C+L

Chapter 2

Sixteen months later. Sixteen months after the death of Omid. Clementine, Louis and Christa were sitting around the poorly lit fire. Things have changed, Clem’s clothes changed into a purple t-shirt with a lilac sweater with dark purple stripes underneath, dark grey jeans and black boots, Louis finally got to wore his red jacket since now it fits him with the initials ‘Louis’ in it that Christa stitched in for him, underneath his jacket was a white button up shirt, blue jeans and grey boots, Christa wore a brown hoodie, white sweater underneath, blue jeans and black shoes, and let’s just say Christa isn’t pregnant anymore.

Clementine turned her head to Christa, the three had sat in silence for fifteen minutes now just staring at the fire,

“Christa, talk to us,” Clem said which made Louis look up from the ground and looked over to Christa. She didn’t reply or look at her just shook her head slightly and huffed as she got up from the log and kneeled down to the dying fire, trying to keep it alive as she poked it with a stick.

“This’ll never work,” she mumbled. “Look at this, it’s pathetic.”

“I can help if you want,” Louis offered.

“It doesn’t matter if you do, the wood’s too wet to burn,” Christa replied.

“It’s okay w-we can wait,” Clem shivered at the cold as she said that. Louis noticed this, so he scooted closer and put an arm around her waist to keep warm.

“All that we’ve been doing is waiting, it’s not helping anything,” Christa stated coldly. “You two need to learn how to do this someday, tending a fire, to cook and stay warm, it’s something you have to be able to do, otherwise…,” Christa trailed off her words as she looked at the ground.

“Omid said that-

“I know what Omid said,” Christa snapped at her, it was still heartbreaking for her to hear his name. Clementine hugged herself for extra warmth.  

“I-I’m freezing,” she stated. Louis looked at her then took of his jacket.

“Here,” Louis handed her the red jacket. “Just don’t try to get it ruined, this is the only thing that makes me look good,” Louis joked.

“Thanks,” Clementine replied as she put the jacket on.

Christa slightly smiled at the two, something she rarely does, but then her expression soon turned serious.

“You think this is bad, wait ‘til we get up to Wellington, then talk about cold,” Christa scoffed.”Well, if we make it. We still have a couple of months ahead of us,” Christa got up and looked at the sky. “This rain will turn to sleet, then ice, then snow. It won’t be easy.” Christa finished her speech as she kneeled back down to tend to the fire.

“Is it safe there?” Clementine asked.

“Safer than here because of the cold, or so they say. We just need to keep moving north,” Christa replied quickly.

“I hope there’s potato chips,” Louis joked trying to lighten the mood.

“You need to focus Louis and grow up, otherwise it’s going to get you killed,” Christa snapped as she stood up and stared coldly at him. Louis frowned and didn’t say anything after that, Clem placed a hand over his.

Christa rolled her eyes and kneeled back down to tend to the fire. As they were silent Lee for some reason came to Clem’s head, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

“I miss Lee,” she stated as she looked to the ground, which made Louis sader.

“I’m sure you two do,” Christa comforted. “I’m gonna look for more wood, just you two keep the fire lit,” Christa announced as she got up and walked deeper into the forest.