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the-delta-42 · 1 year

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Firsts Part 1

Firsts Part 1: First Date

Clementine looked around, before slipping out the door. She breathed a quiet sigh, before checking around to make sure Duck and Kenny hadn’t spotted her. She breathed another sigh and walked towards the bus stop.

“Clementine?”

The girl froze, before slowly pivoting on her heel, “Sarita, hi…”

“Where are you going?” Asked Sarita, frowning.

“I’m going to hang out with someone.” Answered Clementine, glancing around.

“Duck didn’t say anything about a hang out.” Murmured Sarita, leaning against the fence.

“It’s more of a two person hang out,” Said Clementine, nervously glancing around, “I have to go.”

“Clem, you do know that if someone’s threatening you…” Sarita trailed off as she realised what Clementine meant, “Do Rebecca and Alvin know you have a date?”

“…yes?”

Sarita raised an eyebrow.

“…no.”

“Why haven’t you told them?”

“Because, they go into over protective mode and interrogate them to kingdom come!” Burst Clementine, “I told them that I was hanging out with someone, but, please, don’t tell them.”

Sarita frowned, before sighing, “Go on, you’re going to miss the bus.”

Clementine gave Sarita a thankful smile, before running down to the bus stop and hopping onto the bus.

Sarita sighed, before leaning back and looking at Rebecca, “How long has thing been going on?”

“About a week.” Answered Rebecca, “Gabe left a voicemail for Clem on the home phone. We made sure to ask Clem to check the messages after Alvin found it.”

Sarita winced, before folding her arms, “How long do you think it’ll last?”

“I have no idea.” Shrugged Rebecca, taking a sip of her coffee.

Gabe spotted Clementine standing at their arranged meeting place and jogged up behind her, “You’re not going to believe how hard it was to give Ava the slip.”

“She taught me how to fight, remember?” Stated Clementine, “I think I’ve still got bruises from that time she had me break down a door.”

“You got bruises on your feet?” Questioned Gabe, looking down at her.

“Nope, I body slammed the door,” Answered Clementine, “or, at least, I did, until Ava took pity on me and opened the door.”

Gabe let out a snort, getting a swat on the arm from Clementine.

“Sorry, but Ava’s never shown me that luxury.” Defended Gabe, “At most, she’s told me to use my head.”

Clementine stopped, “Wait… did you head butt the door?”

“…no.”

Clementine snorted, before breaking into giggles. Gabe mock glared at her, which only made Clementine giggle harder.

“It was a good idea at the time.” Defended Gabe, as they reached the skate rink.

“S-sorry.” Giggled Clementine, “W-what did Ava say?”

“She told me to leave the door breaking for the day.” Answered Gabe, guiding Clementine into the skate rink.

Clementine looked around the lobby, smiling as a memory returned to her.

“Are you sure Daddy and Mommy are alright with this?” Asked Clementine, looking up at her babysitter after Lee and Carley left for their appointment.

“Sure,” Answered Molly, looked down at Clementine, “if you’re allowed to shoot, you old enough to skate.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“What about Ben?” Clementine looked up at Molly expectantly.

“I tried, and failed.” Answered Molly, looking ahead of her, “He kept landing on his ass.”

“Swear.”

“Sorry.”

Clementine held onto Molly’s hand as they rented some skates and walked to the rink area, “Okay, while we’re in there, you might want to hold onto my hand.”

Clementine nodded, gripping Molly’s hand as she shuffled onto the rink. She slipped slightly, Molly keeping her up right. Clementine giggled as Molly guided her around the rink, preventing her from falling down and hurting herself.

At the end of the trip, Clementine was slumped against Molly, the woman carrying Clementine to Lee and Carley’s home.

“Hey, wake up kid.” Murmured Molly, waking Clementine, “We’re home.”

Clementine rubbed her eyes, stretching as Molly put her down. The six-year-old stumbled towards the door.

“Are you excited for your birthday tomorrow?” Asked Molly, getting a sleepy nod from Clementine.

“Uh-huh.”

“Alright,” Said Molly, reaching for the door, “let’s get you to bed.”

Clementine shook her head, “Sorry, got lost in a memory.”

Gabe grasped her hand, “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not yet.”

Gabe frowned, but said nothing. Duck and the others had told him that Clementine would share her past with him when she feels ready to. He distracted himself by looking at the counter and rented some roller skates for him and Clementine.

“You ever been roller skating before?” Asked Gabe, looking at Clementine.

“Once.” Answered Clementine, “A long time ago.”

“Cool.” Gabe gently guided her towards the rink.

The couple slowly moved around the rink together, both laughing when they lost their balance and staggered, the pair were so busy laughing with each other, they didn’t spot Becca staring at them with a slack jaw.

Clementine closed the front door as quietly as she could. The windows were dark, so she assumed everyone else had gone to bed.

“So,” Said Rebecca, turning on a light and making Clementine scream, “how was your date?”

“What? Date? Me?” Clementine stammered, “With who? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Your date with Gabe.” Stated Rebecca, folding her arms across her chest, “The one that you organised last week, when he called here.”

Clementine froze, before cursing.

“Swear.” Said AJ, looking up at Clementine from his father’s lap.

“Sorry.”

“So?” Pressed Rebecca, getting Clementine’s attention, “How did it go? What did you do?”

“It was fine, and we went to that roller rink.” Answered Clementine, feeling her cheeks heat up, “And it wasn’t a date, we were just hanging out.”

“Hanging out. Just the two of you.” Rebecca raised an eyebrow, “When I was your age, we called that a date.”

Clementine leaned against the door, pulled her hat down to cover her eyes and groaned. Rebecca smirked, “But, I suppose I should ‘get with the times’.”

Clementine peeked out from under her hat, “Please don’t say that. That just sounds wrong.”

“But I thought you wanted me to ‘get down with the kids’?” Said Rebecca, smugly, while Clementine struggled to stop a smile, “But, seriously, you don’t have to hide the fact you’re dating someone. Even if you think Alvin and I will go into ‘over-protective’ mode.”

“Sarita told you about that?”

“No, I was having a coffee and talking to her when you snuck out.” Stated Rebecca, making Clementine wince.

“Why don’t you call mommy ‘mom’?” Asked AJ, making Clementine look down at him. Her friends were over for their weekly ‘study session’, and they all froze, waiting to hear Clementine’s response.

“You know how I said Rebecca gave birth to you?” Asked Clementine, thinking back to the previous fortnight when AJ finally managed to get her to explain where babies came from.

“Yeah.”

“Well, Rebecca didn’t give birth to me, she and Alvin foster me.” Said Clementine, hoping AJ would drop the subject.

“What fuss ter ring?” Asked AJ, confused.

“Fostering. It’s basically something a couple does when they look after a child who isn’t with their parents.” Answered Clementine, nervously playing with a spinner ring on her finger.

“Why aren’t you with your parents then?” Clementine sucked in a deep breath.

“Because, I’m not.”

“But, why?”

“Just because, okay, AJ.” Clementine grit out.

“What going on?” Asked Rebecca, look in from the doorway.

“Clementine isn’t with her parents.” Said AJ, looking up at Rebecca.

“Clem explained what fostering is.” Explained Duck, look up at Rebecca from his seat, “He originally asked why you didn’t call you and Alvin mom and dad.”

“Why aren’t you with your parents?” Asked AJ, making Clementine flinch.

“J-just b-because.”

“Why?”

“AJ, maybe we should leave it for now.” Suggested Rebecca, noticing Clementine tensing up.

“Why isn’t she with her parents?” Asked AJ, making Clementine snap.

“Because they were fucking assholes, who didn’t want a little brat bothering them every five minutes and dumped her on the side of the road and left her to get hit by a fucking car.” AJ jumped as Clementine answered, “They didn’t want me and got rid of me, because they fucking decided to!”

AJ trembled slightly as he stared up at her, while Clementine breathed heavily. The room was silent, before Clementine spun on her heel and stalked out of the room.

“Well,” Said Becca, after a moment, “that answers some questions.”

“M-mommy,” Whimpered AJ, making Rebecca look down, “does Clem hate me now?”

“I don’t think so, sweetie.” Answered Rebecca, before looking at Sarah, “Could you watch him, please? I need to check on Clem.”

Sarah nodded and gently guided AJ to the living room, the rest of the group abandoning their homework to help with AJ.

Rebecca sighed as she stood by Clementine’s door, before knocking on the wood.

“Go away.”

“Clem, I just want to talk.”

“I don’t care.”

Rebecca sighed, “Clem, I’m coming in.”

Before Clementine could protest, Rebecca pushed the door open. Clementine was sitting on her bed, facing away from Rebecca.

“I want to be left alone.”

“I just want to talk to you.”

“About what? That I’ll be gone tomorrow? I kinda figured that.” Snapped Clementine, making Rebecca frown.

“You’re not going anywhere.” Corrected Rebecca, “But you need to talk about what you said downstairs.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Yes, there is.” Rebecca sighed, as Clementine looked down and balled her fists on her lap.

“No, there isn’t.”

“Clem, what did you mean about that car?” Asked Rebecca, slowly approaching Clementine.

“Nothing.”

“Clem, please, I’m just trying to help.” Pleaded Rebecca, sitting down next to Clementine.

“It’s-” Clementine’s voice cracked, “It’s nothing.”

“Clem…”

“Why do you care? You’re not my mom! I don’t even have a mom!” Exploded Clementine, “Do you even know what happens when someone has me call them that?!”

“Clem…”

“Why did you and Alvin keep me, anyway?!” Demanded Clementine, looking at Rebecca. Clementine’s eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed, her breath seemed to keep catching in her throat and tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.

“What do you mean?” Asked Rebecca, making Clementine jump to her feet.

“I’m bad luck. Kenny had me, Katjaa killed herself. Lilly had me and her dad and boyfriend died. Jane h-had me and l-left me to die!” Screamed Clementine, her hands gripping her own biceps.

“Clem, breathe.” Instructed Rebecca, gently grabbing Clementine’s shoulders, “Look at me.”

“Do you want to know why I don’t call you mom?” Asked Clementine, tears running down her face.

“Why?” Whispered Rebecca, looking at Clementine.

“Because the last person I called that, was Carley and watched her get shot in the face.” Clementine’s voice broke.

Rebecca froze, before Clementine close to her, the girl stiffened before crumbling against Rebecca. Loud, gut-wrenching sobs filled the room. Rebecca felt the shoulder of her shirt become wet as Clementine cried.

“It’s okay.” Whispered Rebecca, gently rubbing Clementine’s back, “It’s going to be alright.”

That only made Clementine cry harder, “I-I-I’m s-s-sorryy. I’m sorry.”

Rebecca stayed silent, gently rubbing the girl’s back. She had a feeling that they’d have a long talk once Clementine calmed down.

Clementine blew out the candles on the cake Lee and Carley got her. The couple gave each other a knowing looked, knowing the extra surprise for Clementine hidden underneath the cake.

“Did you remember to make a wish?” Asked Carley, getting a giggle from Clementine.

“Yes, mommy.”

Carley picked up a knife to cut the cake, when the doorbell rang.

“We’re not expecting anyone, are we?” Asked Lee, making Clementine look up at him.

“Kenny and Katjaa said they couldn’t make it,” Answered Carley, putting the knife down, “it’s probably some salesman or something.”

Clementine reached over and grabbed the hat Lee gave her, before following after Carley, Lee chuckling and shaking his head. He stood up and took the dinner plates out to the kitchen so he could wash them after they finished celebrating.

Clementine stopped a couple of feet behind Carley, watching her open the door.

“Hel-” There was a loud pop and Carley’s head suddenly rocked back, blood splattered Clementine’s front. Carley fell to the floor and Lee came rushing out of the kitchen.

“What the hell?!” Demanded Lee, before spotting the stranger in the doorway, Carley’s body and Clementine staring at Carley’s body. Without a second thought, Lee quickly grabbed Clementine and rushed her towards the kitchen.

Lee grunted as he felt a bullet enter his side, Clementine cried out when the bullet hit her leg after it passed through Lee. He put Clementine down and shut and locked the door to the kitchen, before he crouched in front of her.

“Clem,” Said Lee, making Clementine look up at him, “Sweet Pea, are you alright?”

“My leg hurts.” Whimpered Clementine, looking up at Lee, “Daddy, what happened to Mommy?”

Lee swallowed, “She’s been hurt, Sweet Pea, badly.”

“Can’t you kiss her better?” Lee wanted to laugh at Clementine’s innocence.

“There are some things that can’t be kissed better, Sweet Pea.” Murmured Lee, as a bullet came through the lock. The stranger cursed, before kicking at the door. Lee looked at the back door, before growling at the tree branch blocking it.

“Clem, Sweet Pea, I need you to do something for me.” Said Lee, making Clementine look up at him again.

“W-what?”

“I need you to hide, you know, like how you hide from me when we’re playing a game.” Murmured Lee, getting a small nod from Clementine.

Just as Clementine nodded, the door flung open and the stranger barrelled in, he brandished the knife that was going to be used on the cake and ran the sharp implement along Lee’s throat. Lee could only stare in shock at the blood that hit Clementine, before the world went dark.

Clementine stared down at Lee and started crying and screaming. She felt a sharp pain on the side of her head, and everything went dark.

Bonnie looked up from her phone, Rebecca slid into the seat across from her, she had asked to meet her the previous week but didn’t tell her why. Rebecca looked like she had been getting little sleep, which was understandable, given she and Alvin were raising a teenager and a small child.

“What’s wrong?” Asked Bonnie, wincing as Rebecca glared at her.

“Nothing’s wrong, did you know Clem was hit by a car when her parents abandoned her?”

Bonnie froze, “N-no, I didn’t. It wasn’t mentioned in any of her briefs. Where’d you hear it?”

“From Clementine, AJ asked her why she didn’t call me mom.” Explained Rebecca, “He was unusually insistent about it, Clem explained what fostering was and he then asked her about her parents.”

Bonnie winced, knowing that was a tender subject with Clementine.

“Yeah, Clem didn’t want to talk about it, after she broke down.” Muttered Rebecca, before sighing, “Look, who do I need to speak to about her?”

“What do you mean?” Asked Bonnie, dread piling in her stomach.

“I think you know what I mean, Bonnie.”

“So,” Said Becca, looking over at Clementine and Gabe, “When were you two going to tell us you were dating?”

The entire group stilled, before Sarah dropped her book and Duck’s chair fell back.

“What?” Asked Gill, looking up from his latest magazine.

“What are you talking about?” Asked Sarah, glancing at the frozen Clementine and Gabe.

“I saw them on a date a couple weeks ago.”

Duck slowly turned and looked at Gabe.

“Gabe.” Said Clementine, jerking him out of his shock, “Run.”

“W-what?”

“Run!”

Within seconds, Gabe had bolted out of the cafeteria, with Duck charging behind him.

“GET BACK HERE, YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Bellowed Duck, as he and Gabe vanished.

Clementine’s face screwed up and she buried her face in her arms, “Kill me now.”

“Can’t do that,” Dismissed Becca, “your birthday’s next week, and I’m not going to miss free cake.”

“Why am I friends with you guys?”

“Because we’re the only ones crazy enough to ignore all your red flags.”

Clementine was silent, “Okay, good point.”

“Remember to make a wish.” Said Sarah, as Clementine peeked out from behind her hands.

“Please promise me you’ll never do that again?”

“No, we’ll sing you happy birthday every year.”

Clementine quietly grumbled, before blowing out the candles. Small slivers of smoke fluttered to the ceiling, Clementine tried not to compare today to her seventh birthday. The sound of the knife passing through the cake and hitting the board jerked her from her memories. Clementine was passed a slice of cake, which she then passed along to AJ. The child grabbed a fistful of cake and shoved it against his mouth. Icing smeared across his face as he messily ate the cake. Sarah grimaced at the sight, before she was passed her own slice. After everyone had a slice, Rebecca spoke.

“Clem, you forgot a present.”

Clementine frowned, before looking around and spotting a box sitting on the floor next to her, “How long’s that been there?”

“A while.” Answered Alvin, as Clementine pushed her slice of cake away from her and picking the box up. She frowned, before pulling on the ribbon on the box, undoing the bow. She opened the box and frowned at a single brown envelope.

“This isn’t going to shock me, right?” Asked Clementine, looking up at Rebecca and Alvin.

“Nope.”

Clementine tentatively picked the envelope up and opened it. She pulled a document out and looked at it, before freezing. She’d seen one of these before, shortly after Lee and Carley were murdered.

“What’s it say, Clem?” Asked Sarah, making Clementine swallow.

“It, it’s a certificate. ‘This document is it certify that Clementine Marsh-Everett h-has been formally a-ad-adop-,” Clementine swallowed, before getting out of her chair and launching herself at Rebecca and Alvin.

The couple rocked back slightly as Clementine collided with them. She buried her faces in a shoulder, she wasn’t sure who’s, “Thank you.”

AJ wandered over and hugged Clementine’s legs, “Does this you’re going to call them ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ now?”

Clementine swallowed and looked down at AJ, “Yeah, I am, Goofball.”

AJ grinned and tightly hugged her leg, smearing icing over Clementine’s jeans.