HELLO! Long time no see! COMPLETELY my fault! Sorry! I didn't mean to do it! It wasn't my fault (cries) Please forgive me!
All seriousness, IM SOWWY! It wont happen again! Promise!
NICK'S POV
Whenever I have either a stressful day, or one full of excitement, you'll usually find me out on the porch. I've only admitted it to my mom, Luke, and Clementine, but I am one for nature. I enjoy being outside, a lot. I headed for the door, when I took a look out the window. Clementine was standing there, leaned against the wall. She was staring off into the distance, she couldn't tell I was there.
I silently opened the door, walking slowly so I wouldn't disrupt her. When I was right behind her, I bit my lip to keep from laughing. I quickly grabbed her shoulders, making her jump.
She spun around to face me as I began to crack up. "Jesus, Nick!" Clementine snapped, "you'll get yourself killed doing that!" I shrugged it off, plopping down onto a nearby bench. Clementine hesitantly sat beside me, "You about to meditate?"
I shot her a glare, "So funny I forgot how to laugh." I could tell Clem hasn't lost her sense of humor, I winked at her. She rolled her eyes, and leaned back. "You ain't cold out here?" I asked.
She laughed, "You kidding? Of course I'm cold."
I almost stood up, "Ya want me to fetch you a blanket or a coat or something?"
She shook her head, "Nah, I'll live." She began to stare off into the distance again.
"What's on your mind?" I dared to ask.
"What's on my mind?" She asked, not taking her eyes off the sky, "Just... sometimes I think about how I got here. Who I had to become in order to get here."
I could already sense the negativity in her voice. I slowly moved one of her loose hairs from her face before I awkwardly muttered, "Hey, I like the person you are."
She tried to hide the smile that had taken over her face, "Glad someone does."
I nudged her, "What's bothering you?"
She looked back at me, the smile vanished, "What do I do Nick?" Her eyes looked desperate for an answer, "About staying or not?"
That topic had actually barged into my mind for awhile. I gulped before asking, "Do you want to go?" I was a little afraid of the answer. I didn't want her to leave. At least, not so soon after finding her.
her eyes left me and she stared at the ground, as if considering the question, "I don't know," She rubbed the back of her head, "I've missed you and Luke so much! But, what Molly and I have been doing for the past few years, it's been working. She's kept me alive, and I owe her for that." I rubbed her back, "And I just don't." She quickly stopped herself.
"You just don't?" I urged her on. Before I knew it the younger girl latched onto me.
"I don't want to stay and watch you guys die!" She squeezed me tight, "I cant, Nick!"
I tensed before wrapping my own arms around her, "It's alright," I whispered in her ear, "Do what feels right."
She shook her head, "Nothing feels right anymore." I just let her sit there for awhile. I silence took place before she broke it, "Nick?" She looked up at me, "You know me better than anyone. Luke included. What do you think I should do?"
I felt tears swell the tiniest bit in my eyes. I blinked them back as I hugged Clem tighter. I finally responded, "If I'm honest Clem, I don't want you to go. At least not anytime soon. Luke and I have missed you too, when we first came looking for you, we were certain Sandra killed you! It was hard the first time, but if it really happened, you dying, I'd probably break lose and run off into a herd of lurkers. I can't make you stay, but I don't want you to go."
Clementine pulled away and rested her head in her hands, "it's already rough, now that Luke and Molly are fighting."
I nodded, "Yup, that's gonna be a fierce battle." I thought for a moment, "What do you think Pete would say?" My uncle may be a major asshole, but he does give good advice.
Clem smiled a bit, "He'd say," she put on Pete's southern accent, "Looks like we're in the middle of a shit sandwich!"
We both laughed, rather loudly. Once I realized how loud we were being, I clamped my mouth shut. "I think we might've attracted some lurkers."
Clem shrugged, still using Pete's accent, "Well, shit!"
I laughed again, quieter this time. I wrapped an arm around Clementine, and the girl was asleep within moments. I smiled down at her and pressed a small kiss to the top of her head. I nudged her awake.
"Go on," I stood up, "Get some sleep,"
She chuckled, "Thanks Nick."
Molly's pov
I marched up the stairs and went to the room Clementine and I were sharing. I threw my bag and Hilda on the floor next the bed and began to pace around the room. I felt anger seep into my veins and spread into my emotions. Luke's stupid face was printed in my mind and I felt like punching something. Who the hell did that asshole think he was?! He acts like he knows what's best for her! For Clem!
So what if he knew her before? He knew her when she was little, innocent Clem. The apocalypse changes people! Since he last saw her she's had to kill people and walkers, shes had to hunt for food, watch her friends die. I watched all this and I've been there for her! Where was he for the past two, almost three, years?! He doesn't know her anymore!
I paced around the room and took deep breaths in an attempt to calm down. I feel like I'm going crazy! I feel like my hair is being yanked out and I don't know if it's, me doing the yanking or someone else. I heard the door creak open and my head automatically turned in its direction. I almost reached for Hilda then I mentally slapped myself for being so paranoid. It was only Clem. I smiled and she looked at the floor.
"You okay?" I looked at her with concern.
She kept her gaze to the floor, "I'm fine," she gave me the same response as always.
"Are you sure?" I usually didn't press the subject, but she looks like today has been hard on her.
"Yes!" I wasn't sure if it was a hiss or a sound of irritation.
I hesitated before continuing, "You don't have to be."
"Molly," She started. her gaze finally left the floor and her eyes looked straight into mine. I tired to read her expression, something I'm usually good at, but I had no idea what was going through her mind, "I'm staying."
My eyes widened, "What?"
She shrugged, "I cant leave, not now. I cant. I need Luke and Nick"
Anger came back again, "And what about me?!" My voice was louder then intended, "After everything I've done for you! You're just going to up and leave?!"
It wasn't often I yelled at her, but whenever I did, she would hang her head in fright. This time, her face didn't crumble. She held a strong expression. "What, you think it's an easy choice?" she spat.
Of course not, I wouldn't want to be in that position! But I wasn't just about to give in, "Easy choice?! It's been years since you've seen these assholes! They don't even really know you anymore! How do you even know they're capable of protecting you?!"
Clem scowled, "I don't need anyone to protect me anymore! But these guys are what's still left of my past, a part of it that I loved! I'm not ready to just give it up!"
"So what does that make me?" I hissed. "A fucking old rag!"
"You're like my best friend! Why can't you just accept it?" Clementine shouted. "It's not my fault you and Luke don't get along! I'm saying here, that's that!"
"Can't you see those guys could barley handle you as a kid! You wouldn't stand a chance with them, you're better off with me! We can't stay!"
Clem clenched her fists, "Dammit, Molly, I don't belong to you! I can make my own goddamn decisions!"
Something came over me, something bad. I raised my hand without warning, and struck the girl on her cheek. I felt a stinging in my hand. Clem cupped her cheek and looked at me in half shock and half anger. I felt my heart run. I took a step closer, "Clem," I reached out to touch her, but she pushed my hand aside.
"They cant protect me, huh?" Her eyes watered and her voice quivered.
"Clem, I'm so sorry!" I tried to apologize, "I didn't mea-"
"I CAN PROTECT MYSELF A HELL OF ALOT BETTER THEN YOU CAN!" She shouted and a tear rolled down her cheek. I flinched and I heard foot steps approach the door. Before I knew it, Helena had entered and stared at the two of us.
"Whoa, whoa ," She looked at us, "What the fuck?!"
"It's nothing," She mumbled to the older woman, "Im fine."
Helena looked confused, "What happened?" I think she was saying something else, but I was distracted by the sound of Nick and Pete coming in to tell.
"What's going on?" Nick asked in his deep southern voice.
"We heard the shouting from outside," Pete explained, "Is everyone alright?"
"Yeah," Helena sighed, "Yeah, I think so."
Nick looked over at Clem and was the first to notice her cradling her cheek, "Clem?" He questioned. He grabbed her arm and turned her so he could see her. He moved her hand and saw the red mark that would've had the same shape of my hand by now. Nick looked up at me, confused. And not in a good way. "What the hell happened?!" he demanded. Clementine already looked uncomfortable, she was now hugging her arms now that Nick was cupping her red cheek. Pete and Helena looked over Nick's shoulders and noticed the distinct hand marking shown on Clem's face.
Pete's face turned red with rage and Helena basically took Nick's place in comforting the teenager.
"Oh, honey," Helena soothed. "C'mon, let's go get you an ice pack!" Clementine nodded as Helena took her hand and led her out of the room. Leaving me with an angry Nick and Pete.
"Did you hit her?!" Pete demanded.
I scowled, "It's none of you business."
"Yelling at and hitting a young girl, one that happens to be part of our family, that's not our business?" Nick howled.
I threw my hands in the air, "I didn't mean to do it! It just happened!"
Nick looked beyond enraged, "I can't believe she would consider leaving with you."
I scoffed, "Don't act like I'm some kind of abusive guardian! I didn't mean to do it!"
"Abusive guardian?" He looked at me in disbelieve, "It's just like you to say that."
That got me angry, "Stop that," I demanded, "You don't know shit about me."
"I know what your kind are like," Nick folded his arms.
"My kind? You really think I would hurt her on purpose?" I asked, "What is your problem? It's your dad, isn't it?"
"You best watch what you say!" Pete said, but I ignored him.
I kept my gaze directed at Nick, "You were treated like a kicked puppy all your life and that's what you became. The only reason you're so protective of Clem is because she's the only one who hasn't hurt you. As soon as that changes you wont give as shit about her."
Nick lashed, I swear he was going to kill me if Pete hadn't stopped him. Lucky for me, Luke entered shortly after and took Nick out of the room. I got one hell of a scolding from Pete though. I was soon left alone in that room and realization dawned on me. I'm on my own now. Like how I was in Savannah. Nobody to talk to, nobody to protect. No reason to live.
I didn't want to admit it, but after I started to take care of Clem, I had a something to live for. While I was in Crawford, I had my little sister. I kept her safe, until that stupid, fucking doctor stopped giving me pills for her. Then, it was just surviving. I was one of the people who kept getting lucky. Who was smart enough to keep themselves safe. Then I met Lee. And he reminded me of what it was like to have someone around, even though we weren't horribly close and hadn't known each other long. I took care of his little girl. a reason. Something that needed me. Maybe that's why I have a strong dislike for Nick and Luke.
