Light- Clementine/Louis, Clouis, Louisentine

Chapter 16

He couldn't run forever, of course. Stamina was never his strongest point, even back before the apocalypse. It was something his baseball coach would always chastise him for, whenever he would miraculously strike the ball, but would struggle to make it all the way back to home plate.

He slowed down his pace when his legs were screaming at him to stop, sucking in large gulps of air that he so desperately needed.

Shit, how long had he been out here? It certainly hadn't felt like the whole night, even with the whole boat fiasco.

He should be feeling relieved when he sees the school come into view. Happy, perhaps. Something. But... He doesn't. There's nothing. Just this empty, numb feeling that threatens to swallow him whole, sinking its tendrils into every fibre of his being and refusing to ever let go.

The school itself echoes this feeling. It's unusually silent, not a soul in sight, as if everyone was just gone. As if they had all died, or abondened him. He knows its his sleep deprived brain making this shit up, that everyone's probably just headed to bed for a night of well deserved rest.

Doesn't shake the feeling off of him, though.

It's only natural he finds himself in the music room once again. Trying to sleep would be pointless. Even if he didn't spend the whole time worrying about Clementine and AJ, there was no way he would find sleep when the only thing he could see when he closed his eyes is the bullet tearing through Tenns neck, hear the sickening sound of flesh ripping and tearing as it was stripped away.

So, he does what he does anytime he struggles to find peace. He plays.

At least, he tries.

There was only one song that would bring him some semblance of calm right now. Clementines song starts as his fingers move, the sound as elegant as she was.

That is, until he goes to press a key with his little finger, unable to reach it as he usually could, missing the note entirely and ruining the tempo of the song.

He grinds his teeth in frustration, lifting his hands away from the piano and leaning back as he sighs before he leans forward again, resting his face in his hands.

"Fucking useless finger..." He mutters miserably.

"I had a feeling I'd find you in here"

He sluggishly lifts his head from his hands, looking over at the sound of Violets voice. She was leaning against the doorway to the room, arms crossed and a concerned expression on her face.

"Don't hit me for this, but, uh... How did you know it was me?"

Violet snorts at his answer, pushing herself off the doorframe and cautiously making her way over to him, arm outstretched to make sure she doesn't bump into anything.

Louis rushes to his feet, darting over and gently grabbing her arm, guiding her over to the piano. He sits her down first, making sure she couldn't slip off accidently before sitting down himself.

"Sorry if I woke you..." He apologises guilty, rubbing the back of his neck.

Violet shakes her head at this before answering.

"No, no it's fine. I couldn't really sleep anyway."

"Seriously, how did you know it was me?" He asks again, waiting for the incoming punch.

"There's only one person in this whole school who can play piano"

"Aw, thanks Vi-"

"-that badly."