In the Willows

Chapter Sixteen: The Morning After

Clementine stands up still holding your hand, "There's stuff to make it here?"

"A fridge, microwave, AND a coffee machine."

She raises an eyebrow, "Wow. I feel kinda special now. What about a washing machine?"

"I didn't see one."

She lets go of your hand. The warm feeling you felt from her touch disappears leaving you feeling cold. She grabs both of your clothes and walks out into the hallway. A few minutes she returns, her hands now empty.

"Found one?"

She nods, "Vi is awake. She had the same thought I did."

She takes a seat and you place a full mug in front of her.

"You ok?" she asks.

You look at her quizzically taking a seat in front of her, "Yeah, yeah I'm good."

"What's with the long face?" she says before taking a drink.

"I wouldn't say its long, it's an average- "

"No, dork, you look upset."

"Please don't tell me that's my pet name." you respond after taking a drink.

She chuckles, "You're avoiding my question."

You sigh, "I'm not upset."

"Good."

"I'm super depressed."

She glares at you.

"Ok, ok. Bad joke. I'm fine."

She continues to glare.

"Has anyone ever told you that glare thing you do is scary looking?"

Her demeanor drops revealing a smile, "I know. I like messing with you."

She reaches across the table offering her hand, which you gladly accept.

"So, how'd you sleep last night?"

"Good, until someone kicked me in their sleep."

"I kicked you?"

She nods.

"Oh, I've been told that before."

"You were whispering a name too."

You hope she lets it go.

"Who's Josiah?" she asks.

Fuck.

You let out a sigh, "He.... He was my best friend from the orphanage. We were both taken after the city fell."

"Oh..."

"Its fine. We can talk about it, if you want."

"Is it something that you want to talk about?"

"Well," you glance over at your hands joined together, "We're in this thing together now. You have the right to know about certain things."

She nods, "Whatever you are ready to tell me, I'm ready to listen."

"I didn't talk much. Well, I didn't talk at all. Only to a select few I could trust. That made me a target for the others to tease me. The kid that kept to himself."

You pause collecting what to say, "Then came this nerdy looking guy that would sit down with me everyday and just talk. Talk about his day, who he was, kept me company. He always had a copy of Savage Starlight on him and wore the same Science Dog shirt."

You chuckle remembering the old times, "I shouldn't be talking though. I had a Disco Broccoli shirt I loved to wear."

"Wait, you wore a Disco Broccoli shirt?"