Shaded In

All Hung Up

A/N: Hey guys, I know it's been awhile and I'm sorry about that. I started this new story called Only Words Bleed and I've been posting quite regularly so that hasn't left much time for this. I know what some of you guys are thinking, "Why can't she update Shaded In that often?" Again I'm sorry I haven't been as on top of this as I usually am, but I can only do so much at once.

And I'm sorry if anything I write sounds weird or out of place. I've been writing in a different mode for so long it's hard to get back into the Shaded In feeling if that makes sense.

Clem kept catching herself thinking about what Jackson had said. About how she was one of the few people that Violet really cared about. It really meant something for Jackson to be able to say that to her, but there was still a hint of doubt that would lurk in the back of her mind. She knew she had screwed up, that part was clear, but Violet had still stayed even after everything she had done.

Then there was the second part he had said that completely baffled her. Violet thought she wasn't doing enough for her, that she was failing her. Well, Violet was doing everything but that actually. Violet sacrificed so much for her; she did everything in her power to help the younger girl. She stayed up with the brunette every time she was woken from one of her nightmares and never once thought badly of it.

Clem had been so lost in thought she had almost walked into a tree on their way to the river. "Clem, look out!"

She looked up just in time and stopped a few inches from the trunk of the red maple, her face almost touching it. She stepped aside and back onto the path towards the river. She cleared her throat, kind of embarrassed that she'd almost face-planted into tree bark."Thanks, Vi."

"Uh...yeah." Violet looked over at her girlfriend kind of concerned. Clem didn't seem herself today. She was more distracted than usual, which usually meant something was bothering her. Violet wasn't too sure she would open up to her in this particular moment, but it was worth a shot. "Hey, uh...is everything okay?"

Clem sighed at the question. "Yeah, everything's fine."

"Well that's bullshit," thought Violet. There was clearly something wrong. After all the time they've spent together Violet knew what to pick up on. Clem was clearly trying to avoid something, but she wasn't really hiding that it was bothering her either. Did she really want to talk about it? Either way Violet wasn't going to let it go considering what happened the last time she let a conversation drop.

"What's the matter, babe?" She asked right when they reached the clearing that opened up to the riverbank.

Clem rubbed her arm nervously, not sure if she should bring this up now. "I-I don't know? It-it's stupid."

Violet shook her head and sent her a slight smile. "Whatever it is it's not stupid." Despite the ground being cold and frosted over, she sat down on the edge of the riverbank and gestured for Clem to sit down next to her. They had time before they were needed back at the cabin. "Come on, talk to me."

Clem reluctantly sat next to Violet but didn't say anything at first. She just watched the current of the river travel downstream, a leaf or a small twig getting caught in the current every now and then. She knew Violet was waiting for her to say something, but she was glad that she wasn't being forced into the role like how Louis would probably provoke her into doing.

It took a few minutes but seeing as how she wasn't going to be able to avoid the conversation Clem eventually gave in. "I'm sorry."

Violet looked up from the little drawing she had made in the sand with a twig while waiting for Clem to speak. "Sorry for what?"