Clementine sat nervously at her desk, twiddling her thumbs together. She crossed her fingers hoping she had done a good job.
"Clementine,"
She perked up at her name and stood from her seat.
Clementine approached the desk, taking the paper. She looked score on the test and sighed. The girl slowly returned to her seat, feeling disheartened.
Suddenly the bell rang and everyone jumped from their chairs.
Clementine slowly pushed herself up, still looking over her test paper.
"You're all free to go." The teacher nodded towards the door before calling, "Clementine,"
Clementine looked up towards the man.
"You don't have to get an A plus on every assignment."
Clementine could only sigh.
"I got a B minus! A B minus, can you believe that?" Clementine complained.
"Clem, I don't see what the big deal is." Said Sandra.
Sandra was almost three years older than her. But she was one of her closest friends. Her sister of sorts.
"What do you mean? That's almost a C!" Clementine huffed.
"So what? I get C's all the time." Sandra said proudly.
"But I studied really hard for that test." Clementine said disappointment clear in her voice.
"Maybe that's a sign that you need to take a break..." Sandra smirked.
"Maybe..." Clementine sighed.
"Relax, it's not the end of the world." Sandra assured, patting the younger girl's shoulder.
"For you maybe. You graduate next year." Clementine pointed out.
"Yeah. I can't wait too." Sandra smiled. "No homework."
"Yeah..." Clementine nodded.
Sandra beamed. "More dances."
"Well, I don't know about that." Clementine rolled her eyes. "Do you think about college?"
"College?"
"Yes..."
"Really, Clem?" Sandra scoffed. "I don't have the time to think about that."
"What about your education?" Clementine asked.
"Screw education." Sandra said. "I'm going where-ever all the parties are...And the boys."
"Seriously, Sandra..." Clementine groaned.
"What's wrong with thinking about boys?" Sandra asked.
Clementine just rolled her eyes and kept walking.
"Anyway," Sandra started, "How's our baby raccoon?"
Clementine smiled. "He's doing good. The vet's taking care of him."
"That's good." Sandra smiled as well.
They had found a baby raccoon a week ago in Clementine's back yard. After finding it could hardly walk, they turned it over to the vet.
"Got any plan for spring break?" Clementine asked.
"You bet I do. How about you?" Sandra laughed.
"Nu-uh. Not really. I'll probably just stay home and study." Clementine shrugged.
"Booooring."
"Is not. Studying can be fun." Clementine protested.
"Yeah, if you're a nerd." Sandra gave her a poke on the nose, causing the girl to shoot her a glare. "No wonder your grades are so good."
"Is that an insult?" Clementine giggled and kept walking.
"Wait, where are you going?" Sandra called.
"Home."
"What? Not already." Sandra pouted. "Let's go to the mall."
"I can't today. Maybe tomorrow."
"Alright fine."
"Do you have to go?" Clementine asked her parents sadly.
"Clem, you'll be fine. It'll only be a few days." Diana said.
"Can't I go?" Clementine pleaded.
"Nope. Sorry kiddo." Ed replied. "No missing school."
"I'll miss you guys." Clementine said.
"You're acting like you'll never see us again." Ed chuckled.
"I'll just miss you guys...I'll be home alone." She said.
"Yeah, but you'll be fine." Ed said.
"I know..." Clementine sighed.
"We're not leaving for a few more days anyway." Diana informed. "How'd you do on your test?"
"I got a B..." Clementine mumbled.
"That's great." They praised.
"Minus." Clementine sighed.
"That's still good." Diana said.
"Is not." Clementine shook her head. "That's almost a C."
"Why do you have to be such a perfectionist?" Ed asked with a snort.
"I can't help it." Clementine said. "I'm going to go study. I'm definitely getting an A plus next time."
"Hey, Clem." Sandra greeted as she approached her on the bus stop.
"Morning?" Clementine greeted back.
"Did you get the text?" Sandra suddenly asked.
"Text?" Clementine said.
"You're not in the group chat?" Sandra asked.
"No..." Clementine didn't even know about a group chat...she was feeling left out now.
"Are you going to Steven's party?" Sandra asked.
"Steven Mccrow? Isn't he on probation?" Clementine raised a brow.
"Yeah." Sandra nodded.
"And his parents are letting him have a party?" Clementine shook her head in disbelief.
"Yeah. Isn't it cool?" Sandra asked.
"I think it's crazy." Clementine said.
"Whatever, you going or not?"
The girl looked down. "Umm..."
"Come oooon. Everyone's going to be there."
"I'll...uh, I'll think about it." Clementine told her before taking her hand and picking up her pace. "Come on, we're going to be late."
"I'm back."
Diana looked up from the dishes she was doing to face her daughter. "Welcome home, baby."
"Thanks." Clementine said. "Sooo...Mommy,"
"Yes, Clementine?"
"There's a party this weekend...Can I go?" The teen asked.
"Absolutely not." Diana immediately responded.
"Why not?!" Clementine demanded.
"I know how teenagers get at parties. I don't want you getting influence into anything." Diana said.
"Mom, come on! I won't. You know how I am." Clementine said.
"I said no, Clem." Diana said strictly.
"But-"
"No." She cut her off.
Clementine huffed, storming from the room.
Ed was sitting at the table. It was early morning; he was reading the newspaper as he often did before he went to work.
"Daddy,"
"You're up early, Clem." He smiled at her.
"Yeah...Can I ask you something?" Clementine started.
"I don't have any money." He joked.
"That's not funny." Clementine pouted.
"Alright, sorry." He chuckled. "What is it, kiddo?"
"So, there's this party..." She mumbled.
"Uh-Uh." He nodded.
"Everybody's going..." Clementine continued.
"Right..." Ed nodded once more.
"It's this Saturday." Clementine said slowly.
"Where is it?" Ed asked.
"At Steven's house." Clementine replied.
"Steven?" Ed's eyes widen. "Isn't that the boy who's always getting in trouble with the police."
"Yes..." Clementine confirmed, before speaking again, "Listen, daddy, I know you don't like him much, but I really want to go. Everyone will be there and-"
"No." Ed stopped her.
"Daddy, please." She begged.
"No, Clementine. You'll thank me when you're older."
"I doubt that. The party will be over when I'm older." Clementine sighed. "I never ask to go anywhere. The least you can do is let me go."
As soon as they approached the school two boys made their way towards them. Clementine fought back a sigh. Sandra like them, but they always managed to annoy Clementine.
Steven started riding his bike in circles around them. "Party at my house. Saturday. You coming?"
"Of course I'm going." Sandra grinned.
"I'm not." Clementine said.
"What? Why not?" Steven asked, still circling them.
"How come?" Sandra questioned as well.
"She's a chicken." The other boy, Noah, cut in.
"Clem?" Sandra asked.
"I can't." Clementine sighed.
"You never come to any of our parties." Steven said, still riding.
"I've got a lot of homework." Clementine said, exiting his circle. They followed, Steven quickly locking his bike.
"Homework?" Noah asked. "Really, Clem."
"My parents would never let me go." Clementine admit.
"Don't you want to go?" Sandra asked.
"I do..." Clementine said. She did want to go, but she didn't care if she couldn't.
"Then ask again." Steven shrugged. "Maybe they'll change their minds."
"They won't. You don't know how they are." Clementine said.
"You can always try. What's the harm in asking another time?" Steven replied.
"I guess you're right." Clementine muttered.
"Of course I am." Steven smirked.
"Want me to ask with you?" Sandra offered.
Clementine nodded. "I guess so..."
"I'm home!" Clementine called.
"Hey, sweetie." Diana called back from the kitchen.
"Hi, Mrs. Diana!" Sandra yelled out as well.
"Oh, hey, Sandra." Diana greeted back. "You staying for dinner?"
"Yeah."
The meal was silent. Not a comfortable silence. An awkward silence, Clementine couldn't stop herself from fidgeting.
"Ask..." Sandra finally mouth to her friend.
"Mom, Dad," Clementine nervously called.
"What is it?" Ed asked.
"About that party..." Clementine swallowed.
"We've spoken on this. You're not going." Diana said.
"Why not?" Clementine asked.
"We don't want you out partying." Diana said.
"I'll make sure she stays out of trouble." Sandra butt in.
"No offense, but you can barely stay out of trouble yourself, Sandra." Ed said.
Sandra fell silent at that.
"I'm not a little girl anymore." Clementine argued.
"Don't ask again, Clementine!" Diana said.
"I never get to do anything!" Clementine snapped. "It's so unfair!"
She dropped her fork and ran up the stairs.
"Sandra...I think it's time for you to go..." Ed gently said.
"Yeah..." Sandra pushed herself up. "I was just leaving."
"Well, what did they say?" Steven asked.
Clementine didn't look up from her food.
"Clementine?" Steven called.
"We'll be there." Sandra uttered causing Clem's eyes to widen.
"Really? Awesome." Steven beamed, before walking away.
"Sandra!" Clementine snapped. "Why would you say that? You know I can't go."
"Of course you can." Sandra said.
"Mom and dad say I'm not allowed." Clementine replied. "You were there."
"They don't have to know." Sandra said.
"But-"
Sandra cut her off. "Aren't they going out of town tomorrow."
"Yeah." Clementine nodded.
"Well what they know won't hurt them."
"But Sandra, that's lying!" Clementine protested.
"A little white lie never hurt anybody..." Sandra said. "I'll pick you up and bring you something to wear."
"What's wrong with my clothes?" Clementine asked, looking at her outfit.
"You're kidding, right?" Sandra asked in shock, "Don't you want to look sexy? More grown up?"
"I guess so." Clementine responded. She didn't care about being sexy.
"Of course you do. I mean, you're fifth-teen and your parents treat you like you're ten." Sandra giggled. "Just make sure you're ready for Saturday."
"Come in," Clementine said, when she heard a knocking on her bedroom door.
"Clementine, we're leaving now..." Diana said.
Clementine looked down sadly. "Okay..."
"Be good." Ed said, patting her head. "No parties."
"Okay, okay." Clementine said, feeling her heartrate pick up at the word party.
"Love you sweetheart." Her father kissed her cheek, before her mother did the same.
"Love you too." Clementine said.
"Bye, baby." Diana smiled.
Clementine waited for them to pull from the driveway before grabbing the phone. "Hey, Sandra..." Her palms were sweating she was so nervous. "They're gone."
"Great! Party time tomorrow!" Sandra exclaimed over the phone.
"Y-Yeah. Tomorrow." Clementine gulped.
Clementine sighed, she had decided to shower to calm her nerves. She couldn't stop think about how she was betraying her parents' trust. Speaking of the devil, her phone rung and the name displayed was "Mom"
"Hello?" She answered, throat feeling dry.
"Hey, Clem. We just called to say goodnight." Diana said. "You being good?"
"Of course not. The place is trashed." Clementine joked.
"Hope you clean it before we get back." Diana giggled.
"Not a chance." Clementine said back with a laugh.
The two giggled for a while before Diana said, "We love you, baby. Get some rest. We'll talk in the morning."
"Okay."
Clementine woke up early morning, feeling anxious. She was nervous. She was hoping her parents would call and she'd just confess to them her plans right then and there, but they never called that morning. In fact, they didn't call for hours and before she knew it, Sandra had arrived.
"What are you wearing?" Clementine asked, her friend was showing skin...a lot of skin.
"You don't like it?" Sandra asked.
"It's...Interesting." Clementine said, not know any other way to describe it.
"It's sexy, huh?" Sandra grinned.
"Your parents let you leave like that?" Clementine asked in surprise.
"Of course not! I waited until they weren't home. I'm sleeping over by the way." She said.
"Oh?" Clementine nodded. "Okay."
"So, you ready?" Sandra asked her.
"I guess." Clementine was hesitant.
"Let's put some makeup on you." Sandra dug into her bad pulling out some makeup. "Then we'll figure your hair out."
Clementine gave a nervous nod.
"Here, I got this for you," Sandra showed her a bright red dress. "From one best friend to another."
Clementine stared at it for a moment. "I don't know...It seems tight."
"That's what makes it so hot." Sandra gave her a shove, "Put it on."
"You look amazing, Clem." Sandra said, giddily.
"I do?" Clementine asked.
"Yeah." She said.
"Thank you." Clementine sheepishly replied. She was still trying to get use to the heels Sandra had given her.
As the sat in the car, she felt like she wanted so desperately to chicken out.
"Come on, let's go inside."
"Wow, Clem."
Clementine felt uncomfortable with the boy eyeing her like a piece of meat.
"Stop staring, Gabriel." A girl huffed.
"Come on." Sandra, tugged her friend along.
"Everybody's staring..." Clementine mumbled.
"What do you expect. You look good." Sandra said. "Hey, Steven! Great party."
"Thanks Sandra." Steven said before smirking at Clementine. "So you really did show up..."
"Yeah." Clementine said.
"Cool." He said. "Want something to eat? A drink maybe?"
"I..." Clementine looked around feeling self-conscious. She tugged on her too short dress. "Guys...I shouldn't be here." She said.
"Loosen up, Clem." Noah said. "Don't be a prude."
"But-"
"You're hanging with the big dogs now." Steven said. "Come on. Have a drink."
"Maybe you should." Sandra said, "You won't even think about it if you're drunk."
"You've gotten drunk?" Clementine asked in horror.
"Yeah..." Sandra said.
"Haven't you ever been drunk before?" Noah asked Clementine.
"Of course not. My parents would kill me." Clementine said.
"Well, they're not here. Try it." Steven said.
"N-No." Clementine backed away, nearly tripping. "I shouldn't be here. I need to go home."
"Oh relax, Clem." Sandra said. "What your parents don't know won't kill them."
"I can't lie to them." Clementine argued.
"It's not a lie. They'll never know unless you tell them." Sandra said. "Aren't they gone for like, two weeks?"
"No way?" Noah grinned, eyes wide.
"What?" Clementine asked.
"Your folks are out of town?" Noah asked.
"I...Y-Yes." Clementine confirmed.
"So we going to party or what?" Noah asked her.
"What?" Clementine looked confused.
"Tomorrow," Noah smirked. "Party at your place."
"No! Stop it." Clementine shook her head. "I'm going home." She turned on her heels and started to walk away.
"Whatever Clem. you're no fun." Steven called after her. She could hear them laughing. Probably at her.
She made her way outside when she heard Sandra yell. "Clementine wait! You can't go alone. Something bad might happen."
"I can take care of myself." Clementine huffed, crossing her arms.
"Sure you can..." Sandra rolled her eyes at the younger girl. "What's the problem?"
"I shouldn't be here." Clementine said, looking around.
"Fine. We'll go home." Sandra sighed.
"When?" Clementine asked.
"Fifteen minutes." Sandra said. "Just come back inside. I promise."
"Fine."
"Hey you're back!" One of the boys exclaimed.
"We're not staying long." Sandra said. "Pour me a drink."
"Got it."
Clementine sat in silence, watching everyone down alcohol. She didn't want to be there anymore. She hadn't expected the party to be like this. It was too much.
"Sandra...I think you've had enough." Clementine said. "Sandra...Let's go."
"Come on, Clem. Don't be a party pooper." The girl replied
"I'm not." Clementine defended. "This is ridiculous. We're going home."
"Just chill, girly. Have a drink." Steven said.
"I don't drink, Steven!" Clementine snapped.
"It's just punch." Steven promised.
Clementine huffed and took the drink from his hand. She looking into it before taking a sip.
"Well?" Steven asked.
"It's good..." She lied, not wanting to be rude.
"Then have some more." He smirked.
She didn't want to refuse the offer; afterall, she was his guest.
Sandra pulled herself out of her half-asleep state to check on her friend.
Clementine was sitting on Steven's lap, allowing the boy to kiss her neck. That wasn't the Clem she knew. Sandra was starting to feel uncomfortable.
"Steven, did I ever tell you how sexy you were?" Clementine giggled into the boy's ear.
"Tell me now, baby." Steven urged.
"Clementine, you okay?" Sandra called.
Clementine looked over at her with a big smile, "Oh yeah...I feel greaaat."
"Why are you acting that way?" Sandra asked.
"Don't worry about it." Steven spoke, shaking the liquor bottle with a smirk.
"You spiked her drink?!" Sandra asked in surprise.
"I was just trying to get her to loosen up." Steven said.
"We've got to go." Sandra shot him a glare, yanking Clementine off his lap. "Clementine, we're going home."
"Already?" Clementine asked.
"Sandra..." Steven tried.
Sandra ignored him. "Let's go, Clem."
Sandra wrapped her arm around the girl, helping her friend into the car.
"Why did we have to leave?" Clementine complained.
"Clem, don't be mad at me." Sandra sighed. "It's for your own good."
"I'm not mad." Clementine said.
"Good." She drove slowly, once she got to a red light, she examined her friend's face. Are you okay? You look sick..."
"S-Stop the car."
Sandra did and Clementine threw the door open, vomiting onto the ground.
They drove on in silence until the got to Clementine's home. Sandra helped Clementine into the house. "You okay?"
"My head is killing me." Clementine groaned.
"You'll feel better tomorrow." Sandra said, helping her into bed. "Get some rest. I'll come check on you in the morning..."
"Okay..."
Clementine woke up to a pounding in her head. She groaned, reaching into her desk draw and downing some aspirin.
"Oh God..." Her head was killing her. She had a hangover.
It was still dark. She imagined it was the middle of the night. She could only wonder where the hell Sandra was.
Suddenly her phone rang, startling her. She quickly answered it. "Mama?"
"Clementine! Thank God. Are you okay, baby?" Came her mother's frantic voice.
"Yes...I'm fine, mom." Clementine said. "What's wrong."
"I've been trying to call you all day. Calls kept getting dropped." Diana said.
"Did something happen?" Clementine asked nervously
"Your father got into something with some crazy guy at the hotel." Diana told her.
"Is he hurt?" Clementine questioned in concern.
"He's resting right now. They're not letting us leave and they're not telling us what going on." Diana said.
"Wait, mom. What are you talking about?" Clementine asked.
"Look at the news, Clementine."
Clementine looked in confusion before turning on the TV. What she saw made her heart stop. "Oh my God...This is a joke, right?"
"I'm afraid not." Diana said.
"W-What's happening, mama?" Clementine stammered.
"I don't know..." Diana replied. "Keep the doors, locked. Don't let anyone inside."
"O-Okay." Clementine nodded, even though her mother couldn't see it.
"I'll call you as soon as I find something out." Diana said.
"Okay. I love you mom." Clementine replied.
"Love you too, baby. Stay safe." And with that she hung up.
Clementine's heart jumped when she heard a banging at the door. She made her way downstairs to see what it was. She slowly approached the door; she didn't want to open it, she didn't know who or what was out there.
The banging continued, then a voice spoke, "Clementine! Let me in!"
"Sandra?" She opened the door.
"Yes."
She allowed the girl in. Sandra's eyes were full of fear.
"What happened?" Clementine asked, "You're bleeding!"
"Y-Yeah."
"How'd that happen?" Clementine demanded, protectively.
"Victoria and Gabriel were arguing, in the room. We heard Tori scream so we went in to try to help." Sandra explained.
"What happened?" Clementine asked again.
"I grabbed Gabe and the dick bit me." She said.
"Bit you?" Clementine asked confused.
"Yeah." Sandra nodded. "Can you believe that?"
"Let me get you some bandages." Clementine offered, leading her to the couch to sit down.
"Alright..."
"Did you see the news?" Clementine asked.
"The crazies?" Sandra questioned back.
"Yeah."
"I bet those people were just on drugs. " Sandra said. "What time is it?"
Clementine looked to the clock, "Three fifty- two a.m."
"Hmm...Let's go to bed." Sandra suggested.
"Alright." Clementine agreed.
"How's your headache?" Sandra asked her.
"It's worse." Clementine whispered, "My dad is hurt."
"What happened?" Sandra asked, concerned.
"One of the crazies..." Clementine said
"...Coincidence?"
Clementine shrugged. "Who knows."
"I'm sure he'll be fine."
Clementine sighed. "I hope so."
"...Night Clem."
"Night."
Clementine jerked awake at the sound of her name being called. "C-Clem?"
"Sandra?" She asked, "You okay?"
"Your phone..." Sandra mumbled weakly.
Clementine sent her a worried look, before pick up her phone and playing the message. "Clementine, baby...If you can hear this call the police. We love you."
"Mom!" She called, knowing her mom couldn't hear her.
"We love you."
"Mommy-" She called again, knowing there was nothing she could do. Knowing she had no idea what was going on.
"We love-"
"W-What was that?" Sandra asked.
"I...I don't know." She sniffed, fighting back tears. "Something isn't right, Sandra..."
"No point in-" Sandra suddenly started coughing wildly.
"You okay?" Clementine asked, kneeling beside the other girl.
"I don't feel too good." Sandra admit.
Clementine felt her head. "You got a fever. You're really hot." She stood back up. "I'll get you some water. Try to rest some more."
"Okay, mom." Sandra joked.
Both girls flinched when a loud scream suddenly ripped through the air. "W-What was that?" Sandra asked.
"I don't know..." Clementine replied. "I'm going to get my father's gun." She said.
Sandra nodded.
Clementine went and got the gun and loaded it. Her parent never let her use it. They didn't want her to be expose to gun violence. It was just for safety purposes. She didn't even know how to shoot it.
As she walked through the living room she could hear more and more screams. Clementine was horrified. She dashed back into her room. "I don't know what's going on!" She squeaked. "Sandra?" She slowly approached the girl, noticing she was laying unresponsive. "Sandra!" She tried to shake her, tearing falling from her eyes. "Wake up!"
Nothing. Clementine felt for a pulse then started to perform CPR. Right before she could do a compression Sandra's eyes shot open. "Sandra, you're okay?"
Clementine looked into her friend's eyes, but they didn't look the same. She jumped back in fear. "Are you o-" She screamed as Sandra suddenly lunged at her.
"Stop! What are you doing?" Clementine cried.
Her friend only growled in response. Clementine then realize, she was trying to bite her. Her friend was acting like the crazies on the TV "Get away from me."
She ran from the room, slamming the door. She ran downstairs, still carrying her father's gun.
Panicked she threw the front door open and looked outside. There was a man on the ground. He was surrounded by several other people. Clementine craned her neck to get a better look and almost vomited. They were eating him. Blood was spilling onto the ground around him.
She slammed the door, shut and ran into the bathroom. She pulled out her phone and dialed nine-one-one. The line was down.
She girl felt her heart pound as she could hear Sandra banging on the door above her. She could still hear screams outside, coming from a distance.
She knew she had to get out of there. It wasn't safe.