Oh My Darling, Clementine

All We Have Is Hope

"Hey, you okay?"

Clementine could hear Louis' voice, faint as it was. Suddenly she felt a chill, as gust of autumn air had swept through the window. But her
face was the coldest. She reached to touch her cheek with an aching hand. It was wet. Had she been crying?

Slowly, Clementine sat up, supporting her back against the headboard and pulling up the blanket to warm herself.

She blinked to clear her sight and noticed Louis on the edge of her bed, watching her. She could see the concern in his eyes, despite the dim lighting.

"Hi... what's going on?" she asked. Louis hadn't come to sit with her in her room before. Not like this anyway.

Her left hand felt strangely warm compared to the rest of her body. She looked down at it. Louis holding it, gently stroking the back of it.

"You were screaming," he replied.

"I was?"

"Yeah, I woke up and came to your room to check on you. You must have been having a nightmare."

"Sorry I woke you up. It must be so early."

"I don't mind. I'm sure I can catch a nap later on," he gave her a thin-lipped smile. Clementine could tell it was forced. She could see the pain in his eyes.

She turned her head to check on AJ. He seemed to be asleep, but he looked restless and distressed. She frowned. Last night's events were taking their toll on everyone.

"Yeah, he woke up too. He went back to sleep shortly after I came in. You stirred a little when I sat down. Must've snapped you out of that nightmare."

"I think... it was about Lilly. I can't remember when or what happened," Clementine tried to recall the nightmare.

"She's such a b*tch. I can't believe Omar and Aasim and Violet are gone. And
Mitch, he'll never come back, goddamnit. F*ck!" Louis exclaimed, the sadness in his eyes replaced by rage. He turned back to look at Clementine,
and his gaze immediately softened.

"Sorry for the outburst," he apologised, feeling embarrassed. "How are you feeling now?"

"I'm okay, just a little cold," Clementine said, clearly shivering.

"I could... maybe I could lie next to you? Body temperature tends to be... warm."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay, if
you'll fit."

He shrugged off his heavy trench coat and tossed it over the end rail of the bed, revealing his long-sleeved henley shirt. He proceeded to kick off his boots. Clementine shuffled over to make room for him. He carefully lay down on top of the blanket, on the wall side of the bed. He rested his hands on his stomach and stared through the cracks of the empty top bunk at the ceiling.

"You can cover yourself with the blanket, you know," Clementine murmured.

"You're sure?"

"I am."

Louis gingerly slid beneath the grey woven blanket. Clementine rolled over to him, nuzzling her face into his chest. She felt him shift and place his arm around her in an embrace. He let out a sigh of relief. Clementine needed the comfort of his company right now. She felt so safe and warm with him, and so they stayed like that for a while until they fell asleep.

• • •

Two hours passed, and the sun had finally risen to cast its rays on the boarding school. Clementine's eyes fluttered open to reveal Louis laying beside her.