A/N:
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Modern Period of The Walking Dead Game
High School AU
Chapter Thirty Five: Crush
Louis sat next to his mother in boredom. He leaned to the side and watched his old man whipping his arms with a stick in his hand. Composing the musicians to speed up into a rapid temple. The music lover audiences stayed silent while the boy distracted his mind on his cell phone.
C: Stop sending me pictures of me sleeping in math class!
Louis almost let out a chuckle. He glanced at his mother. She was too busy watching the performance like everyone else.
He believed that he's the only young person in the theater. Everyone in here dressed all fancy are old farts that has a passion for music or just there because they have money. As much as he loves music too, he hates going to the orchestra.
The dread head teen rather watched solo piano performances. Add a violinist for spicing the intensity between the two instruments.
His fingers tapped the screen and then he pressed send. Sending her a video of her sleeping form. The camera zooming in to her bothered face. That video was taking after their quiz.
L: Can't help it 😏
C: That's why I have this! 😈
A picture loaded. He looked up to seeing his father slowing down the temple.
Thoughts of his grandfather's words flooded back while he stared at his father's back. His grandfather always rant how it took him years to get out playing at bars and under class clubs. He admired how far his father made it to be a conductor. During his father's time, things weren't as rough as his grandpa.
And carrying the last name and musical talent was everything to his family. The Knight legacy.
Louis just hoped he don't act like his father when he has a kid. Ignoring them when they mention about school, punish them by playing the piano for hours till their fingers cramp and the music notes glued to their head, and only acknowledge them when presenting at wealthy gatherings, parties, concerts, award ceremonies, and anywhere else that would give them recognition.
Louis glanced back down at his phone. A picture of Clem and Violet squatting like a gangster with rock hand signs next to sleeping Louis.
The boy chuckled.
"Hey. Quiet boy." His mother whispered. Louis fixed his composure and straighten up his position. Tugged on his tie, loosen it around his neck.
"Yes ma'am." He mumbled. He gave it a few minutes to go back on his phone.
L: Need that as my poster
The bubbles popped up bouncing. He glanced back up and then his phone. A new message popped up.
C: Will that help you sleep at night?
L: No.
L: Unless you're with me. 🙈
C: e.e
.
.
Clementine waited for AJ in her car. She still whipping in the streets with one leg brace. And AJ trusted her since no cop stop her.
Clem heard the pixie like chime in the cubby in front of the arm rest. She grabbed her phone and saw it was a message from Louis.
A smile appeared on her face.
L: Morning
Lately, Louis been sending her morning texts. At first, it started off shy. Clem barely responded until she was bored to death in class or the next day. When they got the hang of it, she responded minutes later. Now, her texts take seconds to send.
Clementine replied quickly.
C: Morning dork
L: Can I give you a nickname too
Clem rolled her eyes. She thought about it for a second. She always calls him, Dork. Why not have a nickname too?
C: Sure.
C: Better not be weird 😡😡😡
It better be cute. She thought.
L: Shorty
Her smile dropped. Louis loves teasing her height. And getting the reaction he wanted from it. Like bending down to her level pissed her off.
C: No
.
.
Clem narrowed her amber eyes at Louis who is crouched down with his back facing her.
"Come on!" He slapped his back.
"I am not getting on your back." She growled. He whipped his head back, dread locks hitting his cheek. Shocked that she refuse his offer for the fourth time.
"You will slow me down." He squinted. Clem flipped him off.
"Then run to class. I don't care being late. I have an excuse." She pointed at her brace. Louis stood up.
"Fine." He inched closer to her. Clementine stepped backwards. Knowing what he's thinking of
"Stop! Louis! Don't you da-!"
Clementine pouted in his arms as he carried her bridal style up two flights of stairs.
"Stop making that face." He smiled. Clem rolled her eyes and huffed.
"You're embarrassing."
Students passed by whispering and pointing at them. Clem heard 'cute, couple, sweet guy' and most of all 'adorable' from them. Louis loves the attention. He had no care about what others say about them. He was worried before when she dated Gabriel but now things changed, he doesn't care.
"You like it." He said to her. Her cheeks flushed pink. She held her books close to her chest. Avoided his gaze. She watched him climb on each step carefully.
It amazed her how easy he carries her. She is small. So, he can't complain.
"Dork."
"Princess."
She went back pouting her cheeks again. He's still looking for a nickname to call her and everyone is too clique or lame.
"No."
.
.
In the back of the music room, Clem and Louis observed AJ playing the piano. When school done, the two go straight to the music room.
Louis took out a bag of coated chocolate pretzels. With bright eyes, Clem moved close to him. He glanced at her.
"What?"
"Give me some." She held out her palm. Louis eyed her up and down like she's crazy. Twisting his body away from her.
"No way, fat ass." He plopped one in his mouth.
The girl beside him gasped. Before she could grab him, he climbed over the slope row of seats.
"Louis, you jerk!"
AJ hit the keys like a maniac. He turned to them. Watching how ridiculous they are.
Clem struggling to climb over the chairs as Louis used his long legs, easily going over them.
"You two stop goofing around!" He yelled at them. Frightened by his voice, Clem fall on the floor with a thump.
"Damn!" Louis and AJ said as their bodies jerked back.
The small girl moaned on the floor. Louis and AJ went up to her, peering over the seats.
The teen with the afro glared at her.
"Are you hurt?"
"No bu-"
"Good enough." He turned away from his cousin. Clem scoffed as she sat up. Louis helped her on her feet.
Like a clumsy idiot, Louis tripped on her brace and dragged her down with him.
AJ released a sigh. He went back playing the song all over again.
On the floor, Louis laid on top of Clem. She groaned from pain on her leg. He sat up, straddling the girl to see crushed pretzels on her sweater and his jacket.
The unpleasant look on her face was intimidating.
Clem, annoyed that her favorite pretzels all over her and mad that it's broken in to pieces.
Louis reached for one on her stomach and angled it to her face. She opened her mouth as he slipped the pretzel piece in her mouth. She simply chewed while glaring at him.
"Happy now?" He chuckled. Clem's cheeks puffed out as a blush spread on her face.
"Nope."
.
.
Louis took Clem's favorite cap and put it on. He swung the bill to the back. His dreads pushed back from the hat, showing his dashing good looks.
"Do I look radiant today?" He fluttered his short lashes. Clem twisted around to pass him the math sheet. He took it.
"You look so yummy." Aasim said. Annoyed looking at the two playing around all the time in class.
"Wanna taste some of this yumminess?" Louis flirted as he scraped his desk closer to Aasim. Aasim wore a disturb look as Louis kept getting closer. The tan boy kicked Louis's desk back to its spot. Completely not interested to play the dread boy's game.
"Get away." Aasim glared. Louis didn't stop scooting closer to him. Minerva and Brody laughed at their lil' bromance.
"Aasim~!" Louis moaned.
"Oh my god!" Ms. Lily groaned on her desk. Clem giggled.
"Louis! Stop it!" Clem whisper shouted. Louis listened to her command. He straightened his desk behind Clem.
Clem smoothly took her hat from his head and plopped it over her bad hair day.
"Clem~"
"Shut up, Louis!" Violet threw her erase at him.
"You want some of me too?" He whispered at Violet. Minerva threw her pencil at him, causing Clem to giggle when it hit his forehead. Leaving a reddish mark.
"Am I bleeding!?"
"Shut up Louis!" The class ambushed him. Clem laughed hard behind her hand. Louis stared at her. Loving the way her eye squinted, nose scrunched up, and curled up her shoulders, laughing all cute.
A precious sight.
.
.
Your hair looks pretty
-Your Knight
Clem read the note on her desk. She looked at Louis who sat next to her. A smirk formed on his face.
She didn't put effort to dress to impress. She wore dark denim jeans, old classic converses, and her grape fruit color over size hoodie. Clem had on her signature cap. Her hair was tied up in a low pony tail. With her defined curls popping out looking extra juicy.
Clem smiled. Maybe too much but she couldn't help it. It was very flattering when he complimented her when she attempts to do something small. Like how she tried a new product for her hair this morning.
Another note slipped on her desk.
Smells like rice crispy marshmallow bar
-Your Knight
Clem narrowed her eyes. Smiling like an idiot at him.
Louis chuckled. Her smiles never get old. Always a stress reliever.
She took out a sticky note and wrote on it. She gave it to him quickly because their history teacher was giving out a lesson.
Louis smiled at the note.
Thanks xoxo
-Orange Warrior
.
.
"Any plans for Thanksgiving break?" Marlon asked Clementine.
"Eating and sleeping." She answered. Louis hung his arm around Clem's shoulders.
"I would love to come eat your food. Since you always eat up my damn pretzels." He poked her cheek. Clem swept his hand away as they walked through the halls.
The small girl glared at the tall boy.
"You ate my good candy, so a yearly supply of pretzels is your payment." She pointed at him accusingly. Shaming him. He had kept her bag of candy and stole a few good candies. Clem counted them before the chaos.
"You go to her house?" Marlon lifted a brow. Louis and Clem kept walking, not realizing what Marlon is imagining.
"Yeah. Why?" Louis turned to look at his confused friend. Marlon gave them suspicious glances.
"Only to study...and watch movies." Clem said.
"I see..."
"What do you see?" Clem asked. Marlon eye balled them up and down. Point with his eyes at Louis's arm draped around her neck, her arm around his waist, and the nonexistent gap between them.
Clem and Louis ripped apart from each other. Blushing by the fact they grew naturally attach and neither of them were aware.
"Um...so... How is Brody?" Clem waved off her bashful thoughts to an important topic that stung Marlon.
Marlon furrowed. His mouth opened to speak but no words came out.
The three saw Brody waiting at the closed door. She leaned against the wall looking mopey and exhausted.
Louis bumped Marlon.
"You guys still not talking?" Louis whispered. Marlon nodded.
"You guys should move pass that. That guy, Brian-"
"Ben." Louis corrected her.
"Ben, is no longer around. And I know what he did to her was awful, but she needs you right now. Leaving her dry is telling her this is all her fault and that she's alone through it all. The guilt eating her up." Clem said. Marlon stood there silently, staring at Brody.
Clementine continued.
"Everything that happened is in the past. She's not who she is from before. And she wishes to be with you and only you. If you love her...You'll let everything go and go to her."
"Yeah man. Brody needs you. And you need her." Louis patted Marlon's shoulder. Giving his buddy a small smile.
The blonde senior loves her. So much. But what she done with Ben can never go away. Knowing that the internet has a video of her nude and getting down with Ben or whoever, fucking pissed him off. Only he's allowed to see her in her glory. Now them or the world.
What Clem said, gave him the strength to move his feet. Making his way to his lost lover. Clementine was right. Distancing himself damaged Brody. Her face paled and eyes lacked life.
Brody lifted her head. Quickly dapping her fingers on the corner of her eyes. She stood up right when Marlon unexpectedly held her and whispered in her ear.
"I needed time to think and all I wanted is be with you. I'm full of shit without you...I hate myself...Hate how Ben can...Ugh I wish I could beat the shit out of Ben." He told her in her ear. His voice made tears whelmed up her eyes. Brody's face stiffened as blood raise up her face. She pressed her nose on his chest, inhaling deeply to save his scent.
"I'm sorry, Mar-"
"Don't be. I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me." He cupped her cheek, thumbing her tears away.
Marlon embraced her again. Longing for her.
Louis smiled down at Clementine. She let out an awkward laugh.
"What?"
"Okay, Cupid. Help me find someone too." He joked. Clem shyly bumped her elbow on his waist.
"You?! Do rich kids have arrange marriages or...?" She questioned. Louis released a dry laugh.
"Ha. Ha. No."
"Then go find a rich girl or some damsel in destress your damn self. I ain't match making you with someone." She blunted said. Looking hurt, Louis swung his arm over her shoulder again. Clem automatically hugged his waist.
"...Hey girl." He whispered in her ear. Making the hairs on her neck pickled up. She pushed him away from her.
"No way!"
.
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Clementine laid in bed as she stares at her phone, face timing Louis. He was playing on his piano, practicing his new song. Still in the progress in finishing it. He marked his music paper, filling in new notes and erasing crappy ones.
"Shit..." He cussed. Clem chuckled.
"Is everything alright?" She asked. He eyed his phone, staring at her for a minute then played on the keys to find a certain tune.
Writing on the paper again, his lips stretched into a smile.
"It's peachy." He shot her his famous smiles.
Louis played the music from the start. While he did, Clem fixed her ear bud and listened to the melody. Her mind shut down and eyes closed.
The music invading her thoughtless mind. Sending her in to a peaceful state.
She opened her eyes. Watched him engage with the music by swaying his body like a willow tree and adjusting his hands position.
He's magnificent. She thought.
She loves listening to his music. Even his voice was beautiful. And unifying his music and vocals were... like...
"Sploosh."
"Huh?" He cocked his head to the side, still playing the song that he's working on.
The covers hid her massive blushing face. Can't believe she said that out loud.
This whole month of November been a mind game for Clem. Besides not being aware how close they gotten but how much she feels around him.
Being around him felt different when she's with Duck or Gabriel. Louis has this vibe. He could do the dumbest shit ever and still make her laugh. His flirtatious comments or compliments fed her confidence and attraction. And now, they have a habit walking in each other arms. Embarrassing enough to admit it, she likes being close to him. He smelled really good!
Even though, Louis barely talks about himself, she still curious about his other life as a rich boy.
Like, do he act like someone else in school, is he actually disrespectful towards his 'servants', are his parents' snobs, do his change into a formal fit when he's around wealthy gatherings? Who knows.
Clem wanted to know more about him.
"Nothing." She peeked above the covers.
Louis's eyes lingered in hers. The screen was up close to her face. And only her cat like eyes were in view. Those beautiful rare eyes of hers.
A connection flowing between them as their eyes lingered at each other.
.
.
Duck and Ava sat on the floor, watching Clem pacing the room. Wobbling like a duckling looking for its mama.
"He wants you to meet him where?" Duck asked.
"At the music room..."
"Why are you so...nervous?"
"AJ won't be there on that day. AJ playing basketball with Tennessee and other friends." She said quickly as if she spoken another language. Duck and Ava glanced at each other and then back to Clem.
"Soooo~ being alone with him is making you nervous? It's not like he's into you...Or is he?" Duck said cluelessly. Ava sighed. She patted Duck's back.
The boy is behind.
"She's crushing on him hard." Ava pointed her thumb at Clem.
"AVA! I'm... I'm not. Its... ugh..." Clem pulled her hair. Duck laugh increased gradually.
"What!? This is worse than the time at middle school when you had that crazy Gabe crush! You are so digging Louis." Duck smile widened. Clem pouted as she hugged her legs.
"I don't like him." She mumbled. Duck crawled to her and hugged her. Swallowing her small frame.
"This is very adorable." Ava joined them. Clem squirmed.
"If you don't like him. This shouldn't be a big deal." Duck told Clem.
"I don't like him..." She whispered.
"Louis don't date anyway. Relationships is out of his league." Ava said. Duck released Clem, giving Ava a look.
"Louis?"
"Ugh... duh."
"Dude. You know nothing about Louis." Duck shook his head. Ava crossed her arms. Clem sat there quietly, listening to Duck.
"What do you know about him since I don't, apparently."
"Well, I heard from Minerva and Marlon that he's paying for his grandfather's living and medical expenses because his grandfather used his savings on Louis for something...I forgot."
"What? But, Louis is fucking ric-" Duck interrupted Ava.
"Louis earning the money on his own. That's outta respect and hardship." Duck said.
"Are you serious?! His father fucking rich. Why can't Louis dip in the money-"
"His father is so selfish and cold hearted that he's not wasting a penny for his old man. His father can trace where that money goes. And he doesn't know about Louis working his ass off at night." Duck cleared up everything.
Obtaining so much information about Louis, Clem smiled sadly. Louis is such a great person. A heart of gold.
He kept his life private from her only because it was not her business and he's doing everything he can for his grandfather's sake behind his father's back.
Clem felt sick how his father acted over money. Of course, there's more to the story but Duck and Ava doesn't know about it. What fascinated Clem about Louis is that he doesn't brag about his wealth. He acts like a regular teenager. He doesn't like to be spoil. He so charming and sweet for his own good.
Clementine checked her cell phone. The smile on her face stretched.
L: I'm almost finished with the song. By next week I'll play it for you 😝
Clem swirled her thumb around. Not sure what to text.
She looked up at Ava and Duck. Watching her eagerly.
"Your eyes gets big when you text him." Duck smirked. Ava winked at her. Clem threw her body back on the hard floor.
"Shut up!" She whined.
C: Can't wait 🎹