TWDG\\II-South State

EIGHTEEN

Another 'calm before the storm moment.' You can skip this if you want, but it's foreshadowing a bit. And the future of this book I have planned is tragic, and people will be pissed. But it'll start another series. I think 😬

AJ
The duvet was wrapped around my freezing body, yet I shook. I was nervous, excited and estranged. This feeling was different. It wasn't...so much anxious. It was more...paranoia.
I looked over and saw the outline of Clementine, her heavy breathing was like a rhythm.
I was honestly worried for her. Whenever she cries, I don't know why. I know she's sad...about her friends. Maybe about Violet, or Gabe, or Javi. Or maybe she's just sad in general. I know what that feels like.
I sat up, and rubbed my forearms, which had goosebumps up and down my arms. The window showed the white, small selection of stars. I remember once hearing that each and every star was different, like it had some sort of personality or trait that another one didn't have. But they all look the same to me.
I pulled the rest of the blanket back, and crept out of the bed, my exposed feet touching the cool tiles as I quietly crept over to Clem's bed.
She was turned to the wall, sleeping. Peaceful. More peaceful than I had ever seen her in my life.
I pulled some of her covers back, and layers in the mattress next to her, discreetly, so I wouldn't wake her. I pulled the blanket over my shoulder.
Clementine's warmth comforted me, and I smiled as I finally felt appeased and relaxed.
This was...nice. The last time I had ever felt a feeling like this was at the boarding school.
Where we were crowded around the fire outside, the thought of dying from the raiders sticking in our head. Yet, Louis pulled out his cards, and as wholehearted kids, we had fun.
But...I don't know what normal kids did before the monsters came. These days, I barely even see the walkers.
It seems like the real walkers were the people close to us, most of the time.
Jerome is a monster. Ashley is a monster. Able is a monster. Lilly is a monster.

I kept thinking about these intrusive thoughts as Clem rolled over, her breathing stoped. She saw me. And grinned. I gave her a smile back.
Clem wrapped her arms around me, and I sighed.
"I'm scared." I admitted. That was the initial feeling I really felt underneath the layers of small happiness I had somehow achieved.
Clementine didn't say anything for a while. Her amber eyes searched over my face, her lips finally playing a smile.
"Me too, AJ." Clementine said. "You know, when we get out of here, we're not going to worry about these bad people ever again."
As much as I wanted to believe that statement, I couldn't.
"I don't believe you." I whispered. "We always try running from our problems, or fighting them. But neither of them work..."
Clementine stayed quiet again. For a long time. So long that I thought she was mad at me.
"Sometimes that's true." Clem admitted. "Sometimes it ain't."
She was quiet again. The room hushed, and her warm breath was against my ear.
"But I want you to know, AJ," Clemente spoke finally. "That if you stop trying, you stop receiving. Receiving what, I have no idea specifically. But you stop getting anything at all. That's all I know."
That was the last thing Clem said, before she settled back into her sleep.
I spent the short time before I went to sleep thinking about what she said.