Shaded In

Are We Really Okay?

"Hey, how's my favorite orange? You doin' alright?" Louis said as he jumped up and took a seat on the kitchen counter as he watched Clem stuffed the cupboards with the supplies they had brought back.

Clem rolled her eyes at the name Louis had called her. "I'm fine." She added kind of bitterly as she put the last few cans that were in the bag into the cabinet.

Despite Clem's agitated tone Louis still held a wide smile on his face. "You sure about that?" He asked as he hopped down from the counter. "You haven't said anything in a while, not since we started cleaning up."

She leaned over the table and rested her head in her hands. "I...I don't know how to answer that." She could see AJ and Tenn helping to fill a lower cabinet together out of the corner of her eye. She guessed they must of really hit it off. She was glad. At least AJ had someone around that was closer to his age.

Louis came over and sat in a chair next to her. He rested his elbow on the table, holding his head up with a hand. "Then talk to me. Let me give you some words of wisdom or some shit like that."

Clem chuckled. "Your gonna give "me" some wisdom. This'll be good." She said sitting down.

Louis flashed her a smile. "You should be grateful. Not everyone gets access to this kind of expert advice. But only if you tell me what's wrong."

"I think the words we're looking for is complete and utter bullshit." She smirked at him.

"Shush." He said waving her off. "Now tell me what's wrong." He got comfortable and put all his attention on the girl in the baseball cap.

Clem sighed leaning back in her chair. "I don't know. I just...I was afraid, okay."

"Of what?"

"Luke's cut." She quietly said.

"Don't go telling me you're squeamish around blood now, after you just patched him up." He teased her.

"No, you idiot." She playfully shoved him, giving off a slight laugh.

But Louis didn't care, glad he could get her to smile.

Clem's face went back to a serious tone. "Luke could of been bit. When I found him and his arm was bleeding, god, I-I thought, I thought he'd been bit. If we wouldn't of showed up when we did..." Her face paled at the thought as her heart started to hammer in her chest.

"Hey, it's okay." Louis went to calm her. "It's fine, Luke's fine. You saved him, Clem. It was pretty badass in my opinion."

"But what if I hadn't? What if I hadn't gotten there in time! I don't know what I'd do without Luke." She looked to her arm where the scar from her stitching was. She rolled up her sleeve slightly and traced her fingers over the mark lightly. "We've been through so much together. I just...fuck, Louis, I was just so scared I had lost him." She felt tears wanting to creep up on her, but wouldn't let them fall.

"But you didn't. You saved him and that's what matters." Louis still held his smile. "It's best not to think of the what if's. All your guaranteed is this moment, right now."

Clem gave him a slight smile. "Are these you famous words of wisdom?"

Louis adjusted his jacket in a professional manner. "One and only, you're welcome. By the way, I charge by the hour."

Clem shook her head but giggled. "Idiot."

"Maybe, but I'm your idiot." He winked at her.

Clem rolled her eyes at his teasing, but she was glad for his company. "Thanks, Louis. I needed to hear that."