Awash in the silver moonlight we walk together, she is fifteen and I am seventeen. I study her, a small coffee-coloured face, framed by sweet midnight curls, brown eyes with flecks of gold and soft pink lips curved into a smile. Grinning I snatch the hat off her small head fastening it onto my own pepper coloured hair, "Ellie!" she cries "come back with my hat!" she breaks into a run and, laughing I dance away "catch me if you can!" I weave and duck around the surrounding undergrowth, while she twists and dances trying to catch me, "C'mon Clem you can do better!" I tease as her gentle fingers brush the hem of my shirt and I collapse onto the ground laughing. With a smooth sweep of her arm she regains her hat and pouts "You probably got every Walker for a mile sniffing and getting a taste for us ya know" I smile "Just come and sit spoil sport" I pat the soft earth next to me and grumbling, she starts to walk over when one of her boots catches on an uprisen tree root and her body lurches forward. Her palms land flat either side of my shoulders and her face is inches from mine, she's even more beautiful up close, I've never realised that she has a few small freckles just under her eyes, or how her eyes shine in the moolight. There is a moment where I almost kiss her but then I remember, she is unaware of my feelings for her so she rolls off of me and a slow blush creeps up her cheeks. I clear my throat "You uh, wanna keep going" she nods "Yeah" so we walk in awkward silence until the branches part into a clearing and Clementine and I settle for the night.
Clem's POV
I know about Riley, she told me. She was important to Ellie, I know that, and I know she's a fragile girl. Like me, she saw too much too young, and we have to be there for each other. I like Ellie, at least I think I do because I don't know much about love but when she's close to me I get all fluttery in my stomach and I feel really warm and I feel like I could listen to her voice for hours and hours and never get tired and I just feel really close to her. She's beautiful too, bright green eyes, a sprinkle of freckles and when she blushes her cheeks go the same shade as her auburn hair. So I think that's love, I know she loves me too. I wish she would say something so I can say something back, I don't know. In the morning we'll set off again and have some fun and it won't be weird it will just be us.
Sighing into the darkness I gaze at the stars, scattered like broken glass, glittering like diamonds, "Lee" I whisper "Can you see me? Are you listening? Well I just wanted to say hi and how are you? How's Katjaa and duck say hi to them for me. Goodnight, I love you" the leaves of a nearby tree rustle even though there's no breeze and I smile to the inky darkness.