scars • clementine x louis

Chapter 41: Square One

He yelled wildly as he fidgetted in the chair that he was mercilessly tied into. He screamed out curses towards them, only getting them controlled by the language they didn't understand. Clementine crossed her arms and huffed, already discouraged with the situation.

"Enough already!" She yelled, silencing him immediately, but not changing his attitude. He continued to glare at her, still attempting to maneuver his way out of the ropes. "Listen, we weren't going to hurt you. All you need to tell us about is this group you're talking about. But now, you've really gotten on my nerves, so I won't hesitate to pry off your fingernails to get you to spit it out!"

Clementine glared at him, keeping her gaze on him. But inside, she was astounded by the words that had come out her mouth. Of course, she wasn't going to do it, but if she did, would she be right for it?

Luke, Javier, and Louis were stood alongside her, staring at her with widened eyes and their mouths ajar. Luke crept up behind her cautiously, careful not to anger her any more than she was right now.

"Clem? Maybe you should calm down..." Luke reassured her quietly, patting her shoulder before getting his hand swatted away. 

"I'm fine, Luke. Besides, who else is gonna get it out of him? Right, Arvo?" 

Arvo blinked a few times before slowly nodding and looking down at the ground. Clementine kept a straight face, stepping closer. She gripped onto the arms of the chairs, gradually moving her face closer to his. She stared at him intensely.

"Where. Are they?"

Arvo shook with deep fear, keeping his eyes on the ground. "H-here. Soon."

Clementine huffed in frustration as she very well understood he wasn't fluent in English but was still ticked off by the slow progress. "Do you know where exactly?"

Arvo nodded. "D-delta."

Clementine frowned. "W-what? But that's impossible, I thought they were dead."

"Um... Clem..?" Louis muttered. She whipped her head around, glaring at him. "So... Remember when... you got shot by Michael, and we left..?"

Clem slowly nodded.

"I... might've switched up my words.."

Clementine's eyes darkened as she stepped closer to him. "You... fucking-- You lied to me..?"

"In my defense, you were hurt! I didn't wanna put you under pressure."

"But you couldn't tell me afterward?! If something's happening, I need to know it!" Clementine yelled, making both Javier and Luke flinch. Clem turned away, pinching the bridge of her nose. "God, sometimes you can be so careless."

"I'm being careless? How is it being careless when you're trying to help--"

"Help? So, now it's helping if you put the group in danger?"

"The rest of the group already knew, dumbass."

"I didn't! You think you're so special, don't you? How the fuck do you think you can hide shit like that from me? Oh, that's right, why am I surprised? After all, you've hidden a lot of things from me. Well guess what, you can shove that fucking claim of yours right up your hairy--"

"Okay, okay, enough!" Luke bellowed, standing in-between the two who were glaring at each other. Luke could just feel the tension in the air, disregarding it was completely silent by now. "What is wrong with you two? I thought y'all were together."

Louis scoffed, turning away to leave the room.

"And where do you think you're going?" Javi said, crossing his arms and frowning. Louis ignored him, storming out of the room.

Clementine's face softened as she realized what she had caused. She looked back at Luke and Javier who stared at her in disappointment. She huffed as she ran out of the room, ignoring all the calls for her. Although she knew she would probably never get with Louis again, she knew she still cared about him.

***

Clem knocked on the door, earning nothing but silence in response. She sighed as she turned the handle, pushing the door open. Expectedly, she spotted Louis sitting on the bed, already looking at her. He grimaced at her before turning away.

"Get out." He mumbled. Clementine stayed where she was, crossing her arms. As tough as she looke dright now, she was still worried about his reaction. "Get out!" He yelled, making Clementine flinch at the level his voice was at.

"No." Clem closed the door, walking closer to him.

"God, what the fuck do you want from me now? Why don't you go to Millie since you're so attracted to her?!"

Clem felt several pangs at her chest as she heard those words escape his mouth. She took a shaky breath, attempting to hold herself back from crying. "Louis,"

Louis looked at her with empty eyes, not one speck of love in them. "What?"

"..You were right." She whispered, a small tear slipping on her cheek. Louis furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "I am a liar. A cheater. I've always been one."

Clementine wiped her tears away, keeping her eyes on the ground. "I took advantage of your kindness, your love for me. I took my anger out on you. I kissed someone else and... didn't tell you. I now realize what I've done."

Louis' eyes softened as he kept his gaze on her, examining her features. He smiled to himself as he remembered how he always loved how her eyes glistened in the light. 

"Louis..." Clementine finally looked at him, wearing a small smile. "I love you. I know that I do. I know I'll never stop loving you. But... you were right. I don't want to keep fighting. I know you don't want to either. We don't have to be together. We don't have to be friends. We don't have to know each other's names. But I can't stand seeing you upset."

Clementine held out her hand. "We both did wrong things that we probably regret. Let's not let it get in the way of the group. Okay?"

Louis hesitated at first but soon took her hand, shaking it.

Clem smiled before walking to the door and opening it. She turned back to him, still smiling. "I guess now we're back to square one." She chuckled. She turned away, walking out the door and closing it behind her.

***

i kNow tHiS iS a bAd chAptEr buT iM tiREd okAy