Young Love (Gabentine Fics)

Too Late

"Are you sure you can't stay for a little longer?"

I gathered up my bag that was packed and slung it on my shoulders with a grunt.

"No, Javi. I've been here for a year and AJ could still be out there, waiting for me to come get him. I have to go."

Javi looked at me with eyes that broke my heart and I swallowed thickly as I felt my throat constricting from the sadness that I seen. My body acted on its own as I turned away from Javi so he couldn't see the hesitation in my eyes and started moving towards the door before stopping.

"Where's Gabe?"

"Last I heard, he was on his shift of lookout. Oh, and will you make sure he's alright? He's been acting weird lately....well weirder than normal."

I nodded my head, said goodbye, and headed outside. My eyes looked around Richmond in search of Gabe before spotting an orange beanie covered head in the lookout tower and started walking towards him. My mind started to wander as I recalled everything Gabe and I have went through this past year and how our relationship grew stronger with each moment we spent together. But, Gabe started getting too close to me and I had to force myself away from him because anyone who gets close to me dies.

Not again. Never again.

"Hey, Clementine! Guess you're leaving?!"

I looked up as Gabe's voice broke my train of thought and seen that I was below the lookout and he was leaning out the window.

"Yeah, come down here so I don't have to yell!"

"Alright, I'm coming down!"

I prepared myself for what I had planned to say to him as he climbed down the ladder and stood in front of me.

"Um, hey."

I inwardly grinned at his awkwardness and forced myself not to laugh.

"Hey, Gabe. You know I have to go, right?"

Gabe's face turned grim and I could see that he wanted to protest about me leaving, but was surprised when he gave me a quick hug.

"Just be careful. I know that your Clementine The Bad Ass, but you're still human and can still get hurt."

I scoffed at the nickname and punched his shoulder, trying to cover up the blush that was creeping up my neck.

"Yes, mother. I promise I'll be careful and try not to get killed."

Gabe scowled and crossed his arms across his chest, clearly not amused from what I said. I sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder as I put on my serious face.

"I promise I'll be careful, okay? After I find AJ, I'll come right back here and we'll all be one happy family."

He still wouldn't budge and I gave a grin as I remembered something that Gabe would always do when I was in a bad mood.

"Hey Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down, you know whatcha gotta do?"

I saw a hint of a smile tugging on his lips as he looked at me.

"I don't wanna know whatcha gotta do."

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming."

He's fine. Javi was just being a little worry-wart.

Gabe laughed as I started making whale noises and singing at the same time. We calmed down as we started getting strange looks from people who were walking around Richmond and I gave Gabe a quick hug that had him blushing from the contact.