The Paths That Tie (Clementine x Violet)

{22}

The scarf around Clementine's neck clung tightly to her skin as light flurries of snow continued to fall from the monochrome sky. While it was unusual for snow to be falling this early in the season, this occurence was nothing in comparison to the surprises that had been popping up in Clementine's life as of recent.

Using one her mitted hands to cover her steaming coffee, Clementine continued to push through the harsh wind in order to get one step closer to the expectedly warm high school.

Eventually stepping foot into the building, Clementine smiled as she began to take off her gloves and rather bulky jacket. Soon after putting her garments in her locker, a familiar voice began to pierce its way through her ears.

"Clementine!" A highly pitched voice called, followed by one of the tightest hugs Clementine had ever had to withstand.

Putting her hand on the speaker's familiarly silky hair, Clementine sighed as her coffee had nearly spilled on the ground.

"Didn't I say no more surprise hugs whenever I'm holding a drink, Mari? Don't you remember what happened the last time you did that?" Mariana pouted, as she released Clementine from her grasp.

"My brother's shirt is okay now though! It was only a little bit of green tea that ended up on his shirt." Clementine rolled her eyes as she took a quick sip of her coffee.

"Little, huh? Tell that to the first degree burn he recieved on his chest afterwards." Mariana huffed out a breath of air, before seemingly remembering something important.

"That's not why I came over here though! Guess who just got asked to Homecoming?" Mariana squealed, as her eyes lit up bright enought to light a pitch black room.

Clementine smiled, as she put her cup of coffee down momentarily in her locker before responding.

"Really? Who asked you?" Mariana's expression changed, as she almost seemed offended at the fact Clementine didn't know.

"Louis, duh! The same guy who I've been talking about for weeks? Haven't you been paying any attention to my rambles at lunch?" Mariana exclaimed, as she continued to oversell her surprised reaction.

'Damn. I guess all this drama in my life has been taking me a bit out mentally from my social life, huh?' Clementine thought, as she slightly felt guilty from forgetting something that seemed important to a good friend of hers.

Noticing Clementine's authentic reaction to her charade, Mariana quickly began waving her hands in the air as she awkwardly laughed.

"I'm kidding, Clem! I know you've been mentally occupied with the dance preparations, so I don't actually blame you for forgetting. Regardless, we'll be able to double date to the dance together now!" Mariana said, before looking away momentarily.

"Unless, you've thought more about what we talked about that day?" Widening her eyes at the sudden change of tone, Clementine began to recall what Mariana was referring to.

'I don't want you to...Lead him on if you're just doing this because of the pressure of it all. He's liked you for a really long time...So, I understand if you just want to give him a chance. However, just know that it'd probably be better in the long run to reject him now versus later on.' Remembering Mariana's  statement to her previously, Clementine painfully smiled as her throat tightened with every word she spoke.

"I still want to go with Gabe, I promise. It should be a lot of fun! Especially after all the effort everyone's been putting in to make the dance a reality." Mariana smiled, as something within her seemed to be relieved.