj’s point of view, Clementine was just going to school far away, so it should be no problem for him to accompany her. When she tried explaining what Ericson actually was, he rebutted with the family day the school had planned and all the friends she had met while in attendance. In the end, the only way she could convince him was to admit the painful truth.

Ericson’s School for the Troubled Youth was the school’s full title and although he had his issues, Aj wasn’t troubled. He was well adjusted and despite his scarring, had minimal issues concerning his mental health and self-image. There was the occasional bully and times where he felt out of place and insecure, but it wasn't to the effect of hindering any of his progress or milestones. Because the accident happened when he was so young, his scarred face was all he’d known, and he wasn’t privy to all they had lost. Clementine, on the other hand, wasn’t afforded that luxury and her body was a daily remainder of the consequences. So as she explained the need for extra help to her brother, she was reminded of how broken she truly was and how time hadn’t healed the gaping wound, only covered it with a Band-Aid.

In the end, she had gotten him to give up any and all attempts to attend Ericson, with a small yet strong pinky promise to try. She must try to make genuine connections with those around her, try to listen to those trying to help her, even if it means enduring painful memories. She should try to better herself, not just because she made a promise to him, but she should do it for herself. It was her job, her mission and how could she say no to the cute little boy with big brown eyes that held on tightly to his recently won Disco Broccoli plush. As they exited the fair and Clementine's eyes began to get heavy in the car, she found herself looking at her baby brother and thinking how did he get so wise.

---

The time had come for another therapy session with Mr.Thomas and after the chat she had with her parents, Clementine didn’t feel like another long-winded talk about her problems. While most of the sessions felt like a getaway and were more relaxed, something told Clementine that this time around wouldn't be the same. Part of Mr.Thomas’ job was to know the ins and outs of his students. He knows how to pick up on slight changes in tones, subtle body movements and body language. Thing is, Clementine can pick up on this too. She's been around enough therapists to know when they were removing the kiddie gloves. She noticed how he smiled a little too hard, put in more effort to make her comfortable, and offered her a sweet before they began. Oh yeah. This wasn't going to be a fun time. 

“So how was your time with your friends?” Mr.Thomas asked, referencing not only the night at the fair but also the weekly hangouts she had mentioned in a past session.

The teen messed with the frayed stitching of the beanbag chair as she thought of an answer. In all honesty, she liked them and really tried being more open when it came to their conversations but again, she was foiled by her fears and found herself stuck in her protective yet restricting bubble. She felt the strain between them despite her attempts to fix it.

“I wouldn’t really call them that, but it was ok, I guess.”

“Why?” He asked with genuine curiosity, "Why wouldn't you call them friends?"

The teen let out a deep sigh and shrunk back further into the bean-shaped chair. "I just don't."

“Don’t you like them? I mean you willingly hang out with them, and you talk about them a lot in our sessions. I’d say they were your friends.”

“I don't really do friends. …they’re just…people I talk to.”

Shockingly, this answer did not surprise him, and it was actually something he was expecting her to say. Not that he was psychoanalyzing outside of their sessions, but he had seen her interactions with this group. For the most part, they were decent kids, and he knew deep down she cared for them but just like her other relationships, she would self-sabotage. Given what he knows about the relationships with her parents, her childhood best friend and currently these "not my friends" friends, he knows she will begin to withdraw the moment she starts to feel genuine joy. During their time together, he's learned she had a habit of telling half-truths and that she has been hiding her disability, despite warnings. It was clear to him, as well as with the other therapists that have attempted to treat her, that she was depressed, suffering from survivor's guilt and viewed herself with a progressively worsening self-image. All of these behaviors had been consistent with her diagnosis but what all her therapists also knew, was that the reason her symptoms worsened over the years was because she was hiding something. A truth that was never shared would be her downfall but Mr.Thomas hoped he could get it before it could. Just not today.  

“Clem, why don’t you want to be associated with them? Why is it so hard for you to give the people you care about labels?” Again, a shrug. “Your friends are just ‘people you hang out with’. You call your parents by their first names-”

“That's because they’re not my real parents.”

“If they’re not your real parents then why do you refer to them as mom and dad to others?”

“Because it’s easier. I don’t have to explain to everyone that I’m adopted.” Her arms were now crossed tightly over her chest, and she looked out the window instead of at the man that now irked her. Clementine asked, “What’s with the third degree? Why are you in my business all of a sudden?”

“This may come as a surprise but it’s kinda my job. But on a more serious note, it’s because your answer about your friends was troubling.” Mr.Thomas dropped his normally goofy smile and replaced it with a straight face. He leaned into his desk and slightly cocked his head to the side, “Tell me Clementine, who are you to Lee if not his daughter?”

“I’m just some girl, I guess.”

“Who are you to Aj?”

“I’m…he’s my brother.”

His face shifted into an expression that she didn't quite understand, and he let out a little grunt. “Ok, sidebar. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Clementine shrugged seemingly uninterested but the sudden switch in topic did catch her attention.

“College? Working? Romantic relationships? Can you see anything?” Mr.Thomas asked, trying to prompt a spark.

Again, she gave a shrug, albeit a little more angrily.

“In my profession, when people can’t answer that 5-year plan question, it’s because they didn’t expect to be here in 5 years.” The therapist took notice as she shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “That, coupled with the fact that you detach yourself from having friends and even family, concerns me.”

Dark thoughts were normal. Everyone had them. A few people acted on them but never Clementine. She’d never gotten to that point but that doesn't mean she hasn't dwelled on the thought longer than she would've liked to. Part of her knew she was too chicken to actually commit but another part of her knew that if it wasn't for her family, she wouldn't be here. Though she’s stopped showing it, her family is the main thing keeping her on Earth. She doesn't think she's worth the tears they'd cry but she'd be damned if she hurt them anymore than she already had.

“Clementine, you’ve had a rough start to life, and no one should have to have gone through what you did but you have to stop letting the past control you. You can’t let that one accident take away any more of your life.” Mr.Thomas stated and when he received no response, he spoke again, “You don’t have to do this, but it’d put me at ease to know you’re thinking of your future. You have one Clementine. I can see it and I want-no, I need you to see it.” Knowing that he wasn't going to get much out of her, he dug through his desk and produced a piece of paper. He wrote something at the top then handed it to her, “I want you to take the time to think about your plan. You don't have to have everything detailed and sorted but I want you to write enough to have a general idea of what you want. I want you to try and fill out as much as you can until our next session.” His tone softened, “Unless there’s anything else you want to discuss, we can cut our session early.”

Without looking up from the paper, the girl pulled the bill of her hat down, sniffled and walked out without another word.

---

The next few days were a blur filled with concerned voices and self-isolation on Clementine’s part. When she wasn’t doing schoolwork, she was staring at the piece of paper her therapist had given her. Despite taking the time to write out her goals, the paper remained blank. The simple task had her spiraling deeper into a depression as she slowly came to the realization that outside of her family, she had no goals for herself. As much as she hated to admit it, her parents and therapists were right. She had been letting this accident consume her life and despite her wants to change, it was easier said than done. Perhaps it’s because she’d never talked about it.

The accident was anything but small and had left her more than physically scarred and had basically raped her already sensitive mental state. The traumatic death of her parents was something she barely got through, but the fire had burned what little was left of that little girl. To talk about it, was to relive it and that was something that even after two years, she wasn’t completely able to do. To talk about him and what she did-

The plastic tray clashed with the wooden table, causing Clementine to look up from the blank paper.

“Mind if I sit?” Violet asked with caution, “I know you’re going for a loner vibe lately, but I have a headache, and Louis is only gonna turn it into a migraine.”

The curly haired girl didn’t answer, just moved her bag to allow the blonde to sit beside her. Aside from the few chewing sounds that came from Violet, they sat in silence. Normally, they could sit comfortably without talking for hours but Clementine could feel Violet’s eyes as they bored into her. She knew she wanted to ask but out of an abundance of caution, held her tongue- that was until she thought she had found the right words.

“Hey,” Violet started, “Are you-”

“I’m fine.” The brunette responded rather harshly, and she could see Violet shrink back in the chair at her response. She softened, “I’m fine, Vi. I’m just…processing a lot of stuff right now.”

“Oh. Ok.”

It was unofficial and she wasn't being paid for her services, but Clementine had been tutoring Violet in math, and it's helped her grade increase considerably, so she thought she'd return the favor by helping her out of her rut. As she pushed the mush around her tray, the blonde's mind began to drift as she thought of ways to help console the cute girl...Wait. No, Clementine isn't cute, she's just conventionally attractive and has this mysterious air about her that intrigues. Her bold personality that matches her fiery golden eyes totally doesn't distract Violet from getting her work done during their tutoring sessions. Besides, not that she was a piece of property, but Louis already claimed her and since Violet was confined to the bro code, Clementine was off limits.

A touch brought her back and as she looked down and saw Clementine's hand on hers, she tried desperately to slow her little lesbian heart. But just as quickly as it came, it disappeared.

"That headache must really be something. You were gone for a minute."

"Yeah, sorry if I was starring." The older teen scratched her neck nervously, "I was just lost in thought."

"That's ok. You have nice eyes so they're not the worst things to have looking at me." Seemingly unaware of the flustered mess she made of Violet, Clementine looked back at her paper, "Oh, hey, I meant to say sorry for cancelling those last tutoring sessions. I'm no good when I get like this, so I figured it was better to cancel."

"No, it's ok. I can see you're going through something. Besides, I think I'm getting the hang of it."

"Oh, so you don't need me anymore-"

"No, that's not what I meant!" She quickly corrected, "I just meant that it's getting easier. Definitely still need the help." 

"Oh, ok. Maybe we can get started next week then. Hopefully I'll be feeling a little better." Violet looked at the paper and was about to ask when Clementine cleared her throat, “Violet. I, uh, have a question.” When the blonde poked her head up in intrigue, Clementine bashfully asked, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

“Well. That’s a loaded question.” Violet replied before putting her fork down to think. Just as Clementine was about to absolve her from having to answer, Violet spoke, “Ideally, I'd be out of this godforsaken town, living with some hot babe and working a job that doesn’t make me want to jump. Realistically…I don’t know. I mean college was never really an option for me and…” Violet knew her future looked dim, her parents made sure of that but after noting the concern on her friend’s face, she ended with a rushed, “I don’t care where I end up. As long as I got good company and a decent place, I’m good. What about you?”

Clementine paused before answering. With how she had reacted to Mr. Thomas, she wasn't sure she would have an answer, but she surprised herself when she replied with, "I was always very wishy-washy with what I wanted to be, but I liked the idea of working with kids. If not that then maybe a lawyer, or a pediatrician. Maybe have a side hustle with photography. I'd go to the University of Georgia, where my dad taught and join their softball team.” As she continued, she felt the corners of her mouth tug upwards, “Maybe get a dog and a cozy little townhouse- not an apartment. Something close to home so I can visit Aj and my folks. At least that what I wanted.”

“Wanted? What’s changed?” Violet felt a twinge of regret after the words fell from her mouth, because it made the small smile fade from Clementine’s face.

“Everything, I guess.” Clementine said with a sigh, “My life was over before it even started.”

Though Clementine had stated she was sent to Ericson for fighting and her answer had never changed, her behavior and attitude towards her parents suggested there was more she was hiding. Her parents were every Ericson kids’ dream come true. They listened to her, checked in on her and even sent gifts. From what they could tell, they didn’t suffer from substance abuse, they weren’t violent or psychologically abusive. They weren’t in financial straits, had another kid they cared for, showed affection and attention. They did the bare minimum a parent could do for their child: love them. Clementine’s parents were something the group envied and something they secretly despised her for, for taking them for granted. 

From what they gathered, Clementine's family and homelife had been normal, making her depressed outlook on life, hard to understand. It also made it look like the problem was actually just her. Still, Violet tried to hold judgement until she got the full story. She offered, “Wanna make a pack?” When her question piqued the other girl’s interest, she continued, “If we’re still friends and not living our dreams by the time we’re twenty-five, we’ll just be roommates. You know, be lonely together. I’m more of a cat person but I can compromise on a dog.”

Clementine chuckled softly, bringing a blush to Violet’s cheeks, “Deal.”

The blonde opened her mouth to speak but when she is cut off by the bell, she clammed up, sent Clementine a shrug and small smile before beginning to pack her things. They dumped their trays, headed for the doors and were about to split when Violet felt a hand gently touch her shoulder. She turned to see golden orbs beaming at her.

“Thanks.”

“For what?” She asked, genuinely confused.

“For giving me something to look forward to.”

Notes:

Any guesses on what she's hiding? Also if you've seen the spoilers on tumblr, please warn others before commenting.

Chapter 6: Panic Attacks in Paradise

Summary:

It's Bomb Boy's birthday and the party starts off with a bang!

Notes:

TW: mentions of self-harm
I was going to split this chapter up but I figured the longer the better considering this hasn't been updated in... *checks notes* wow. Nearly three months.

It’s officially been two months since Clementine’s been enrolled in Ericson and she can confidently say, she’s a part of the Texas II gang. While she still has her guard up around most of them, she tends to let it down around Violet, Sophie and Louis, but as of recently it’s been the artistic twin. Sophie was an interesting case when it came to the start of their relationship because their friendship felt forced in a way. Seeing as they were roommates, it was difficult to hide anything from her and the brunette found herself eking out parts of the truth to her. She had to warn her about her possible night terrors, had to explain the mobility aids hidden in the closet, and her abundance of makeup and moisturizing creams.

Of course, these are all half-truths. Her mobility aids? Those were because she sustained an injury from baseball, hence why she no longer plays the sport. The night terrors? Basic trauma you wouldn’t be allowed to uncover until you reached a certain level of friendship. The intimidating tower of makeup and creams? Simply a very bad and embarrassing skin condition. As much as Clementine liked Sophie, she couldn’t trust her with the actual truth, especially due to her being kin with that she-devil, Minnie, who’s had it out for her since her arrival. That and she discovered that Sophie loves to gossip.

Clementine is always hearing the latest scandal buzzing around the school because of Sophie. She’d learned the craziest things about people she’s never even seen or heard of before and though she recognizes Sophie as a friend, she’s unsure if that status would save her if the truth came out. So far, her suspicions of betrayal have yet to be proven. Words spoken in confidence haven’t been repeated and when someone questions Clementine and her intentions, Sophie is there to back her up. Like when Minnie and her gang of forgettable female bullies harassed Clementine about her modest way of dress, Sophie was the first to protect her from their cruel allegations. Moments like those make Clementine want to confide in the artist and fully embrace their friendship but fear of rejection still held her back.

“Nice decorations, Soph.” Clementine complimented as she handed the girl on the ladder more streamers to hang, “This party is gonna be…a blast .” 

A scoff came from behind her and when she peered over her shoulder, she saw Violet roll her eyes, “I know you didn’t just pause for dramatic effect.”

“Talk about cringe, Clemmy.” Sophie called from the ladder.

Ruby added her two cents into the conversation, “You have no room to talk. Where in the world did you get the nickname Clemmy from?”

Sophie hopped down from the ladder, wrapping a loose arm around Clementine's shoulders. “Combine roomie and Clem and that makes what?" The girl then imitated fanfare, "Clemmy!” 

Though golden eyes rolled at the absurdity, Clementine couldn't help but crack a smile, “I literally rather you call me anything else.”

“How about shitbird?” Minnie entered the room carrying a box full of party supplies. She then placed them down on a table near Aasim. “And before you start your bellyaching, Soph, I was just kidding. You can take a joke, right Clemmy ?” 

Despite her attempts to hide her anger, Clementine’s nostrils flared, and her fists balled up by her sides. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand Minnie’s damage. From what her twin revealed, Minnie used to be relentlessly bullied when they were younger, hence why she has a tough girl persona. Having been a victim to bullying herself, Clementine could empathize with her but with Minnie's personal vendetta against her and the constant teasing and mean-spirited jokes, Clementine's kindness towards her was short lived. For the most part, Minnie was all talk, but there had been a time or two when she'd do something that ended up physically hurting Clementine under the guise of a "joke." 

Clementine just couldn't keep away from Minnie, though it wasn't from lack of trying. Because Minnie was still somewhat friends with the group, she was always around, making it harder and harder for Clementine to stick to her no fighting rule. She had a lingering suspicion that this was something Minnie knew would land her into deep trouble, therefore she was constantly degrading and belittling her to set her off. Thankfully, the anger management tips she received from Mr.Thomas was helping her overcome Minnie's attempts, but she wasn't sure how much longer it'd last.  

Louis, ever the peacemaker, stepped in, “Hey, we’re all friends here-”

“Who said that?” Minnie sneered.

Ruby spoke up from behind the buffet table, “ Regardless , we’re here to get a job done and we’re acting on borrowed time so let’s stop the squabbling and get back to work.”

Time was in limited supply as they all rushed after school to decorate the music room for a special occasion. Today marked the day that King Bob-omb, aka Mitch, was born and despite his protests against having a party, the group decided to surprise him with one, knowing it would bring him a genuine smile. Since the school bell rang for dismissal, the gang of Texas II had been setting up the decorations while Marlon and Willy distracted the birthday boy. 

“Right.” Louis agreed, “Minnie, stop ruining the vibe and Clementine darlin’, please stop trying to murder Minnie with your eyes. It’s scaring the children.”

The two went their separate ways, with Clementine more in an angry huff than Minnie. Sensing the tension, Brody and Sophie gave each other knowing looks and split to handle the situation before the party got underway. Sophie went to correct her twin, while Brody ushered Clementine to the party box. There she showed her a party popper and explained its uses. 

She instructed, “So when Marlon turns on the lights, we’ll all jump up and pull the string on our poppers. It’s gonna be a real bang .” She joked, causing Clementine to ease into a chuckle.

Violet, who’d watched the whole interaction from the safety of the buffet table, went to go check on her friend, but upon seeing the redheaded bully reenter the room, the blonde put her head down and went back to setting the table. As she did, she tried to ignore the intense stare she felt her ex giving her. Ever since she took up tutoring with Clementine, Violet has noticed Minnie’s hostility towards the new girl grow deeper. At first, it was something Violet tried to ignore but as the pestering and jabs worsened, despite her private talks to try to convince Minnie to stop, Violet found herself passively avoiding Clementine in attempts to ease the tension between the two.

The blonde was confused by Minnie’s sudden possessiveness, as she was never like this in the past. During the beginning of their relationship, Minnie was kind and sweet but as the bullying worsened and her insecurities grew, as did her anger. She stopped being attentive and morphed into someone Violet didn’t recognize. She made jokes at others expense, belittling friends just to get a laugh out of the older and popular kids. She even went as far as lying about her romantic conquests, causing rumors to spread about her and Violet's intimate relationship. She turned into the people she hated and either Violet or Sophie could convince her to revert back to her old self.

Once it was clear their romance was over, Minnie had completely ditched Violet and the others in favor of her new friends that were just as menacing as her. She never ployed, plotted or tried to change in order to win back Violet’s heart so the blonde was puzzled as to why she would rage upon seeing her and Clementine together. While she’ll admit that she and the brunette had grown close in the past couple of weeks, she didn’t think it was anything for Minnie to feel threatened by. Their relationship was strictly platonic. Besides, Clementine didn’t like girls, and Louis had a thing for her. What kind of friend would she be if she fell for her best friend’s crush?

---

With the decorations done, the food nicely displayed, and the music playlist set, the group stood around to admire their work. Sophie held a hand up to give the tall dreadhead a high five.

“Hicka-bicka boo?”

“Hoo-sha!”

Clementine sent the group a puzzled look but only got shrugs and head shakes as a response. Aasim answered, “Don’t ask. We don’t speak idiot.”

Louis feigned offense, “Not knowing Kim Possible should be a crime.”

“She says call me beep me, not whatever gibberish just came out of your mouth.” Minnie answered with crossed arms.

But before anyone could rebuttal, a text pinged everyone’s phone, alerting them of Mitch’s pending arrival. With hushed whispers, they scrambled to turn the lights off, get their party poppers and find their hiding places. Deep familiar voices of teenage boys echoed through the halls which only got louder when the door finally eased open. Just as the boys were walking through, the lights flashed on, everyone jumped from their spots, cheering for their friend as they popped the poppers. Just as Brody had said, the party started with a-

Bang!

BANG!

BANG!

The gang went to welcome their friend with laughter and pats on the back as Mitch affectionately insulted them but one stayed behind. The room swirled around her and her heart raced, beating loudly in her ears. Her party popper left unpopped, abandoned to the floor. With closed eyes, she took a few deep breaths to center herself. She was ok, she was with her friends, and she was safe. The noise scared her, but it didn't hurt her. She was ok.

Deep breath in.

It was Mitch’s birthday and although she wasn’t super close to him, she wasn’t going to ruin his fun with a freak out.

Deep breath out.

It was his day; all attention should be on him.

Deep breath in.

Clementine opened her eyes and forced a smile as she began walking over to join in the comradery. 

Deep breath out.

Two steps. She had only taken two steps when a redheaded girl jumped in front of her.

BANG!

The bright light of the explosion briefly blinded the brunette, and she couldn’t help but release a yelp. Her heart rate skyrocketed, she was now covered in a cold sweat and there was pure panic and terror in her eyes, but this didn’t stop the cruel laughter that ripped from Minnie’s throat. 

Deep breath in, deep breath out. Deep breath in, deep breath out. In and out, in and out. Breath, just breath-

---

Louis had dubbed himself the master of ceremonies, meaning he was in charge of making sure everything was groovy. For the most part, everything seemed as right as rain with the birthday boy pleased and the rest of the group enjoying the party games. He scanned the room and counted all the smiles but realized he was short one. He recounted but apparently, his count wasn’t off the first time, and it was indeed correct that he was missing a person. Clementine was gone. He had been so distracted by Mitch and the others; he had completely missed her taking an early exit.

Not wanting to interrupt the fun, the boy set out on finding her alone. He peeked his head out in search of the girl, figuring she wouldn’t have gotten far and as luck would have it, he found her leaning against one of the walls just outside the music room doors. As he bopped up to her, his demeanor changed upon seeing her petrified expression. Stray curls, some of which had confetti stuck to them, clung to her face as beads of sweat and tears flew down to her shoes. Her breathing was uneven, and she clutched her chest with one hand, and rubbed the seams on her prized baseball cap with the other.

“Hey, Clem.” He called for her first, not wanting his touch to further frighten her. He said in a calm, gentle voice, “It’s me, Louis. Are you ok?”

It took a minute for her eyes to focus on him and when they did, he noticed they changed slightly from terrified to a combination of sadness and embarrassment.

“I'm f…f-fine. I'm f-fine.” Clementine turned her face in shame. “I-I’m fine, I'm f-fine.” As she chanted to herself, her breathing became unsynced and ragged. This in turn made her lightheaded and with the musician’s help, she slid down the wall and sat on the floor. 

At first, he gave her a few moments to recollect herself but seeing as she was struggling to do so and he didn't want her to pass out, he did what he did best. He sat beside her and just talked. 

“You know when I told Omar to get a fruit platter for the party, I was expecting the general apple slices and grapes, cheese platter thingy but no. He had to be fancy and get the one with melons, knowing that everyone kills the watermelon and leaves the nasty ass cantaloupe and honeydew. Don't know if you know this but cantaloupe is the absolute worst. I hate that shit.”

Although she didn't respond, he could hear her breathing regulate and felt as her heavy head rested on his shoulder. Clementine was being uncharacteristically clingy, and she had grabbed Louis’ hand, swirling small circles with her thumb in attempts to soothe and ground herself. Feeling as if his rambling was helping distract her, he continued. 

“You know what else stinks? Spelling bees. Before I came here, my mom would enter me in any and all competitions. Whether it was sports, modeling- I mean anything this lady could get me in, I was in. She wanted to show me off I guess. So, she had the bright idea to put her c-average fourth grader in the spelling bee. Of course, she went all out and me a tutor. Had me working like Keke Palmer in Akeelah and the Bee. You remember that movie? Good times. Anyways, long story short, all that hard work and money spent; I fucking lost. Defeated by the word recommend. But now I know how to spell it. Recommend. R-E-C-O-M-E-N-D. Recommend.”

“You spelt it wrong.” Clementine whispered. 

“Damn it! Again?” Louis sent her a smile after hearing her softly chuckle, “I totally messed up on purpose. Just so you know.”

“Right, of course.” There wasn't much convection to the girl’s voice at first and it was still rather low. It was to the point that Louis needed to lean in to hear her when she said, “I didn't mean to drag you away from the party. I was trying to handle it by myself.”

“No, it's fine. Texas II is like the safest place to have a panic attack. We’re all kinda professionals cuz of Brody.” 

“Well I'm ok now. You can go back.” Her less than confident voice and body betrayed her words and she still sat with her head on his shoulder, absentmindedly rubbing his hand. 

“Or maybe I could tell you another story. I have one about my pet turtle. And no, I wasn't basic and named him after one of the ninja turtles. But if I did, it would totally be Mikey cuz he's the best. Obviously.”

“Louis, I'm fine.”

“Really? Cuz you still haven't let go of me.” 

The girl straightened up and dropped his hand, “Sorry.”

Louis quickly laced his hand with hers and gave it a tight squeeze. “Clem, you know it's ok not to be ok? I mean it's kinda the whole reason why we’re here. You can be vulnerable with us, just expect some mild teasing, mainly from Mitch.” With his last joke not landing, he asked softly, “What happened? I swear after we shut down the Minnie stuff you were fine and then…” 

The girl sighed and leaned her head back on her friend’s shoulder, “It was the poppers. I…I knew it would be loud; I just thought I could handle it. I guess I was wrong.”

“You handled it just fine if you ask me.”

“Panicking, crying and running out the room like a little girl isn't what I call handled.”

“Clem-”

Just then, the door swung open, startling the two. Clementine was quick to pull her hand away and replaced the hat on her head, making sure to cover her face. The two had definitely been caught in an intimate moment but not in the way the rat haired teen was thinking. “Found him! He’s out here with his girlfriend !” Marlon teased.

“Stop sucking face with Clementine and get your ass over here!” Mitch yelled from inside the room, “Birthday boy wants his cake and you sir, have to play happy birthday!”

A tall redhead squeezed past Marlon, who was idiotically mimicking a couple making out. Thankfully it was the nice twin, and she briskly walked to her friend, who stood awkwardly near Louis. Sophie then began picking the confetti that found itself lost in the depths of curls and coils, “Hey, are you ok? Minnie told me what happened and-”

Embarrassed by the other’s watching, Clementine swatted her friend’s concern and hands away, “I'm fine, Sophie. Let's just head back to the party.”

---

Despite the little bump in the beginning, the party had been a success. Mitch opened his presents, they devoured Omar’s delicious cake and then they just hung out for the rest of the time. Thing was, the group could tell that Clementine was a little on edge. They didn’t know about the popper situation in full and though they questioned Louis on it, for once he kept his mouth shut. He knew how tough the brunette was trying to be and telling the other’s that Minnie triggered a panic attack would only add more fuel for the bully to use against her. So for the rest of the party, he kept his distance and along with Sophie, made sure Minnie stayed away.

Seeing as it was the start of the weekend, the group decided to stay longer but when Clementine called it quits, they were surprised that the main party animal left shortly after her, suddenly too tired to entertain them. Thinking it had something to do with a budding romance, they let him go, promising to relentlessly tease him for being a simp later. Louis raced out the door, hoping to find the missing girl but just like before, she wasn’t far ahead. This time, she was actually waiting for him.

He waved awkwardly, “Hey.”

“Hey.” She responded flatly.

“Heading back to your room?”

“Yep.”

“Want some company?”

“...Sure.”

They walked in silence for a moment, with Louis having to shorten his stride for the less vertically gifted girl. Periodically, he would sneak glances her way, hoping to get a glimpse of her expression but when he was caught, he stopped and turned away in an attempt to hide his blush. Surprisingly, she didn’t bring it up and the two made it to her dorm without a fuss.

“I meant to say thanks.” Clementine started, “For helping and not telling everyone.”

“Yeah, no problem! I mean, that’s what friends are for.”

Clementine, whose hand had been hovering over the doorknob, stopped. “Friends…right.”

“Are we not friends?”

“We are, it’s just…” She played with the strings on her hoodie, not quite ready to face him, “It’s hard for me to make friends, you know? Kids can be so cruel and it’s hard to know who you can confide in- hard to know who your real friends are. And when I came here, I wasn't expecting the kindness you showed me. I wasn’t expecting for you to bring me into your friend group and definitely didn’t think they’d accept me so quickly.” Finding her courage, Clementine finally looked up at Louis, only to find him grinning from ear to ear. Now hiding behind her hat, she sheepishly muttered, “So, you know…thanks.”

“You know I’ve heard I have amazing shoulders. Ten out of ten. So if you ever need one to cry on, you know where to find me.” Seeing the beginnings of a smile only served to encourage his joking so he continued, “And if you ever need an ear, well you’re in luck, cuz I’ve got two and from what people tell me, they're pretty big.”

Clementine pondered this for a moment. Her past isn’t something she liked to talk about and it’s something she buries deep inside. It’s something Mr.Thomas and her past therapists advised against. He did, however, suggest that she confide in her friends and partake in exposure therapy. He believed that telling her friends about her traumas and letting them in on her secrets, would help with her depression and fears of rejection, as well as help her normalize and accept her disability.

She wasn’t ready to tell them everything, hence why she told Sophie half-truths, but with Louis, she felt differently. The goof had proved to be a good friend. Much like Duck, he knows how to make her laugh, while also being there when things got rough. He has defended her against Minnie and her drones and always made sure to include her. Though she didn’t know whether it was a ploy to get her heart or if he was just a good guy, she likes to believe it’s just because Louis was a genuinely kind person. So with that in mind, she’d tell him a small secret, one that didn’t hold much consequence if it were to be revealed.

“Actually, Lou…can I tell you something?”

The jokester in him disappeared, making way for a more serious Louis, “Sure, Clem. What’s up?”

Boys weren’t allowed to be in the girl’s dorms after hours and they would get in serious trouble if caught but luckily enough for her, she had about twenty minutes until curfew. So without another word, Clementine grabbed Louis by the wrist and pulled both of them inside the room. Anyone could see the nervousness written in bold letters across his face, but still Louis tried to hold his composure while Clementine dug through her things.

After a minute or so of searching, the item was finally found, and Clementine took a seat beside Louis on the bed. In her hand, she held on to a medium sized golden picture frame with the word family written in cursive on the top. She then passed it to him and let him analyze the people before explaining, “That’s my dad, Ed and my mom, Diana.”

She didn’t need to say much else, as everything just clicked. Louis had noticed the Everett’s lack of resemblance and to him, finding out they weren’t her birth parents, explained their strained relationship but he still didn’t have all the pieces, so he remained quiet.

“They died in a robbery gone wrong. I was eight.”

What she didn’t tell him was that the gunshots had woken her from her sleep. That her mother, who was just getting off from her night shift at the hospital, was shot first. That her father, who had gone to investigate the noise, was shot dead on sight. That when she looked at the bottom of the stairs, she saw their blood staining the floor. That the robber had aimed the gun for her too but with his morals too high, he refused to pull the trigger and instead ran off into the night. That after just ten minutes, five bullets shared between her parents, and pathetic attempts to keep her parent’s blood internal, she was made an orphan.

“They were shot…which was why…which was why…”

“Which is why you freaked.” Louis finished.

“I didn’t tell anyone about it because it’s just easier to pretend Lee and Carley were my real parents. I didn’t want to have to relive it every time someone asked, you know?” She scratched her neck, embarrassment growing in the form of a blush over her face as she continued to confess, “I know you and the other’s think I hate my family, but I really do love them. I mean, how could I not? There's just other things going on and-” 

“You don’t have to explain, Clem. I get it. N-Not the whole adoption thing, or…dead parents but I get being a teenager with a strained parental relationship. It’s hard to talk to them or express yourself in a way they understand. You don’t wanna disappoint them, you wanna be taken seriously and…” He cleared his throat and handed her the picture, “Anyways, I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

She stood and gave the frame a sad smile. It was hard seeing them and even harder talking about what happened, even if she hadn't said much. She was also sure that her sleep would be riddled with nightmares, and she'd have to face the consequence of having brought their deaths to the forefront of her mind but, it felt good to let it off her chest. She never talks about her parents and feels guilty for hiding them but maybe after this talk, she’ll be more open. Until then, they’ll stay in her box of secrets. She gave it a kiss before tucking it away again, then turned to Louis.

“Hey, can this stay between us?”

“Of course.” He answered as he let her pull him into an unexpected hug. He leaned in, “And if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

As she continued to hold on to Louis, she had a realization of how touch starved she’d been, with the only hugs she’d willingly welcome being from Aj. Louis’ long lanky body reminded her of Duck, but the more she thought about it, everything about him reminded her of the chatterbox. From his speech to his flare for the dramatics, Louis was just a rich version of the friend she left back home. Maybe that’s why she felt comfortable enough to talk to him and to even go as far as to initiate physical affection. With Louis, she felt safe and with this place still being slightly unfamiliar, keeping him around didn’t seem like a bad idea.

---

After the resident party boy had left, following like a lovesick puppy behind Clementine, the party died down. Not wanting the night to end yet, Mitch suggested they move their party to the street and head into town for some arcading and possible roller skating. Since it was the weekend, their curfews were extended. That and for once he didn’t have detention. Once the plan was laid out, it didn’t take much for Marlon, Minnie and Willy to agree to extend the party. Aasim and Ruby, who had work the next morning, gave their apologies and decided to end the night, while Violet and Sophie volunteered to stay behind and clean. As for Omar and Brody, they had called it quits shortly after Clementine left, claiming they had had tiring days.

With the group split, Sophie and Violet set off to work, with Sophie getting the decorations down from the wall and Violet sweeping the confetti. Aside from the heavy stomps and deep sighs that came from Sophie, the two cleaned in silence, both stewing in their own thoughts and replaying the events of the party. Poor Violet was completely out of the loop when it came to Sophie’s seemingly sudden change in attitude but if she had to guess, it had to do with the girl’s twin. From what she gathered, Minnie had done something that pissed Clementine off, which in turn soured Sophie's mood, which would explain why the artist was thrashing the decorations about. Just as she was about to ask, Minnie popped her head in and made her way to her sister.

“What do you want?” Sophie asked venomously. 

“Christ, Soph. I was just coming to see if you wanted to head into town. No need to bite my head off.” Minnie put her hands up defensively.

“If I wanted to go, I would’ve gone when Mitch asked.”

“Geez, someone’s a little touchy.” Minnie moved her head around in order to catch her sister’s eyes, but Sophie kept shifting to avoid her. Annoyed, she scoffed, “Are you seriously still mad at me?”

“What do you think?”

“Oh come on, Soph. The old you would've ate that up.” 

“Well the new me didn't.” With decorations in hand, she walked past her sister and stuffed the items in a box that was set on the piano bench. Sophie then turned to Minnie with her hands angrily placed on her hips, “Whatever beef you’ve got with Clem, squash it. She's my friend and I'd like it to stay that way.”

Blue eyes rolled in annoyance, and she mirrored her sister’s pose, “Gosh, you've turned into such a softie.”

“And you've turned into a bully.” Sophie snapped back. 

“What are you, the fun police? It's all just-”

“A joke?” Sophie advanced, “Yeah so you've said but you know something Min? It's not a joke if you're the only one laughing.” 

The two stared each other down as if they were playing a game of chicken, waiting for the other to fold. There was fire in both their eyes, but they were lit for different reasons. Sophie has always been protective of her loved ones and while she assumed her twin forgot when she had to play hero for her, Minnie hadn’t. For Minnie, this heroic defense of Clementine fueled her hatred and only served to strengthen her bitter jealousy.

Knowing she wasn’t going to get Sophie to budge, Minnie just sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes once more, “Whatever. It’s not my fault the scaredy cat couldn’t take a joke.” 

“Which joke are you talking about, Minnie?” Violet asked, making herself known. She put the broom down and walked over to the girls. Irritation laced her voice, “Is it the one where you made fun of that scar on her neck or when you called her a fucking cutting board?”

“You did what?” Sophie asked in disbelief, “Minnie, what the shit?!”

“Relax Vi, no one was talking about you. And besides, that wasn’t me, it was Erin-”

Minnie was cut off by a hard shove that sent her to the ground. When she looked up, she was met with eyebrows furrowed down deeply and Violet’s face practically set ablaze with anger and slight embarrassment, “Seriously, Minerva! Fuck you!”

The redhead sat on the floor for a moment, propped on her elbows, suspended in shock. She then closed her mouth that had been left agape by Violet’s sudden actions, and with her face as red as her hair, she hopped onto her feet. Closing the gap between them, Minnie spoke heatedly, “Geez Violet, where was all this spunk before, huh? So some pretty girl gets her little feelings hurt and suddenly meek ass Violet, who can’t even raise her hand in class, has the strength to defend her? Oh, this is just fucking rich!”

“You can't be serious right now! She's my frie-”

“Please spare me the bullshit that’s about to spill from your mouth! I see how you look at her. How you were doting on her when she was upset today. How you're always a little too excited to get tutored by her. Honestly, it's desperate and pathetic to see how much you’re pinning for her.” Minnie then turned to Sophie with a humorless chuckle, “You think I’m an asshole? At least I’m not eye-fucking my best friend’s crush and pretending to be her friend just to get into her pants.” 

“Stop trying to turn into something it’s not!” Violet pointed a finger, “This isn’t about me and Clem. It’s about you being a fucking bully that thinks making jokes about self-harm is funny.” Minnie went to correct her, but Violet spoke loudly, effectively cutting her off once more, “And don’t say it was just Erin because you still stand with that dumbass brace face and if you didn’t find it funny, you would’ve called her out, but you didn’t.” 

“Ever thought I just didn’t say anything because I don’t like the bitch?”

Sophie rejoined the conversation and looked between the two girls as she feigned confusion, “I’m sorry, did I miss something? Since when did Clem do anything to you?” 

Minnie wanted to scream from the top of her lungs and shake the girls that just glared at her. She hated that the girls that she cared about so much, held such a disdain for her and even worse, that they’re defending some nobody that they’ve only known for a couple of months. Sophie was bonded to her by blood, and she and Violet had been as thick as thieves since their arrival at Ericson. She was their friend, used to be close friends that shared everything but now it looked like they've already found her replacement.

Just as she was about to pop her top, Marlon swung open the door with a loud swoosh, “Yo, Minnie! What's the hold up! Is she coming or what?”

The redhead smirked but the joy didn't reach her eyes. Those remained cold and dead as she adjusted her biker jacket, “Nah, they're too busy riding Clementine’s jockstrap.”

“What?” Marlon called from the door, having not heard what she said. 

“Nothing. The losers aren't coming.” She waved her hand dismissively and turned to head for the exit. With a shrug, Marlon left as quickly as he came, albeit a little more confused than when he initially poked his head in. After he walked through it, Minnie grabbed the door and paused. She turned her head, but not enough to face them, “That girl is not your friend and when she breaks your heart, don't come crying to me.” She then slammed the door and stomped off to join Marlon.

Clementine Everett made a big mistake by enrolling in Ericson and Minnie was going to make sure she regretted it.

Notes:

Yo, so, summer break is coming up and I've got some ideas for the next couple of chapters so here's hoping for a short update time! Anyways, thoughts and opinions are always appreciated, and I'll catch you in the next update!

Chapter 7: Slumber Party

Summary:

It's an all-girl party; clothing optional.

Notes:

guys, the summary was just a joke. sometimes I just don't know what to write. Anyways, yay, an update!

Finally done with their cleaning, Violet and Sophie tiredly made their way to the girls' dorms. They hadn’t really spoken to each other after Minnie’s berating, again lost to their own thoughts and mixed feelings. Neither could understand Minnie’s seemingly sudden and strong hatred for their new friend or how to fix it. For Sophie, Minnie was still her sister, but she wouldn’t sit idly by as she attacked the innocent. For Violet, Minnie was an enigma, and she didn’t know what to make of her, but one thing was for certain and that was that they both wanted their friend back.

“Alright, Soph, I'll see you later.” Violet stifled a yawn as she walked to her dorm, but she stopped upon not receiving an answer. When she turned around, she found Sophie standing in front of the door with her hand hovering over the knob.

“Hey, ya think Brody would mind sharing with another body tonight? I don’t know if Clem’s still mad.” Sophie half-joked.   

“I doubt she’s mad at you, Soph.” Violet walked over to her friend and put a comforting hand on her shoulder, “I’m sure she knows it's just Minnie.”

The artist didn't respond, only giving a small nod to acknowledge that she'd heard. She then pulled the door open, and her eyes widened at the sight of what seemed like Louis and Clementine embracing. It was only for a split second, but Sophie could see Louis, who seemed to be enjoying himself too much, lean deeper before his eyes shot open. Caught in another precarious position, Louis pushed Clementine away. 

He raked his hand through his locs, “I-I should probably go before security shows up.” He sent a nervous smile and weak wave to the girls before trying to squeeze between them, but a freckled hand stopped him.

“Oh no, lover boy, don’t let me interrupt. Me and Vi were just leaving.”

“Wait, where are y’all going?” Clementine asked, “Is the party not over?” 

Violet cleared her throat, now free after shaking off her initial shock, “No, it’s been over but-”

 “We can definitely give you two some more private time if that’s what you need.” Sophie’s grin grew as she watched Louis turn into a blushing puddle with every word that left her mouth. A laugh escaped from her throat as she hopped from place to place in front of the door to block his escape, “Where ya going, Romeo?”

Louis, normally one for humor, did not find this funny. Panic leaked from his pores as he cried, “Sophie! If they catch me here, I’m fucking dead!”

The playful redhead chuckled once more before moving out the way. She dramatically showed the exit, “Then I guess you better run!” After watching Louis bust into a full sprint down the hall, Sophie turned to Clementine who had taken a seat on her bed. She then teasingly asked as she wiggled her eyebrows, her previous irritation seemingly vanished at the sight of a flustered Louis, “Excuse me, Mrs. Sulieman- I mean, Miss Everett but were we interrupting something?” 

“Well yeah but not in the way you’re thinking.” Clementine answered nonchalantly. Seeing the dissatisfaction and disbelief written on the girls’ face, Clementine changed the subject, knowing she wasn’t going to convince them otherwise. She rose from the bed and busied herself with tidying her desk, “Anyways, you mentioned earlier that you weren’t staying long. Where ya heading, if you don’t mind me asking.”

Sophie, who had been leaning against her bedpost, lost her confident stance and rubbed her arm nervously, “I was just gonna bunk with Vi tonight. Wanted to give you some space after… you know.”

After her panic attack, the last thing Clementine wanted to be, was alone. There would be nothing to distract her from her thoughts and words, far crueler than anything Minnie could say, would jump around in her head. Depending on how bad the voices got, she’d been inclined to believe them and become easily susceptible to their suggestions.  If anything, being alone would make her mood worse, dumping her into a deep hole in which she wouldn’t be privy to when she’d emerge. So because that was something she was desperately trying to avoid, she sucked up as much courage as she could muster and asked her friends to join them.

“Oh!” Sophie voiced her surprise, “An impromptu sleepover? Sounds like fun to me!” Excited at the fact that Clementine didn’t despise her for the actions of her twin, Sophie turned to her blonde friend with a bright smile. She elbowed her, “Vi? How about it?”

The blonde sighed, “The party never stops with you, does it Sophie?”

“Nope!”

“Alright,” Violet uncrossed her arms, “I’m down.”

“Cool!” Sophie jumped, “Let’s shower and then Vi, you can meet us back here.”

The girls agreed and went their separate ways.

---

Clementine doesn't look at herself in the mirror often. Just like being alone, it’s something she actively avoids due to her thoughts becoming rather unkind if she looks too long. The heat starts to rise, and she can feel herself being taken back into the house. She hears him screaming her name, smells the burning flesh, feels her skin bubbling-

Taking a deep breath, she wiped the fog from the mirror and gave herself a quick once over. “Let’s get this over with.”

Big coils and ringlets were pulled back into a low ponytail, revealing her full face. Unlike other teens that were struggling with acne, she was suffering from a different type of scar, one that was a little more permanent. In actuality, it was more than one but to her, it still formed a massive blotch that covered a majority of her body. She once described herself, to her therapist at the time, as looking like a plastic toy that had been left in the hot Georgia sun during a heatwave, but Ms.Yvette didn’t find the humor in her dark, self-deprecating joke.

Much like patchwork, her skin had been stitched, pulled tighter and grafted to help in her recovery. There were some parts that had fully healed but, in most areas, the damage was far too great for cosmetic surgery to touch, leaving her body in a lumpy uneven state. Despite the encouragement from her parents and doctors, it still left her feeling like Frankenstein’s monster. It was the reason she refused to wear shorts, only wore long sleeves and why she covered her skin in shame. These scars danced across her jaw line and trailed all the way down her neck, and to her collar bone. It reached to her chest, shamelessly swallowing one of her breasts, before dying a little after her torso. From behind, it spread wide across her back and arms and cut deep into her leg, or whatever was left of it. 

Yes, looking in the mirror was more than a challenge that she would care to admit. There was a wave of shame that slammed into her whenever she looked at herself and the state her broken body was in. And while having a pound of makeup and being heavily covered helped, the ragged and unevenness of her limbs would forever be a reminder of her mistakes and all she had lost because of her selfish actions.

---

“Welcome to our humble abode,” Brody greeted them, “Su casa es tu casa, or however that saying goes.”

It was surprising that after all the time they’d spent together, Clementine had never seen Violet’s room until now. As she walked in, she tried to keep her eyes in her head, but they traveled everywhere, scanning everything they landed on. Violet had the same default bedspread as everyone else but had a starry throw blanket neatly folded at the foot of her bed. Also on her bed was the chicken plush Clementine had won her at the fair. Her wall was littered with band posters, photographs of friends and some very provocative ladies in sultry positions that Clementine was surprised the school allowed her to display. Besides the sexy lady posters, the thing that caught the brunette’s interest was the sparkly magenta star shaped electric guitar and large stack of CDs that laid next to a CD radio player.

While Violet’s side was painfully hers, Brody’s took a little longer to see her personality. Other than the stress balls and plethora of animal plushies that lined her desk and bed, there wasn’t much decoration on her side. She had a few photos displayed of her friends and who one would assume to be her family. There was also a yoga mat neatly rolled up that leaned onto her bed. Splitting the sleeping space was a dresser, which looked to have a shared makeup vanity, and a small mini fridge. Overall, their place looked very lived in and it made the brunette wonder how long the girls had been here and if they were ever planning on leaving. 

Brody apologized, “Sorry about ditching y’all with the cleaning. I just had some work to catch up on.”

Apparently, when Violet returned to her dorm and found Brody still up, she relayed the plan, which then changed the location from Clementine and Sophie’s room, to Violet and Brody’s, much to Clementine’s pleasure. She didn’t want to sleep on the floor, but it was better than to have them in her room, overanalyzing everything like she had previously done. And if they were anything like Sophie, she was scared they’d snoop while she was sleeping. Even worse, that it would be Sophie leading the pack, seeing no harm in showing off her roommate’s old baseball trophies.

“No sweat, Brods. We knew you had more important things to do.” Sophie said as she started throwing her sheets and extra blankets onto the floor, “Anyways, what do you guys want to do tonight?”

“Can we talk about that guitar?” Clementine placed her blankets and pillows next to Sophie and watched the other two girls do the same, “I mean, that’s the coolest guitar I’ve ever seen.”

“Wait, you mean Violet didn’t tell you she was in a band?” Brody shot her friend a puzzled look.

“You would think that would be the first thing out her mouth when trying to impress the ladies.” Sophie muttered to Brody, making her chuckle.

Violet ignored her friend’s comment and explained, “Cuz it wasn’t a band. We performed one time and that was only because Louis’ showboaty ass dragged us into it for the town talent show.”

“Well, I thought it was great.” Brody laid her head down on Sophie's lap and laid out on the floor, “Louis played the piano, Minnie was lead singer and Violet, here, played the guitar.”

Clementine nearly had to catch her eyes from falling out her head, “Minnie sings?”

“Sung; past tense. She doesn’t anymore because it ruins her image.” Violet said with the roll of her eyes.

“And thus, the L word was disbanded due to infighting and an ever-dwindling fanbase.” Sophie stroked Brody’s hair, “And before you ask, yes, I just quoted the best Disney Channel show of all time and yes, Clementine, the band was called the L word. Louis named it and said it was because his name started with L and his two bandmates were lesbians.” 

The blonde spoke through gritted teeth, “Sophie.”

“Oops.” Sophie sat up straight, now slightly panicked, “I thought she knew.” 

Clementine chuckled, “Vi, did you forget that Louis called you a lady lover the first time we met? Plus, the Jennifer Tily poster was kinda a dead giveaway.”

The blonde went from stiff and tense to a relaxed slouch. She figured Clementine was ok with her sexuality, or at the very least was just being nice but whatever it was, her kindness was much appreciated. While dating Minnie, Violet was out and proud, not caring for others' opinions but she slowly started to show her affections quietly when their bullying went from cruel words to hard fists. Years softened the violence, but it was more of a tolerance than acceptance and there was still the occasional run in with a homophobe that would rock Violet’s security. 

Her sexuality wasn’t something she wanted to hide, nor was it something she was ashamed of but when it came to the new girl, Violet kept her mouth shut. The more time she spent with Clementine, the more she was able to relax and be herself. She would be destroyed if another person she thought was her friend, ditched her because of something she couldn’t change. While she was close to Brody and the twins since the beginning of her stay at Ericson, Violet had a friend in Stephanie, but after her outing, her friendship turned into disgust and Violet was once again abandoned by someone she cared about. She later blew it off as good riddance, but the pain was still there.

Brody got up and went over to the CD player and started browsing the music selection. Clementine, who had already seen the options, then asked her to play the Fallen album. Violet smiled, “What do you know about Evanescence?”

“Only that Fallen is the best album.”

“Let me guess, you like Wake Me Up Inside?” Violet asked, seeing if she could sniff out a poser.

“I mean, yeah, who doesn’t but I also like Hello and Going Under.”

“The Open Door?”

 “It was alright. I didn’t like it as much as I did Fallen.”

With music being the new subject, Brody and Sophie were thrown to the wayside, completely forgotten as the girls talked about their favorite artists. Violet was intrigued, wanting to know more about the brunette’s knowledge on rock music and she wasn’t surprised to find that she mainly only knew mainstream rock. She’d known a few songs by Pierce the Veil, Five Finger Death Punch and of course My Chemical Romance but Clementine quickly admitted to liking all genres of music and clarified that her dedication was not to just rock. Throughout the conversation, after seeing how much Violet lit up about music, Clementine suggested they hang out outside of tutoring and head down to the music store in town. This put a bright smile on the blonde’s face, but it faltered a little when Brody entered the conversation with a certain musician’s name in tow.

“That sounds like a trip Lou would enjoy.”

“OH MY GOSH! CLEMENTINE!” Sophie yelled, startling the girls, “What were you doing with Louis?! Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me!” The redhead jumped up and down excitedly, repeating her request until Clementine stopped her.

“We hugged! That was all!”

“Wait, what did I miss?” Brody sat with her legs crossed, eagerly leaned in and ready for the hot gossip. “I remember he left the party shortly after you and then-”

“They were hugging when I went back to the dorms! And if we’re being honest, I think it was more than that Ms.Clemmy, so SPILL!”

If Violet wasn’t mistaken, she could’ve sworn Clementine glanced at her before answering, “I-It was nothing. Me and Louis are just friends.”

“Yeah and Marlon’s hair makes me swoon.” Sophie crossed her arms, “There’s something else going on that you’re not saying. I mean I haven’t even seen you hug your own parents before but now you’re hugging Louis’ goofy ass? My Spidey Senses are on fucking fire!”

Brody grabbed one of her many plushies, hugging it as she laid on the floor. Kicking her feet, she asked, “Oooh, Clem! Did you let him tickle your ivories?”

“Brods, that’s fucking gross.” Violet commented.

“And also not ever going to happen.” Clementine confirmed, “Look Louis is a nice guy but he’s still a guy.”

“And that means?” Sophie asked.

“They only want one thing and I’m not giving that up. Ever.”

“Let me guess, your dad told you that?” Sophie rolled her eyes before getting up to swing an arm around her roommate’s shoulder. She pulled her in close, “Clemmy, baby. You're here because you presumably didn’t listen to him before, so why start now?”

Brody joined, “Lou is a great guy. He wouldn’t do that to you.”

"Besides we all know he's a virgin anyways." Violet muttered.

“Well it doesn't matter anyways.” Clementine knew the girls were expecting an explanation, but she refused to offer one, “It’s never gonna work.”

“Les be honest, here Clementine. It’s a safe place.” Sophie spoke teasingly as she nodded her head towards Violet.

“Seriously, Soph. Fuck off.” The blonde huffed, unamused by the joke.

“I'm not a lesbian, Sophie.”

The redhead got up to grab a soda from the mini fridge. With her back still turned she said, “Spaghetti is also straight until it gets wet, so don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it.”

“Again, Sophie, fucking gross!” Violet gagged, while Brody stifled her chuckle.

“I’m not a lesbian, Sophie, ok? I’ve been with a guy before.” This caused Brody and Sophie to gasp dramatically while Violet’s eyes just widened in surprise. Clementine held up her hands defensively, “Before you get any ideas, we didn’t do anything. I just meant that we had a thing for each other, but it didn’t go far. The most I did was a kiss on the cheek.”

“Boo!” Sophie said as she leaned over to grab one of Brody’s plushies. She then chucked it towards Clementine, who caught it before it hit her face. She took another swig of her drink, “Child’s play! I wanted to hear something juicy like getting caught under the bleachers.”

“So about Louis,” Brody started, much to the brunette’s dismay, “How do you feel about him? Like truly.”

After some consideration, and with the comfort of the animal plush, the brunette answered, “Truthfully, from what I see, he’s a nice guy. He’s cute, my brother really likes him, he makes me laugh and I can trust him…almost. But none of that matters because it’s never gonna happen. I’m not here to fall in love, I’m here to fix myself and then go back home.” 

“So you’re not even gonna give it a try?” Brody asked. “It’s not marriage, Clem. You can just have fun.”

“I try not to play with other people's feelings, Brody.”

“Really? Cuz that’s what you’re doing to Louis.” Sophie muttered.

“Excuse me?” Brown eyes narrowed at the redhead, clearly offended.

“"Welllll," Sophie started slowly, "I’m just saying that Louis has made it clear from day one that he liked you. You’re kinda just stringing him along with your confusion.”

“And just how am I doing that?”

Brody added to the conversation, “Laughing at his jokes, private talks. I mean you guys are kinda inseparable.”

“Just because I like hanging out with him, doesn’t mean anything.”

“But it means something to him, Clem.” Sophie sighed and took a seat on Brody’s bed, keeping a safe distance as she explained, “Look, I’m not trying to upset you, but Louis is my friend. He's a doofus with a big heart and its bleeding for you. Tell him you like him, tell him you don’t or tell him you don’t know. Just tell him something.”

There was a bound of silence and one could tell from the look on Clementine's face that she wasn’t happy with where the conversation had led. When first meeting Clementine, Violet remembers how ridiculously flirtatious Louis was. Sure, she laughed at his jokes but as time went on, you could see her discomfort when they became overly romantic. Violet’s not entirely sure why someone as bold as Clementine doesn’t tell him to flat out stop. Then again, there’s a lot about Clementine that the group still doesn’t know about. Maybe she had trauma with men and that’s why she had some kinda aversion to them and sex or maybe she just wants to spare his feelings. Regardless, Violet decided to voice her opinion on the matter.

“Or maybe Louis needs to take a hint.” Violet approached with caution, “He’s a doofus but he’s not an idiot. Clem said from the beginning she didn't want a boyfriend. Maybe if those chuckleheads didn't gass him up every time she's around, he would've backed off.”

Sophie countered, “She could still give him a definite answer.”

“I know. I'm just saying he can take some responsibility too.”

Sensing that her words did more harm than good, and that Clementine might've felt ambushed, Sophie backed down, “I guess so.”

“Uh, how’s about we play a game or something,” Brody attempted to break the tension, “We used to have UNO but Marlon destroyed it after losing five times in a row to Willy.” She chuckled nervously, “If not games maybe we can do traditional girly slumber party things like braiding each other’s hair and painting nails.”

Clementine could tell the suggestions were pointed at her and awaited her approval but truthfully, she didn’t want to participate in either activity. Even if Sophie hadn’t run out with the love accusations, the suggestions were far too intimate for her comfort. The closer they were, the higher the probability of them seeing something they didn't need to see, like her fire bitten ear. Her hands were a safer bet, seeing as she had on a jacket with finger holes, but the last conversation had her back in her cocoon, and her hands were hidden under her armpits with her arms still angrily crossed.

“Maybe we can watch a movie.” Violet suggested.

“Uh,” Clementine looked around, “How? I don’t see a TV.” 

“Vi’s got a portable DVD player. She used to watch the old Barbie movies on them-”

“Brody!” Violet whisper-shouted with a flushed face, “Shut up!”

This caused Clementine to sport a small smile, “It’s nothing to be ashamed of Vi. Almost every girl has watched Barbie. Which one was your favorite?”

After a few seconds, the blonde muttered, “12 Dancing Princesses…The villain was hot.”

“I liked Mermaidtopia.” Brody added.

The girls looked at the only one that hadn’t added to the conversation, expecting her to voice her opinion. Sophie looked at her roommate, who just gave her a forced and fleeting smile. Embarrassed that she had disrupted the fun, Sophie pulled her knees to her chest and softly answered, “Uh…I really liked Fairytopia. I thought Bible was funny.”

“What about you, Clem?” Brody asked.

“I really like Princess and the Pauper.” She gave a faint smile, “One year, my parents got me the toy tea set and for months I would wake them up, telling them I made them breakfast. Really, it was plastic donuts and tea cakes on Barbie plates and empty teacups.”

“Oh, that was me and Min-” Sophie stopped upon seeing her roommate’s grimace, “I mean, that was a good one. I used to watch it all the time back home. Even dressed up as them one year for Halloween.”

“Sounds like I need to go get the movies.” Violet said as she rose from her spot on the floor and traveled to their shared closet.

“Which movies do you have?” Clementine called after her.

“All of them,” Brody answered with a giggle.

“Brody!”

---

Despite the initial hiccup, the rest of the night popped off without any further issues. They had watched one movie and let the others play in the background as they chatted about school and just life in general. They later played a couple mild rounds of truth or dare. The beginning of the game didn’t garner anything noteworthy but later on, Sophie did reveal that she found Mitch attractive, which then snowballed into Brody confessing that she found Mr.Everrett attractive. Naturally, it made Clementine gag and the subject was changed. As the game progressed, Clementine got dared into calling Duck and confessing to him that it was indeed her that was putting bugs in his pillow whilst they were in summer camp all those years ago. Sneakily, Duck put the girl on speaker and had her unknowingly repeat her story to Kenny. The call promptly ended after she’d gotten chewed out by Kenny and threatened with revenge by Duck.

As the teenage fun died down, as did the energy and the girls started dropping like flies. Brody was the first to fall, then Violet. Just as Clementine went to rest her head, she was awoken by the sound of someone calling her name. The room was dark, so she couldn’t see those piercing blue eyes, but she could tell from the voice, it was her roommate.

“Are you still up?” Sophie whispered.

Clementine hesitated at first, not knowing if she wanted to talk but after a moment, she answered with a curt, “Yeah.”

“Look, about the stuff with Louis-”

“It’s fine, Sophie. I get it. Just go to bed.”

“But it doesn’t feel like it’s fine, Clem.” She paused, “I know you’re mad at me and I’m not expecting you to accept my apology right away, but I just wanted to say I was sorry, like I truly am. I…you’re my friend and… ever since Minnie turned ugly, those have been hard to come by. No one wants to hang out with me because of her. I just wanted you to know that I’m not like her. I didn't mean to embarrass you earlier and honestly; I should've asked you about it privately. Listen, I don’t want to lose you as a friend, Clem.”

After a moment of silence and having a minute to ponder her response, Clementine answered truthfully, “I know you’re not like her, Soph and I didn’t mean to get so angry, but the thing is…” She sighed as she shifted on the blankets, “That Minnie incident messed me up more than I thought and it was really embarrassing. Louis helped me through that. You took that moment and turned it into something it wasn’t. Louis is sweet and all but it’s not going to work between us.”

“I don’t think that’s true." Sophie quietly protested, "I think he really likes you and I think you like him too.”

“No, Soph. He likes the idea of me. He doesn’t know me. None of you really do. And even if I did like him, and I’m not saying I do, cuz I don’t; I’m better off alone, ok? There’s no point of entertaining a romance that’s never going to happen.”

“If you feel that way, then why don’t you tell him that? Why keep giving him hope?”

“...”

“I was right, wasn’t I? You do like him.”

Clementine softly groaned, “It doesn’t matter. We’re not going to date. Ever.”

“But why not?”

“You know why.”

“So you’re just going to live your life not experiencing anything because of-” Sophie sighed and turned on her stomach. She spoke to what she thought was Clementine but because she was in the dark, there was a possibility she was talking to a wall. Metaphorically or literally. “...Can I be honest with you?”

“I guess.”

“I know I don’t know the full picture, and there’s a possibility, I never will but I just want you to know I can see you, Clem- I can see the real you. I know how badly you want to try, I see when your eyes light up but then suddenly you get cold feet and you back down. I know you set these limits to protect yourself but honestly, I think they’re doing more harm than good.” She let out another sigh, “I’ve seen how this plays out- when you let insecurities win. Don’t let them, Clem. Don’t let them stop you from going after what you want.”

There was a shift near her before she heard her roommate softly whisper, “Goodnight, Sophie.”

The rest of the night was still, and no one stirred as Clementine started at the glow in the dark stars that stuck onto the ceiling. While she desperately tried to hold back her tears, a certain blonde that laid next to her, tried to keep as still as possible, not wanting to alert them that she’d been awake the entire time.

Notes:

Couldn't be an update without some DRAMA! Anyways, how do we feel? Do you think Sophie had a point? Do you think Clem actually has a thing for Louis? I'd love to hear your opinions on this!
oh, also. heeheehee. I quoted Shrek but I doubt y'all will find it.

Chapter 8: Tough Talks and Base Coats

Most times when Clementine goes to tutor Violet, they end up doing anything but studying. At first, that’s all they did, but as time went on, it became very apparent that the blonde didn’t need as much help as she claimed she did. Clementine didn’t mention it, as she was having fun too, but it was clear that Violet used tutoring as an excuse to hang out. Clementine liked being around the older teen, especially when it was just the two of them. She felt as if their shared time alone was the only time she really got to see Violet as herself. The snarky, always-got-an-attitude persona disappeared when it was just them in that cramped dorm. And after their impromptu sleepover, Violet opened up more and had even pulled out her guitar a few times. 

Their tutor sessions weren't ever very long, normally ending around two hours. But today was one of the days where they’d extend them due to Brody’s tennis lessons. With calculus done, Clementine idly gazed over from her teen magazine to her blonde friend who lazily strummed a simple tune on her guitar. She monetarily listened to the melody, hypnotized by how the chipped blue nail polished fingers plucked at the stringed instrument. 

“Sophie told me that lesbians have well-groomed nails. Hm. Must be a myth.” The girl casually flipped through the magazine, pretending to be interested in its contents, “Either that or you get no play.”

Surprised by the rather sexual banter, Violet ended on a sour note. She let out hollow laugh, “Says the fucking nun.”

“By choice my dear, by choice.” Clementine rose from her spot on the floor and grabbed one of Violet’s hands, “Seriously though. You should let me fix them. I promise I won't mess them up.”

The short circuiting in the older teen’s brain slowed her thoughts as she realized their close proximity. Her eyes traveled from their hands to brown eyes which squinted when Clementine made a disgruntled expression. Realizing she might have been staring with her intense owl eyes, Violet stammered, “S-Sure, why not. Not like we're doing anything else.” Once Clementine let go, Violet then went to put her guitar down, “but, uh, I don't have a big selection.”

Ever since Sophie and Clementine’s no-so private talk, Violet has noticed a change in her friend. While she still mainly kept to herself, Clementine has started to participate more when it comes to group hangouts and has just become more outspoken in general. She still has her problems with Minnie and things are still up in the air when it comes to Louis, but it feels like at the very least, that she’s overall more relaxed with the group. This only doubles when alone with Violet. 

“What colors do you have?”

“Dark blue.”

“Oh.” Clementine started packing up her bag, “Well how's about we head into town and get some? My folks left me some fun money so I can cover it.”

Violet nodded in agreement and the two began to get ready to head down towards the shuttles. This wasn’t the first time they’d gone into town together, but this would be the first time they’ve gone alone. After the events of the slumber party, Brody took it upon herself to tell Louis about the music store, so naturally, the tall musician asked Clementine out. Whether it was intended to be a date or not, Clementine begged for the blonde’s help and Violet ended up getting dragged along to third-wheel. It wasn’t too bad, and she did end up snagging some new CDs as compensation but the whole situation still baffled her. It was clear Louis had feelings but when it came to her cap wearing friend, it was impossible to read her heart.

Like previously stated, Clementine is still very much a mystery but being around her helps fill in some gaps. Apparently, there was something about her appearance that she feared Louis would reject. This theory was supported by how heavily covered she is and how protective she is of her personal space. The nosy part of Violet wanted to ask Sophie, seeing as she knew, but another part of her knew it’d be foolish to ask because as much as Sophie likes drama, she’s an expert at safeguarding her friend’s deepest secrets. 

After a short shuttle ride down into the town, the two girls found themselves shifting through the aisles of the town’s small yet well stocked beauty store. Violet wasn’t too heavy into makeup, but she liked a good eyeliner and is known to rock a good smokey eye during special occasions. Clementine, on the other hand, seemed very interested in the concealers. This confused the blonde, seeing as from where she stood, she didn’t see the need. Clementine’s face was very clear for a hormonal teenager and that was definitely something most teens envied. Despite this, the makeup was put into a basket to be purchased later.

After wandering through a few more aisles, the girls ended up in the nail polish section, where they browsed through the rather large selection. They were organized by color and brand, with the discounted one’s capping the aisle's ends. Knowing they didn’t have much cash between them, they checked the clearance rack first.

Sensing the clear reason why they were on clearance, Violet turned her attention to the more expensive items. Her eyes settled on a deep blue, because despite her name, midnight blue was her favorite color. She picked up the polish, ready to show it to Clementine but when she turned her head, she was greeted with an aggressive hot pink polish and her friend grinning from ear to ear.

“How’s about we get you pretty in pink? Goes with your Barbie theme.”

Violet smacked the item away from her face, ignoring the chuckles that erupted from Clementine, “Would you drop the Barbie thing? The first few times were funny but now the joke is dead. This is overkill.”

“Oh come on. I thought blondes were supposed to like pink.”

“Well not this one.”

“Why don’t you like it when I bring it up?” The curly haired girl asked genuinely, her smile fading, “You seemed to really enjoy it when we were watching it.” 

“It’s not that I don’t like it. I just don’t like the whole world knowing. It’s embarrassing. And you know how Ericson can be. People will eat you alive.”

Clementine walked down the aisle to return the polish. “Since when do you care about what people think about you?” She asked as she walked away.

Violet gave the heavily covered girl a sideway glance, “I could ask you the same.”

The blonde internal facepalmed as she saw the flash of hurt that flickered in the big brown eyes that looked at her. Before she could speak on it, Clementine would hide her face, burying it behind her mound of curls as she began looking through the bottles. “Hm. Touche.”

Hoping to salvage the conversation and correct her misspeak, Violet asked about Clementine’s plans. She had kinda just agreed to get nail polish without knowing how much they were getting or what they planned to do with it. Of course she figured they would paint nails, but her comment had her wondering if Clementine would even allow her to get close enough to paint her nails. With how protective she is of her personal space, Violet figured Clementine would paint her own nails. Before she could over think, Clementine spoke.

“So I saw something in a magazine about painting your nails the same colors as your eyes. I thought that would be a cool idea.”

“Oh, yeah that sounds pretty cool.” Violet nodded, “How about I look for your color and you look for mine? It’d be easier to compare them that way.”

Clementine agreed and the pair started searching the shelves for the perfect colors. As time ticked on, Violet had brought up a couple possible candidates. Caramel Glam, Espresso Brown, Chestnut Charm, and Mocha Madness were shown and compared to Clementine’s eyes, but each were missing something, so they were placed back on the shelf. For Violet, Clementine showed her Mint Candy Apple, Emerald Green, Green with Envy and Seafoam Waves but none could match with the unique greens of Violet’s eyes. Determined to find a compatible color, Clementine tore through the shelves. She had nearly given up hope when she saw it. The sight of it made her gasp audibly and she rushed to her friend, holding it up to her face.

“It’s perfect!” She gleefully giggled, “Soft Prasiolite!”

Violet, not sharing the same excitement, grimaced as she took the bottle in her hand, examining the label. “Makes me sound like a delicate flower.”

“So like I said, it’s perfect!”

“I'm not soft.” Violet playfully crossed her arms before returning the polish to Clementine, who then placed it in the basket. Seeing as she still had to find Clementine’s perfect color, she went to look at the rack of polish, “I’m actually very tough, dangerous, even.”

“Then they should’ve named you Rose. You know, cuz it's a flower and it has thorns. Beautiful, yet vicious.”

Jovially, Violet rolled her eyes as she pretended to be unamused but as her eyes rotated, she saw something gleam. “Hell yeah. I think I found one.” A smirk formed as she walked up to her friend, bottle in hand, and placed it to her eyes, “Blazing Ember. Man, yours sounds ten times cooler than mine.”

Blazing and ember. Clementine couldn't escape the irony if she tried. And as much as she wanted to protest it’s purchase, Violet was right, and the color was spot on. Now unable to deny it’s striking resemblance to her eyes, Violet and Clementine made their purchase and headed back to the school. As they walked, Clementine’s ears perked up at the familiar sound of wood striking synthetic leather. Entranced by the sound, Clementine followed it all the way to the source, completely unaware that she hadn’t voiced her detour to Violet.

Clementine’s eyes widened with childlike sparkle as she marveled at the batting cage. Half clothed fingers tangled themselves around the wire fence, desperately wanting to be on the other side. She watched as a young kid, no older than seven, attempted to copy his guardian and swung the bat as hard as he could. A warm chuckle released when the force of the spin knocked him hard on his behind and the ball hit the tarp behind him, letting her know that he had swung entirely too early. Just as she was about to reminisce, a voice surfaced from behind. 

“There you are. Should’ve figured the baseball star would wound up here but a heads up would've been nice.”

“Oops. Sorry.” Her voice was foggy and a drift, as if she wasn’t fully present.

“It’s fine. It’s hard to lose you in a crowd, especially with that big red hoodie and crusty old cap.” Violet then pointed to the entrance, “Anyways, did you want to go in?”

The brunette smiled a bit at the suggestion but upon seeing the price, Clementine took a step back and her smile faded. Had she not spent her money on her concealer, she would’ve had enough to go. Though that thought annoyed her, she didn’t beat herself up too much. To be honest, she wasn’t sure she would’ve gone even if she had the money. Besides, she had known the batting cage was there the entire time as it was something Lee mentioned when they first dropped her off during her move in day. She just never had the guts to go, especially in the daytime, where anyone could see.

Her curls bounced as she shook her head, “Nah, I’m good. Besides, we still have nails to paint.”

---

Once back in the dorms, Clementine unbacked their goods, spreading them out on the floor along with other items like nail polish remover and q-tips. Violet offered some of her snacks and suggested they just feed each other in order to not damage their freshly painted nails. So while she took her time scrubbing off her old polish, Clementine raided the mini fridge for sodas and snack box for chips and set them in the center of the room. She then set the vibe with some music, playing one of the new Avril Lavigne CDs Violet obtained. Clementine took a seat on the center rug as she waited for Violet to wrap up her polish removal and looked at her own hands. Thankfully, the scars on her hand thinned out once they reached her fingers, making her feel more secure with the close proximity that she and Violet would soon share.

“I can do yours first if you want.” The girl suggested once she saw Violet throw out her dirty cotton balls.

Violet looked back to see a genuine, yet goofy smile spread wide across her friend’s face as she prepared. She watched as Clementine patted the hand towel in her lap, urging the girl to agree with her request. The infectious smile caught Violet, and she couldn’t help to mirror Clementine’s childish enthusiasm. She chuckled, “Sure, Clem.”

In a silly manner, a rare behavior ever displayed by the younger teen, Clementine pulled her cap around and picked up the bottle of Soft Prasiolite, shaking its contents. A giddy feeling bubbled up in Clementine’s stomach as she watched Violet sit across from her and offer her hand. She opened the bottle, and the unpleasant yet familiar smell transported her to better times.

“I used to do this all the time with my mom. She'd ask me what color I wanted, and I always picked pink or purple.” She smiled softly at the memory as she began to paint, “Sometimes she would paint them mix-matched, you know, like alternating the colors. Other times she would paint one hand pink and the other purple. Sometimes if I was really good, she would get the ones with glitter.”

“Sounds fun. I never knew you were into all that girly stuff. Not that that’s a bad thing or anything.”

“I was but things changed. My mom got busy, and we stopped hanging out.” the girl's smile faded, “I remember purposely chipping my nails to get her to repaint them. I just wanted 5 minutes with her without her stupid beeper going off.”

“Yeah, I get what you mean. Really, the only thing I know about my mom is that she works. Gas station attendant, diner waitress, dish washer, bus driver, bartender…” At first, Violet perked up at having found another thing they had in common, but as she continued to talk about her mom- or lack thereof, she noticed a shift in the mood. Deciding she would rather not delve into the touchy subject that was her strained relationship with her mother, she changed the subject, “Anyways, what did your mom do?”

“She was a doctor. A very busy doctor.” Clementine explained, focusing on the hand in front of her. “One year, she signed me up for soccer. I know now that it was just something to keep me busy, but I hated it. Have you ever done soccer in Georgia heat? It’s terrible. All the running, getting knocked in the face with the ball, kicked in the shins. It all sucked but what hurt the most is that she missed every single one of my games, except for one. I was so excited, so hyped up that I made my first goal… She didn’t even see it. She got called away halfway through the game.” In her eyes, the memories played back like a movie, “Missing her made me sound selfish, ya know? I mean saving lives is more important than painting nails and soccer games but man if I didn't miss her. I miss her so much.”

Like any friend would, Violet listened to Clementine’s story and caught all the subtle hints that suggested angst. The way her voice dropped, her fading smile and the far off look in her eyes as she told the story, saddened the blonde. Based on what Violet’s seen of the two of them interacting, it was hard to imagine them once being very close. She wondered about the story behind their falling out but kept her mouth shut, not wanting to further upset Clementine.

“Why don't you just call her? I'm sure she would love to have a girls' day with you again.”

Clementine stopped painting, now confused until she realized. “Oh, yeah. I guess I could.”

“Thanksgiving break is coming up. I’m sure you can do it then.”

Mirth followed her newfound smile as she reminisced on their chaotic house during the holidays, “We’re probably going to be too busy for that. My parents tend to go all out for Thanksgiving. It’s bigger than Christmas in our house.” She examined the hand she’d just finished, then went to paint the other, “What about you? What are your folks doing?”

“We don’t really celebrate. I’m just going to stay here and eat the school’s “thanksgiving feast.” Sounds gross but it’s not that bad.” Violet answered nonchalantly as she admired her freshly painted nails.

“You’re not going home?”

“Nah. Sometimes I go with Brody or the twins but Brody’s going out of town and… don’t think I have to explain the twins.”

The brunette hummed in response, and for a moment they sat in silence, aside from Avril still softly rocking out in the background. While most Americans deemed Christmas as the biggest holiday of the year, the Everetts’ sung a different tune, believing that title belonged to Thanksgiving. They’d often times use Thanksgiving like a family reunion. Cousins and lost aunts and uncles gathered at a family member’s house for ham, sweet potato pie and all the amazing southern fixings. It was the one time of the year that the moody teen seemed to relax around her parents and revert back to her old self. For that night, and the days spent preparing for the big meal, she was content. Finding out that her friend would spend it alone, disrupted that peace and she was compelled to ask the blonde to join her family for the holidays.

Violet politely declined, “Oh no, I wouldn't want to be a bother.”

“You’re not, I promise.” Seeing how unconvinced her friend looked, Clementine switched her marketing strategy, “Honestly, you’d be doing me a favor. It’s still really awkward with my parents and you’d make a good barrier.”

“So you want me to third-wheel again. Nice.”

Now finished with Violet’s nails, Clementine checked her work. They looked good to her, just needed a second coat but for now, she’d let them dry and take a break while they talked.

“Don’t think of it like that. Think of it as a free meal- or meals with how much we cook, and a fun time with you friend.”

Violet pondered the offer. She was never picky of which friend she ended up with during the holidays. There was a time she’d even gone home with Mitch to avoid the loneliness she felt when stuck at the near empty school. With her options seeming few and far between, the teen nearly leapt at the invitation, but something crossed her mind.

“What’s up with that anyways? With you and your parents?” Upon seeing the brunette frown, Violet began to backpedal, “I didn’t mean to pry, its just-”

“No, it’s fine.” Clementine blew off with a tired huff as she leaned back on her hands, “It’s just, they always seem to lecture me. They can’t just talk, there always has to be a lesson or encouraging message. They talk to me like I just tried to commit and it’s…dehumanizing sometimes. It doesn’t lift me up, like they think it does. It just makes me feel weak.”

“Maybe you should tell them that.”

“I’ve tried but they don’t listen.” Clementine sat back up, reaching for a pale hand to add another coat, “They want to see a change in my attitude and think all the pep talks and therapy are helping but them hounding me to get better is actually making it worse.” She wore a smirk that followed through to her eyes as she paused her painting to look at Violet, “That’s where you come in. If they see us hanging like we normally do and they see me just being me, they might back off and give me room to breathe.”

“Or when they see me, they’ll see how worse off you could’ve been.” Violet joked. “The piercings and edgy vibe is going to scare the dentures out of your grandma.”

“Please, you’re not as intimidating as you think. I think you’re really sweet.” Her voice lowered, yet her eyes seemed to glow brighter with each word spoken “I see how soft you can be with Brody and her anxiety. How gentle you are when Tenn visits, and how even though the boys piss you off, you still look out for them. To be honest, I think once they get to know you, they’ll want to trade daughters.”

“I might take them on that. My parents…they’re not the best.” Violet’s words trailed off and at the mention of her parents, she looked away but the soft rubbing of Clementine’s thumb on her knuckle, brought her back. Once again, she locked eyes with warm pools of ember.

“Well maybe we can share mine.”

She wasn’t sure what was happening but whatever it was, it made her feel good inside. Something that felt that good, couldn’t be bad, so she went with it and gave Clementine’s hand a soft squeeze, “Yeah…I'd like that.”

Notes:

Idk why I find it hard to say something in the notes nowadays but uh. Hope you enjoyed. I'm also hoping the next couple of updates will be juicier than the last.

Chapter 9: Hey Batter, Batter!

Notes:

If you got an alert saying the fic updated but the chapter was deleted, hush! I pressed post instead of save draft so you saw nothing!
Anyways, sorry for taking so long to update. My unofficial official collaborator (aka my friend that I brainstorm with) has been super busy so I haven't been able to run things over with her. But hey, y'all don't care, as long as y'all get an update at least once a month! Anyways, yay, a Louis and Clem centered chapter and it's a chunky boy!

Clementine had a problem with Louis. It wasn’t because he was annoying or because he had wronged her in some way. It was actually the opposite. He was cute, with freckles sprinkled across his face, and he was extremely charming. He made her laugh, played her music and even taught her a few songs on the piano. Every chance he had, he wooed and dazzled her with his humor and caring nature. It was all very alluring but deep down, she knew it wasn’t real. At least for her, it wasn’t.

At a young age, Clementine was taught not to trust boys or their intentions because their gifts always came with strings. Though she’d grown up and learned that her dad’s methods in attempts of protecting her innocence was just fear mongering, his lessons were still seared in her brain. Even if she wanted to give her heart to the musician, she wasn’t sure she would trust him, especially after her accident. Because the fire had destroyed and disfigured so much of her body, she feared showing anyone, afraid they’d be revolted by it, much like she was. She couldn’t let someone like Louis, someone who loves the spotlight and would more than likely want her in it as well, be her date. 

Then again, as someone who never thought they would ever receive this sort of attention, she must admit, it feels nice. While she doesn’t fancy being under the world’s microscope, she secretly relishes being the apple of his eye. For someone who felt as if she’d lost control of her future, she likes that she can control one thing: Louis. It gives her confidence, builds her up more than the therapists and pep talks her parents give. Louis is a beautiful rich boy, who could have his pick of anyone in the school, yet he only has eyes for her. She has him wrapped around her scarred little finger and like a puppet master, she pulls his strings. 

Sophie was right. She’s dragging him along and giving him false hope all the while knowing that she didn’t return his feelings. She let him float around her like a love sick puppy, just to bolster her own ego. It was sick, selfish, manipulative and a heinous thing to do, especially to someone she considered a friend. She needed to stop this; needed to kill the flame before it became a blaze. So today, when it was just the two of them, she’d tell him. She’d be direct, yet gentle when she’d confess.

“Louis, I don’t have feelings for you. I’m sorry. I hope we can still be friends.” Clementine smiled at her full length mirror for a moment before it fell along with her shoulders. She pulled down on her face, dragging it as she groaned. She flopped onto her bed, “Why is this so hard?”

“Maybe because you realized you’re manipulating your friend for your own gain and no matter how you phrase it, you’ll still be a shitty person.” A voice said, making Clementine shoot up from the bed. She followed it back to her mirror, “Or maybe it’s because you don’t want to give him up. You just want to keep your little cheerleader. Either way, you’re a shitty person.”

She squinted at the mirror and looked around to find no one but herself. Clementine then looked at her reflection and watched as it copied her movement. Either she was going crazy and needed to be moved to a nuthouse, or her brain was punishing her for pulling an all-nighter after she refused to sleep due to a horrifying nightmare. Confused, she shrugged it off and was heading back to her bed when the voice started again.

“Tell him, Clementine. Show him who you really are. Just an insecure mentally fucked up scared little girl that needs a doll that tells her she’s pretty.” Her reflection spoke, “Then maybe you’ll get the hint.”

“W-what?”

The mirror reached out, removing itself from its reflective prison to pluck her forehead, “That you don’t deserve him, dumbass. You don’t deserve anyone; your family, your friends, possibly your life.”

“No, w-why would y-you-” She backed up, tripping over her foot.

Her mirrored self grew in size, menacingly towering over her, and with a finger the size of her whole body, accusatorily pointed at her, “You know what you did.”

“I-it wasn’t my fault.” Clementine stammered, “I didn’t know h-he would-”

Little mirrored versions of herself, shards, if you will, circled her. They spun around her and trapped her, detaining her as they shoved her around their dizzying circle, “La, la, la, la, la.”

She begged them to stop, but they continued their torments, in spite of her cries. They chanted as they danced, calling her a liar, deceiver and worst of all, a murderer. Splashes of water hit the ground below her, a mixture of her tears and sweat, as the room’s temperature increased. Now on her knees, she crawled in what it seemed like endless loops to an unknown destination in attempts to escape. As she continued her doomed crawl, she felt her skin bubble and become waxy as the previously small blaze became an inferno. Knowing there was no escape from this hell she found herself in, she stopped and cradled the small box in her hands. She used her body to protect it from the harsh flames, but they were stronger than her, and when she moved her hands, the box, now turned ash, blew away. 

Her lungs burned and shriveled up, making it nearly impossible to breathe or cry for help. Despite not being able to speak, she heard herself screaming. This did nothing but further her anxiety and fear but the sound that stopped her heart, was the sound of his voice.

“Clem?” A masculine voice with a southern drawl called out to her. Panicked, he cried, “Clementine?!” 

Her melted skin covering her eyes made it impossible to see him but she didn’t need to for she recognized the voice. He continued to call out for her and other than her weak cries, she remained silent as the house crumbled, collapsing in on her.

“Clementine?!”

“Clementine?!”

“Clementine?!”

The girl jumped up with a start, hitting her head against something hard when she jolted upright. As she grabbed her head, she heard someone beside her hiss in pain.

“Goddamnit, Clem! You’ve got a hardass head!” Sophie leaned over, rubbing her head to help soothe it. After the pain started to turn into a dull thumping, Sophie looked over to her roommate who hadn’t responded, nor made any notions of movement. Judging from the sweat she wiped from her brow, Sophie could assume one thing. “Still having that nightmare?”

Clementine refused a verbal answer, and instead nodded for confirmation as she waited for her heart to slow. Her eyes stared straight ahead, knowing that her friend was staring at her with worry etched in her face and heavy questions loaded in her mouth. Sophie had been warned from the very beginning that her new roommate suffered from nightmares and sometimes night terrors. This wasn’t uncommon in the school, so when Clementine would mutter and roll around in her sleep, Sophie didn’t complain and would help end the bad dream before it got worse. She knows how private Clementine could be, so she never pushed it but if she could ask one question without upsetting her friend, it would be-

“Hey Clem…” The redhead nervously played with her fingers as she mustered the courage. “...Who’s Luke?” 

The two locked eyes and as blue looked into brown, she could see the panic, the pure terror and even worse, the deep and profound sadness as they shook and watered. Feeling the threat of tears, Clementine broke contact first, grabbed her phone and quickly made her way towards the door. Before Sophie could retract her question and apologize for the intrusion, Clementine muttered something about needed air, and was out the door within seconds. 

She walked as fast as she could, racing to the end of the hall, knowing that Sophie was more than likely bound to follow with an apology in hand. It’s not that Clementine was mad at her for being curious; it was more like she was scared of the topic and the overwhelming and unresolved feelings that came with it. To open up to her roommate about such a topic, would be like jumping into a deep ocean with no life-vest and she didn’t plan on drowning today. Despite this, she knew it wasn’t something Sophie would willingly drop and she would more than likely ask her about it later, so as she walked, Clementine tried coming up with a lie. She needed something believable yet so horrid that Sophie would never dare to bring up his name again. Or maybe she could tell the truth- well not all but just enough to satisfy. Confide in her friend and tell her the insurmountable pain his name brings her and how he was something she never wanted to discuss.

Before she could go deep into her planning, she was stopped by a sturdy and tall object that upon impact, sent her straight to the floor. She grimaced at the sting on her behind before looking up and finding kind eyes and a warm hand, ready to help her back on her feet.

“Hey Clem,” Louis greeted, “You ok?”

Again, not quite ready to speak, she answered with a simple nod.

“Well I’m glad we ran into each other. I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Louis walked with her as she began to aimlessly stroll around the courtyard. “A little birdie might’ve let it slip that you were super interested in going to the batting cage. So since you’ve been kinda down lately, I was wondering if you’d want to go? I mean you don’t have to, it was just a suggestion but-”

Due to her silence and slightly confused stare, Louis began to backpedal, stammering and tripping over his words. As he stuttered and stumbled foolishly, Clementine looked past him, seeing a redhead surface from the girl’s dorm. At first, she thought it was Sophie, looking to clear up their hiccup but upon seeing a half-shaved head, Clementine felt her heart drop. Thankfully, because of Louis’ tall stature, Minnie couldn’t see the short brunette, but she could tell from the way she walked around, the bully was looking for trouble. Once it was revealed that Violet and Clementine spent time together and had proof of it in their painted nails, Minnie has been as vicious as a bull and poor Clementine was painted red. 

Terrified of being discovered, Clementine grabbed the boy’s hand, successfully ending his fumbling and tugged him towards the gate, “Let’s go.”

---

With her mind still reeling from the recent nightmare, Clementine was the opposite of Louis, who spent half of the ride yammering. Eventually, he had noticed her out of touch state and had been trying to distract her with his words but upon seeing they had no effect, he clammed up. Instead of trying to conversate, he observed and noted how disheveled she looked. Other than the bewildered expression on her face, she had red puffy eyes, that one could guess was achieved from crying, and what looked like a small bruise smack-dab in the middle of her forehead. 

She didn’t dawn her iconic tattered baseball hat, something she always had on her outside of school hours, and instead, wore a bundle of messy kinks and curls that collided in every which direction. Normally, she wore her light blue zip up hoodie or her red Brooklyn hoodie, but today, she wore a white Atlanta football jersey with a gray hoodie underneath, along with her fingerless gloves and ratty black converse. 

Clementine looked up as the gates creaked open for her, courtesy of Louis. “The batting cage?” She looked to her friend in confusion, “What are we doing here?”

“Wow, you must really be out of it.” Louis said as he continued to hold the door open for her, “Are you ok? I asked you if you wanted to come here and you practically snatched my arm out of its socket to get here.”

“Oh, yeah right.” She blushed at her mistake, “Sorry, I’ve been a little distracted lately. Just going through the motions, I guess.”

“Yeah, I figured. That’s why I, being the great guy that I am, brought you here.” With great tenacity and practiced flare, he jazzily waved hands to highlight the batting cage’s sign. After receiving a somewhat puzzled smirk in response to his theatrics, Louis decided to tone down his usual antics. The teen cleared his throat, “Anyways, I know you don’t like talking about mushy feelings so I thought hitting some balls might clear your mind. Baseballs , that is.” He joked as he walked her further into the park.

Clementine’s perplexed expression turned to slight amusement and she gave the boy a lopsided smile, “That’s actually really sweet of you, Lou, but I don’t have the money.”

“Don’t sweat it, I’ll cover for you.” Seeing her mouth curve to formulate what one could see as a definite yet polite decline, Louis put a finger to her lips. He then put a hand on his chest, “Clementine, I insist. Besides, we’re already out here. Might as well enjoy it.”

Since her arrival at Ericson, Clementine’s parents gave her a small yet fair weekly allowance to spend on the weekends. Sometimes, she gets a little extra after successful therapy sessions, good behavior and good grades. It’s slightly manipulative but hey, Clementine never said she was above being bribed. Bearing this in mind, the girl reluctantly agreed, promising to pay him back once her allowance came in. 

“You can pay me back by teaching me your skills. Sophie says that with all your trophies, you’re like some homerun hero in your hometown. So here’s what I’m thinking, you teach me to be the next Jackie Robinson and I’ll teach you to be the next Alicia Keys.”

Clementine scratched the back of her neck as she followed the confident boy to the batting cage, “Gosh, Lou. I haven’t played in forever. I’m not sure that’s a fair deal.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

Because the brunette was still very hesitant to hold a bat, Clementine coached the pianist from afar, and only stepped into the cage to help the boy fix his form. She coached him on his stance, explained the strike zone and the differences in pitches but as she watched, she noticed little things that seemed off. When they first started, his stance had been perfect, but then he switched it last minute, causing him to miss the ball. Another time, he swung too early and then too late, but had it not been for the wrong timing, he would’ve hit the ball into the net. It only took five minutes to determine she was being duped. In hindsight, she should’ve seen it much earlier as his fakeout spins rivaled that of Goofy. 

She crossed her arms, “Question: how stupid do you think I am?”

“Huh?” Clueless and genuine, Louis asked as he stepped to the side, careful to make sure he was out of the balls' path.

“You know how to play.” She answered boldly, her hands now on her hip. “Your stance and the way you hold the bat gave it away immediately.”

Realizing he was caught in a lie, Louis figured it best to answer honestly, “Sorry, I just didn’t want to outshine you when I was trying to cheer you up.”

“Outshine me? As if.” Clementine scoffed, “You said yourself that Sophie called me a homerun hero.”

“Technically, yes but that was years ago, now you’re just a hasbeen.” He shrugged causally, ignoring her glare.

At first, he was nervous, afraid his words would offend but then he got a glimpse of that competitive spirit he’d first seen when Minnie made the mistake of doubting her skills at the fair. The brunette then walked into the cage, determined to make the boy eat his words. She snatched the helmet from his head, placed it on hers and stole the bat next. She then ushered him aside as she positioned herself and tested the strength of her leg. She took some practice swings before she narrowed her eyes, locked in and ready for the ball that launched at her. Or so she thought. She completely missed it.

Louis heckled from the sidelines, “Whomp, whomp. Guess that Midas touch turned to rust!”

“Oh please, you didn’t hit any balls either. Besides this is my first time in years swinging a bat.”

“First off, in my defense, I wasn’t trying to hit those balls. Secondly, why am I hearing excuses when I should be hearing that delicious crack of the bat when it connects with the ball.” Louis wiped a fake tear from his eye, “Maybe I'll never hear it.” 

Brown eyes rolled around the girl’s head before she took a breath and swung again.

“Oh a swing and a miss!”

“I’m going to hit you with this if you don’t shut up!”

“Given your track record, you’d probably miss! Third strike and you’re out little lady!”

One would think that with Clementine and her anger, she would pop a gasket at the boy’s verbal accosting, even if it was just friendly teasing. But to be on the field, even if it was just the batting cage, was to be at peace. Of course there had been moments of tension tied up in the want to win, a few unfair umps here and there and unruly parents but most of the time, baseball was fun; it was her escape. She’d run her heart out just to feel the breeze through her twin braids. She’d hit that ball with all the frustrations and insecurities she had and just watched as they flew away. With that bat in her hands, Clementine was invincible.

So this time, she closed her eyes and imagined her home field. There was freshly mowed Kentucky bluegrass, a nicely raked field and new base plates. She hears her friends in the dugout and her family in the stands, all cheering for her, with a desperate taste for victory on their tongues. There’s a shuffling of spiked cleats as people on the bases prepare to bolt and the rustling of the catcher swaying on their feet waiting to catch her fumbled ball. But this time, she wouldn’t miss. She took a deep breath, rolled her shoulders, cracked her neck and readied her stance with a passionate flame in her eyes.

Her form was sloppy and had this been a real game, she would’ve hit the ball back to the pitcher. Had she hit it a little harder, in the right place on the bat, she could’ve gotten it into the strike zone faster. Had she angled the bat better, the ball could’ve flown higher. She made a lot of mistakes with that swing; a lot of issues that would’ve made Coach Javi eat his hat out of pure anger but in the end, she hit it and god did it feel good.

“I’m sorry, what was that Louisville? I couldn't hear you over the sound of the bat connecting with the ball!” She gloated as she waited for another ball to shoot out. Once it exited, it was met with the same fate as the one before it. “And it’s outta here! Holy cow!” She hit another. “And the crowd goes wild!” 

Louis walked into the cage, slowly applauding with a smile of his own, “Alright, alright, you’ve proved your point. Definitely not a hasbeen. Buuttt, I can still do better.”

Fired up from her previous victories, the now cocky Clementine stuck out her hand and struck up a deal, “Bet on it. Winner gets twenty bucks.”

“Not that I need your chump change but I accept.” Grinning, he shook her hand, “Be prepared to call your parents crying and begging for money.”

“Funny, I was going to say the same to you.”

Once fitted with the proper protective gear, Louis reentered the cage. They both kept a mental score on themselves and each other. Throughout their game, they chatted as well as teased and Clementine was yet again, sent to happier simpler times. With every hit, her confidence soared. When it came to her misses, she shrugged them off, not wanting to upset herself over a small fumble. Besides, it was just her and Louis playing in a friendly competition. There was no real glory on the line; just bragging rights and twenty bucks. In the end, the pitching machine launched over fifty balls, leaving both players winded and well calloused. It had nearly been a tie until Louis biffed his last swing, causing Clementine to claim sweet victory. 

“Twenty dollars, Carlton! Cough it up!” The girl practically danced around him like a little gremlin as they both exited the cage.

“Haven’t you insulted me enough? I’m nothing like that arrogant airhead. I liked Louisville better.”

“Ok, Louisville . How’s about I change the bet and just have you cover lunch?”

“Sure, why not. Hot dogs and fries on me!”

Thankfully, the normally crowded park was practically a ghost town beside a few patrons and the workers, so the two didn’t wait long for their food. They both got hotdogs with cold sodas and thought it best to split the large side of bacon cheese fries. While Clementine only got one dog, Louis got an extra, one with mustard and the other with ketchup, claiming both flavors together disgusted him. Ignoring his odd opinions on condiment combinations, Clementine chatted with the strange boy once their eating was nearly wrapped up.

“So you’re telling me I’ve been here for months, and you never thought to tell me you played baseball, let alone that you like it?”

“I could say the same to you, little miss secrets. If Sophie never said anything, I probably still wouldn't have known.”

“Then maybe you wouldn’t have gotten your ass handed to you and you wouldn’t be twenty dollars short.”

He defensively put his hands up, “Fine, I’ll admit, you were pretty good, especially for someone who hasn’t played in years. Guess it really is just like riding a bike.” He sipped his soda as he thought of his next question. Reluctantly, he asked, “But, uh, hey if you don’t mind me asking, why’d you quit? If you were so good and you loved it, why let it go?”

And just like that, he’d lost her. The smile was completely wiped from her face and the sparkle in her eyes dulled. For a moment, while she was gone, he panicked, looking for the best way to remedy the situation. But in the mists of his desperate search for jokes, Clementine returned, giving him a soft smile. Like Louis had mentioned before, Clementine didn’t like to open up. To her, it felt like reopening a wound and rubbing in salt. So while he had panicked, she had too, worried on how she could phrase her answer without revealing too much. 

After some deliberation, she answered, though she couldn’t look him in the eyes, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed but sometimes, I limp.” She then sighed, “I got a bad and very much permanent injury so I just, uh, I never went back. My medical bills, the cost of new gear and coaches, and traveling for games just became too much for my family so...”

“Shit, that…sucks.”

“Understatement of the century.” Brown eyes met with the boy across the table before they dropped back down to her empty food tray. She didn’t want to kill the mood, especially since Louis had really tried and partially succeeded to up her serotonin. So she changed the subject to be a little more light hearted. “Despite all the trouble and money it took to get to those games, my family loved it too. One time, when I hit my first out of the park, I was so excited. We went out with the team to celebrate but my dad wasn’t there. I was a little sad but as it turned out, he was out there looking for my ball all night. And when he did find it, he asked me to sign it. It’s still sitting on his desk in a glass case.”

“Who knew the scary guy had such a soft spot for his daughter.”

“Yeah,” She giggled, “He’s the best. Out of all the people in the crowd, I’d hear him the most. Sometimes, he’d sneak near the dugout to be my personal cheerleader.”

“You know, I'd make a good cheerleader too. Bet my legs would look great in a skirt.”

“And it’s back to the Louis show, my favorite,” Clementine sarcastically commented. The two then rose and went to dump their trash. “Since I’m here though, I’d love to know how you got into baseball.”

“Unlike you, I’m not some mega fan that got coached by Javier García himself. Remember when I said my mom used to put me in anything and everything. Yep, baseball. I can’t be too mad at her because I actually wasn’t that bad. Plus once I came to Ericson and joined the team, I met Marlon. But I quit the team shortly after. Learned the hard way that Marlon is better as a best friend than a teammate, ya know. Anger issues. Anyways, how about you? What made you want to pick up a bat?”

“Well my dad was a big fan of the Diamonds, hence the hat.” She gestured to her head but stopped when she realized she’d forgotten the hat in her haste to escape Sophie’s million questions. She cleared her throat, “Anyways, despite my dad’s love for the sport, he never really thought to teach me. But a few years after…after we moved here, my mom’s cousin, who would sometimes babysit us, taught me and the rest was history.” 

“Aw, that’s sweet. So much better when a family member gets you interested in something, instead of forcing you into it so it “looks good on your college application”. Psh, as if Julliard cares that I played for the little league team.”

She chuckled, following the boy as he went to get the gear, “Oh hey, I meant to say, thanks for today. This was actually really fun.”

He beamed with pride, “You’re welcome.”

The two walked back towards the batting cage, ready for another round when suddenly, a distracted kid ran into Louis, taking the bean pole down with ease. Clementine chuckled and had gone to help the boys to their feet when a warning rang out. She and the kid moved out of the way just in time, but poor Louis got beamed by the missed catch. He cursed out in pain, with his cries startling the kids, causing them to quickly flee from the crime without so much as an apology.

“Damn, Louis! Are you ok?”

“Shit that kid has a good throwing arm.” He winced as Clementine lifted his hand from the injury to examine it. Despite the throbbing pain, Louis joked, “Be honest, will I ever be a cover boy again?”

Clementine, who had scootched closer to examine his head, was completely obviously to the blushing mess that had become of Louis. Gently, she touched the already forming lump under his eye.  She chuckled, “I think you’ll be fine but maybe Miss.Martin can be a better judge.”

And with that, Clementine helped the slim boy to his feet. They returned the gear and made their way to the shuttles; their fun day now cut short by unsupervised mischievous children. After a short bus ride, they found themselves back at Ericson’s gates. Once they entered the school grounds, Louis turned into an obnoxious celebrity, hiding his face from “paparazzi”. When questioned on his odd sudden shift in behavior, he muttered something about Mitch, Marlon and the immature ball jokes that would naturally berate him once they found out about how he obtained his injury. Thankfully, they made it to the nurse’s office unseen and they left as quickly as they came. Though the knot that had formed looked vicious, the injury was all bark and no bite, so Miss.Martin sent them on their way after supplying the teens with an ice pack and simple instructions to help keep the swelling down.

“Well, other than those delinquents and their blatant attempt to massacre my good looks, I’d say today was a pretty good day.” Louis mused as they walked back to Clementine’s dorm.

“Yeah, it was.” She smiled, “Thanks for that, by the way. I had a lot of fun.”

“It was so nice you said it twice," He joked, earning another laugh from her. "Anyways, I’m glad you did. You know it was kinda fun hanging out today…just the two of us.” Redness crept on to his face as he bashfully hid behind the ice pack, “Actually, I wouldn’t mind if we hung out like this some more.”

The boy’s words made her pause and her pace slowed as well. She looked up at him, “Louis…why do you always want to hang out with me so much? I’m sure the new girl excitement has died down since I’ve gotten here. Why are you still so interested?”

“Well, maybe cuz I think you’re cool. You’ve got this wild side to you, and I want to see more.” He continued, “At the park, that’s the most relaxed you’ve been, and it was amazing! I had fun, you had fun- is it so hard to believe I just wanna keep having fun with you?”

“Yeah, but why ? Out of all the other girls out there…why me?”

“Well cuz I’m a collector-” He spoke smugly until he saw the blatant look of disgust written on her face. The boy quickly changed his tune, “I-I meant I collect l-laughs and smiles! And you, Clementine, have one of the most prettiest smiles I’ve ever seen. You have one of the most sweetest laughs I’ve ever heard and I love to take any chance I can get to make your day just a little bit brighter.”

Isn’t this the moment when she’s supposed to feel the sparks? When she blushes at his not-so-subtle confession? When she dramatically turns her head just so he’ll stop her with a small touch of her chin. He’ll gently force her to look at him and after a few moments of them slowly getting closer with eyes locked, their lips would meet. They’ll slobber all over each other like sappy teenagers in a chick-flick and after they pull away, he says something cheesy like, “I’ve been waiting to do that ever since I first laid my eyes on you.”

But no. This isn’t that kind of story.

This is the part when she stops him from leaning in. Where she snaps him out of his romantic fantasy and tells him it would never come true. This is the part when she confesses that she doesn’t share his sentiments, or his feelings, she just likes his attention. He’d then scold her, call her out for playing with his heart and dragging him along, making him look like a fool. He’d storm away in a dramatic fashion, not caring to hear her explanations or excuses. The rumor mills would start, spreading misinformation and stories around about how the new girl broke the heart of one of the most beloved and popular kids in school. Then she’d be abandoned, outcasted- all the other synonyms for alone, when all she wanted was to be liked, have friends and start over.

“I…Louis, I….” She looked into his eyes, her inner voice screaming at her to just tell him. So she swallowed the bile in the back of her throat, ignored the insanely loud beating of her heart pounding in her ears, and released the breath she didn’t know she was holding. “I had a good day. I had a really fun day with my friend… and I'd like to have more days like this. With him… with my friend.”

The boy blinked once, then twice as Clementine practically withered away waiting for his response. After an agonizing moment, he finally wheezed out a nervous chuckle, “Your friend, yeah. Yeah, he’d uh, he’d love that. He’d love to have more fun days with you, and he wouldn’t mind hanging out in the music room, say, at noon tomorrow?”

She giggled softly, thankful that he seemed to understand, “That’s if you or Sophie can get me up.”

“Oh, I’ll get you up. Ask Marlon, I’m the king of waking people up. I’m more effective than those old ass military alarm clocks.” He then loudly mocked the Reveille bugle call, earning him a playful slap on the arm.

“Oh my gosh, Louis! Get out of here!” She laughed then waved as he made his way down the hall, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Louisville.”

He saluted, “I’ll be waiting, Clemster.”

With a smile still plastered on her face, she entered the bedroom, completely unaware that her roommate was still inside. The redhead had her sketchbook open, and her headphones were loud enough that the music was spilling out, letting others hear every note. Shyly, Clementine approached and waved her hand to get the artist’s attention.

“Hey,” Clementine weakly offered.

Sophie paused her music, removed the headphones and rested them on her neck, “Hey.” She then leaned back in the chair, “How was your time with Louis?”

“How did you kn-”

“Minnie told me. Said she saw y’all leave together. Alone.” 

Her tone had suggested irritation, so Clementine treaded lightly. She walked over to her desk and found her beloved hat. She lovingly rubbed the messy patchwork before placing it on her head, “So, about Louis…I just wanted to say…you were right. I was just leading him on, and it wasn't right. He deserved the truth.” She turned around to face her friend, “So today, I let him down easily. He’s my friend and I’d like it to stay that way.”

Sophie returned the smile as she got up and hugged her friend, “That’s great, Clem!” She then let go but still held on to the girl’s shoulder, “Now with that all cleared up, you go after what you really want. Which can I say, I knew you were bold but never knew you were crazy.”

“Go after- what you talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?”

The redhead just laughed as if the answer was so clear and obvious. “Your crush on Violet, duh!”

“My what?!”

Notes:

GOD I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FINISH THIS CHAPTER FOREVER! Majority of it was actually finished when I posted the last update but I couldn't for the life of me figure out the ending. Anyways, hopefully the next chapter doesn't fight me. Hope you enjoyed and I'll catch you in the next update!

Chapter 10: Obligatory Thanksgiving Special

Summary:

Thanksgiving break is here!

Notes:

So imagine this like one of those Thanksgiving specials were the 30-minute cartoon is now an hour long. It's basically going to be a 3-part special with the last one being juicier than the turkey! This would've been great for the fall, but I doubt y'all wanted to wait that long. Anyways, enough yap! Please enjoy!

Clementine had been lost in thought a lot lately. Even as conversations carried on around her, she was astray in the fog that clouded her mind. Her thoughts had mostly been about her friend, Violet and her feelings regarding the girl. Sophie had brought it to her roommate’s attention that she had treated the blonde differently than the rest of the friend group. Other than their private hangouts poorly disguised as tutoring sessions, the girls had a different dynamic in comparison to the rest of the group. While the others just described it as the girls being close, Sophie saw something more and reported her findings to an unsuspecting Clementine.

Naturally, the brunette was caught completely off guard and denied the accusations of a crush. She simply brushed it off as Sophie’s Spidey Sense being on the fritz. Even as Sophie listed off more examples such as their shared inside jokes and the Thanksgiving invite, Clementine stood firm on her denial. The warm fuzzy feeling and all the butterflies had been long extinguished for the girl, as romantic love wasn’t something she felt anymore. Sure, there was a moment when she found Louis attractive, but she still couldn’t imagine them being intimate like couples do. She couldn’t see the long walks, kissing or even holding hands.

But as she quietly observed Violet, who had also been patiently waiting for their ride to arrive, Clementine could feel a shift, like a light had been abruptly flicked on, blinding her momentarily. Violet, since the moment Sophie brought up the possibility of something more, had been on the forefront of the girl’s mind. Every interaction was now under scrutiny; she questioned every move, every word and every touch. The way they talked without words, the texts outside of the groupchat, the way the blonde even invaded her dreams, fighting off the nightmares. Not to mention their other secret, one even Sophie wasn’t aware of. 

It was a few days before break and after Clementine had had a rough therapy session. She hadn’t spoken to anyone that day, not even to Louis. Even after class had let out, she hid herself in her room, covered herself in blankets and forgot about the world. That was until she’d gotten a text from Violet in the late-night hours, asking the girl to step outside. Despite her better judgement, Clementine left the room, finding Violet waving her to the exit door. Wordlessly, she followed, keeping close to the blonde as they walked out the school, snuck past the guards and up a winding staircase. The view was breathtaking and given their height, they could see the entire school, as well as the lit town below. Above them, a sky full of stars, which had grabbed Violet’s attention as she sat at the edge of the building, her feet dangling over.

There, Violet finally spoke albeit softly, “I come here when things become too much… I figured you needed it too.”

Words caught in the back of her throat, but Clementine never released them. She just sat next to her friend, knees to her chest and eyes towards the sky. Worries about the future and even demons from her past seemed to settle and for once her mind was quiet. Her anxieties, her insecurities, gone with the nightly fall breeze. They weren’t out there long, with the cool air scaring them away but it was enough to realize something. 

Clementine hesitated, still holding the dorm doorknob in her hand, she dared a glance down the hall. There, she saw green eyes that illuminated the dark hallway like the glow in the dark stars on her ceiling. It wasn’t the intensity of those prasiolite eyes that scared her. No, it was the feeling that settled on her chest. The one that tightened around her heart when she realized Sophie had been right. 

Just then, a light gray Honda made its way through Ericsons’ gates and circled the curved driveway. It pulled up to the girls, parked and out popped a tall muscular middle-aged man. His wrinkles creased his face as he grinned widely.

“Hey, Sweetpea!” He greeted Clementine as she stood. His big arms nearly swallowed her twice as he tightened his grip on his hug. He nearly shed a tear when he felt her arms wrap around him and her head nuzzle into his chest. “Are you all ready to go?”

“Yep! All packed and ready!” After breaking free from his spine snapping hug, Clementine gestured to Violet, “We’ve been waiting.”

Like she had excitedly told Violet before, Thanksgiving was the time of the year where they put aside their differences and petty squabbles to be together as a family. It was the one time that, since the accident, Clementine gave her parents a break and returned to their sweet little girl they had missed so dearly. It was the time where she played friendship ending games like Uno with Duck and her cousin Michelle, where she stuffed her face like a chipmunk storing food for winter, when she danced with her father to their favorite song as they baked pies. When she let her granny pinch her cheeks, listen to her granddaddy stretch out the grace as if he wasn’t unaware of the starving people struggling to remain their composure with the delicious aroma that wafted through the air. A time when she let Carley be motherly without consequence. 

“Oh, yes, Violet. Nice to meet you again– or I guess formally meet.” He held out a hand for her to shake, “How’s the tutoring going?”

“Nice to meet you too. And it’s going good, Mr.Everett.”

“Please, my father is Mr.Everett, call me Professor Everett.” The old man joked, causing the playful roll of his daughter’s eyes. He then grabbed their bags, prompting the girls to follow. “I’m just kidding. You can call me Lee, or Mr.Lee if that makes you more comfortable.”

“Right, ok, Mr.Lee. O-oh and thank you for having me over.” Violet stammered.

“No need to thank me. Honestly, another set of hands in the kitchen would help a lot.” He popped open the trunk, and placed the bags inside before unlocking the doors for the girls. “Sorry it’s a little tight in here. Carley needed the van for all the groceries.” He started walking towards the main office, “Why don’t y’all go ahead and get comfortable while I sign you guys out.”

Clementine watched as Lee walked away, each step he took making the holiday start sooner– the sooner she’d be with her baby brother, Aj. She practically shook with joy but the girl that sat next to her, with a small seat in between them, shook for another reason. Violet had been a little scared though she wouldn’t fully admit it. She’d been over to other friends’ houses before, but the Everetts were different. Violet never cared about what her parent’s friends thought, as they were just as fucked up as she was, but Clementine’s family seemed somewhat normal and put together. Sure, things could be different behind closed doors but something told her that wasn't the case. They weren’t drug addicts, alcoholics or emotional abusers from what she could tell. Rather, they were a happily married couple with two healthy children (for the most part), a stable income, and undoubtedly, a nice home in the suburbs. For five days, she had to be on her best behavior and impress these people. For some odd reason, she cared about their opinion and didn’t want to be seen as the trailer trash friend that crashed Thanksgiving.

“Hey, Clem?” Violet quietly asked, “Does your family know I’m from Ericson? Like other than your parents and Aj?”

Clementine’s smile dropped as she could sense the question was more loaded than the blonde let on. Trying to calm her worries, Clementine told a small story about Lee and how he used to be a troubled youth as well. She didn’t give much information, not wanting to infringe on his privacy, but she summed it up nicely, explaining her family and their nonjudgemental nature. “My grandparents are the sweetest and my cousins have no room to talk, trust me. They won’t make you uncomfortable. I won’t let them.”

Violet, feeling a little more secured by her friend’s words, smiled and was about to speak when the car door flew open. Lee plopped into the seat and checked on the two girls through the rearview mirror as he buckled up, “Alright, time to get this party started!”

They drove off and before Lee could even reach the gates of Ericson, he was hounding Violet for information. He wanted to know about her family, how she and his daughter met and if Clementine was doing as well as she claimed in school. It was all in good fun and his voice never gave off that his interrogation was serious, so Violet answered honestly with some exceptions. When it came to his questions about his daughter, her information came freely but when it came to her personal life, such as her parents, she was a little vague. Knowing the girl was considered a “troubled youth”, Lee backed off, not wanting to mistakenly bring up traumas or offend his daughter’s friend.

Clementine on the other hand was a little harder to keep engaged and entertained. Though his eyes were mainly on the road, whenever he could glance in his rearview, he’d see Clementine, her eyes glued to her friend yet only when she thought Violet was too distracted to notice. The brunette was so deeply intrigued, she had gone completely deaf to all other conversations and the world around her simply vanished.

“Earth to Clementine!” Her father called from the front, “Is anybody there?”

The girl blinked. Her eyes quickly flickered from green to amused brown, “What– I mean, sir? Sorry, did you say something?”

“I was starting to worry that I’d lost you up there in space, cadet. Thought I’d have to call Houston.” Lee joked before repeating his previous question. “You think you prepped Violet enough on our Thanksgiving ways?”

“Oh, uh. Yeah. She’s prepped, totally prepared.” Clementine stumbled over her words, then turned her head to face the window as she tried to contain the urge to facepalm.

She could feel the crushing weight of Violet’s eyes on her and she tried not to panic at the sudden attention. Clementine thought– no, she knew she definitely had been caught staring again and to say it was humiliating would be an understatement. She wasn’t trying to be a creep, though it failed to come off that way. She was just thinking, and Violet just happened to be the thing she was looking at when her mind wandered. It was a horrible excuse but that was all she could admit to Violet without incriminating herself. She blamed her roommate, whose words echoed in her head.

Lee’s voice boomed over Sophie’s, as he let out a hearty laugh, “Really? You told her everything? Even about my mama?”

Clementine cringed to herself before turning to give the confused Violet an apologetic glance. Since Sophie first voiced her observations, Clementine’s mind had been fully focused on trying to find the faults in her roommate’s words. This in turn caused her to forget to give Violet the full Thanksgiving rundown. Seeing as they were still stuck in the car for another hour or so, she figured now was a better time than any. She went through the list once more, adding things she had failed to mention before.

Firstly, Thanksgiving was a major holiday in the Everett house and was taken very seriously. The day before the holiday was used for prep. All the cooking was done on that day while the next was reserved for deep cleaning and wrapping up meals that were unfinished the day prior. During the two days of hard work, they basically fasted until dinner and most of the time, they ate takeout. Once the holiday finally rolled around, no one ate until all guests were accounted for and Granddad blessed the food. After everyone had eaten, there would be the obligatory uno game, and dessert. Afterwards, there was the cleanup which had to be done before the itis took effect.

“Wait, what’s the it-is?”

“ I-tis ,” Clementine corrected. “It’s basically when the food makes you extremely tired.”

“Ooookayy, but what does that have to do with your grandma?”

“Oh it’s nothing serious. My mama can just be a little nosy sometimes. I just wanted to make sure Clem gave you a heads up.” Lee looked back at Violet for a second before his eyes went back on the road, “And please make sure you try some of her sweet potato pie. She gets really upset if you don’t.”

“One year, Aj was being a picky eater and refused to have any of her pie. She was so heartbroken… and angry.”

Lee mocked his mother, “I put my heart and soul into this pie. I baked it with all my love and you refuse it, boy? What if this was the last pie you ever got from your grandma? I’m getting old ya know.” 

The rest of the ride was filled with stories of Thanksgiving past, and Violet learned a little more about Clementine and her goofy family. Duck, who wouldn’t be present this time, once overstuffed himself to the point of throwing up. There was a time that her cousin, Michelle, accidentally pepper sprayed her dad after he attempted to scare her. Then there was the Thanksgiving they had a turducken, which was apparently a chicken stuffed inside a duck, stuffed inside a turkey. Unlike the Everetts, Violet didn’t have as many memories to share but she did bring up the few moments she had with her grandma making apple pies and watching the ‘Great Pumpkin’ at her grandparents' house. Eventually the conversation naturally stopped, and music filled the silence until they arrived at their destination.

---

Clementine’s house was pretty much exactly what Violet was expecting. It was in suburbia, where almost everyone had a fenced in backyard, well-groomed flower beds and cookie cutter houses. There was a dizzying amount of beige, blues, grays and even pink houses as they drove in seemingly endless loops until they arrived at a cream two story craftsman styled house. It looked like it was ripped straight from the street of Wisteria Lane with the hanging flower pots, the house number on their front door and the lil tikes' basketball hoop in their driveway. The face of the house, which was littered in big windows, was decorated with a decently sized front porch that held a few rocking chairs and was divided up by big columns with brick accents. The garage had wood paneling, something Violet had never seen before, with windows placed towards the top. It wasn’t as fancy as the other houses she’s stayed at, like Louis' and the twins', but to Violet, it was still very luxurious. 

“Home sweet home.” Lee said, as he unlocked the front door, which was outlined with windows. He held the door open for the girls, “Now why don’t yall go and set down your things-”

“Clementine!” A young voice shouted before its owner whizzed by and slammed into the brunette. “You’re here! You’re really here!”

Despite the pain felt in her abdomen by its collision with his hard head and the embarrassment she felt by almost being taken out by a five year old, Clementine reached down and greeted her little brother with a big hug. “Hey there, goofball! I missed you so much!”

“I missed you more!”

She then let go and moved to make room for Violet and Lee to enter. “Oh really, I think that’s impossible.”

“Nu-uh, I missed you this much.” The boy reached out his arms as far as they could go, straining as he tried to stretch them further. 

“Ok, maybe you’re right. You did miss me more–” 

“And I have so much to tell you!”

“Let me guess, it’s about your hair?”

The boy bounced with excitement, his beads clanking along with his energized movement, “Yeah, we had early out today so when mom went to the store, Cousin Dorian did them for me. It really hurt but I was brave and was good so mom said I can get a treat from the gas station. I got Razzle's.” He stuck out his tongue, “You see, it’s Razzle Red but I didn’t eat them all, I saved you some. Oh, and do you like the beads?” He shook his head enthusiastically, “They sound really cool and they’re my favorite colors, they match with Science Dog! Oh, and Clem–”

“Alvin Junior, what did I say about bombarding people before they can even fully walk through the door,” Carley called from the hall, her arms crossed. The woman looked tired with her thin framed glasses pushed up on her head and hair falling out of her claw-clip. “Either help them with their stuff or take a seat while they get settled.”

“Um, I can help. I can take your bags.” He offered quietly, wanting to avoid another reprimand.

After closing the door behind him and greeting his wife with a kiss, Lee looked to his small son, “They’re kinda heavy, bud.”

“I can do it, dad. I’m super strong!”

“Oh really?” Clementine playfully teased.

“Yeah! My teacher told me so after I helped her with the chairs yesterday during diss-mizzle.” He then eagerly went to grab the girls' bags, but once again, his mother stopped him.

“Aj, we have company. Please remember your manners.”

Seeing his sister had made the boy so tunnel visioned that he didn’t even notice Violet awkwardly standing off to the side. His jitters now suddenly drained from him and he shyly hid behind his sister’s leg. He wasn’t afraid of the blonde per se and he does remember meeting her before but that was back when his face was covered. Now with his hair braided back, and his Science Dog mask upstairs, he had nowhere else to hide. 

"Hey, don't be shy. This is my friend, remember?" Clementine reached down to caress his face, "I told you she'd be coming and that she's really nice, just like Sophie."

Violet waved, "Hey little guy. It's nice to see you again."

The boy nodded as the memories of the fair began to flow back to him. He then cautiously came from out his hiding spot and gave the blonde a small wave as he reached for his sister's bag. Once the bag was in his grasp, he eeked out a quick greeting before scurrying up the stairs.

Lee shook his head is light amusement, "You'll have to excuse him, he's a little shy." The man then let out a tired groan as he too began to ascend the stairs, "I'll go talk to him."

With that seemingly taken care of, Carley started first, greeting her new guest with a handshake, “Nice to see you again, Violet.”

“Good evening Mrs.Everret.”

Just like her husband before her, Carley copied, “Please, call me Carley, or Ms.Carley if that’s more comfortable. I was just about to order a pizza if you girls have any suggestions.”

“Anything that’s stuffed crust.” Clementine said as she walked up to give Carley a reluctant hug.

The older woman, who looked completely caught off guard by the sudden display of affection then cleared her throat and recollected herself. Violet then timidly gave her request. Carley straightened her crinkled collared shirt with a wide smile on her face, “Ok, stuffed crust for you, cheese for Violet and meat lovers for the boys. Sounds like a plan.” Carley headed back into the kitchen, “I hate to cut things short but I still have to finish up some work. Clem, why don't you give Violet the tour while we wait on dinner. It’ll be here within the next hour so you guys will also have time to shower if you want.”

Violet then grabbed her bag, following Clementine around the spacious house. Starting from the front door, directing her to the right side of the house, Clementine showed the open kitchen, with a beautiful island in the middle to divide it. The kitchen was sandwiched by the two dining rooms, one for formal and once for casual, both of which would be utilized for the upcoming holiday. While still towards the back of the house, Clementine pointed towards the front where her parents’ shared office could be found. It housed the family computer, printer and Lee’s books. Further down, technically up from where she was standing, was the stairs and back area which led to the garage entrance, and the guest space, which included a bedroom and bathroom. 

“So that’s where you’ll be staying and–”

Just then Lee popped in, his voice booming as he made his way down the stairs, “Actually Sweetpea, there's been a small change in sleeping arrangements. Since Uncle B forgot to book the hotel, they’ll be staying here. Daddy and mama are taking the guest bedroom, Gill is with Aj and B is on the pullout. I figured since you have the trundle that you wouldn’t mind sharing your room with Violet.”

Knowing she couldn’t freak out in front of them, Clementine forced a smile on her face. “Of coourse, no problem. Mi casa es su casa– or whatever Brody said.”

Clementine had had her own room for most, if not all of her life and the only time she shared it was during sleepovers and now while at Ericson. It wasn’t selfishness that caused her to cringe at this new development. It was more because she was sharing a space with her newly discovered crush who didn’t know she was a burn victim or an amputee. It was that she now had to hide herself even when in the comforts of her home. While part of her cursed herself for inviting Violet without putting much thought into how this would affect her secrets, another part saw how just from the car ride, Violet was already having fun. Per usual, she stuffed her feelings down, not wanting them to be trouble for anyone else and tried not to worry. Somehow, she’d figure it out. She always does.

“Oookaay, then. I’ll leave you to it.” Lee said before heading to the kitchen.

Once gone, Violet teased, “How’s about I give you a five-minute heads-start to clear your room of any and all embarrassing shit that I’d definitely send a picture to the groupchat if I saw.”

Without so much as another word, Clementine bolted up the stairs, leaving nothing but Violet standing awkwardly as she hacked up the dust Clementine’s mad dash stirred up. Her suggestion was initially a joke but now she was genuinely curious on what the brunette was so eager to hide. Still, she shrugged it off, thinking it best not to pry when in someone else's home. That, however, didn’t stop her from looking at the pictures that sprawled across the hallway walls. Naturally, the photos were full of the Everetts’ smiling faces. There were some with just Lee and Carley, others with just Clementine and Aj and a few with unfamiliar faces but she figured them to be family of some sort.

As she looked through the photos, she couldn’t help but chuckle at a few, mainly those that contained her friend. She held back her laughter as she encountered Clementine through the years. In all her awkward kid glory, Violet witnessed Clementine with a brace face, a small version smiling widely despite missing her two front teeth, covered in what looked to be silly string and a younger Clementine holding, who Violet assumed to be, a baby Aj. Throughout the photos, one thing remained; the brunette wasn’t fully covered. While her iconic hat made appearances in the more candid photos, there was a lack of long sleeves and fingerless gloves. Her hair was pulled back or in intricate braided styles much like Aj currently wore. Upon further inspection, Violet noted that these were all taken when she was younger, with them stopping shortly after the removal of her braces. But before she could think further about the odd discovery, Carley would pop up beside her.

“Hey, Violet.” She waved, “Pizza didn't take as long as I thought. It'll will be here in a few if you wanna go get Clem. She’s the first door to the right.”

“Sure– I mean, yes ma’am.” She stammered before grabbing her bag and headed up the stairs. The wall was decorated with a streamline of photos, again showing Clementine in a completely different light. Once at the top of the stairs, she knocked on the door.

“J-just a minute!” There was a loud thud, followed by some rustling before the door finally creaked open, revealing a suspicious looking Clementine. She attempted to rake her fingers through her curly hair and failed before settling for a nonchalant lean on the door, “Hey buddy. What’s up?”

Violet looked to the invisible camera, internally asking it if she was being pranked, before returning to the frazzled girl in front of her, “Yeaaaaahh, so your mom said pizza would be here soon. Plus I still need to drop off my bag.”

“Oh right, totally forgot.” She moved to the side, allowing the blonde to enter.

While Violet was expecting her to live in suburbia, she wasn’t thinking the tomboyish girl’s room would be so feminine and elegant. Her pale-yellow walls were made bright by the setting sun that spilt into the room from her large bay window. There were a few cluttered furniture pieces like her white desk, a single nightstand and a large wardrobe dresser. Her full-sized trundle day bed had a glittery sheer canopy and was pushed against the wall, under heavily decorated floating shelves. She had various other items to fill up the space like a full-length mirror, an area rug and a hamper. Her walls were covered in fairy lights, pictures, a plethora of athletic and academic medals and interestingly astral butterflies that softly glowed. There was also a dragonfly hook near the door, which looked like it was made specifically for the brunette’s beloved baseball cap.

“See you’re a big fan of yellow,” said Violet as she walked deeper into the room. 

“Not my idea. My parents decorated it before I got here. Thought the “calming aura of yellow” would cheer me up.” She snorted, “I mean, it was so corny and definitely didn’t work but it’s the thought that counts I suppose.”

Violet smiled, despite the envy she felt bubbling below the surface. “It’s not horrible. They could’ve gone with a bubble gum princess unicorn theme.”

“I’d call cps myself.” Clementine crept in behind her. She sneakily grabbed the framed photo that sat atop her desk and hid it behind her back before quickly dropping it in the desk drawer. She cleared her throat, attempting to distract from the sound. “Anyways, this is your bed. Bathroom is down the hall and I’ve already laid out your soap and all your towels.”

Before Violet could respond, Carley called for the children and a thundering of small feet could be heard rushing down the stairs. As Violet walked behind Clementine down the stairs, she found her eyes wandering back towards the room. What was Clementine trying to hide and what was the deal with her and her parents? Maybe she could figure it out while she’s here.

---

Everyone’s household does things differently. Some families, like Violet’s, fended for themselves. It was a very individualistic mindset, and you were often only responsible for you and yours. You bought your own things, washed your own clothes, or found your own means of transportation and if you couldn’t pull your weight, you were a burden. It was easier to only have to care for yourself, but it was also extremely isolating and damaging to a growing child. Social everyday events like eating a shared meal were unheard of in her house and she could often eat alone in front of the tv or in her room if her dad was home. 

She knows this isn’t the case with most families, seeing as her grandma would occasionally try to have nice homemade dinners, but it was such a rare occurrence that it started to seem fictional. Even the Texas II gang were used to the deafening silence within their house unless it was filled with the screams of fighting or drunken rants. Though most are too embarrassed to admit it, the image of that picture perfect family eating a meal together was something they all had wanted but gave up on trying to achieve. Deep down, it started to feel as if it wasn’t something they deserved due to their troubled pasts but then again, what about before? When they were younger and innocent, did they not deserve that love, care and attention from their parents? Sadly, it was a question they often asked themselves. 

That was until Violet was invited into the Everetts’ home. Yearly family portraits lined their walls, good grades and artwork were displayed proudly on the fridge with a kid-made magnet and there was a cheesy decal on the living room wall with their last names and the year their family was established. The whole house, even the people in it, felt like it was pulled straight out of a movie or a corny sitcom. The youngest and enthusiastic kid rushed to the table only to be shooed away by the older moody teen to wash his hands. Dutiful parents, who already knew their kids preferred pizza flavor and serving size, fixed plates while the children set the table without fuss. They moved seamlessly through the kitchen until they reached the table, in which they held hands, and bowed their heads. The father gave a small prayer, blessing the food and their guest before sweetly ending it, allowing the family to dig in.

Aj was reminded of his manners by Lee as he stuffed the pizza in his face, while Carley talked to the girls about their time at Ericson. She asked basic mom questions about Clementine’s other friends and the status of her grades before slyly asking about if the school’s cooking made her miss home. She asked Violet a few questions as well, mainly about her homelife but once it was made clear by the blonde’s lack of answers that she was uncomfortable, the mother moved on to her son. He animatedly talked about art class and their Thanksgiving crafts and grumbled a few things about math. After seconds were had and the conversation died down, people began to clear their spots and head their separate ways. The parents took up washing; Carley went to bathe Aj, and Lee tended to the few dishes. The girls, not having much to do, were free to do as they pleased, within reason, of course.

---

Ten minutes had passed, and the angel hadn't stopped arguing with the devil. Violet was practically sweating buckets waiting on the two to come up with a decision, and the longer they waited, the less time she had to act. Violet despised when people snooped and hated having her own privacy invaded but she was also dangerously curious about what item Clementine had dropped into her desk drawer when she thought she wasn’t looking. Though she considers Clementine a friend, the girl was mad shady and shifty at best. Violet couldn’t understand why she called her parents by their first name, what her deal was with being covered nor did she know the real and full reason for her being at Ericson. Now that she was basically in the belly of the beast, she had to know more. She knew better than to look in the closet, a place she assumed Clementine had hidden all her embarrassing items, but the drawer was just too easy for her to pass up. All she had to do was peek, she didn’t even have to touch anything.

Slowly, with her eyes still on the door, Violet rose from the trundle. She tiptoed to the desk, her hand pausing and hovering over the left drawer knob. She still had time to turn back, still had time to be a good friend and respectable human being but… What was the real harm? At worst, she’d find something explicit though with how prude Clementine was, she doubts it. Not to mention how unlikely it'd be for her to have something like that out on her desk, where anyone of her family members could see. It must have been a family secret or something they already knew and just didn't want Violet to find out. Or maybe it was a diary just begging to be read. Just the ideas of what the mystery item could be, was driving her nuts, she couldn’t wait any longer. Despite her angel's cries, she opened the drawer, and her devil rejoiced, that was until she found out Clementine’s dirty little secret was actually kinda… clean?

It was just a photo but just like the saying, it spoke louder than words. The frame wasn’t like the usual straight edge but instead were layered pink and purple waves. There was a glittery star wand on the top left side with the word princess written in pink cursive on the top right side. Behind the glass, there was what seemed like a birthday photo, more specifically, Clementine’s sixth birthday, as made evident by the cake. She was sandwiched in between two adults, a man and a woman who both hugged her tightly and smiled at the camera. The man was darker than the two girls, with a low cut, a moustache that connected to his beard and a small goatee. He had a wide, somewhat bulbous nose with dark brown eyes and a larger build. Then there was the heavyset woman, whose curly hair was pulled back behind her ears to show off her pearl earring and odd-looking silver necklace. She had a flatter nose, full lips and almond shaped light brown eyes. At first, Violet brushed this off as other family members until she got a closer look.

Though the woman was a few shades lighter, she looked eerily similar to Clementine. They shared the same nose and facial structure so Violet could easily understand if they’d ever been mistaken for mother and daughter. Maybe that was the case, and Carley was Clementine’s stepmother. This would explain their strained relationship but then Violet looked at the man once more. If the woman in the photo was Clementine’s bio mother, who was he? Despite the similar facial hair, he didn’t look like Lee. Still confused, Violet scanned the photo again, hoping to find any clues to help her solve the puzzle. It was a birthday scene with balloons in the background and a large cake with candles in front of the trio. Clementine had her small arms wrapped around both of them and they were all cheek to cheek, so she must’ve been close to them. The man wore a collared shirt, looking presentable for the event but then she saw it. The woman wasn’t wearing an odd necklace; it was a stethoscope. The coat in her hand, was a lab coat with her assumed name in red lettering: Dr. Diana Marsh.

“She was a doctor. A very busy doctor.”

Once it all clicked, Violet silently placed the photo back and carefully shut the drawer before returning to her spot on the trundle. This time, she let the tv watch her as she tried to make sense of her new discovery. If her theory was correct, it would explain nearly everything. Those were Clementine's biological parents in the photo, making Carley and Lee her adoptive parents which explained why they didn’t look alike and why she called them by their first names to their face, yet referred to them as her parents in outside conversations. Just as Violet thought she had it all figured out, new questions surfaced. How long ago did she lose her parents and what happened? They couldn’t have abandoned her, seeing how fondly she last spoke of her mother. Maybe they died and that was the accident Clementine kept referring to. It could also be the reason she moved to Virginia just a few years ago. Then again, had they tragically passed, wouldn’t the house or at least Clementine’s room have more of their photos? If she had a good relationship with them, why let their memory die? Why hide them? Before she could lose herself in theories, a voice would scare her from her mind.

“Whoa, didn’t mean to frighten you.” Clementine, who was now in a matching flannel shirt pajama set and fuzzy slippers, sent her a lopsided smile. “I just wanted to let you know the shower is all yours.”

“Oh…ok.” Violet got up and hugged her arm as she slyly looked back towards the desk. 

She debated on asking Clementine about the photo but figured it best to keep it to herself. She didn’t want to ruin their friendship because of her snooping and make the rest of her time here awkward. Noting that she’d been silently staring, Violet cleared her throat.

“Heh, sure did take your time. Did you leave me any hot water?”

“Yes! I didn't even take that long.” Clementine feigned offense, “It was just nice to shower and not have to worry about someone walking in on you.”

Violet dug through her bag for her change of clothes, “You know, now that I think about it, I’ve never seen you in the showers.”

The boarding school had gendered communal showers with thin dividers and shower curtains that didn’t leave much to the imagination. Much like gym showers, there was a sitting area with lockers so one could dry off and clothe themselves as well as a sink area with outlets so one could dry their hair. Staff weren’t allowed to enter unless there was a medical emergency or a fight. The entrances were heavily monitored to ensure the safety of others, as well as making sure vandalism and destruction of property were kept down to a minimum. The showers were also given operating hours with the earliest use being at five am and the latest being eleven pm. Not that she was actively looking for the brunette, but Violet found it odd that after all this time, she’d never bumped into her heading to or leaving the showers.

“I just go wicked early.” Clementine answered truthfully.

Violet paused as she was halfway out the door, “Yeah right.”

“Why are you so interested in my showering habits?” The younger of the two playfully rolled her eyes as she joked, “Sounds like you want to see me naked.”

The violet morphed into a rose, “What?! No, that’s not what I was saying at all!” She floundered, “I-I just- I was wondering–ugh! Just shut up and tell me where the bathroom is again.”

“Right across the hall, perv.” Clementine chuckled as she leaned her back on the bedroom door frame.

Violet went into the bathroom, her change of clothes in hand. She grumbled, “And making the assumption that all lesbians perv out on their female friends is a harmful stereotype!”

“Well some stereotypes are rooted in truth.”

The blonde just stood, completely gobsmacked as she watched Clementine’s smugly smirk and nonchalantly shrug. After an idea came into her mind, she picked her jaw up off the floor and placed her clothes on the bathroom counter. She walked towards the unsuspecting girl. It was her turn to make Clementine uncomfortable. 

With a cocky grin and crossed arms, Violet spoke coyly, “Say it was true. You just invited a known lesbian into your house, into your room, and really, into your bed, for the next couple of days.” Now mere inches away from her face, Violet whispered in the shorter girl’s ear, “Kinda sends an odd message, doesn’t it?”

Her brain was completely fried and short circuiting at the close space she found herself in, with Violet’s intense green eyes staring her down. Biting her lip, she pushed the girl away and broke contact as she ignored the overwhelming heat that took over her face. “Oh, shut up and go shower. Clean your mind while you’re at it.”

Violet held her stomach as she chuckled and claimed her victory. But after she got into the bathroom and shut the door, she replayed their conversation. She knew Clementine didn’t think of her as a creep but now she questioned the nature of their interaction. It was just friendly banter, right? That blush Clementine tried to hide wasn’t because of anything else other than embarrassment. And if that were true then, what did her own blush mean?

Notes:

And just like my sauce, the plot, it thickens! Anyways, what did we think? Any predictions or expectations? Hope y'all enjoyed and I'll catch you in the next update!

Chapter 11: Cooking with The Everetts

Notes:

I gotta a hefty heavily referenced 7k long chapter for ya. Lots of fluffy moments in this one for a change but as always there's also a little bit of angst. Enough prattle, enjoy!

When Violet had returned from the shower, she was surprised to find the Everett siblings cuddled up together, peacefully sleeping on the bed. She breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that perhaps she’d been saved from having an awkward conversation about the hallway incident. Now she prayed that it would be forgotten with sleep and that it didn’t distract from the work the two had to accomplish tomorrow. But as she settled and nestled in the covers, her brain bombarded her, questioning her on her unusual actions. She had no answer. Honestly, she didn’t know what came over her, or why she felt it was ok to invade Clementine’s personal space, in her own house of all places. It wasn’t a part of their regular routine, with them only getting close to whisper jokes or make snide comments in group settings. Violet couldn’t tell you why she’d gotten so close but as she laid below Clementine, quietly listening to the girl softly snore, she could feel knots form and the heat start to rise.

Sleep wouldn’t come easy to her that night, and she spent most of it tossing and turning, trying to put the pieces together. There was just too much on her mind for her to fully let herself fall into darkness. First there was the photo. The more she thought about it, the stranger she felt. The photo itself wasn’t anything embarrassing, it was actually extremely cute and endearing but it begged the question of why Clementine felt the need to hide it and raised her suspicions on the girl’s genealogy. Then there was their talk which was more like flirtatious banter.

Not that she believed in fate or love at first sight, but Violet admits that she felt something different about Clementine since the moment they met. It wasn’t love but there was definitely a spark of some kind. At first, it was something she tried to ignore but as time went on, she found herself falling into Clementine’s mysterious spell. She liked being around her. There wasn’t pressure to perform or conform. Violet could just be her cynical self without being deemed difficult or sensitive, like some of her other friends hurtfully described her to be. If anything, the brunette admired Violet's boldness and outspoken nature and often voiced it. Clementine understood her jokes, liked her music, her punk attitude and sometimes encouraged her outcast behaviors. She understood her need to be alone, respected her space and understood the value of quiet. It was something Violet appreciated about their friendship but what would happen to that if she wanted something more?

This one question stayed with her well into the night and rudely greeted her in the morning as she absentmindedly brushed her teeth. Despite her heart screaming at her to take a chance, her brain shut any thought of confessing down. There were too many factors that scared her from taking that step. A few being that they were both troubled teens, neither of which confessed their actual problems. Clementine wasn’t comfortable enough or didn’t trust her enough and that was made clear by her hiding the photo. Not to mention the big and obvious problem which just happened to be Louis, her best friend. Even if Clementine had denied the possibility of them getting together, it still felt wrong for Violet to pursue.

Though she knew that Clementine wasn’t some object to be bid on, in her mind, Louis had called dibs first and it wouldn’t be right for her to swoop in. This being said with the assumption that Clementine had even felt the same way and would reciprocate. From what Violet witnessed, there didn’t seem to be a gender that Clementine even took interest in. If Violet tried, she’d end up making a fool of herself and also potentially ruin her friendship with not only Clementine but with Louis as well. So, as she followed Clementine down the stairs and into the kitchen, she pushed those feelings down. Her small heart flutters and something that would barely count as puppy love, wasn’t going to get in her way of their blossoming friendship. She’d make sure of it.

---

A hearty breakfast of blueberry pancakes, sausages and eggs were served, along with the choice of orange or apple juice. There wasn’t much talk from the kids as Carley demanded they eat silently and stuff their stomachs to the point of pain, as they weren’t going to have any lunch breaks. As they ate, Violet dared a peek over at her friend, who had been eyeing her for most of the morning. As of recently, it’s come to the blonde’s attention that brown eyes seemed to be fixated on her and her movements. More notably, it's always been times when she was thought to be distracted. Like now, as she picked at her pancakes, she tried not to soil them with the nervous sweat that dripped from her face. Like a laser beam, Clementine’s intense stare burned through her and unnerved Violet as she couldn’t understand what the stare down was for. Perhaps Clementine was upset because of her out of character behavior the night before or even worse, she’d somehow known of Violet’s snooping. The blonde put her head down lower between her shoulders, hoping her bangs would work as cover but then she remembered.

Violet, much like Clementine, had a different way of dress today. Because they were meant to be in the hot kitchen for ungodly hours, Violet had her hair pulled up and bangs pinned back. There was nothing she could hide behind. In fact, she was practically naked with a bare face and lackluster outfit. She dressed down, wearing a gray three-quarter length sleeved shirt and ripped jeggings. The most flare came from the various studded and metal band related bracelets that covered the rest of her exposed pale arms. As for Clementine, she was still covered but her long sleeves were made from a thinner fabric, and she wore flare bottom yoga pants instead of her usual baggy jeans. In place of her normal headwear, was a thick pink headband that was large enough to cover her ears. Lastly, her fingerless gloves were missing, showing pale and scared hands with a tan line where the gloves ended. 

Carley stood in front of the table with her hands placed sternly on her hips. Her hair was tousled back into a claw clip, though a few short, peppered locks escaped its grasp. Her thinly framed glasses sat on the bridge of her nose as she looked over them. Her voice got the kids attention, “Ok crew, the gameplan is to divide and conquer. Dad is in charge of the ham, pink eyed peas and red rice and I’m handling the macaroni and mashed potatoes. Kids, you’ll help tackle the veggies. First, I need Aj to wash the collards, then the girls will cut them. Repeat for the cabbage. Once that's done, you guys can get started on the snap peas. By that time, I think I’d be done peeling potatoes, so Aj, you’re on mashing duty and like everything else y'all can taste test. Got it?”

The kids nodded.

Carley briskly walked to the kitchen and grabbed her apron, tying it around her tightly, “We’ve got a big order to fill and we’re already falling behind schedule. Dad also really wants the pies to be baked tonight so let’s try to do everything as efficiently as possible. Wash dishes as we go, make sure there's no cross contamination and other things of that nature. Though I doubt we'll need a grocery run, please add things to the list if we're missing anything or if we're running low.” 

“Let’s not forget that we still need to tidy up,” Lee called from the living room as he shifted through a CD stack. He continued, “If we clean anything today, it needs to be the kitchen, the bathrooms and the guest room.”

The mother clapped her hands together, “Ok Team Everrett, and honorary member Violet, let’s get ‘er done!”

Not long after the instructions were given, the kids started to clear their spots. They cleaned off their plates and added them to the dishwasher before going to wash their hands. Carley went to boil the water for the elbow noodles while Aj filled one side of the sink with water to clean the collards. Clementine had disappeared into the pantry, pulling out all the ingredients her parents requested before finally returning by Violet’s side with thick food service gloves on her hands.

After a minute or so of Aj swirling the water around like a washing machine, he began to pass the dark green leaves to the girls. For a moment, Violet stood, completely baffled. She lacked experience when it came to collards and just home-cooked food in general. Cooking together was something reserved for when she went to her grandma’s and those moments were sadly few and far between. Seeing as the blonde was confused, Clementine offered a visual aid. She rolled out the leaf and used her knife like a pointer.

“You see that stem-like thing in the middle? You’re gonna cut that part out, roll up the leaf like sushi and then cut it into smaller pieces. Then drop it in the pot.”

At first, Violet stood idly while she watched Clementine demonstrate on a few more. Then she followed, using the tip of the knife to carve out the stem. She discarded it, then rolled the two halves before cutting them. She smiled at her easily earned achievement and kept up with the flow as Aj continued to pass them greens. They worked quietly like this for a few minutes, with everyone being in their own little world. It was an odd phenomenon to witness really. They were alone in their own minds as they worked; Lee with his onions, Aj playing Avatar in the sink, Carley with her noodles and Clementine cutting the greens. They were alone yet together which was a much different contrast from Violet’s family. Her family’s loneliness felt like an inescapable void where the other person was barely visible and too far to reach, too far to hear. When it came to the Everett’s, they were just in a bubble that could easily be popped. They had their own space, yet they could still see each other and talk to each other even if the sound came out a little muffled. 

Every now and again, the parents would pop their bubbles to instruct the kids on a new task. Once they were done with the collards, it was on to the cabbage, then it was the snap peas, which they worked on at the dining room table, momentarily relieving them from the heat of the kitchen. There was a rousing conversation with Aj animatedly telling his sister’s guest about the adventures of Disco Broccoli and his friends. As he went on, he felt his liking towards the blonde grow. She, just like Clementine, was a good listener and entertained him with questions. Her engagement excited him to the point of dancing, that was until he realized it was a full bladder that moved him, not his overflowing joy. 

After coming to the conclusion that he could no longer hold it in, the boy ran to the bathroom, as he yelled, “IgottagopeereallyreallybadbutI’llbeback,bye!”

The girl exchanged confused looks before bursting out into soft laughter. Once she gathered herself, Violet peeked around the corner to observe the cluttered kitchen. So far, all veggies were done (unless you counted the corn), Carley’s macaroni was in the oven and Lee’s rice needed taste testing. There were still a few things that needed to get done like the cleaning, the mashed potatoes and the pink eyed peas but for the most part, they were nearly done. The last thing they needed to work on were the deserts, which apparently were Carley’s pound cake and Lee’s pecan pies. There was a question of why they hadn't prepared an actual turkey, but it was causally revealed early on that the family attending would bring dishes as well. So, despite Violet already deeming their work enough to satisfy a feast, there would be more to come. The savory aroma that swirled around the kitchen found its way into Violet’s nose causing her stomach to rumble and grabbing the other girl’s attention. 

“Sounds like your stomach thinks Thanksgiving is today, huh?”

“Yeah, hard not to with all this food smelling the way it does.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll eat soon. I think my mom is ordering Chinese tonight.”

“Is there even going to be room in the fridge if we have leftovers? I mean we made a lot of food.”

"Well, my mom normally doesn't buy enough for there to even be any, so I think we're good." Clementine answered as she played with the peas.

"Other than what we made, do you know what else we're having?"

"Are you trying to make yourself hungrier?"

The blond shrugged, "Call me a masochist."

Admittedly, the girl chuckled, though she tried to hide it. She then turned to her friend and dropped the food she had been toying with, "Ok, well, my uncle is bringing the meat, like ham and chicken. Then my grandparents are bringing more deserts like sweet potato pie- which you have to try, cornbread, and if we're lucky, candied yams. Then Conrad is hopefully bringing his homemade banana pudding-" Clementine too, felt her stomach as it growled, causing her to wrap her arms around her torso. She blushed, "Whoops, guess you aren't the only one that's hungry."

"Wait, who's Conrad?"

"Oh right, I forgot to give you the family rundown.” Clementine then removed the gloves from her hands as she pulled out her phone and leaned in close, allowing Violet to quietly calm herself after catching a whiff of a citrusy scent. After a moment of flipping through some photos, she showed her phone to the blonde. “Ok, so granddad and granny Everett have two sons, Lee and Uncle B.”

Violet snorted, “Uncle B? What's the B short for? Beatrice?”

“Benjamin, except he doesn’t like Benjamin, he just likes B and that’s all,” Clementine giggled before turning serious, “Also don’t make any Uncle Ben jokes, no matter if it’s rice or Spider Man. He hates that.”

“Please, I’m not Louis."

“Good point,” She giggled again. “Anways, Uncle B's wife is Aunt Taiva and they have two kids, Michelle and Gill. I’m not 100% sure Michelle is coming but if she does, which I’m praying she does cuz she makes the best devilled eggs, she’s more than likely going to bring her boyfriend, Russell. Then there’s my dad’s cousin, Conrad and his longtime girlfriend, Francine.”

“What about your mom’s side?”

“Well, I know her parents are coming and that's about it. Her sister’s family used to come over when we lived in Georgia, but I doubt she’s coming this year. There's a lot of drama happening right now.” This piqued Violet’s interest, and the slightest narrowing of her eyes was enough to tip off Clementine. They leaned in closer, and the brunette’s voice dropped down to a whisper, “You didn’t hear it from me but, her sister, Lori, had an affair with her husband’s best friend and now they’re trying to figure out who's the father of her new baby.”

Violet’s eyes widened to the size of saucers, “Damn, some real Maury shit.”

“Yeah. I kinda feel bad for Carl– my cousin and Lori’s son. I can’t imagine what’s happening in that house right now.”

“Yeah, that sucks…” The blonde trailed off, now fully aware of how close they had gotten. She didn’t mean to be insensitive, but her interest was no longer on the phone, nor the faces of the strangers held within it. It was more focused on the brushing of their shoulders and the electricity she felt strike her body at the unexpected yet welcomed touch. Violet mimicked the other girl’s look of concern and stared deeply at cracked lips as they were moved by speech she couldn’t hear. She feigned attention with small and occasional head nods as her eyes soaked up all the brown girl’s features like her plum Cupid's Bow lips, rounded, nearly acne free cheeks and the thick coily hair that outlined her soft face. Green eyes then travelled up to politely meet with amber, which were engulfed by dark tired circles.

Violet stayed in them for a while, completely lost in long lashes and unruly expressive eyebrows. That was until a loud and booming voice, violently ripped her from her fawning, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. Now redder than the tomatoes he used for his red rice, Violet faced the man that called her. He shimmied into her view, a red stained wooden spoon in his hand as he danced along to the music that had been softly playing in the background since they’d started cooking. It wasn’t really Violet’s cup of tea but apparently it was everyone else’s favorite flavor and she’d even found Clementine humming and bobbing her head along to the beat. Any song past the early 2000s that wasn’t a part of the rock scene was not on Violet’s radar and she felt slightly estranged as she only recognized a few songs and artists like Beyonce and Michael Jackson. 

“Hey, Violet. Did your parents ever put you on to this stuff?” Lee asked as he watched the girls bring the snap peas back into the kitchen. He followed them, eager to hear the teen’s answer and resumed his cooking at the stove.

“Uh, no sir. They really only listened to 90s rock, sometimes Queen or Nirvana. My grandparents really only listened to gospel.”

“Oh so you at least know BeBe and CeCe or Kirk?”

“Um, who?”

The entirety of the kitchen groaned, making Violet burn brighter with embarrassment. Lee’s mixing of the giant pot came to an abrupt stop, as did everyone else’s cooking and they sent him concerned glances. Clementine sucked a breath in through her teeth and cocked her head to the side. She muttered under her breath, “Now you’ve done it.”

Aj, having returned from the bathroom, whined, “Oh, boy.”

A sharp inhale could be heard in the distance and upon it’s release, Lee’s tense shoulders relaxed. The father gave a low disapproving hum, “Well we’ll have to fix that while you’re here.”

From there, he gently placed down his spoon and went to rummage through the hall closet. Knowing Lee, he was probably just doing something corny, like a sitcom dad would and given how nonchalant and playfully annoyed everyone was, Violet figured that to be the case. Still, she turned to her friend who was re-gloving their hands, “Uuuhhh, what’s happening?”

The brunette went to hide her face with her hands but upon remembering their gloved state, she stopped and opted for an eyeroll instead. “God, he’s pulling the–”

“The Ultimate Burn!” Lee emerged from the depths of the closet, holding up his prized CD case. In it housed his very important CD which had, as he deemed, very integral cultural music. “It has everything you need. R&B, Hip-Hop, Neo Soul, Pop and Gospel!” He gleefully ran to the living room’s sound system and replaced the other CD with the new disc. “Monica, Fantasia, Nas, Jahiem, Isley brothers, Sade, Charlie Wilson, Blackstreet–”

“Does he mean Backstreet?” The blonde whispered to her friend.

Again, a collective groan from the workers of the kitchen.

“Oh stop your bellyaching!” Lee danced his way back into the kitchen as a song began. “Our guest here just needs a little educating. Thankfully, I’m a teacher– a professor, even.”

“You teach history–” Clementine was cut off.

“Music History! At least for today.” The father nudged Violet, “Just stick with me kid and you’ll learn a thing or two.”

For the rest of the day, Violet was subjected to musically torture, something she once though she could only experience with Louis. So as Violet peel potatoes, measured out ingredients and taste tested her way through the kitchen, she was hounded with information about artists from the early 2000s she’d never heard of, as the old man reminisced on a time not long ago, when he made some money and life was slow. She learned about Nelly’s dilemma, she got the scoop on Snoop and got the hot details from Easy E’s interview. He told her about Monica’s Gucci shoes, Eve’s tambourine, Sade’s babyfather and Mary’s family affair, which mustn't be confused with Alicia’s teenage lover affair.

Clementine stood firm as she held the large pot steady for her brother. With an unhinged gleam in his eyes, the boy stabbed at the mushed potatoes. “Beware all evildoers, for I am Science Dog!”

Carley stopped washing her dishes to scold the boy, “Yikes, inside voice, Aj.”

“I'm not Aj, I’m Science Dog!”

“Well Science Dog is going to get a time-out if he doesn’t quiet down.” She said matter-of-factly. Pleased that the boy now quietly mashed, the mother went back to tackling the dishes.

“So, Violet Aldon,” Clementine grabbed Violet’s attention with her words and even more so with her odd gesture of holding an invisible mic. “How does it feel to be a contestant on Mr.Everett’s Kitchen Music Trivia?”

Violet rolled her eyes at the antics but played along anyways, “Happy to be here.”

“Excellent! Do you think you can make it the next couple of rounds? I hear that that Clementine girl is some tough competition and that she’s the undefeated champion.”

“Well winning isn’t everything. Maybe if they told that fake orange that, her head wouldn’t be so big.”

“Big words from someone that holds no trophies.” 

Aj dropped the masher and jumped enthusiastically, “Can I be inner… in-ter…enter… I mean, can I be asked questions?”

“Sure thing, Aj.” Clementine then pointed the mic to the boy, “Who will win Mr.Everett’s Kitchen Music Trivia? The lovely undefeated champ, Clementine, or Violet, the girl that can’t tell the difference between Stevie and Ray.”

“Cleeeeemmmmm, I’m not Aj, I’m Science Dog. Don’t give away my secret identity.” He whined.

“Right, sorry.”

“Anyways, none of them are winning cuz I will. I’m really good with music.”

“Well, I’m rooting for you–”

Violet smirked, “And I’m praying for tangerine's downfall.” 

Clementine nudged her with her hip, “You’re so mean.”

“Yeah, but you like it.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.” She chuckled, grabbing the pot of mashed potatoes and putting them on the counter for Carley to season. Just as she was on her way back, the song changed and her eyes now ablaze, met with Aj’s. She stood with her legs apart and knees slightly bent as her fingers wiggled near her imaginary holster. Aj mimicked. Then she drew her gun, her words being the bullets as she shouted, “Back at one, Brian McKnight!”

The little boy clutched his chest, nursing his wounds, “ARGH! You got me!”

“Aj, please,” Carley called from the kitchen island, “you are too loud.”

Lee, who was quietly dancing by the stove, made his way over to his wife and wrapped his big hands around her waist, “It’s just a little fun, Carebear. Don’t you remember when we were young and easily excitable?”

Carley, seemingly unmoved, crossed her arms, “Mr.Everett, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you’re drunk off this music.” 

“Ah, music,” The father started as he grabbed his wife to dance, “it’s a very beautiful thing. It connects; people, culture and generations alike. It’s such a powerful tool, used to spread messages of love, peace, hope and other emotions like rage and sadness. It’s an outlet that translates through every language. It’s also a tunnel into the past, as well as the future.”

Carley couldn’t hold back her smile and erupted with laughter as the man dipped her. She swooned, “I love it when you get all philosophical, professor.” The woman grabbed her husband’s collar by the fist full, “Kiss me you nerd.”

It was mushy, over the top and made Aj gag so dramatically, he choked. Clementine simply shrugged her shoulders at their grandiose display of affection, as if this wasn’t out of the ordinary. Violet couldn’t help but stare with stars in her eyes. While previously intimidated by Carley’s executive way of dress and the obvious authoritative energy she carried, Violet has eased since seeing the woman and how she interacted with her family. She had a goofy side and had been playing along with Lee’s silly game with genuine enthusiasm. She gently corrected Aj’s behavior when he became disruptive in the kitchen and had even checked on Violet throughout their tiresome work day. 

And although Lee’s random music trivia game made Violet feel a little insecure about her lack of musical knowledge, he never made her feel bad about it. In fact, after the couple’s short public display of affection, it had quickly changed from music lesson to Name That Tune, where the family raced to name the songs and artists. Unsurprisingly, Clementine was the teacher’s pet, and just as she was in Ericson, she earned the teacher’s favor. She knew most, if not all, the artists, their affiliations, their samples, song titles and albums. All of which made their father beam with pride. He was filled with childlike wonder, sharing it with the family and having everyone smile, despite their aching feet. Violet even found herself laughing along, making jokes and coming out of her shell.

But like every good thing, it came to an end. While Lee insisted on finishing his pies that night, most of the dishes were finished, with incomplete meals left prepped and ready for the morning. While they waited for their dinner to be delivered, Carley left to clean the bathrooms, with Aj volunteering to be her little helper. This left Lee, Clementine and Violet in the kitchen steadily working. The girls combined their efforts to tackle the mountain of dishes Carley didn’t finish, with Clementine washing and Violet drying, while Lee tended to his pies. Apparently, the making of the pecan pies were a father-daughter tradition that Violet was unknowingly infringing upon, as Clementine offered to help the blonde with the dishes instead.

Lee paid no mind, as he was just happy his daughter was smiling and connecting with others again. He was content on leaving them alone until his ears picked up a low melody that played in the background. At first, he thought to ignore it and let his daughter continue to chat with her friend but then he heard their chatter lower and when he turned his head slightly, he saw his daughter glancing back at him. His grin rivaled that of the Cheshire Cat and he dropped his pecans in favor of his daughter’s hand.

“I’ve got sunshine, on a cloudy day.” The man sung, “When it’s cold outside, I got the month of May.”

“I guess you'd say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl, my girl, my girl

Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl”

As the song went on, Violet and the dishes had been completely forgotten as the father and daughter danced around the kitchen. They smiled and laughed as if there was nothing else in the world but them and their shared joy. And although it was a beautiful sight, the envy grew like a weed in the pit of Violet’s stomach. Here she was, watching this man, who she believed to have no blood relation to the girl, dancing with her friend. He looked at her with such love and admiration, it made her sick. And with that thought, it clicked. Violet was intruding, not just on this moment but for the holidays. It was meant for family which was something she wasn’t a part of. She was just a watcher, desperately trying to get in.

---

After dinner and a hot shower, Violet laid on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. She was tired but the sandman would withhold his magically drowsing dust, leaving her to deal with the rotting feeling she felt in her stomach. Clementine had gotten in the shower, leaving Violet to her woes and the quiet hum of the tv. Again, it watched her more than she watched it so she clicked it off. She groaned and pulled at her face as she begged for the voices in her head to stop. It was just a father and daughter moment, there was no need for her to get depressed over someone else’s happiness.

A ping from her phone broke her free from the prison she made for herself, and she thanked it for the distraction. She unlocked her cellular to find a few texts within the groupchat, expressing their excitement for the upcoming holiday but one name at the top of her feed had caught her attention, though she deliberated on opening it. There was a small anxiety spike as she hasn’t had a normal conversation with this person without leaving more upset than she originally was. She figured the words hidden beneath would only sully her mood further, but the curiosity got the better of her. 

Bad4Me: wow, seriously vi? U couldn’t come to mine so u went 2 that skank’s house? god u r pathetic 

Just as she expected, the text did nothing but anger her. Still, Violet sent a message back, not thinking she'd get a response so late into the night.

VictoryViolet: i dont think u get how exes work, besides its not like that

Bad4Me: ik you violet. And ik you like her. Im just trying to help out, for old times sake.

Bad4Me: she’s no good for you

VictoryViolet: and u r??

Bad4Me: ur options r limited. No one wants damaged goods for a gf. 

Bad4Me: besides, ik you miss me.

The creek of the door caused Violet to shutter with her nearly dropping her phone due to the sudden shock. She looked up to find Clementine gently shutting the door. Once she caught eyes with Violet, she bashfully placed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Oh sorry. Didn’t know you were still up.” 

The blonde responded with a grunt, irritation written on her face as she put down her phone and looked off to the side.

Clementine’s eyebrows knitted downward with concern, “Are you ok?”

Green eyes that had been trying to avoid brown, finally looked up at the anxious girl. Their eyes lingered on each other for a moment as Violet watched Clementine reach up towards the light switch. Just as Clementine’s sleeve began to slip, the room fell dark. Violet then sighed as she laid down and settled beneath the borrowed sheets, “Yeah, I’m just tired is all.”

“It was a little hectic today. Thankfully we don’t have to do much tomorrow. Well, I guess I should say you don't have to do much. I doubt they’ll make you turn into Cinderella and wipe down baseboards with me.” 

Again, the blonde’s only response was a grunt, which did nothing to please Clementine, who settled in her bed. Unconvinced that lack of sleep was causing Violet’s sudden shift in mood, Clementine asked again, a frown present on her face. “Are you sure you’re ok? You’ve been really quiet since dinner.”

It was actually before then, but Violet kept that corrective thought to herself. What did Clementine care about how Violet was feeling when she had her dad there practically lifting her up and looking at her like she was gold. Envy quickly turned to jealousy and self-pity against Violet's will and in hopes to spare their friendship from the harsh words that would exit her mouth had she actually spoke her mind, Violet rolled over in the bed. With her back now turned to Clementine, she hugged herself.

“I’m just tired, Clem.”

Due to her tone’s finality, Clementine gave up her proding. “Oh, well…I guess this is goodnight.”

This time there was no grunt, just silent tears.

---

Much like the night before, Violet would struggle to find sleep. She tossed and turned, squeezed her eyes shut, begging for a peaceful dreamless slumber but it never came. The blonde let out a low angry growl as she pulled at her face and questioned her next move. Normally, if something like this happened at the dorms, Violet would plug her headphones into the guitar jack and play until sleep claimed her but that wasn’t much of an option now. There was the tv but just her sitting up caused the girl above her to shift in the bed. Not wanting to disturb her friend’s much needed rest, Violet reached for her phone. She debated on texting someone but seeing as she didn’t have much to say, nor was really in the mood for chatting, she decided against using it for its communication features. Still, she pocketed the item while she pondered on its fate.

There was a rumbling of her stomach, then a twist, signaling her of its hunger. The dinner Carley provided, while tasty, wasn’t heavy, and left the blonde snackish shortly after her head hit the pillow. This troubled Violet as she realized she found herself in yet another conundrum. While she didn’t think hunger would help her reunite with sleep, she’d find it rather impolite to raid her hosts’ pantry while they slept. She looked through the sheer curtains of the bay windows, taking in the little light the moon had given as she racked her mind for a solution. Cartoonishly, a lightbulb went off in her mind as she remembered Clementine mentioning the snack stash hidden within the seats’ storage. With a small smile gracing her face, Violet gently rose from the bed, careful not to disturb the sleeping beauty, and made her way towards the window. She moved the blankets, padded cushions and plushes in order to reach her prize, which just happened to be an assortment of individually packaged snacks and small juice boxes. She wasn’t picky, and grabbed the first snack she saw; Gripz Cheez its. The crinkly material crunched under her grasp but that wasn’t the sound that turned her blood cold, rather it was the shuffling of sheets. 

Cautiously, she dared a peek behind her, thankful to find Clementine still very much asleep with her head resting on one arm, with the other dangling haphazardly off the bed. The teen breathed a sigh of relief and reminded herself of her safety. If she helped herself to a little midnight snack, Clementine wasn’t going to crack a glass beer bottle over her head. She wasn’t at home, and the bright colors and intact walls helped her remember that. With the snack safely secured, Violet made her way towards her bag. She then grabbed her earbuds before heading straight towards the room’s door, gingerly opening it as she made a beeline to the bathroom, where she hoped to snack and listen to her tunes without disturbing the dreamer. Due to her lighter frame, and practiced skill of creeping, Violet felt confident on making it to the bathroom without hassle but as she looked over the staircase railing, she’d seen shadowy figures and a whisper of hushed adult voices. Like before, she surveyed her options. She could either sneak back into the room and wait until the conversation was over, or she could listen in and hope her stomach didn’t give way to her eavesdropping. She chose the latter.

“–e’s still sleeping with it on. With all the work we did today, did you see her give it a break at all? Use any of her other aids?” A female voice, none other than Carley, asked tiredly.

“We need to give it more time. Rome wasn’t built in a day.” The voice was deep and warm, undoubtedly coming from Lee.

“I’m aware but how much longer can we afford to wait? She’s 17 now and an upcoming senior. She’s got no aspirations, no drive and no plans for the future. For Christ's sake, she’s not even trying to get her licenses.” There was a pause, and quiet clanking of what Violet assumed to be a glass mug, hitting the counter. A deep sigh came from the woman as she hesitated with her words. “Do you remember Irene–?”

“Carley! Don’t you ever–” The man caught off his quiet explosion, correcting himself, his voice coming out harshly despite it’s low tone. Violet strained to hear. “What happened to her was tragic but that’s not gonna happen. Not to my girl, I won’t let it.”

“Lee, despite how much we want for something, we can’t control everything.”

There was another long pause.

“You know, for the first time in a long time, she hugged me. She talked to me– to you, without us having to pull her teeth. She sang today, she smiled and she danced with me. That’s progress to me.”

The woman softly argued back, “Just because she gives you some grace, doesn’t mean she’s changed. A lot of people give their loved ones a good time before–”

“She’s strong, Carley. She’s a survivor. She fought like hell in that hospital and she’s fighting now. Why are you the only one that can’t see that?”

“Because I’m tired of seeing her fight, Lee; aren’t you?”

“Of course I am, but I’ve got a good feeling about this. I saw a spark in her today; a spark I thought was long gone. And just for a small moment, I saw my babygirl. I don’t know if it was Violet, the school, the new therapist or all of the above but whatever it is, it’s working for her. Sure, she wore it all day but she pulled her hair back a little. I saw her without her gloves a few times since she’s been back and for once she didn’t have on that damned hoodie.”

“I’ve seen it too, I guess I’m just a little skeptical,” The woman conceded. Her voice then became muffled and Violet couldn’t make out everything. “Sometimes…your optimism...she’s going to be ok.”

“Just look for the small victories, ok?” The man reassured.

“Right…small victories.” Carley sniffled then blew off as if trying to settle herself.

“Anyways, it’s late and we still got stuff to do for tomorrow, let’s call it a night.”

Violet took this as her cue to leave but to where she didn’t know. Her first thought was to hide in the bathroom with the lights off until the parents made it to their bed, seeing as she was basically in front of the door and she still hungered for her snack. But then she recalled the conversation. From the sounds of it, Carley checked in on them while they slept and could very well be inclined to do so after she ascended the stairs. If Violet wasn’t in the bed, the investigative journalist most definitely would know the blonde was up and more than likely present for the couple’s supposed private chat. On the other hand, there was a chance Violet could hide in the bathroom with the light on and just have the couple think she got up for a midnight bladder relief, but if that were the case, why didn’t they hear her get up? The hiding of her footsteps, and the fact that they didn’t hear any doors open or shut would make her suspicious.

Voices carried from the bottom of the stairs. “We did call it a night but somebody had to come back down for some snacks.”

“Well I wouldn’t have to come down if somebody didn’t give her hungry hardworking man a light dinner.”

Without any time left, Violet jumped to her feet, quietly scrambling as she opened the bathroom door while simultaneously stuffing the snack in her pocket. With trembling hands, she grabbed her phone, placed both earbuds in her ears and threw on a random track. When the parents turned the corner, they were hit with the image of the blonde teenager exiting the bathroom with her music blaring, too sucked into her phone to notice them walking towards her. When she got closer, she looked up and feigned fright, though she’s not certain how much of it was actually fake.

In hopes of selling her act, she gave a slight jolt, along with widening her eyes and clutching her chest. “Jesus,” she called.

“Sorry, Violet, didn’t mean to startle you.” Lee held on to his wife, and they both moved to make room for the girl in the narrow hall. For a moment, they watched her hand hover over the handle to their daughter’s room. “Why are you still up?”

The teen jabbed her thumb in the direction of the bathroom, “Had to go.”

“Glad you did, otherwise there’d be a clean up on isle three.” Pitifully, the man laughed at his own joke, too engulfed by his so called comedic skills to see the grimaces on both the womans’ faces. 

Carley grabbed her sleep deprived husband by the shoulder, motioning him towards their room, “Don’t mind him, he gets stupid when he’s tired. Try and get some rest, dear. We have a big day tomorrow.”

“Goodnight,” Violet called to them, giving Carley a small smile before they all disappeared into their respective rooms. 

Once inside, the blonde breathed a sigh of relief, having believed to have duped the couple but she’d only be half right. Because nothing was out of the ordinary to Lee, the man sunk into his covers comfortably and his heavy lids closed with a loud slam the second his head made contact with the pillow. Carley was the complete opposite and couldn’t bring herself to rest just yet– not after the strange interaction with Violet. Still ruminating, she smacked her husband’s arm, attempting to rouse him. His mumbled response showed her that he was already too far gone to listen to her plight. 

Still, she asked, “Don’t you think it’s odd that we didn’t hear the toilet flush or running water from the sink?”

The man grumbled incoherently but she knew him well enough to know he was begging her to let it go and rest. It was a common occurrence, really. She’d spend the time needed to sleep, overthinking, overanalyzing and trying to force the pieces to fit. Yoga, meditation, a warm bath, and practically anything Lee tried to get her from stressing always failed and he was left with a lockjawed, anxiety riddled woman by time the sun greeted them. He didn’t seem to understand what bothered her tonight but to put it selfishly, he didn’t care. They all had long days and while she might be able to be fully functioning off six hours of sleep, he knew he needed all eight.

Carley muttered to herself but she didn’t care. She let Violet, a girl from a troubled youth boarding school, into her home without even know why she was sent there. She’d asked Clementine when the girl initially asked for the blonde to visit but unsurprisingly, her daughter was left in the dark as well. While the mother doubts Violet would do anything to cause harm to her family, she’d be dumb to not assume the girl hadn’t been snooping. Carley tried to replay the private conversation and she undoubtedly let words of Clementine’s condition slip. A small pit in her stomach formed as she turned her back to her husband, now facing her nightstand. She held up a framed photo of her beloved family and felt her heart twinge. 

“Please Violet, whatever you do, don’t hurt my little girl.”

Notes:

Damn that was a lot, but I had fun writing this one. I took a lot of inspiration from my real-life family so this whole 3-part special is kinda nostalgic and sentimental for me. I bake pecan pies with my dad and my grandma's sweet potato pie is to die for! Theres also a lot of music references that I'm hoping you got. Lastly, I don't know if you've noticed but this is set in like 2011, so burned cds and corded headphones were still a thing lol. Anyways, I'm dying to know what you think. I know it was a long chapter but out of everything that happened, what was your favorite part? Honestly for me, I think it was how cheesy and mushy CarLee got.
Long ramble aside, I hope to catch you all in the next update!

Chapter 12: Grandma's Sweet Potato Pie

Summary:

Thanksgiving is finally here

Notes:

Finally the last part to the 3 part special! Again it's a chunky boy

When Clementine had first asked Violet to join her and her family for Thanksgiving, a few things went through her mind. Firstly, she doubted that the Everett’s would take a troubled youth into their home, especially when they’re unaware of the problems that label her as troubled. As much as she’d like any excuse to leave the school or spend more time with the brunette, there was a part of her that kept her expectations low. Imagine the look on her face when Clementine excitedly told her to pack a bag. Even as Mr. Everett pulled up to the school to gather both her and his daughter, she was still struck with a sense of disbelief. Once it was clear that it was indeed happening, she was concerned that her shyness and standoffish attitude would ostracize her from the family but again, she was shown the opposite. The dark makeup, piercings and quiet demeanor didn’t scare them off, which the blonde found refreshing. 

So as she stood in front of the full-length mirror that hung in Clementine’s room, she felt at peace knowing they wouldn’t judge her for her less than formal attire. Before leaving the school, Violet had reluctantly confessed her lack of fancier clothing. In short, she explained the last clothes she possessed that would even remotely be considered fancy, were the itchy Sunday school dresses her grandma forced her to wear during children’s church and luckily, those no longer fit. Clementine, who was quick to catch on, joked her concerns away. In a Louis like fashion, she told Violet that her appearance didn’t matter, only her attendance and that the only person that would be concerned about her ripped jeans would be her grandma, who would most likely try to sew the holes back up.

The blonde gave herself a once over, slicking down any annoying flyaways and cleaning up any smudges of makeup. She thought the outfit was simple and elegant while still holding on to her teenage flare. It was a black and deep purple, horizontally striped, off the shoulder top, thats length rivaled one of a skimpy short dress. Ripped jeggings were her choice of bottoms while plain black flats she borrowed from Brody covered her feet. As for accessories, she wore her favorite studded belt, a few silver bracelets, a thick choker necklace with a lilac jewel and small silver stud earrings. Her hair was pulled into a half up, half down style with her bangs outlining her face. Lastly, she put on some light makeup in the form of eyeliner, mascara, soft silvery eyeshadow and lip gloss; all of which subtly highlighted her features.

Violet nodded in approval at her outfit. She felt as if it could be considered fancy, though she was slightly worried her exposed shoulders and black drenched attire would cause the grandparents some concern. Once Clementine came back from the clutches of her mother, Violet could check in with her for an outfit approval. As she patiently waited, she wondered as to the goingson in the parents’ room. She figured Clementine was forcibly getting some kind of makeover by Carley after the mother disapproved of her “lackluster” outfit. Honestly, Violet couldn’t blame her as she thought her friend would’ve made more of an effort to dress up. She believed her normal attire, which were just different variations of hoodies and jackets and baggy jeans or thick cargo pants, would be good enough but Carley had a different idea. The kidnapping happened about thirty minutes ago and just as Violet started getting worried, there was a small knock at the door.

Clementine called, “Hey Vi, you all dressed?”

“Yeah, I’m good. Door’s unlocked.”

The door slowly creaked open, a shy Clementine stepping inside and Violet couldn’t move her hands fast enough to catch her rapidly falling jaw. While Violet didn’t doubt that make-up was something Clementine wore, it was shocking to see it done in a way that wasn’t just eyeliner. This time around, she had a slight blush on her cheeks and gloss to her lips. The thick hair that she normally used to hide behind, was now pulled into a long curly side braid that ended a little past her breast, on the left side of her face. Its placement helped in revealing Clementine’s pierced ear and the golden stud she wore. Her top was a light blush pink with long sleeves that covered most of her hands. The top was also slightly low cut, but the white modesty panel covered any cleavage that threatened to expose itself. While the top half was undoubtedly Carley’s doing, it would seem that Clementine got her mother to compromise on jeans as she was wearing bellbottomed blue jeans, which just slightly hid her busted chucks. 

Clementine, who wasn’t a fan of how the clothes tightly hugged her body, wrapped her arms around herself. She avoided Violet’s gaze as she muttered, “You look nice.”

The lesbian shook away her improper thoughts, “Thanks. I was gonna say the same to you…that was until I saw the shoes. When are you gonna let those ratty things die?”

“When you stop pretending you're a real blonde.” Clementine clapped back, thankful for something to distract from her blush.

“Why do you insist on listening to Louis’ dumbass? I am a real blonde!”

“Whatever you say, Tex.”

Violet playfully rolled her eyes as she walked up to the younger teen, unintentionally pushing and trapping Clementine on the door. “I say, I’m a real blonde.” She paused, then took a lock of curly hair that had fallen from the braid and tucked behind an ear. Oblivious to their closeness, Violet absentmindedly complimented her friend. “Hm, I like your hair like this. You should style it like this more often. Or in general, really.”

The warmth of those pale fingers lingered on the side of Clementine's face as she looked at the blonde with enlarged golden doe eyes. “Oh…ok,” Clementine answered breathlessly.

Violet gave a little smirk, somewhat amused by her friend's struggle to take a complement. At least that’s what she thought the case was until she noticed how she could nearly see Clementine’s pores. Her eyes widened at the close proximity and just as she was about to step back, there would be a knock at the door that startled both girls. A little voice on the other side called for his sister.

“Clem, they're here!”

The girl sputtered as she yelled through the door, “Y-yeah, ok, kiddo! Be down in a minute!” After hearing the young boy stomping down the stairs, Clementine adjusted herself before turning back to the blonde who had thankfully given her personal space back. She nervously pulled at her braid as she avoided prasiolite eyes, “You, uh, ready?”

Violet cleared her throat, “Yeah, yeah totally.”

As Clementine walked out, Violet mentally facepalmed herself. She did it again; invaded the girl’s space in her own home. While this time, it wasn’t intentional, it still happened and in order to salvage whatever was left of their friendship, she needed to tread carefully. No more slip ups, especially tonight. She needed to keep her distance but then again, that would be pretty hard as she planned to stay glued to Clementine’s hip with all these new faces. Maybe she’d just suck it up, tune everyone out and disappear into the safety of that painfully bright room after dinner was over. Yeah, that sounds like a solid plan. It’s not like the Everett’s could force her out the room just for not wanting to mingle.

“There’s my grandbaby! Ooh, girl, how you been?” An older woman, most likely Lee’s mother, held her arms out. Once they got a hold of Clementine, they squeezed tight, rubbed and patted her back before loosening it’s grip. The older woman kissed the teen’s cheek, “Wow, she’s gotten so big, look at her Luther.”

The older man, who’d been preoccupied with Aj at the time, chuckled as he turned his attention on his granddaughter, “Yep, sprouted up real good. You’ve been listening to Popeye, I see.”

Violet snorted, inwardly laughing at the comment of Clementine’s height, seeing as she was the shortest in the group outside of Willy. This short-lived laugh would sadly be her downfall as the elderly couple halted their pinching of cheeks at the sound. Granny Everett was the first to speak. She gave a kind smile, “Don’t be shy, baby. Come on and introduce yourself.”

Nervously, Violet did as told and introduced herself, holding out her hand for a shake, “H-hello ma’am. I’m Violet.”

Granny smiled brightly at the display of good manners, deepening it once she recognized the name. “Oh, yes, Violet. We’ve heard about you.” 

“Good things, I hope.” Violet quipped, making the elders laugh before shooting Clementine a look. As if she could read her friend’s mind, Clementine sent a shrug, a sign of her ignorance on her grandma’s statement.

“Depends on who you ask,” Granny chuckled, walking past the girls and deeper into the house. “I think it’s great that you're getting Clementine out and about, but that cheap son of mine keeps complaining about sending her allowance money so y’all can go to the record store.”

The brunette blushed as she muttered, “I only asked twice.”

Violet snickered, getting a soft elbow from her friend as they too walked deeper into the house. Aj followed, zooming past them and into the kitchen. He bounced at the island as he watched the adults set up the food. Big tubs and tin containers of dishes were kept warm with heating trays as slotted spoons, spatulas, tongs and large trident forks were placed within them. Divided Styrofoam plates were placed on one side of the kitchen, while plastic utensils and napkins were on the other, alerting people of the flow of the line. Red solo cups sat near a lone sharpie by the fridge and a cooler waiting to be filled with ice and canned soda sat near one of the kitchen’s entrances.

“Michelle went to go get Russell and Gill wanted to go with her, but I’m sure they won’t be long, Aj.” A man that looked like a younger, clean faced, version of Lee said to his nephew. “Until then, why don’t you help me crush the ice for the cooler?”

Aj excitedly ran to get the ice and just like he was with the mashed potatoes, he began going ham on the ice. Honestly, it was a little disturbing to see the joy in his eyes when he was destroying something. It was definitely something a parent should look into but as long as he wasn’t violent to others, Violet supposed it was a fine way to let out hostile energy. Besides, she was officially classified as a troubled youth so who was she to judge?

“Clementine, don’t be rude, now. Introduce me to your friend.” The Lee impostor called with his hands on his hips.

“Oh, right, uh, Uncle B, this is my friend, Violet.” She introduced, “Violet, this is my Uncle B. He’s Lee’s brother.”

“I’m sure she can tell. I’m the more handsome of the two, though.” He joked as he gave the pale hand a firm shake. “Anyways, its nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

“My wife, Tavia, is in here somewhere. She just–”

“Gill!” Aj yelled, abandoning his ice chipping tool in the depths of the cooler in favor of his favorite cousin. 

Without another word or acknowledgement of the others, Gill unzipped his jacket and slyly revealed his new Nintendo 3Ds. Rudely, yet cutely, Aj pushed through the crowd of people to reach Gill and the two made a mad dash for the stairs, stomping loudly as they went. 

“Well that was rude.” An older teen, perhaps college age, with dark brown, medium sized locs said, as she approached Clementine and gave her a light tap of her fist, “Anyways, what’s up, little fish?”

“Little fish?” Violet playfully questioned, earning a glare from Clementine.

A devilish grin appeared on the young woman’s face but before she could open her mouth, Uncle B would interrupt, “Michelle, don’t embarrass the girl.”

“Sorry, daddy but as an older cousin, it’s my job and main source of my holiday joy.” The man went to say more but was pulled away by Grandpa Everett. Now officially free to antagonize, Michelle gave her attention back to the younger teens, “So when we were younger, Uncle Lee and Kenny took us on a fishing trip. Now with the way she was struggling, you would’ve thought that Clem had caught the megalodon but when it finally came out, it was just a wittle guppy. Hence the nickname, little fish.” She sighed with joy, as she reminisced on the moment, “Same trip I put that fish down the back of your shirt.”

The man that had tagged along closely to Michelle and held their share of food, finally spoke, “That’s messed up, babe.”

“Boy please, as if you haven’t terrorized your cousins before. Besides, Clem knows I’m just playing with her. It's all love.” Michelle leaned an elbow on her cousin and nodded towards the quiet blonde, “Anyways, who's the new chick and why ain’t Sir-Quacks-Alot here?”

“Duck is out of town; this is my friend, Violet.”

“Well I'm Michelle, her favorite cousin and this hunk is my boyfriend, Russell.”

Russell, a man of few words, gave a nod, while Violet gave a short wave. There wasn’t much said after that and Michelle mentioned something about going to give greetings to the other guests. The couple began to walk away but before they completely disappeared, Michelle grabbed Clementine's shoulder, whispering something Violet couldn’t quite make out. Whatever it was, it made ember eyes sparkle with glee but they dimmed once they looked at Violet. The blonde was slightly hurt and confused when Clementine didn’t elaborate, deciding to keep it a secret between cousins, but she brushed it off. It probably had nothing to do with her, but she’d be lying if she said the feeling of being left out hadn’t stung.

---

More of the family piled in, with the blonde getting introduced to all of them. There were only a few left from Lee’s side, like Francine and Conrad, who showed up shortly after Michelle and her crew. Carley’s side, however, were the last to make an appearance and unlike Lee’s family, Clementine didn’t seem to care for them as much. Introductions were awkward and felt performative but it wasn't something Violet questioned seeing as Clementine didn’t seem relatively close with her mother in the first place. 

Despite the initial awkwardness, everyone was very kind and polite as they mingled. While Michelle bragged about her college life of wild parties and messy roommates to the younger teens, the men talked about sports in the kitchen, the little boys gamed on the stairs and Carley and the other woman sat comfortably on the couch, watching the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving parade. Naturally, whenever they came across Violet, they had questions for her but none of which were too uncomfortable for her to answer. If they were, Clementine was there to stop it from going too far, just as she had promised. 

As the chatting died down, and people were redirected into the spacious dining room for prayer, Violet couldn’t help but let her mind wonder. As Clementine’s granddad droned on about thankfulness, Violet’s mind was preoccupied with a single word: friend. Every time that dreaded word was said during an introduction was like a bullet in her chest and Clementine just kept pulling the trigger no matter how much Violet bled. Then again, she shouldn't be so offended by the truth. They were friends and nothing more. Even if there was something between them, would the brunette be unapologetic about it? Would she hold her hand, look into her family’s eyes and tell them all that Violet was something more– that they were girlfriends? Would her parents understand, would they still be kind?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the feeling of her hand being squeezed by none other than the girl that plagued her mind. When she looked up, finally in reality, she saw others hand in hand and with their heads down and eyes closed. She quickly followed suit, not wanting to be disrespectful but before she did, she took notice of a sight that made her mildly blush. Most if not all people were clasping the hand of the person beside them, much like Michelle did to her but Clementine, literally on the other hand, laced their fingers together. Maybe it was just Violet reading into something that wasn’t there and there was a good possibility Clementine had laced hands with her little brother as well, but for tonight, Violet would play pretend and let her imagination run wild. And as she did, she prayed to the man upstairs to let Clementine’s grandad monologue a little bit longer. She needed any excuse to hold the brunette’s hand a little bit longer but just as the prayer ended, so did their private affections and Clementine would let go.

Violet did miss the warmth but would soon replace the emptiness with the feeling of food. Impatiently, she waited behind Clementine, who was helping Aj fix his plate as well. Her mouth salivated with glee at the spread of not only the food they had cooked, but at the other dishes brought by the guests. And while the main courses, like Uncle B’s chicken and Michelle’s deviled eggs, looked delicious, she couldn’t wait to get to the desserts. Apple pie, banana pudding, candied yams and of course, Granny’s sweet potato pie, all called her name. Her stomach, which had been touching her spine, screamed for nutriment and she was desperate to indulge. Normally, she wouldn’t be so rude and take two plates to the “the kids table,” but after the jokey dinner from last night and fasting she suffered through today, she’d make an exception. Besides, it didn’t look like the others seemed to care. If anything, Granny Everett was begging her to put more on her plate, muttering something about being thin enough to hula-hoop through a Cheerio.

Clementine sat beside her, a small smile on her face as she looked at Violet’s cartoonishly overfilled plates. “Perhaps a salad?” She joked, somewhat expecting Violet to finish but the blonde, with a forkful of macaroni in her mouth, just blinked in confusion. “Ok, this should be illegal. Have you not seen White Chicks?”

Violet shrugged, “In passing.” 

“Ok, well if the Itis doesn’t get us, we’re totally watching that tonight. I need you to understand my references. It’s imperative.”

“I’m so fucking hungry right now, I’m not even gonna question what that word means and why you felt the need to say it.”

“Swear!” Aj looked up, pointing to the guest with his fork.

Michelle, who pulled up a chair beside him, just laughed, “Oh sweet Aj. There are worse things out there that she can say. Now focus on eating your greens.”

Just like in the car ride, stories of Thanksgiving pasts revealed themselves through vivid and animated storytelling. Even the quiet Russell joined in, telling stories about his grandma’s multigenerational house and the adventures had there. Michelle recalled a time of an uneventful Thanksgiving where they got their holiday dinner catered, while Clementine brought up the time when Lee dropped the turkey. Eventually, after food settled and seconds were had, the UNO cards made their appearance. Michelle shuffled the cards and began dealing.

“I don’t know how your folks play, Violet but we play stacks and it's the last man standing. No draw twos on draw fours and if you pull or place down when it’s not your turn, it’s an automatic draw two. Got that?”

The blonde nodded, though honestly, she was too full and bloated to understand anything. All she wanted to do was lay down or if it were humanly possible, open up her stomach and remove some of the contents for some much needed release. Still, she played and lost multiple rounds to the not so humble Michelle. Clementine was a fierce competitor but unlike her cousin, showed the younger kids mercy and a chance at glory. Michelle, was not so kind and actively amped up her opponents with teasing and bragging. With all the noise coming from the adults, the music and the kid’s memorable UNO game, it was a wonder that anyone had even heard the doorbell.

Clementine scrunched her face up in confusion. Unless Duck lied to surprise her, everyone was here and accounted for. Ember eyes narrowed as they followed Carley to the door but upon seeing the late visitor, her eyes widened in shock before quickly turning downward. Elbow now on the table, she made a move to hide her face.

“Sorry, I’m late. It was a hassle getting out of the house with him tonight.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Aunt Carolynn. Come on in; why don’t I take him while you wash your hands and fix yourself a plate.” 

“That's much appreciated dear. Thank you.”

A short pear-shaped woman with graying brown hair waddled into view with a diaper bag and baby on her wide hip. She then passed the baby, really more of a young toddler, to Carley. He was a chunky little thing, with the same brown hair and light brown eyes as his…mother? The wrinkles on her face indicated that that wasn’t the case, but it begged the question of their relation. They looked similar enough to be a part of the same gene pool but to which degree, Violet could only assume. Not only that but this mysterious woman and child were the only ones not present in Clementine’s family rundown. The brunette had mainly focused on Lee’s family and had made it seem like Carley’s was only her parents and sister, Lori. Violet wanted to inquire about the intentional lack of information during the family history lesson. but given the way Clementine shrunk once the woman made eye contact with her, Violet figured it best not to ask, at least not now.

Just then, Granny Everett approached behind the girls. “You guys ready for some dessert?” Without hesitation, the boys rushed to the bathroom, ready to wash hands and dig into some sweet treats. Granny just chuckled before looking back at the girls, “I saw Francine brought those chewy bars you like, Michelle. And Violet, I’m excited to see you try some of my pie.”

Violet inwardly groaned, “With all due respect ma’am, I think I’m about ready to pop.” 

“Well, I’ll tell you just like I told that Duck kid, I don’t care if you throw up, you’re gonna taste some of my pie.” The elderly woman sweetly threatened all while smiling. Pleased with Violet’s terrified nod, Granny went on her way and back into the kitchen to help the boys get proper servings.

---

Since the late arrival of the surprise guest, things have been awkward to say the least. Clementine’s demeanor changed from joyful to quietly on edge. Violet wasn't the only one to notice this change as both parents had pulled her aside for private chats. Even Michelle tried bringing up fun memories but it did nothing to help ease her. Deep conversations turned into small talk with short, curt responses, answered with a flat tone and a forced smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Anxiety emanated from her body whenever the woman came close and it was clear that Clementine was actively trying to avoid any interactions with not only her but the toddler as well. Even after Violet had gotten up and gotten them each a slice of Granny Everett’s world famous sweet potato pie, Clementine was speechless.

The pie was delicious, one of the best things she had ever put in her mouth yet Clementine simply mulled over it. Dramatically, Violet hummed in delight, trying to entice the girl but to no avail. The one dish Clementine had raved about nonstop since she had suggested Violet join Thanksgiving, was left mashed and mostly uneaten. Michelle, who had finished her desert, got up, Russell not far behind her. With her plate still in her hand, she leaned over and whispered something in Clementine’s ear. The words perked up the depressed teenager, putting a small spark back in her eyes. But just like before, it dimmed once she looked at Violet and she went back to picking at her food. It pained Violet to see her so down, especially knowing how much this holiday meant to her. Though she didn’t know what the deal was between Aunt Carolynn and Clementine, she did know that she would try just about anything to get the brunette to smile again. The problem was finding a way to distract her. Thankfully, after her ears caught a familiar tune, she believed she’d found her answer.

With a smirk, she looked over to her friend. Violet nudged her, effectively pulling her out of her daze, “September by…by Earth, Water and Wind.”

Clementine shot her a puzzled look, concerned that her friend was possibly suffering from a stroke or brain damage until her ears picked up the music through the heavy conversation. There was a hesitation as she debated on going back to sulking or playing along. Violet, like everyone else, was reaching out through the depressive fog she’d trapped herself in, trying desperately to meet her halfway. Clementine didn’t have to slap on the theater mask, and put on a performance of pretending to be ok but she could at least acknowledge her friend's efforts and try to pick up her own spirits. 

With a small smile, Clementine corrected, “September by Earth, Wind and Fire.”

The blonde relaxed, now feeling slightly accomplished by the response. She replied, “I think I should get partial credit. I mean I got the song title right and two out of the three elements.”

 “Yes but you got the elements out of order. Sorry but it’s all or nothing on the Everett’s Name that tune.”

“That’s so unfair. This is only like my second time playing; you should cut me some slack.”

“Look, my hands are tied! I don’t make the rules.” Clementine threw her hands up defensively.

“You literally do!”

“Ok, ok, maybe I’ll make an exception but only for you.”

“Only exception, huh? Like Paramor–”

“Well hello there stranger; long time no see.”

And just like that, the smile she worked so hard to put on Clementine’s face, dropped like a ton of bricks. 

“Hello, Aunt Carolynn.” Clementine muttered as she avoided eye contact. Her head was now hung low.

“Well, are you gonna introduce me to your new friend?”

There was a pause as Clementine squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. “Violet, this is my Aunt Carolynn.”

The woman pointed to the small child, smiling as she watched him play with Aj and Gill. “Don’t forget little Lj. Ain't he just the most precious thing? A spitting image of his father, god bless his soul.” There was another pause before she turned back to the girls. She cleared her throat, “Anyways, tell me a little about yourself, Violet. It’s rare for Clem to bring someone home. You must be special.”

“Uh–”

“You go to that school with her right? I hear it can be a scary place with all those troubled kids, but you seem like a nice enough girl.” Again, she spoke too fast for Violet to answer. “What landed you in a place like that?”

Violet was shocked at the brazen woman’s question. Normally she could tell the old hag to fuck off but while in the house of people who’s opinion she actually valued, she was at a loss on how to handle the unpleasant conversation. Luckily she didn’t have to. Clementine stepped up, though still a little shy, and corrected her aunt.

“Aunt Carolynn, you can't do that– that’s private.”

The woman put a hand over her heart, feigning distraught but Violet could see through the act. Still, Aunt Carolynn shook her head and put a cold hand on the blonde’s shoulder. “I didn’t mean to offend, honestly and I’m sorry if I did. I was just wondering if she was a little firebug like you. You know birds of a feather and–”

Emotions flashed through golden eyes. At first it was shock and then fear before it ended with a deep sadness. Without another word, Clementine jumped from the table, making a swift and sudden exit. Violet wasn’t expecting Carolynn to chase after the girl, but she did at least hope that something would indicate remorse or regret, but the woman just stood, watching her niece flee. Her face was stone cold, much like her frigid heart. Regardless, the older woman and her odd behavior wasn’t her concern; Clementine was. So, Violet excused herself and made her way through the crowd in hopes of finding her. She had no luck downstairs, so she made her way up, looking in both Clementine’s room and Aj's. To her surprise, neither kid was there.

Violet began to descend the stairs, phone in hand and ready to dial the brunette’s number, when a yelp nearly startled her phone out of her hands. She looked down to see Aj rubbing his hand that she had apparently stepped on while she was distractedly trying to find his sister. 

“Sorry, little guy. I didn’t even see you.” 

“Teenagers.” Gill tsked, not bothering to even look up from his game.

“Hey, have you guys seen Clem anywhere?”

Aj, now focused on the game, answered, “Yeah, she left with Michelle and Russell a few minutes ago. They went on a walk.”

“Oh.”  

Violet stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do with herself. Clementine had left her and although the brunette didn’t promise they’d be attached by the hip, Violet kinda assumed that would be the case and it had been up until that point. The older teen tried to rationalize it as Clementine needing space after what must’ve felt like a social ambush. It happened often at school, so she wasn’t shocked by this behavior but a little heads up would’ve been nice. Still, she surveyed her options on things she could preoccupy herself with, like entertaining the little boys, helping with the clean up or getting first dibs on the shower. Then again, she would rather sit and wait. It was just a walk; how long would it take?

---

“Clementine Melissa Everett, just where on Earth have you been?” Carley stood, hands on her hip, waiting for whatever excuse or lie her daughter had in store for them.

The brunette sucked her teeth before begrudgingly turning around. “Out with Michelle. We went on a walk.”

An hour. Clementine had been gone for over an hour. People had started helping with the clean up, packed to-go boxes, and left in her absence. Even Aunt Carolynn, whose visit was short lived, had made her exit before Clementine had returned. The boys had showered and the elderly Everetts retired to their rooms while Violet sat around somewhere upstairs waiting for her friend. That was the thing that pissed her off the most. That Clementine had begged for Violet to come, and then ditched her for the trouble making Michelle, leaving her worried and alone. Sadly, this behavior is something she’s come to expect of her daughter, though she will admit, their recent good times pulled the wool over her eyes. 

Lee rushed into the room at the sound of his daughter’s voice, ready to embrace her, when he got a look of her appearance. He looked over her with disappointment.

Carley crossed her arms. She got closer, despite not needing to, to see the glazed eyed child. With her eyes narrowed, she said firmly, “If this is you trying to convince me you're not addicted, then you're failing miserably.”

Clementine scoffed, “You’re so dramatic. I'm not addicted to anything.”

“Then explain why you were here for only two days before you had to go and get high.”

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

Lee stepped in, arms also crossed over his chest. “This isn’t a joke, young lady. You’re in big trouble.”

“It was just a little fun, it was no big deal. I just needed to get my mind off of…you know. I didn’t think it was gonna be a problem.” She pleaded to her father.

Carley brought the attention back to her, “When one of the reasons why we sent you to that school was for smoking? You really thought it wasn’t going to be a problem?”

“You know, a heads up would’ve been nice or better yet, y’all keeping an eye on her would’ve been great too. You didn’t hear what she called me.”

“What did she say–”

“It doesn’t matter what she said! Well, it does but in the case that she’s harassing you, you come to us, you don’t go and get high with your cousin! We’ve talked about this.” Carley stepped closer, “And need I remind you, we both pulled you aside to talk about her. We gave you options about going upstairs to your room but you chose to stay downstairs. We both clarified that we were completely unaware that she was coming. There’s no excuse for this, Clementine.”

This the part where the mother braced herself. This is when Clementine lashes out, maybe punches a wall out of frustration before stomping to her room like an entitled brat and slamming the door. Whatever she had coming, Carley was prepared. It’s nothing she hasn’t seen before. She watched as Clementine’s face tightened, her fists balled up by her side but then, it all just fell. She let out an irritated huff before taking a step down, reached in her pocket and pulled out her phone. She was surrendering.

The parents sent surprised looks before composing themselves. Carley spoke first after pocketing the phone, “The school has our numbers in case of emergencies. Obviously, you’re grounded. No going into town, no parties, even if it is for the school and no allowance until we think you’re ready. Is that clear?”

Clementine grumbled, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Anything you want to add, Lee?”

“I think you said it all. Go to bed and we’ll talk about Carolynn tomorrow before you girls leave.”

There was no need for a verbal answer, the girl just headed up the stairs, shutting her door with a quiet click behind her. She rested her head on the back of the door, biting back the tears that threatened to fall. Thankfully, Violet wasn't in the room though that didn’t let her drop her guard. She couldn’t cry especially when it was obvious she was going to have to talk to her about her disappearing act. So there Clementine sat at her bay window, knees in her chest, waiting for the inevitable conversation. She tried distracting herself by counting stars, but she didn’t get far, as there was a light knock at the door. It was far too light to be her parents, so it must’ve been Violet.

Already dressed in her pajamas, Violet peeked her head in and cautiously entered the room. She then dropped her clothes back into her bag before taking a seat across from the brunette. Silently, she waited.

After a few minutes, Clementine quietly spoke, “Sorry about ditching you. Carolynn just makes me…. Anyways, she didn’t bother you again, did she?”

“No, she just went back to her kid.” Green followed brown eyes to the stars, “What’s her deal, anyways? I could tell she didn’t actually care about me; she just wanted to take a dig at you.”

“...Violet, you’re my friend, right?”

There's that bullet again.

“Yeah,” She sighed, “We’re friends . Good ones.”

Clementine fidgeted before sitting upright on the bench, her back now turned against the window. Violet followed suit. Brown eyes finally met with Violet’s as she meekly put up her pinky finger and offered it to her recently confirmed friend, “This stays between us, right?”

“Cross my heart.” The blonde promised as her finger wrapped around brown.

Lips then met with entangled pinkies. “Now it’s sealed.” 

Clementine gave a soft chuckle at the other girl’s shocked expression, then nudged her to help her loosen up. She showed Violet a small confident smile then before she looked off in the other direction, her smile fading. She released a heavy sigh as she tried to keep the tears at bay once more. She wanted to talk but her mouth became dry, visions of that night began to play– A hand grabbed hers and gave a gentle squeeze. When she looked at the hand’s owner, she found Violet giving her a reassuring smile. There was no going back now.

“To make a long story short, cuz I'm really not in the mood to cry, there was a fire at my old house… her son, Luke, was there and he didn’t make it. Aj and I were the only survivors, and she blames me because he went back in there for me. Aj is too young to remember but I remember everything. Not like I could forget even if I tried." The girl tugged at her sleeves, pulling them lower to cover her hands. She bit her lip nervously and her eyes that shook with anxiety, looked over to the blonde beside her. She looked as if she was deliberating something but then her eyes dropped to her clenched hands, and whatever she thought of sharing, stayed locked up inside. "Survivors' guilt is a bitch, and Lj is a constant reminder of what we lost. Every time I look at him, I remember I’m the reason his dad isn’t here.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Clem.”

The silence was thick, and the hesitation was damning.

“I wish I believed you.” The girl gave a soft smile before getting up and heading to her wardrobe. She rummaged through it for a moment before returning with a photo. She handed it to Violet. “I know you’re not the biggest fan of baseball, but my dad was, and Luke was the first person to bring out that spark in me. He took me to my first game; even taught me how to play. He lived out of town so he couldn’t always make it to my games, but he would try and if he couldn’t, he’d always call for the details. Next to my dad, he was my number one fan…”

“He meant a lot to you, huh?”

“He meant a lot to everyone.”

Violet hesitated, “It sucks– losing someone you care about.”

“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience”

“This stays between us?” The blonde asked, sticking her pinky up.

Clementine nodded, locking fingers with the older teen once more. Again, with their fingers laced, there was a kiss, though this time, it was given by Violet. Their fingers dropped but the warmth still lingered as they held hands.

“So, because my house was never really safe , I'd spend a lot of time with my grandparents. We didn’t do a lot, but it was nice because I didn’t have to worry.” Violet let out a deep sigh, “Well one day, grandpa didn’t wake up and my grandma just…well she didn't want to live without him so…”

Oh. 

The blonde looked down and with her other hand, plucked at the loose seams of the seat's cushions. “I keep thinking that maybe I could’ve done something. I could’ve stopped her. If I could go back, I’d do things differently, but it doesn’t fucking matter. It doesn't matter how much I wish or think about it, the sad truth is that they’re never coming back and despite what my mom says, I can't blame myself for what happened. I can't let that moment define my entire life. Losing someone sucks but to put it bluntly; either move on or die with them. If you focus too much on the dead, you’ll miss your chance to live.” She muttered, “Or at least that’s what that shrink told me when I first came to Ericson.” 

There was a moment for pause as Clementine tried to digest the hard to swallow lesson. It was horrific what Violet had gone through, but Clementine was touched that she felt safe enough to share. It almost made her wish she'd done the same and told Violet the whole truth. Maybe she still could. She tightened her grip on Violet's hand, grabbing her attention. She opened her mouth, ready to confess but then no words came out. She was not only suddenly mute but also made of stone. Thoughts of abandonment, flooded her mind, drowning any confidence she had. With her spark gone, her eyes fell shamefully to the ground.

Violet was never great with other people or interpersonal relationships. She thought by sharing her story, her friend would feel less alone but instead, she feared she'd made it worse. Her friend was quiet, looking down with red hazed eyes and at first, Violet didn't know what to do to remedy the situation. She thought hard, trying to channel her inner Louis when something finally came to mind. She nudged Clementine, removing her from her fog.

"Hey, don't look so upset. We're at level 100 friendship, or whatever the fuck Louis said." Violet took a look at their joined hands, a blush slowly creeping onto her face. Taking yet another deep breath, she closed her eyes. “Since we’re like, "best friends" or whatever…would you wanna hang out when we get back? Like officially hangout, not fake tutor sessions.”

There was a subtle smile on Clementine's lips as she felt out a soft chuckle. She then tucked some hair behind her ear before her hand traveled to her neck that she nervously scratched, "Normally, I'd love to do but I'm actually kinda-sorta grounded until further notice."

"Wh-what? Why? Just cuz you ditched?"

"Well, I did go get hiigh." Clementine laughed, "Don't tell me you didn't notice."

Naturally, when one goes to Ericson's School for the Troubled Youth, they learn to read even the subtlest of signs of drug use. Of course she could tell Clementine was different. She was a little looser, those normally honey eyes had a reddish tint and she smelt earthy but it was something Violet didn't want to bring up, in fear of insulting the girl.  So Violet lied, "I guess you just hide it well."

"Not well enough to get past my mom. She's a hound when it comes to these things." Clementine then got up, finally letting go of Violet's hand. She replaced it with a towel and her pjs. "Speaking of, I should go shower before I get into even more trouble." Before she headed out the door, she looked back at the slumped shoulders of her friend who had essentially been softly rejected. Suddenly, a light bulb flickered on, making the girl smile as she slyly suggested, "You know, I've noticed your history grade could be a little higher. Not to brag but I am the daughter of a history professor. Maybe if I "tutor" you, we can get your grade back up."

Violet perked up, having caught on, “Oh, yeah. I could really use the help. Especially with the second quarter coming to an end.”

Clementine sent her friend a wink and started to walk out the door when she remembered. “Oh and uh, Violet." She tucked some hair behind her ears and bashfully looked down at her feet, "Thanks for the chat and just being here in general. I know I was being chill about it but I'm really glad you came. I wasn't expecting the shit with Aunt Carolynn and ditching you wasn't cool, but thanks for still being here and talking to me. I know I'm not really like the most "forthcoming" about my past and issues but...I just I really appreciate it.”

Violet, having been slightly caught off guard but the spoken gratitude, stammered, "Y-yeah, no problem. That's what friends are for, right?"

"Right, friends." Violet could've sworn she saw the smile drop slightly but she couldn't confirm as it was back up before she could speak on it. “You should get some sleep. When Lee's mad, it makes the car ride longer." She squeezed out an awkward chuckle, "Anyways, if you're knocked out before I get back, goodnight.”

After Violet's wave, Clementine backed out and clicked the door shut. Violet then found her way to her bed and laid on her back, looking up at the ceiling as she thought about all that had transpired over the last couple of days. For the most part, she had fun and felt a genuine sense of belonging within the Everett's household. There were a few moments when her insecurities fucked with her head but after she pushed down the negativity, she was able to rejoin the fun. While she still didn't know the full story, Violet learned a few things about her friend, and it helped her understand her movements a little bit better. Clementine was still very much a mystery but maybe it's one Violet didn't need to solve. She was hopping that with time, Clementine would come to her on her own instead of the blonde having to sleuth around. At the very least, one of her suspicions were pretty much confirmed after Clementine's unintentional slip up. The brunette was adopted. Why else would she call her father by his first name?

Notes:

I CANT EDIT THIS ANYMORE OR ELSE I'LL JUMP! irdgaf if there's errors anymore!
Ok a couple of things. #1) throughout this 3-part special, did you notice that it was mainly in Violet's perspective? It was a suggestion of a friend to have it harder to know what happens in clementine's mind and better to know Violet's thoughts considering she's a guest in the Everett's home. #2) I know i update like once a month but this might be the last update for a while as school is starting for me. #3) how do we feel about this chapter and the overall special?? Any ideas for what will happen when they get back to Ericson???

Notes:

Ok, so some things to consider. I'm making this a chapter fic but just like Never Go Alone, the updates won't be as frequent due to me being in school. This will have angst because I like to project but like my other stories, there will be a happy ending. Lastly, I'm mainly a violet/clementine shipper but I love clouis as well so I'm considering a vote for her potential love interest, but that won't happen until I get some more chapters of this out. As always, thanks for reading, and I'd love to hear what you think!