Things That Are Lost: Season 3

Chapter 9: Kicked Out.

Back in the dorm, Clem and Sarah sit on one of the beds while AJ kicks the wall repeatedly. After a while of AJ kicking the wall, "AJ! Stop. You'll break a toe or something." Sarah states. AJ doesn't say anything and just keeps kicking the wall. "Sit down. Come on." "No!" AJ looks to them. "I-It didn't work! I did what you said and they didn't even care! I know I was bad, but they don't wanna let me fix it!" "AJ, breathe. Remember what we do when we're mad?" AJ goes back to kicking the wall. "C'mon. You don't wanna be loud, do you? What do we do when we're mad?" AJ finally stops kicking the wall. "We stop, and think, and um...I'm still really, really mad." Clem sits up from the bed. "And you have every reason to be upset. We'll deal with it together. Okay?" AJ sighs. "Okay." "We stop, we think, and we....breathe." "Breathe." AJ takes a few deep breathes. "Feel better? .....You're still mad, huh?" "And Uh, I think I'm sad too." AJ walks over, climbs up onto the bed, and leans on Sarah's shoulder. "I did what you told me to." "I know. You're a good listener...most of the time." "I wanted to make them feel better. It didn't work. Why'd you tell me to do that if it didn't work?" "We don't know that it didn't work. They might've voted for us to stay." "I don't know. They seemed pretty mad." "Violet was on our side. Maybe she'll persuade the others." Clem states. "Yeah, maybe. I don't wanna go." "We know you don't." "I like knowing where we are all the time. The bed, the food. I like the other kids. Not all of them, but Tenn, and Louis, and Violet."

There's knocking on their door before Violet and Louis open it and walk in. "We took the vote. You have to leave." Violet says. AJ gets down from the bed. "Don't we get to vote?" He asks. "I vote that we stay." Louis crosses his arms. "That's not how it works." Violet shoves him. "Maybe it should be." "You don't have to like it." "Good. 'Cause I don't."

"How does it work, Louis?" Clem gets up from the bed and walks up to him. "Tell me. How does it?" "We vote. We decide. And you get out." "Good. That means I can do this." Clem then head-buts Louis. He grabs his face. "Fuck! Why?!" "You're a piece of shit. I'd kill you if we weren't already leaving."

"So fucking stupid." "You said you'd go along with it, if we voted fairly." "It's bullshit, and you'd know it if you weren't so used to burying your head in the sand." "Oh, I'm burying my head in the sand? Hate Marlon all you want, but you can't tell me AJ isn't dangerous, too." AJ looks down once he hears that. "Dangerous? You wouldn't know dangerous if it killed you." "What the fuck do you know?" Clem grows angry and punches Louis. "What I know?! I haven't sat on my ass in a school since this shit started. I've been in groups. I've seen people in those groups die. I was kidnapped, I was shot, I lost a damn eye!" Clem pulls off the eyepatch, getting Violet to gasp at the sight, and for Louis to look away, feeling bad. "There. You know what "dangerous" is now?" She puts the eyepatch back on. "No? Fuck it. I don't care."

After a minute, Violet speaks up again. "W-We'll wait for you to pack up, then Louis and I'll escort you out past the safe zone. We'll make sure you get to the road safely. I-It's not a lot, but at least you won't die on the way." Clem scoffs and shoves both of them. "Like we need your help." And with that, she leaves out of the room. "Well, thanks for making sure that we-" "No! Don't thank them!" AJ yells. "It-It's their fault we gotta leave! They're gonna get rid of us!" "Get him under control." Sarah sighs. "AJ, breathe." AJ takes a few breathes before stepping forward. "Where's Tenn? I gotta say goodbye." "He was really upset about the vote, and he's not talking to anybody. It's best to leave him alone when he's like this, but...For the record, he wanted you to stay."

"Wait. Does AJ still have that gun?" Louis asks. AJ walks over to his bag and pulls the gun out. "Hand it over." Louis walks up to him and extends his hand out. "Is this necessary?" Violet asks. "Hell yes, it's necessary. I'm not walking out into the woods with him holding that thing. We already know he knows how to use it." AJ doesn't budge. "Here." Sarah walks over and takes the gun. "No! Sarah!" "Here. Take the thing." Louis goes to grab the gun, but Sarah points it right at his chin. Louis freezes in his tracks. "W-What the fuck?" "Listen, piano boy, since that's all you're good at in life. You have the balls to call my kid a murderer, you vote to kick him out, and now you want to take his gun? Fuck that. What have you done to help this place? Play a fucking piano? Please." "O-Okay....okay... I'm sorry." "Don't. Fuck. With my kid. Again. Or I'll feed you to the walkers." Sarah lowers the gun and gives it back to AJ. "You'll need the protection, AJ." She turns back to Violet and Louis. "We'll get Clem and meet you at the front gate." "Y-Yeah. Sure. Let the kid keep the murder weapon." Louis leaves the room. Sarah grabs hers, and AJ's bag since Clem's was left in the car, and they follow Violet out of the room.