Light- Clementine/Louis, Clouis, Louisentine

Chapter 3

Louis startled out of sleep, blearily looking around the room in confusion upon realizing he was in the music room.

Right, he must have fallen asleep at some point. He had spent hours upon hours sat at the piano, composing a new song he had been trying to write for quite some time, his mind stuck on the last section of the song.

Though recently, someone had been giving him some inspiration.

"Ugh, that's not good for the back" he mumbled, wiping the sleep out of his eyes.

"Louis? You in here?" Marlon’s shouts come from beyond the hall shortly before he appears in the entrance.

Louis yawns, stretching his arms over his head until he feels his joints crack

"Hey man, you ready? They're already waiting for you outside" Marlon asks

Damn, he had nearly forgotten he was supposed to go out hunting with Aasim today. He sure was gonna regret staying up so late last night.

Did Marlon say 'they're?' He could have sworn it was only him and Aasim scheduled for hunting today.

"They're?"

"Yeah, Aasim, Clementine, and AJ are out by the gates. Violet and Brody are already heading out to the fishing shack." Marlon tells him.

"Guess that means you decided to let them stay?" Louis asks, a smile forming on his face.
"They pass your little test, then?"

"Thought I'd give them a chance. Like you said, they're both plenty capable, and God knows we need that right now."

He was definitely right there, Clementine's experience in dispatching walkers evident from their time the day before.

"Good, I'm glad."

Marlon stops to observe him as Louis stands from the piano, brushing off any dust on his clothes. Noticing Marlon's stare, he raises his eyebrow in question.

"What?"

"You really like her, don't you?"

Louis shrugs, turning to hide his embarrassment from Marlon, searching the area around him for his weapon.

"Just... Don't get your hopes up, OK?"

Louis whirls back around to face Marlon, shocked at the comment.

"What do you mean?"

Marlon was absentmindedly scratching the underside of his chin, looking anywhere but at Louis.

"I'm just saying. She seems pretty preoccupied with that kid of hers. I just don't think she's... Y'know... All that interested in you."

Marlon sighs at the slightly wounded look on Louis' face.

"I just don't want to see you put so much interest into her only to be shot down"

"Oh. Yeah I- uh, guess you're right, man. Thanks"

Finally spotting his weapon by the table, Louis paces over, darting out of the room as quick as possible.

Marlon remains for a beat, filled with shame at what he had just done.

"It's for the best, Lou." he murmured quietly to himself.
"You just don't know it yet"

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Louis winced at the sunlight that blinded him as he pushed open the lobby doors leading to the school's courtyard.

His eyes adjusted as he walked forward towards the gate, spotting an excited looking AJ standing next to Clementine who was engaged in a conversation with Aasim.