It had been two weeks since Duck, Clementine and AJ came back to the boarding school, and in that time they and the rest of the kids had done everything they could to prepare for the inevitable arrival of Lilly and her band of raiders. That included setting barbed wires along the walls, reinforcing the main gates with unwanted junk, and putting signs up to tell the raiders they weren't welcome. By the end, the courtyard looked ready for a siege to take place.

Tension around the school began to grow with each passing day as the kids waited for any sign of the raiders. The fact that they could get attacked at any moment was starting to take its toll on their morale. On a more brighter side, thanks to the food they found at the train station and with careful rationing, they didn't have to risk leaving the safety of the walls to hunt. Ducks archery skill had improved with the help of Aasim. He had been given a set of clothes since his old ones were bloody. He now wore a blue, long sleeve shirt and a jacket just like Marlon's one with the boarding schools' logo on.

Duck looked around the courtyard. Tenn and AJ had watch duty, Mitch was busy building a bomb from materials they found in the greenhouse weeks ago and Clementine was practicing archery using Marlon's bow. Rosie was laying close by her. Everyone else was inside boarding up the doors and windows so that if the raiders came through they would have to enter through the admin building where traps would be set up.

He went over to Clementine, whose arrow just missed the bullseye.

''How's everything out here?'' Duck asked her.

''Same as always,'' She replied. ''How's everything in there?''

''Same as always. Vi told me to check up on you guys. She and Louis won't stop arguing. All this waiting's getting on everyone's nerves.''

''I thought Lilly and Abel would show up days ago,'' Clementine said, sending another arrow into the target.

Duck nodded. ''Me too. I wonder what the hell's taking them so long.''

Just then, Rosie got up and began rubbing her head against Clementine's leg, who in return, scratched the back of her ears affectionately.

''I see you two are getting along well.'' Duck commented.

Clementine let out a small laugh. ''Yeah. I saw her by Marlon's grave earlier looking depressed. Thought I'd go cheer her up. Next thing I know, she won't stop following me.''

''I'll leave you two alone.'' Duck said with a smile and walked off. It seemed had gotten over her fear of dogs now.

AJ waved at him when he got closer to them. He smiled and waved back.

''See anything?'' He asked the two boys.

''No raiders,'' AJ shook his head. ''But we'll let you know when we see any.''

''Good.'' Duck nodded and let them get back to being on lookout.

Mitch sat at the table working on the bomb. He'd been working on it for days and nobody was sure how close he really was to finishing it.

"You want something?" He asked irritably when Duck approached.

"I just wanted to see how things were going," Duck replied. ''So how's the bomb coming along?''

"Still trying to get the damn thing to go off. After all, what good is a bomb if it doesn't blow shit up?"

''Not a very good one I guess.''

"Exactly," Mitch said with a slight smirk. "I'll get it to work. Just need some more time. Time alone if you don't mind.''

"Alright then." Duck grumbled before walking away.

Soon Brody, Violet, Louis, Aasim and Ruby came out of the admin building. Aasim had one hand on his stomach as if he had bee punched.

''You okay?'' Duck asked him.

''Yeah.'' He grunted and took a seat on the couch.

Brody then told them that he and Willy got into an argument over what trap they should use. When was adamant Aasim about using bricks stuffed in duffel bags rather than Willy's idea of using a swinging log, the younger boy punched him in the stomach and ran off.

''At this rate, we'll end up killing each other before the raiders even get a fuckin' chance.'' Violet sighed.

''Then it's a good thing I know just how to break the tension,'' Louis said smiling.

He gestured for them to follow him to where Aasim was sitting.

''Hey buddy!'' Louis greeted as he took a seat next to him on the couch. ''How's it hanging?''

''Dude, fuck off,'' Aasim said angrily.

''Sulking in the corner isn't gonna help us fight off the raiders. Or turn that frown upside down.'' Louis told him. ''But you wanna know what will?''

He pulled out a deck of cards from his coat pocket and showed it to everyone.

''We haven't played a game in weeks. Since that night with Marlon.'' Violet said, sitting down on the couch close to them

Despite how long it felt, Duck remembered that night. Especially the part where he got upset over one of Louis' questions. AJ and Tenn noticed what was going on and decided to join in. Thinking there'd be no harm in just one game, Duck, Clementine, and Brody joined in as well.

''So you playing?'' Louis asked Aasim. A smirk suddenly formed on his lips. ''Or do you wanna ask Ruby to join? I don't mind waiting.''

''Everyone looked at Aasim with surprise, who's face quickly turned red.

''Dude, shut up! I swear to God.''

''Wait, you like Ruby!?'' Brody said with a giggle.

''No!'' Aasim snapped. ''He just pulled that out of his ass!''

''What are we playing?'' AJ asked as he and Tenn arrived.

''Truth or Dare!'' Louis announced.

''How the hell are we supposed to play that with cards?'' Vi asked

''Simple. Everyone draws. The highest card gets to ask, and the lowest card has to answer.'' Louis explained then passed the deck around.

When everyone drew a card and turned, Violet got the highest while Duck got the lowest.

''Oh this is gonna be good,'' Violet said smiling. ''Truth. Marry-Fuck-Kill.''

''Vi!'' Tenn said sternly.

Violet groaned, ''Fine. Marry-Flip-Kill. Clementine, Aasim and...Brody.''

Brody almost jumped at the sound of her name being said. She must've been surprised Violet was even acknowledging she was there. The two girls haven't exactly been on speaking terms these past few weeks.

''Wait...I'm supposed to pick who I...'' Ducks eyes widened when he figured it out. ''Oh my God.''

''You gotta answer. That's the rules.'' Louis said, who was no doubt getting a kick out of his expense.

Duck sighed and thought about it for a moment, ''Okay, I would marry...''

The easiest option would've been to pick Clementine, then that meant he was flipping/killing either Aasim or Brody. But seeing as this was just a game, it wouldn't hurt to go a little crazy.

''Aasim.''

Louis laughed. ''I don't think you're his type, Ducky. He's into redheads.''

''Will you shut up!'' Aasim yelled at him.

''Oh come on. You know it's true.''

Duck cleared his throat.

''Then I would flip...''

''Flip, flip, flip, flip, flip.'' Louis and AJ chanted.

''Brody.''

There was a resounding 'oooh' from the group that made Brody blush slightly.

''So that means you're killing...'' Louis said.

''This is amazing,'' Tenn commented.

''Clem!''

''Wow, Duck. And yeah I thought I meant something to you.'' Clementine said, trying to sound upset but the smile on her face gave it away.

''Sorry, Clem.'' Duck chuckled.

''Is this great? We're all laughing and bonding. It's a nice break from thinking about homicidal assholes sneaking into our school to kidnap us.'' Louis said looking happy.

''It helps when you don't bring it up,'' Violet said dryly.

They each took another card and this time Clementine drew the highest and Aasim the lowest.

''Do your worst,'' Aasim said.

''I dare you to...'' Clementine paused. She looked around the group. When her eyes landed on Duck and a mischievous smile started to form, the boy had a bad feeling in his gut. ''Propose to Duck.''

''What!?'' Both boys exclaimed.

''Oh my God!'' Louis laughed.

''Oh come on, please pick something else,'' Aasim pleaded.

''Seriously Clem? Why that?'' Duck asked.

''What?'' Clementine asked, feigning innocence. ''You did say you'd marry Aasim,'' She then turned to the other boy. ''And you said to do my worst.''

''Wait, wait, wait! I gotta get Ruby for this!'' Louis said excitingly as he got up from the couch. Only for Aasim to grab him by the shoulder.

''Sit the fuck down!'' He said through gritted teeth as he forced the boy back down.

''And you guys have to make it look serious,'' Clementine told him.

Aasim got from up from the couch and went over to Duck who had also stood up. The situation they had gotten themselves in was embarrassing, to say the least, but there was nothing they could do except getting it over with.

Aasim cleared his throat before speaking, ''Okay then...Duck, will you-''

''Oh and you have to get down on one knee when you do it,'' Clementine added.

''You're kidding me!''

''I said make it look serious.''

Aasim let out a long sigh and started over.

''Duck, we have known each other for... quite some time. And... in that time, I have felt us get closer and closer with each passing day. And now I wish to make it official,'' He then bent down on one knee and took Ducks and pretended to hold a ring. ''Will you marry me?''

Before Duck could say anything, Ruby's voice rang through the courtyard.

''What the hell are you two doing?'' She asked when seeing the two boys performing a marriage proposal.

''No, no! It's a dare!'' Aasim tried to explain to her.

Everyone laughed at that. Both Duck and Aasim's faces went red with embarrassment as they returned to their seats.

"Oh man,'' Louis wiped tears from his eyes. ''That went way better than I thought it would. I think we all learned something about our good friend Aasim today. Mainly that he's a real romantic.''

''Shut up.''

As the game went on, Duck couldn't help but feel happy to see everyone laugh and smile again. It was the first time they had done that in a while. Perhaps Louis had a good idea after all.

"Okay everyone, let's finish up our work. I want all our defenses checked before bed." Violet said she stood up.

And with that, everyone got up and went back to their duties. It was Duck and Brody's turn to be on watch. The sun had set and there was still no sign of Lilly or the raiders, just a half dozen walkers going about their business.

''You don't think they'll show up anytime soon, do you?'' Brody asked, breaking the silence.

''No idea. But at least we'll see 'em coming if they do.'' Duck replied.

''Yeah, you're right.'' She agreed and took a deep breath. ''Just letting my nerves get the better of me for a moment.''

''It's okay if you're scared. Hell, I'd be shocked if no one around here wasn't.''

''It's not just that. All this waiting around for something to happen's been taking a toll,'' Brody explained. ''Though, I'm glad we had that little game earlier. Gave us a chance have some good laughs,'' She then smiled at him. ''Even if at other peoples expense.''

''Please don't remind me.'' Duck groaned, causing the girl next to him to laugh.

''If it makes you feel better, I think and you and Aasim make a great couple.'' She said teasingly.

''Gee, thanks,'' Duck said in a sarcastic manner. ''Though I'm pretty he's already got his sights on Ruby.''

''I still can't believe I never knew about that one.'' Brody shook her head. A short while passed until she spoke again. ''Just so you know, we all really appreciate what you, Clem and AJ are doing for us.''

Duck looked at her confused. ''What do you mean?''

''Staying and helping us prepare the school. You guys could've left after your wound got better. And considering we pretty much already kicked you out, I wouldn't really hold it against you.''

The thought hadn't even occurred to Duck. True, they could've just left and not get involved in this conflict any more than they already were. It would've been the easier thing to do. So why didn't they?

''It's just that we've been on the road for so long. Drifting from one place to another. But this school there's everyone we could've ever wanted. Food, walls and...'' He smiled at her. ''Good company.''

Brody's eyes widened slightly and her face turned a slight shade of red. ''Oh. Well, I'm...really glad you feel that way.''

''I, er...what I meant was that..." He said looking only to see Brody wasn't looking at him anymore but off into the distance at something in the woods.

''What the hell?'' She said.

''What is it?'' Duck asked her.

''There's something odd about those walkers just over there.'' Brody pointed to what she was talking about.

Duck tried to see what she meant but it was dark and the trees were in the way. He grabbed the binoculars sitting nearby and looked again. Sure enough, there were figures moving in an odd manner compared o the other walkers. But there was one figure whose face Duck recognized all too well and he felt his blood run cold when he remembered the name. Abel.

''Those aren't walkers.'' He said, putting down the binoculars and looking at Brody. ''We need to get the others.''