The Walking Dead: The World We Live In
Chapter 19: A New Day
"We're going to need to fortify these fences," Lee observes leaning onto the dumpster gate for support as he glances at the arrows sticking out of the exterior of the gate. Lee thought about using the supplies that they got from that abandoned car down the road but remembered that it only had food, water and, and clothing.
It had been a quiet two days since they left the Saint John's Dairy. They had lost so many good people there, like Larry, Kenny had told Lee that night about what Larry said. Lilly had completely shut down, locking herself in her room, leaving the ration room door unlocked. She didn't really care about anything anymore, she was becoming so unstable now. Lee couldn't really blame her, she had lost everything.
He couldn't even bear to imagine what type of person he would be if he lost Bud and Clementine. Or Carley, he really couldn't deny it anymore; there was no putting aside the fact that he liked her. Well, for now, he would have to forget, at least for a little while.
"Yeah, I would say so," Bud nodded scratching his chin, "Look Bud, I think after thirty-two years if you haven't grown a beard then I don't think you ever will. So you can stop looking for hair," Lee quipped.
Bud scoffed at his brother's comment, "Go to hell, Lee," he glared at Lee for as long as he could hold out before cracking a smile.
"You still can't even hold a staring contest with me," Lee teased Bud who simply rolled his eyes.
"Seriously, shut up," Bud retorts crossing his arms, "Here's a question, actually, why do they always make the injured guys do all of the work?" Bud asks.
"Well, would you rather go on runs? No? I didn't think so," Lee says handing Bud a dull pencil, "Here, write down what we need to patch the wall up so Kenny and Mark can get it for us the next time they go into Macon or Peach Tree."
"Macon is getting dry, man. I'm thinking of going along with Kenny," Lee raised his eyebrow at his younger brother as they walked around the parking lot under the morning sun, "I mean, you know, I support his idea of getting that RV running and heading to Savannah."
Lee shrugged, "I can't say I really disagree but I say we should bide our time, get what we can. Iron out the folds, just make sure we're stable enough to leave. Things wouldn't go down well if we just up and leave this evening."
"Yeah. I know, I get it. So, why doesn't Lilly ever let Ben go on runs?" Bud asks shoving his hands in his pockets and momentarily glances up at Ben, poised on the lawn chair atop the RV, who was given watch duty again.
"Lilly thinks that he's a lost cause, that he's hopeless," Lee says, referencing what Lilly told him the night prior when they were going through supplies.
"I don't think so, everyone has potential, you just have to give people a chance," Bud says leaning his good shoulder against the black iron support beam resting under the balcony.
"Yeah, I know. Maybe I'll take him with Clem and I when we go back to her house in a few days," Lee says.
"That sounds good to me," Bud shrugs, "I think he'll be fine, just give it a little time."
"Yeah," he pats his brother's arm twice, "Well I'm going to go and check on Clem, see how she's holding up."
"Alright, I'm going see if I can get these bandages changed," Bud picks at the white bandage covering his upper arm, "Katjaa said she would be able to redress it today anyway."
The two parted each in their own direction, Bud to Katjaa's infirmary and Lee to Clementine. She sat on the last step of the stair case using her knee as a hard surface for her notebook which she diligently drew on. Chocolate lay on his stomach with his head in between his paws, he lazily cast his eyes to the towering form of Lee and returned his gaze to the gently swaying trees.
Lee was surprised Lilly was okay with having a dog around or as she would have liked to say, 'An extra mouth to feed... and give water, and take out on walks to that mouth could do its business.' Like he thought though, she really didn't care anymore. Lee sat next to Clementine and playfully pushed her shoulder as she looked up at him, "Hey Clem."
"Hi Lee!" she chirped returning Lee's push.
"Ow!" he whined grabbing his side which, for the record, was on the opposite side that Clementine had pushed. Clementine widened her eyes, "Oh Lee, I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"
Lee put his large arm around her small frame and boomed with laughter, "Aw it's alright sweetie, I'm just playin'."
Clementine shook her head but still grinned at her friend anyway. "Wanna see what I drew?" she asked.
"But of course!" Lee said leaning on his knees and placing his chin in his hands.
The eight year old smiled at Lee and flipped a few pages in her notebook, she arrived at a pencil shading of a leaf. "Oh is that a uh- come on, what's it called-" Lee racked his brain for the answer.
"It's a leaf rubbing," Clementine answered proudly, "My teacher Mrs. Morris thought me that."
"That's cool, Clem. I remember back when I was your age and my teacher would get our class to-" Clementine interjected his statement jokingly, "Was George Washington in your class?"
Lee raised an eyebrow, "Clementine, we've gone over this," he stressed comedically, "I'm only thirty-eight."
Clementine giggled, "I know."
Lee scoffed, "The nerve of some people, just unbelievable."
Clementine playfully poked him in the ribs, "You wanna see what else I drew?"
"Well I don't know, Clem. You really hurt my feelings," Lee said looking away from Clementine.
"Oh don't be a crybaby," Clementine chaffs and grins at her remark.
Lee whipped his head and looked at her, he raised an eyebrow and pointed at his chest, "Me? Oh no no no no no, dear. I think you're confusing me with my brother, and that's kind of weird because I was always the more attractive one," Lee boasts jokingly.
Clementine smiled and shook her head, "No, I meant you," she teases.
"Well now, are you quite done insulting me?" Lee asked with a goofy, lopsided smile.
Clementine nodded, "Just about."
"Good, now let's see what Picasso had to draw?" Lee offers.
Clementine furrows her brow, "Who's Picasso?"
"He was a painter, quite an innovative one at that, actually," he tipped Clementines hat, "Kind of like you, but I'm sure if he saw your work then he'd be jealous."
Clementine grinned and carefully, while not letting Lee look, tore out a piece of paper by the perforations from her notebook, "You can look now!"
Lee glanced down at the paper and leans on his elbow and grips the paper, he presses his lips together as he observes the drawing. Clementine placed her hands in her lap apprehensively awaiting Lee's comment, "Wow, Clementine," he states somewhat awestruck by the drawing.
It was a very well detailed picture of him, Clementine, his brother, and Carley, each standing hand in hand, "This is amazing," he states looking down at Clementine, "You're amazing, Clementine," he says pulling the little girl he's grown so attached to into a hug.
"Can I keep it?" he asks to which Clementine, still nestled in his chest, nods in approval. He folds it carefully and places it in the front pocket of his blue button up shirt and pats the lump.
It was then that his side began to throb in pain, he let go of Clementine and sat up straight and groaned deeply, "Are you okay?" Clementine asked as Chocolate raised his head up and aimed it at Lee slightly cocking it to the side.
"Yeah, sweat pea, I'm alright. He got me good," Lee looks down at his shoes, "At least he can't hurt anyone anymore, right?" Clementine asks brushing her foot against Chocolate's soft back to which he closed his jaw and affectionately roles to his side.
"Yeah, Clem, that's right," Lee affirms rubbing her back softly, "Why are people so bad?" Clementine asks raising her head up at Lee with piercing hazel eyes.
"Well, first things first is that, well- people just don't always make sense. Sometimes when things get too tough they lash out or, say, encase themselves in a different personality. I figure a lot of people are just scared and are trying to protect themselves," Lee glances down at the lump in shirt where the thick gauze covered his wound, "No matter who or what they have to get through to do it."
Clementine glances up at the Travelier sign and softly bites her lip in thought, "Oh," she responds, "Secondly," Lee starts to speak again.
"When bag things happen, people get angry, or sad- scared. I guess whatever happened to Ryan made him angry, drove him to be a monster, made him hurt people," Clementine looks up at the solemn, knowledgeable figure of Lee, "Have you ever been like that?"
Lee purses his lips, "No, I've never been that angry, and I hope I never will be."
Clementine nods, Lee always admired her perceptiveness of a concept, "I don't ever want to get that angry, and I don't want to have to hurt anyone either."
Lee frowns at her, "It won't ever be that easy, Clementine."
She doesn't respond, she just simply buries her head in his chest and holds onto him tightly.
Lee closed the blinds of his room and lit the two storm lanterns that radiated warm light over the small room. He just saw Clementine off to accompany Ben on watch for a little while. This left him to do whatever he wanted, which at the moment was to change and get some sleep, Katjaa had just given him another dose of medication to alleviate the pain. That medication also had a side effect of quick-coming drowsiness.
Lee unfolded the paper Clementine had drew on for him and placed it on his bedside table. He un buttoned blue shirt and threw it on the floor lazily as got to work peeling off the long sleeved white undershirt. He added that to his small pile and reached under the bed to grab his suitcase. He searched quickly for another shirt to sleep in as the Georgian autumn chilled him down to the bone, he really had never been much of a winter person like his brother. His brother lived for the winter while Lee always cherished the time of warmth and cool breezes that was the spring. 'Just five months until April,' he thought smiling to himself as a light rapping on the door filled the room.
"It's open!" Lee calls removing his jeans and pulling on a pair of shorts and sliding a white t-shirt on as the door swung open.
Carley walked into the room and glanced at Lee's attire and the drop pieces of his chocolate brown orbs, "Bad time?" she asks ready to walk out.
"Nah, no. What's up?" he asks standing up and sliding the suitcase under his bed with his foot, "I can't sleep very well," Lee furrows his brow in confusion at her.
"I can't sleep because I've been thinking," she says grabbing two of her fingers and wobbling side to side, he had never seen her so nervous, "What about?" he asks.
She sighs and looks to her left then back at Lee, "I've- damnit, I've been thinking about you," she confesses.
Seeing that he wasn't going to respond to her, Carley continued, "I mean you know, like... why is this so hard to say?" she asks herself.
Lee stands up and looks down into her eyes, once so determined and now so confused, "Just say it," he gently prods.
Carley bit her lip, "You can tell me whatever you-" she cuts Lee off by closing the gap between the two and crashing their lips together.
This was a collision course he had not foreseen but slowly fell into the rhythm, Carley pulled herself away from Lee, "Oh God- Lee I'm so sorry," she briskly walks away from the man and as soon as her door brushes against the handle that suddenly seemed so cold she heard his voice once more, "Don't go, please."
Carley froze unsure of what to do, so she simply but the bullet and turned around, "I like you, okay?" she proclaims looking down, "And it's been so long and I've never wanted to tell you but- but it just-"
"It's okay Carley," Lee says as his heart beat climbed he could literally feel blood course through his body, he could feel goosebumps rising from his skin as he slowly approached the woman who's feelings he's hidden from her for so long, "I- I like you too."
She swallowed and sighed in relief, but the nervousness was still there as she stumbled over her words, "Really? I didn't think you would because- well I guess. Shit, I mean-"
"Oh shut up," Lee says cupping her warm, blushing cheeks in his hands and lowering his head to kiss her.
The first thing he noticed, now that he had time to notice and was prepared for that sort of thing was her lips, her lips were so soft. Lee closed his eyes as they melted deeply into the kiss, he brushed his thumb along her smooth, warm skin affectionately. To them it was perfect, they were finally together after two months of both not knowing that the other desired for the same thing that was happening now. It was perfect.
Lee pulled away from her and they both smiled, Lee lay his forehead against Carley's, "Who taught you to kiss like that?" she jokes interlocking their hands, "I picked it up- twenty seconds ago, actually," he says causing Carley to giggle.
"You know, I think I can sleep now- really really well," Carley whispers.
"Leaving me already?" Lee asks rubbing her lower back.
"Unfortunately, I need my beauty sleep," Carley says.
"Nah, you're gorgeous without it," Lee compliments her, "And you're very handsome," Carley says.
"Fine," Lee reluctantly lets go of Carley, "I'll see you in the morning?"
"Whether you like it or not, Everett," Carley purrs giving him one last kiss before exiting the room. Lee takes two steps back before he is dead-legged by his bead and crashes down upon the mattress. He grins knowing the he really would sleep well tonight.
AN:
Hello guys and gals! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter because I finally introduced the full CarLee here! Of course, it will still flourish but it is now here for real! Really though, I hope you all enjoyed it because I really wanted to nail this and get it exactly right. The idea was to hint at it as soon as the two met and sprinkle it in in between chapters until this part, so I hope it doesn't seem too rushed or anything. I'm also sorry if they appeared a bit out of character, it was not the easiest scene to write. Also we are really close to episode three and I'm very excited because I have something very nice planned for that, unfortunately though, it won't be like my version of episode two and be completely different. Don't worry though, I'll still have my own signature twist on it! Anyways, until then I'll see you guys in the next chapter!