THE REASON, twdg s2 fanfic

[ 004 ] the ambush

IV. THE REASON

[ CHAPTER FOUR ]

Eden stood by the door, listening to Clementine and Luke talk. She knew eavesdropping was rude, but she couldn't help herself. She was curious about Clementine and where she came from. From looks of it, she was less fortunate than she was. Eden at least had Caroline left. Clementine had nobody. The one person she had was possibly dead. She was hoping she would stick by them for a little bit. Just so she had some sense of company.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready for bed?" Caroline spoke up, placing her hands on her hips.

Eden jumped, turning to face Caroline with wide eyes. "I—I'm sorry. I was just... listening."

Caroline's gaze softened slightly, though her tone remained firm. "What did I tell you about eavesdropping in other people's conversations?" She sighed.

Eden looked down, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry. I just wanted to—"

Caroline placed her hand on Eden's back gently, leading her toward her room. "You can talk to Clementine tomorrow," she said, "She went through so much today. Just leave it to Luke for now, okay?"

Eden looked up at Caroline, a mix of curiosity and concern in her eyes. "But I just want to help—"

Caroline shook her head, offering a reassuring smile. "I know you do, and that means a lot. But right now, she needs rest and space. We all do. Let's focus on getting you settled in for the night."

As they entered Eden and Sarah's room, Caroline helped her get comfortable in bed. "It's important that you get some sleep so you can be ready to help tomorrow." She said softly.

Eden rolled her eyes, kicking her shoes off. "I'm not a little girl anymore." She huffed. "I'm twelve, now. I should be down there helping you guys." She climbed into her and Sarah's bed.

Caroline sighed, sitting on the edge of Eden's bed. "I understand you want to help, but it's not about age. It's about what's best for everyone right now. You'll have your chance to be involved, but that was not the time."

Eden's frustration bubbled up. "Like when you took Carlos' side over mine?" Eden scoffed, pulling her hair up into a ponytail with the scrunchie she had around her wrist. "It felt like you didn't even care what I had to say."

Caroline's expression softened. "Eden, it wasn't about not caring. It was about making sure we handle the situation as responsibly as possible." Caroline paused. "Sometimes, decisions have to be made quickly, and I know it's hard to understand that."

"No, I understand clearly," Eden huffed, laying her head down on her pillow. "I'm just a kid. I don't get a say in anything." She remarked sarcastically.