Uncertain.

Chapter 1: Trippy Love

Clementine's POV:

After all the people I've lost during my life, you'd most likely think I'd have learned the lesson of not getting attached.

Sometimes though, it's much easier said than done. Like the time I met Gabriel Garcia, I knew right at that moment not to get attached. But the more we talked, the more I got attached.

But when it was just me and AJ, I had felt the sense of freedom, freedom and responsibility. Unlike a group, you don't have freedom, but you have the responsibility of risking your life for people you barely know.

AJ was and is all I have, he is the only thing I live for... The only thing I have to protect.

It's all just a huge burden, yea know?

I really didn't want to care about a lot of people because I didn't and I definitely don't want to experience any more heartbreak than I had already experienced in my past.

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Now, It's all over. The New Frontier is gone and never coming back. I finally got AJ back, and couldn't be more happier. I've also got myself a working ride; I could go wherever I pleased. I would've left Richmond by now, but I decided to stay for two weeks just to finish up with the people I met. They helped me in many ways, so I felt that I owed it to them to stay for a bit at a supply warehouse that belonged to the New Frontier that wasn't far from Richmond. Them being Javier, Kate, Eleanor, and Gabe. Besides, I wanted to relax for a bit after everything that's happened, and I was also thinking about staying with them.

I'll actually admit that it felt good to be in a group again, to not feel that it was me verses the world. But despite being in the group, I've been spending most of my time with AJ, not wanting to get too attached because, in my experience, it never ends well. However, if there was one person in the group who spent the most of their time with me, it would be Gabe. I will admit, it was nice to hang out with someone my age for once. The closest I actually got, was Sarah, but Gabe wasn't sheltered from this horrid world like she was, and that's exactly why he's here and she isn't.

Me and Gabe spent a whole lot of time together over the past couple of weeks; we'd play card games with each other, we'd scavenge for supplies in whatever's left in Richmond together. During most nights after I put AJ to sleep, the two of us would also take watch together outside. We would sit under the black velvet sky sprinkled with specks of luminous balls of gas, and talk about whatever kind of shit came to mind, while we'd take turns killing walkers when they'd come near the base, trying to one-up each other every time.

Honestly, part of me wanted to stay with the group. They were nice people, they weren't dysfunctional, and everyone got along; maybe this time it would work out. But, I knew better, me and AJ were fine on our own before the New Frontier, and we've made it on our own, not needing anyone else.

As nice as it was to have the chance to talk to someone my age, I know that I'm matured more due to all the gruesome experiences and losses throughout my years. Gabe wasn't as sheltered as Sarah, but he did lack the experience of horrors this world had to offer. He doesn't know the risk of getting too attached to someone only to have their life taken away soon after. Yes, he lost he's sister and he's father when the New Frontier fell, and he did mourn over it, but it's much different when it's a complete stranger who fills the role that's missing or the role you'd think you've never needed. Like Lee taking on a father figure, or Luke and Jane becoming the big brother and sister I never had. You grow attached, they make you fill up with joy, then... It's all taken away.

He never experienced that, but I did. I made a vow to myself to protect AJ at all costs because AJ was going to make it, I would make sure of it. Another vow I made was not to get attached to anyone ever again, with AJ being the expectation. So far, that vow is still in tact, and I figured that maybe it would be okay to be with a group, and I didn't have to grow attached to them. Hell, maybe they'd all make it, but...