TWDG a new life (season 5)

Episode 1: vivacity

As AJ walked up to the drawer to place Clem's hat on it, he looked at it admiring all the stains and dirt that covered it. And while he looked at the "D" on Clementines hat that was slightly peeling off, his mind went into total recall mode thinking back to Clem always wearing it wherever she went but now she didn't want to and he just couldn't figure out why. Maybe he would ask her later. It was just at that moment that he heard a thump on the door.
"Hang on I'm coming" AJ said with a grin on his face as he walked towards the door to open it just to find Rosie waiting patiently there for him with her tail wagging this way and that.

"How are you such a good girl Rosie? Waiting for me all this time." AJ gently rubbed the top of her head.
She then did a full circle only to face the doors leading outside of the interior building.
"Ok girl, let's go back outside"
AJ couldn't express how much bliss was running through his veins just to know that most of his friends made it home. But that was most of them. He still had no idea what happened to James after what happened in the cave
"Go. I'll hold them back."
Those were the last words he heard from James that dreadful night as he took a defensive stance ready to face the incoming horde of walkers.

And tenn....
Poor tenn. AJ felt bad for shooting him but he knew he had to do it otherwise Louis and him both would have died that night.
But now wasn't the time for AJ to think about that. He was done fighting. All of them were, hopefully.
While he was walking out the door,he noticed Clem struggling to walk with the crutches.
"Clem!" AJ shouted as he ran to help his mentor. "Hey AJ uh...what're you doing?" Clementine asked him as he looked desperately to find a way to help his mentor.
"I'm trying to help make sure you don't fall." A slightly frantic look formed on his face.
She gave off a light laugh with a thin smile at the end.

"Don't worry about me goofball" she said in that motherly tone of hers.
They started walking down the corridor to their room after letting Rosie loose.
"So should I expect this kind of help more AJ?" Clementine said to him while they were walking.
"I'm sorry Clem it's just you're new crutches and you said to be strong and I'm trying to be that for the both of us and—"
"AJ" she spoke cutting him off softly.
"Yes?"
She looked at him with her soothing hazel-colored eyes as she began to talk.
"You have nothing to apologize for.
Just because I have part of me....missing doesn't mean I'm completely helpless. I know it's hard to get used to me not being as completely independent as I once was but trust me, I can still take care of myself it'll just take some getting used to with my condition"

"Like walking down the hall I'm guessing?" A familiar voice said charismatically.
Clem turned her head curiously to find out it was Louis with Violet alongside him. Both of them smiling. Clementine returned a smile to them both
"Mhm like walking down the hall" she replied still smiling
"Hey violet. Hey Louis" AJ greeted them, giving a wave while the two older teenagers walked towards them
"Hey AJ how are you holding up?" violet asked him mellowly.
"I'm doing great I was just helping clem to her room right now" AJ looked at clementine to see her response which was a smirk

"Well I'm sure she appreciates that little man" Louis responded.
"Mind if we come in?" Violet asked.
"Yeah why not? come in." Clementine ushered them all as they tailed behind AJ into the room.
They all then sat in a semi circle in the middle of the room.
"So, about tomorrow..." Louis started scratching the back of his head
"What happened?" Clementine questioned.
"Nothing bad. Omar and ruby got a list of things we need IF this caravan turns out to not be another group of assholes" violet answered handing clementine a list.
As she red it over,AJ went to go mess with disco broccoli and his friends

"Ruby said we're running low on medical supplies the most so if these people actually turn out good we should ask about that first" Louis chimed in next.
"What do we have in large amounts?" Clementine said back to the two.

"Well there is one thing we have a lot of..." violet began until Louis stood up, having a defensive look on his face.
"Nuh-uh,nope,not happening." Louis was about to begin a rant until violet cut him off,hoping to calm him down
"I was just kidding Louis"
"Kidding about what?" Clementine asked suspiciously.
"I was telling Louis how we have a lot of materials like wood and metal lying around at the school"

That was when Louis began pacing the room. "I also told him we could use his piano for scrap parts"
"She thinks it's funny clem!" Louis pointed a finger at her while she chuckled. "And it's outrageous because she knows how much I love my piano"

"I don't know Louis that might actually be a good idea" Clementine said nodding a agreed to violet while a look of panic spread across Louis's face. And then both of them started laughing at him.
"You know what, just cause of that, both of you have lost piano privileges" Louis shot back to them crossing his arms.

"Can I still see your piano?" AJ piped in
"You sure can AJ, now, if Clem or violet want to be allowed near it again,they have to play a card game"

"Were not gonna hear the end of this are we Clem?" violet asked rolling her eyes.
"No I don't think so"
"I'll take that as a later then." A mischievous smile appeared on his face suddenly after saying that.
"Ok but now back to the discussion." clementine started,roping the two of them back into the initial conversation.
"Jokes aside, are materials what we really have the most of?" she asked the both of them.
"Yes." They both said at the same time.
"Then that's what we'll trade with then."

"It's set then" violet declared standing up alongside Louis.

As violet went to help clementine into her bed. Louis went to talk to AJ who was spinning his revolvers chamber around.
"Hey AJ you're still coming with me to check that group out right?" He asked him.
"Of course! It'll be like hunting except we're not shooting anything."
"Yeah hopefully we don't have to shoot anyone" Louis trailed off.
"Just be ready Incase" AJ replied with a serious look on his face.

"Alright Lou, we should go to sleep, you and AJ have a big day tomorrow" violet said to him. As both of them left they all told each other good night and that was the end of the big plan for tomorrow.

AJ yawned as he climbed back into his bed after putting disco broccoli up on the desk.
"Long day huh?" It was clementine talking as she caught him yawning.
"Sure was"
"Well we have another one tomorrow. Goodnight AJ"
"Goodnight clem"

Now if all goes according to plan hopefully no one gets hurt. Clementine thought to herself. This is what it meant to be a leader now. No more looking out for just AJ and herself.

End of episode 1