LONE

48

Crack fucked up the world

Lamar walks over to Clementine, extending his good arm to shake her hand. He's always had a very polite and formal greeting. Isaiah finds it funny how even in the apocalypse, Lamar never forgets his manners. That's probably why Ruby likes him, despite them being pretty opposite.

"So you're originally from Atlanta? Me too! Well- near Atlanta. Macon, actually."
Lamar beams, talking to Clem. When he mentions Macon, her face makes a slight wince at hearing it, like a trauma response.
"I actually met my first group there." She says, thoughtfully.
"Yeah? How was Macon? Everyone...gone?" He asks, knowing the answer.
She sighs. "Yeah...but, that's the way it goes, I guess." He nods.
"I didn't see much of my family since I got enrolled here. They'd come and visit sometimes, and I'd go home for the holidays and stuff...but then they stopped visiting..." Lamar remembers. Isaiah butts in, a common theme for him.
"Lamar always used to brag that his uncle was a super-genius."
Lamar laughs. "I never said that, I said he was a history professor."
Clementine's face drops. But, before they can make the connection, Louis interrupts, accompanied by Violet. "That was a B+ performance there, Vi, you've done better."
"Fuck off." Violet sticks her middle finger up at him, and Isaiah and Lamar shrug, lagging behind.

The two boys follow into the school, dropping off their weapons, and looking up to see AJ elbow Marlon, right in the boingloings.

"Don't laugh, don't laugh dude or you're next." Lamar whispers to Isaiah, simultaneously holding back his laugh. Clem apologises on behalf of AJ, and goes over to speak to him.
Lamar and Isaiah walk into the school, to get some bandages for Lamar's arm.

"Would you rather," Isaiah starts, evoking a groan from Lamar. "Do a mermaid with a fish head and a human body," "aw, dude that's gross." Lamar laughs. "Or, do a sentient walker." The hallway floods with the immature laughter of the two boys.
"Both options suck, last one is bordering on necrophilia, dude." Lamar thinks for a moment. "...but the first is bordering on beastiality...you're such a freak, dude!" He laughs.
"Personally, I'd pick the mermaid." Isaiah says.
"Yeah, that's cus you're weird."

Finally, they reach the medical room, to retrieve the bandages. Lamar opens a drawer and pulls out a long roll of gauze, rolling up his blood-soaked sleeve, to reveal a deep gash, still bleeding. Isaiah winces. "Jesus, dude. That's gonna need stitches."
"Naw, it'll be fine." Lamar protests.
"I can literally see your vein, you moron!"
"Dude, I'm gonna be fine. I know my medical stuff, trust me."
Isaiah rolls his eyes. "Fine, but when you're bleeding out, don't blame me."