Clementine felt tears of hapiness falling down her face as she heard Scott sing. She just watched him as he sang. He would look down at her as he did, and each time he would smile. And she would smile back. He was amazing.
She hadnt heard true music in forever. She felt her heart get fuzzy as memoris came back. She missed the sound. She missed it so much.
She shut her eyes and listened. Leaning the back of her head against the wall. Savoring this feeling of security, safety, and...
Happiness. She felt so happy. She loved it.
She felt an arm slip around her, and she realized it was Scott. She let out a huff of disappointment. Was he really done?
"you seem relaxed. Did you like it?"
Clementine grinned at him.
"i loved it. Thank you, Luke."
Scott chuckled and rubbed her hair affectionatly. But he grunted when she wrapped her hands around his stomach and squeezed. He was absouloutly surpised that she was hugging him. He hesitated, before awkwardly hugging her back.
She pulled away and started to climb to her feet. She was a bit unsteady, and her shoulder was starting to bother her. But she ignored it, making her way to the door.
"Where are you going?" Scott asked.
Clementine halted at the door. She paused. Looking down.
"I have to go apoligize." She whispered.
Scott nodded, and she exited.
...
The small amount of people in the area near the front noticed her, and they grew silent. Some who hadnt seen her yet seemed awestruck. Max and Chandler pushed their way through the door just in time to see her. Melissa and Norman followed.
"Clementine!" Max and Chandler exclaimed in unison. They started racing towards her.
Max was holding something in his hand. Clementine realized it was a magazine.
"Hi, guys." She said. She eyed the magazine and looked curiously at Chandler.
"why do you have that?"
Chandler shook his head and showed her the front. It had giant lettering, and Clementine felt her face grow red.
"um..." She trailed off. Oblivious, Chandler waited patiently.
Clementine swallowed hard and nervously let her eyes trail to the writing. She squinted her eyes. Trying her best.
Chandler could tell something was wrong.
"Clementine?" He tried. She let out a loud sigh of embarrasement.
"I... I cant read it." She admitted.
Max looked surprised. "But your eleve-"
Chandler kicked Max in the leg. Shutting him up. Max protested and shoved Chandler.
"she had a first grade education, genious." Chandler hissed under his breathe. He turned to Clementine. "Sorry. Want me to read it you?"
Clementine looked extremely embarrased. She let her eyes trail down. "I CAN read... But... Most of them... Are just..."
Chandler looked at her with understanding eyes. He offered her to come wit with him in the lounge area. She reluctently nodded.
"Telltale disguising alleged 'living video game character' suspiciously. Police to be involved" he read. "If you are a gamer, you may know Teltales The Walking Dead and the face of Clementine. But what if we told you she is real? Its true."
Clementine looked surprised. She was in a magazine?
"unfortunatly." Chandler continued. "Teltales suspicious activity concerning the secrecy surrounding this phenomenon has gained the attenion of local child service agencies and concerned civilians. The police will visit the business to discuss legal matters as of today."
Clementine didnt show any response.
Chandler handed the paper to Max.
"everyone knows now. Im sure peple are going to be outside thiat door faster than you can kill a walker."
Max crossed his arms and cocked his eyebrow. "Did you have to use that metaphor?"
Chandler grinned. "You bet I did"
Clementine couldnt help but smile. Boys...
Clementine felt a hand on her shoulder.
"hey kids. What are you up to?"
Clementine spun around to look at Dave.
"Dave!" She exclaimed in surprise. "I... I..."
Dave looked down at her.
"...Im sorry for snapping at you..." She whispered. "I hope your not mad at me."
Was he angry at her? Will he accept? Clementine waited in tension.
Dave smiled and ruffled her hat.
"its okay, sweet pea. Im not mad at you."
Clementine breathed out and hugged him.
"Hey, Dave." Chandler greeted, waving nervously. Max was reading the magazine.
"Hey, Carl." He winked. He looked at Max. "What do you have there?"
Max jumped at Daves voice, but he offered the magazine to Dave. Dave took it and spun it around to read it. After a couple seconds, he frowned and tore the paper right down the middle. After, he tossed the peices into a nearby trash can.
"Clem, thats the media for you. Just lies. Lies and garbage." Dave informed her. "When they dont get the information they want, they just blackmail you. Make up stories to get readers. All the care about is money. Lots of money."
Clementine crossed her arms and nodded.
"What are you going to do?" Melissa chirped, approaching the group. She nervously looked towards Clementine. Clementine felt guilt nag at her. She wanted to apoligize to Melissa so bad.
Dave noticed several people gathering outside Teltales doors and peering in. He narrowed his eyes.
"I dont know yet." He answered. "I have to go talk to Scott. Clem, why dont you hang with Melissa. Max? Chandler? Can you come with me? I have smething for you to do."
Clementine felt herself looking awkwardly at Melissa.
"aw, man." Max muttered in disappointment. He extended his hand to Clementine.
Clementine looked at confused.
Max rolled his eyes. "C'mon, high five?"
Clementine looked embarrased. "S-sorry, its been awhile." She stuttered, returning the high five. Chandler smiled. Clementne felt her face burning up. Ergh, what was this feeling?
"Seeya, Clemmy." He said, saluting her playfully as he followed Dave. Clem blushed when he called her that.
"C'mon, Norman!" He caled over his shoulder. An older man rolled his eyes and jogged over to Chandlers side. They walked away.
Then, it was just Clementine and Melissa.
"...Melissa?" Clementine started. "Can i talk to you... Alone?"
Melissa looked surprised.
Clementine looked down. "...please?"
Melisa couldnt help but smile. She offered her hand to Clementine.
"Sure, Clementine." She answered.
Clementine eagerly took Melissa's hand and held it. Melissa looked around, and pointed down another hallway.
"C'mon, there is a room down there. It had some chairs. Lets go."
Clementine ran alongside Melissa as they reached the room. Entering it, Clementine admired the colors of the room.
Melissa shut the door behind her and turned around. Clementine ran over and hugged her. Clementine felt like that was the only way to get her point clear.
Melissa widened her eyes.
"Im sorry, Melissa!" Clementne apoligized, pulling away. "I just... Im having trouble handling it all. Its all so sudden."
Melissa grinned, feeling touched. "Aw, Clem. Its okay. You had a point. We shouldnt have been so forceful with the information."
Clementine shrugged. "I should of handled it better. Crying in front of you guys."
Melissa sat down. She offered Clementine a seat beside her.
"Clementine, there is nothing wrong with crying. Keeping that bottled up for to long can really start to harm you. It does. Its okay to let it go."
Clementine nodded, but she heard that how many times now?
Melissa sensed that. "I know its embarrasing, but how did it feel when... Um... When Christa refused to talk about Omid or Lee for sixteen months?" She asked.
Clementine felt her lip quiver. "Not that bad..." She responded reluctantly.
Melissa raised her eyebrow.
"Okay... Terrible." She admitted. Crossing her arms.
"you see, how did it feel to talk to Luke that night?"
Clementine felt the edges of her mouth turn up at the memory.
"Great." She answered truthfully.
"there you go."
Clementine sighed in defeat.
"and, you can ALWAYS talk to me if you need to." Melissa added affectionatly
Clementine bit her lip. What WOULD she ask her?
Maybe... Something a little off topic...
"Well, whenever I... Um... This is awkward..." She started.
"Whats wrong?" Melissa asked.
"whenever i look at chandler, I get all woozy and dizzy. Something is in my stomach, and it flutters around. My face gets hot also. Like blushing red when im cold. Am i sick?! Is it something i need to get looked at?"
Melissa covered her mouth in realization. She felt the laughter coming, but she was trying her best to stay serious. She snickered a little bit into her hand. Clementine felt her face heat up in embarrasement and hurt. She crossed her arms, annoyed.
"i dont see whats so funny." She muttered.
Melissa straightened her composure.
"im sorry, Clem. Its... Dont worrym your not sick. Its just... Horomones."
Clementines expression was blank.
"Have you ever had a... Crush before?"