Colentine🐰🐏💛

~Kid and Leveret~ 5

(Had a hard time revising this part, but anyways- Enjoy!! 🌾)

"Woahh~ that's so cool..!" Clementine said. She found herself being interested and listened all throughout the whole story. One might think it's just a made up story to entertain children. Like myths that can be passed down word by word but not genuinely believed in. But none of those lines did Clementine came to think of. Once they heard the tales and everything, it had became its own reality to believe and live in.

"You think? Cole said the same thing too." Said Storyteller.

"I d-didn't!!" Cole replied rather quickly and his face became flustered after. Clemmie chuckled at the sight of Cole being flustered and then they went back to telling stories and singing songs (which Clementine sang freely for the first time).

....

When it was now time to go back, the two Harkers and the two children bid each other goodbye. Now, Cole and Clementine walked back together.

"That was so~ fun!! I've never had any fun like that in my whole life!" Clementine enthusiastically exclaimed as they skip and even spinning in their steps with a big happy smile on their face. Cole let out a soft chuckle, "I agree."

Both continued to walk in the forest, following the same familiar path. The day was now slowly getting darker and the sun is also slowly setting, it made the sky give an orange hue. They talked on the way back- well,- Clemmie did almost all of the talking and Cole listened the whole time; He will only speak from time to time.

They arrived at the fields, its flaxen shade turned golden because of the sun's light. Suddenly, a question came to Cole's mind as they almost reached the hill.

"Hey, Clementine." Said Cole.

"Yeah" They replied and turned to look at Cole.

"You said you- ran away from- your home..?" Asked Cole and glanced at Clementine

"Oh- yeah.. It's just a house that I live and grew up in and not a home though, I wouldn't call it that." Clemmie said, looking at the ground. Cole just stood there, looking at Clementine without saying anything. That was until clemmie asked a question.

"Where do you live, Cole?"

"Oh, just- on the hill." Cole glanced upwards on the hill before them.

"With yout parents?" Clementine also looked up, but can't see a house anywhere.

"N-no, they're long dead." Cole replied. Clementine instantly regretted what they said.

"Oh no.. I'm so sorry." Clementine shared an empathetic look.

"Oh, uhm.. I-it's fine. I don't really wanna talk about it." Cole released a sigh and fidgeted with his instrument strap.

"So, um.. Where will you be staying at?" Cole asked after the few moments of silence.

"I don't know," Clementine shrugged like it was not a big deal. "But I don't wanna go back to the house, for sure."

Cole pondered for a moment. He doesn't know what to do, but he wants to help Clementine. Then, Cole decided.

"You can.. Stay at my place..?I-I-IT'S NOT MUCH BUT-"

"Really??" Clementine turned to Cole with a smile on their face. And when Cole saw that, they knew they made the right decision. He didn't even realized he was holding its breath as they thought how beautiful Clementine looked at that moment. The orange hue of the sunlight perfectly complimented her long golden curls (I'm using Clementine's old design as a reference here 😭)  and their face.

".. Y, yeah." Cole quickly averted his gaze away as they realized they've been staring.

"Heh, thanks Cole."

Both climbed up the hill, until they reached a small hut; The hut was small enough for all the trees surrounding it to cover.

"We're here." Cole opened the wooden door and lit a candle lamp inside.

"Looks cozy" Clementine hummed and looked around the tiny place.

"It's enough for me at least."

Both settled down, ate some fruits Cole has stocked and chatted time to time. They talked and laughed, showing a side of them that they never knew they both had. Eventually, it was getting a little late so both decided to go to bed. Cole apologized as he only had a stock of hays covered in cloth as a bed. Clementine didn't mind it at all since it was "better that the basement floor". Cole didn't know what they're talking about but just shrugged it off.

Both now laid in bed, side by side to each other, staring at the ceiling.

"You know, " Clementine spoke. Cole looked at them from the corner of his eyes. "One day- I want to run away from the house, I really do. I mean- I did now.. But, I can't stay hidden for too long as they can find me in no time if they want to. I only have two days left and I must go back before they'll find me here."

Cole listened to every word Clementine said, observing her expressions and admiring her face... Wait- what!? ..

Cole didn't respond for a few seconds, trying to shake off the thoughts on his mind.

"What was your.. life in that house? It's okay if you don't answer if you're not comfortable."

Clementine released a sigh, "I'm treated like a puppet there" they said. This time, Cole turned his head to fully look at Clementine, and Clemmie did too. Resulting for the both of them to make eye contact, except Clementine's silver eyes started to water.

"I don't want to be puppeted." Clementine sniffed. Cole don't know what to do, but just stayed at Clementine's side.

"I.. Can't imagine how horrible it must've been for you."

"It's painful and overburdening."

"But you're just a kid."

"So are you." Clemmie says, "Both of us had it really hard for children like us."

Cole was silent at Clementine's words as it was true. They really do have it hard for just children like them.. Cole huffed out a shaky breath.

"Guess so."

Both went back to staring at the ceiling, comfortable silence wrapped them up like a blanket.

"Hey, Cole."

"Yeah?"

"You're my friend now, right?" Clementine asked. That made Cole wonder. "Clementine.. Friends.. Am I really capable of being their friend." Those were Cole's thoughts. But despite all those thoughts, he answered what he really wants to say.

"Yeah" they smiled. "I'm your friend, Clementine. And you're my friend."

That made Clementine happy, knowing that she finally made a real friend all by themselves and not from their father or mother's connection. Something that was achieved by their own actions, and not from the controlling fingers of the cruel baron and baroness.

"Glad to know. Good night, Cole."

"Good night, Clementine."

With that, Clementine closed her eyes first, followed by Cole. If there was two words Cole would describe this day, it would be (a) "plot twist". Clementine was the plot twist that made his usual routine completely unexpected. And Cole was sure to always remember this day, the day they found Clementine and became his first ever friend.

                                           
Thank you for reading!! 💕

(If I made any typos, forgive me HDHADHSH 🦗)
I think this is getting long for a oneshot so I've decided for the next chapter to be the final and longest one yet 😭🙌

It will take me a while to revise it though, but I don't need to worry about that since we are having a long weekend, YIPPIE 🙆‍♀️💛

Have a Good day/night 🌷✨