TWDG\\II-South State

FIFTEEN

Violet
"Okay." I spoke, after Ivan was finished. I have to say, I was shocked. I didn't think Ivan would be of much help to us. "That sounds good."
"Really?" Clem asked me. "Usually you'd be fighting against this."
Clementine turned to me. Under all the fatigue and late nights, she actually looked just as gorgeous . Her scotch eyes squinted slyly at her own comment. That look just about flipped about every organ in my body. I blushed, and looked away.
"Okay." I said. "Two days time. Ivan, get your sister, and explain everything."
"Okay." Ivan nodded, and stood up. "I better leave. I won't tell anyone else."
"You better not." Clementine stood up. "Because if you do, nothing can save your existence."
Ivan laughed nervously. Clem joined in, then stopped.
"But...I am serious." She concluded. Ethan stood up, and waved AJ goodbye.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow." Ethan said. Both he and Ivan walked to the door, when Ethan turned around. "Almost forgot."
Ethan walked back, and emptied the contents of his jacket pocket. What came toppling out were boxes and boxes of ammunition. I sat wide eyed as I saw the pile.
"Nice one." Clem said, and picked up a box. "Shit! This is...this is a lot."
"Did you guys steal this from the armoury?" Ivan asked, his jaw practically unhinged.
"Uh, Ye-es." Ethan half glanced at Ivan. "Is that bad?"
"Again, I won't tell anyone." Ivan spoke, and recovered his surprise. "See you guys tomorrow."
Both Ethan and Ivan left the room. I glanced over at Louis, who just had his good old smile on his face.
"Everything...Everything is working out!" AJ spoke happily. "We get out of here, and we go home, and that's it!"
"Woah, AJ." Clem spoke, and she flopped back onto the bed, her leg overlapping mine just a little bit. I pretended it was nothing, but inside, I was practically blushing again. "Chill out a little; first we gotta escape."
"But that's soon!" AJ had the biggest smile on his face, it looked like it was going to sprain his cheeks. He looked so...happy. Can't relate.
Since we were alone, I took the time to speak to the group separately.
"Guys...what about Ivan?" I asked. "I mean...he's just so...overeager."
"He wants to leave too." AJ defended. "And he knows everything around here; he could help us survive on the road."
"That's...true." Clementine sided with AJ. "And now we have Gabe who can help too."
Ugh, Gabe. It's not like I wanted him dead...it's just I feel like Clem and him have something going on; something more than a chaste kiss.
"Yeah." I said. "Gabe."
That's all I could manage at the time.
"I got bullets too." AJ said. "Louis has the gas, Ethan got some canned stuff, and we have a truck waiting at the shed! And maybe Ivan could help us get more supplies if we bring him with us."
"What?!" I demanded. "Ivan is escaping with us, but he's not actually coming with us."
"Why wouldn't he? He would've helped us!" AJ said, contorting his face into a frown. "That's not fair!"
"Life," I began. "Isn't fair. So what? That guy could just be leaning in on the plan to trap us, he could tell—"
"—he said he wouldn't." AJ spoke.
"And I suppose you believe everything everyone says, huh AJ?" I ask.
"Stop." Clementine spoke. I look over to see her massaging the sides of her heads thoroughly. "AJ. How did Ivan find out? Did you just...tell him?"
"No." AJ answered. "He just found out, I swear."
"I believe you." Clem said after a moment of silence. "Louis? How do you think about this?"
Louis looked startled at first, before settling with a nod that could only parry 'Yes.'
"Seriously?" I ask, almost as furious as I was the other night. "Wow. How come nobody else is seeing him as a danger?"
"Maybe because he isn't a danger, Violet." Clementine reassured. "Please. If AJ, Louis and Ethan trusts him, then I do. And maybe you should too."
"I'm just saying, he shouldn't get a big part in the escape," Violet said. "We would be relying on him too much, and he could easily betray us like that. Him and his sister. And Gabe—"
"Vi." Louis spoke, and I focused my attention on him. Louis shook his head.
It was almost like a parent warning their child not to say or do anything. But I was feeling disobedient.
"Gabe isn't trustworthy either," I spoke, and Clementine sighed angrily. "I'm just saying!"
"What's your problem with him?" Clem snapped, and I felt myself blush about the situation.
The problem with Gabe was...he cared for Clem too much. Something that's seen more than just friends to some.
"Well?" Clementine asked, her voice less agitated. Louis caught my attention, and shook his head, his anxious eyes darting to the ground.
"I'm sorry." I said, my insides gripping due to humiliation. "You're...you're right."
Clementine looked settled, her face rather content that she got to see my point. But I still didn't.
"Listen," I said, shifting to my other leg awkwardly. "I'll..I'll see you when I see you, okay?"
Clementine didn't respond, she only nodded, as she relaxed onto the bed.
"Let's go, Louis." I said, and began walking out of the unit, Louis following. I shut the door, and sighed. Louis turned to me, a sober and annoyed expression on his face.
"I'm sorry." I said. "I shouldn't have gone there."
Louis shrugged, and gave his iconic grin, before turning to walk down the hallway. So I was forgiven.
As I did, I heard the unit door we had just exited open. Louis and I turned to see AJ, his crimson jacket hinting at the door as he walked out into the hallway.
"AJ?" I question, and he shut the door.
"Violet." AJ spoke, and he began to fiddle with his fingers nervously. Louis stopped, his presence behind my shoulder. "Do you not trust Ivan?"
I didn't answer straight away. I couldn't face AJ's innocent brown eyes, so I focused my eyes on the yellow peeling wallpaper that carded around the hallways, the effect over the years detaching the ugly colour. And the beige carpenter floor, which smelt of ash and a chemical of some sort.
I realised I was stalling with the details, and the silence deafened the hallway, besides a guard walking past us, his curious eyes catching onto our silent figures.
"I don't, AJ, no." I said. "But...There's no way I can change the plan, Clem won't listen. But...can you blame me?"
AJ also looked at the scratched surface that was carpet, before nodding.
"It's just—I've known so many people. They all gain our trust, or lead us off, before abandoning us. I just...I don't know Ivan. He might be nice, I don't know. But, I just wanna leave this place, AJ. That's all that matters." I spoke, and AJ nodded again.
"I understand." AJ said. "Listen, Clementine has been acting...sad lately. And there's nothing I can ever to do help her, so...can you please...I don't know, be there for her. Like friends."
Like friends.
"Yeah, AJ. We can." I said, glancing over my shoulder at Louis who nodded.

I'm currently writing my Clementine playthrough. If you don't know what that is, it's a catch-up of how I played Clementine in my game, which led up to this story.
So pretty, much, I'll try posting every weekend, the chapters will be delayed because of that story.