Friends To The End

Birds chirped throughout the summer sky. The slight creak of the tire swing could occasionally be heard as a light breeze pushed it back and forth. Of course, it being in the middle of July and in the southern United States, the humidity caused her hair to stick to the back of her neck. But she didn't mind. Not only was the seven year old a native Georgian, but she was too focused on finding her best friend.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are." She taunted. Clementine crept across her backyard in search of her target. Or at least she pretended too. Because she knew exactly where he was. If it weren't for his shoes peeking out from behind the porch, his poorly hidden giggles would've been the only giveaway to his hiding spot. As she hugged the side of her porch, an idea started to form. She began to climb over the railing, and with a cheeky smile, made her way to the hidden boy.

As soon as the boy peeked around the corner, she made her move. She jumped off the porch, landing next to the boy, startling him.

"Found you!" She called out giggling. His expression, of shock, quickly became a goofy grin as he started to run. Soon the backyard was filled with laughter and joyful screaming as the children chased each other.

"You can't catch me!" He taunted. With all her legs could muster, Clementine began to run as hard as she could. After a few minutes, she began to slow down. It was clear that she would not be able to get him by speed alone. Out of breath she called out to her friend.

"You're gonna have to do better than that, Clemmy." He teased. Before she could respond, her mother called out the kitchen window.

"Clementine, Louis! Lunch is ready!"

After their lunch, the two kids went up to the tree house. There, Louis revealed an unopened deck of cards. Asking if she wanted to play Go Fish, which Clementine agreed to, Louis removed the plastic wrapping and the two began to play. After a few minutes, Clementine's face fell.

"So... where are you moving too?"

"New York." He simply stated.

"Oh."

He was clearly frustrated at his parents decision to move to another state. It would be hard for both of them once he moved. To say that she was more than a little sad that her best friend was moving away would be an understatement. This was one of the last times she'd be able to hangout with him. Suddenly an idea formed, and it was a good one.

"Why don't we write to each other," She suggested excitedly, "that way, we can still be friends!"

Louis began to smile, "That's a great idea! I'll make sure to write every day."

"Me too."

"Friends to the end?" He held out his pinkie. Which she gladly wrapped hers around.

"Friends to the end."

_______________

Clementine jolted awake, her head pounding. She jerked her left arm only to find that it was tapped to the post of a bunk bed. Clementine quickly scanned the room for AJ. Fear began to rise up as she realized that her boy was nowhere to be found. Using her free hand, she removed the tape and got up from the bed. Dizziness started to come over her, but she quickly recovered.

After finding a palette knife and breaking out of the room. She immediately began her search for AJ. But before she could walk two feet, a pair of doors was heard opening. Clementine quickly hid behind a trophy case and waited until this guard had passed her. However this guard was nothing more than a young boy, eleven, maybe twelve years old at most. The detail that caught her eye was the massive burn scar on the side of his head.

He opened the door and was shocked to see she was missing. Drawing his knife, the boy slowly creeped into the room. Taking this opportunity, Clementine ordered the boy to drop his weapon, which he did. Only for a third-party to speak up, ordering her to do the same. "We're not gonna hurt you. We've got your boy. He's safe."

She obeyed, mostly because this mysterious figure had a bow trained on her and she still needed to find AJ. Lowing his weapon, the figure stepped out of the shadows. The boy looked to be a couple of years older than her, but no more than nineteen. He introduces himself as Marlon, a tall, skinny boy who wore a black and red jacket, and a haircut that looked like something died on his head. After the three acquainted with each other, with the youngest boy among them named Tennessee, or Tenn for short, they left the dorms and entered into the courtyard.

After telling off a strange boy who was giving Clementine a weird look, Marlon showed her a bit of this, apparent, school. "Allow me to make it formal: welcome to Ericson's Boarding School for Troubled Youth. I think you and your boy both fit that description. It's hard to survive too long these days without being a bit...troubled."

"I was a pretty good kid before everything. I've made a lot of trouble since."

"We all had to grow up fast. I'd say that goes double for your boy," Marlon sighed, "He's been a little terror since he arrived."

"Excuse me?"

"MARLON! WE GOT WALKERS!" someone, rather obnoxiously, shouted from the gate. Marlon shook his head, "Let me deal with this. Oh, by the way, your boy is with Louis."

"Louis?" she questioned.

"Oh right, he's in the admin building. Just follow the music." he answered as he ran off to the gate. Taking a breath, Clementine made her way to the admin building and followed the blonde's instructions. And after a very colorful conversation with a short, heavyset redhead, Clementine opened the door to the music room and smiled. There was AJ, standing in front of a piano, curious about the music playing from the large instrument. But what caught her attention for a moment was the boy playing it. She could swear that she'd seen those dreadlocks somewhere before.

As she was watching the two, AJ noticed her and ran right into her, giving Clementine a big hug. Relief filled her as Clementine held her boy in her arms again. While she was checking him, AJ told her that he was glad she was okay. "I'm okay," she affirmed, "and you know what you are? Ticklish!"

AJ was unable to protest as his fits of giggles filled the room, which filled Clementine with such joy. Suddenly the music stopped, Clementine turned and looked at the pianist. Still that feeling of familiarity was present in her. As she studied the boy, something started to dawn on her. No, it can't be him, can it?

The boy wore a shocked expression, like he'd just seen a ghost. He stood up. Then his eyes lit up in epiphany, and he started to laugh. "Clementine, is that really you?"

The recognition hit her like a runaway train. "Holy shit. Lou?"

She couldn't believe it, there he was, her long lost best friend. Standing right in front of her. The two embraced each other, savoring the moment for as long as they could. However, the sound of someone clearing their throat cut through the two as they looked down at AJ, who was confused about what was happening, "Clem, who's he?"

Louis raised his eyebrows in fake offense, "Clem, how could you?"

Laughing, Clementine explained that he was her best friend from before, and that he moved away from Georgia. So many questions ran through both teenagers' minds. But both were beyond glad to see each other.

"Still friends to the end?" he asked, raising his pinkie like he did all those years ago. And just like then, Clementine wrapped hers around his.

She gave him a smile that held so much that words can not describe.

"Friends to the end."