Short Hair

Chapter 6

"Th' name's Trisha, but ever'one calls me Tri." The woman, now Tri, spoke hesitantly.

Clem swallowed thickly, feeling cautious, but felt that being co-operative and acting the part of trusting little girl would benefit her in the long run.

"I- er, Clem. Uh, Clementine." Clem said, looking up to Tri.

Tri smiled kindly, eyes twinkling- reassuring Clem that the smile was genuine.

"That's a nice name, Clem."

The corners of Clem's lips raised slightly, she ducked her head a bit and shrugged her shoulders. Tri gave a small laugh and made an attempt at conversation.

"Th' big guy? Tha's Tanner, he can seem kind'uh rough, but he got'a be, ya know? He's th' boss." Tri reassured understandingly. She knew that Clem must have felt overwhelmed and intimidated by the burly man.

Clem bit her lip, nodding her head in acknowledgment. She looked over to the oak door, the barrier preventing her freedom, with a questioning gesture and sad gaze.

Tri's mouth made an 'o' shape and one side of her lips curled upwards, a hesitant look on her face.

"Sorry, I can't let you's go, th' boss 'as said to keep ya 'ere till we figur' out where to put ya."

At the site of Clem's eyes widening, Tri exclaimed "No! No, we're just decidin' your routere and wha' you can do."

Clem closed her eyes, exhaling in a heavy sigh. Great, they were keeping her here to work, away from Christa and Omid.

Clem forced her eyes open and her mouth into a smile, her heart leaped into her throat and she bit back a sob, she doubted she'd be able to get out now.

Before Tri could say anymore, a knock at the door was heard. Tri's eyes widened the tiniest bit and strong emotion flashed over her face. Clem straightened her back and bit her lip.

As the door creaked open, Clem and Tri visibly relaxed, it wasn't Tanner, but a skinny young man. The man had short brown hair in a buzz cut, green eyes and hallow cheeks.

As he walked towards the pair, Clem noticed an interesting gemstone necklace around his neck, the man was twirling it between his fingers nervously.

He wore a light blue shirt and a gray undershirt, with black, torn trousers and dirty trainers.

Tri sighed, relieved. "Ah, Sean, hey. Wha'd you come 'ere for?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

The man, revealed as Sean, twitched slightly, pursing his lips.

"Boss..." Sean mumbled quietly.

A look of understanding replaced Tri's curious expression.

"Shit. Al'ight, you stay 'ere with Clem. I'll go see wha' he wan's." With a huff, Tri strode past Sean and disappeared down the corridor, out of Clem's sight.

Clem swallowed as Sean stood in the middle of the room, the awkward young man made Clem laugh inwardly, she felt herself get nervous for him.

The man inched towards her, opening his mouth to break the nerve-wracking silence.

"Uhh, hi, erm, Clem was it? I'm, erm, Sean... Tri already said that though... umm, so I'm just here to... watch you while Tri is gone." He muttered, Clem tried to give a reassuring smile as the train wreck of a man stumbled through his words.

There was another brief silence before soft rapid footsteps were heard. Sean seemed to recognise them, as Clem sat against the headboard of the bed, gazing curiously at the door.

The door crepted forward slowly, a pair of striking blue eyes peeked from behind a head of messy blond braids.

The person under the jungle of blond braids 'eeped' at being caught peeking at the two, and they turned their head away, looking as though they were going to run off the way they came.

"Heya, Maddie..." Sean said softly. "Can we help you?"

The blond bunches, Maddie, seemed to have gained some confidence from not being turned away and leaped through the door towards Sean, with a wide grin.

"Well, hi to you too, Sean!" Maddie giggled. She ran up to him and gave a big grin.

"I 'eard you're on guard duty, hah!" She laughed teasingly, jabbing her finger in his direction.

Sean backed away from her pointing fingers and pulled at his collar.

"Yeah, err, Maddie. This 'eres Clementine." Sean gestured towards Clem, sat on top of the ratty old bed, who watched them both with an amused curiosity.

Clem gave the girl a short wave, keeping her gaze on Sean, as he smiled briefly and ran a hand through his hair.

Maddie appeared to be at least 12 or so, her disheveled blond hair shoved into messy bunches and gleaming blue eyes sparkled with an innocence only a child could possess. She had tan skin and freckles dusted her upturned nose and cheeks, she bounced up and down slightly as she stood, seemingly full of enough energy to power a battery.

Clem looked on with mild distaste. Maddie looked like someone who hadn't yet stood witness to the horrors of the outside world. Never having to make gruelling or heart breaking decisions, watching loved ones get torn apart or become a shell of their former self- nearly becoming a mindless, hunger crazed walker all because of her mistake. Lee was gone and it was all her fault and then she had to shoot him and she will never forget the way his life drained from his eyes-

Clem swallowed and stared deeply at Maddie, mind racing. Dispite the mild distaste, she also looked on with a curious relief. This girl, not much older than her, radiated happiness; seemingly completely comfortable and content with life. She was full of a kind of pureness Clem hadn't seen since Duck. She seemed carefree and bounced around like there was still a world to look forward to, like it hadn't gone to complete crap.

Maybe in her eyes, it hadn't.

Okay. I can work with this. Maybe- maybe it won't be so bad. I could use a break from being completely and utterly alone...

Maddie stood before Clem, right beside the bed, grinning and tapping her foot like mad.

Clem gave a small, hesitant smile and tugged at the bonds around her wrists in a waving gesture.

"H-hello." Clem quietly uttered, dimples forming as she smiled.

The two girl's eyes connected, blue meeting yellow, their smiles mirrored as they finally had someone close to their age, someone to be friends with, a sense of normality.