Disclaimer: The Walking Dead Series is NOT my work. It is owned by TellTale, all rights, commendation and acknowledgement goes to them.
However, "Derek Brooks" is my own fictional character and apparently the only thing I own in this story.
Chapter 8 - A Friendship Forged
As the sun began its descent, casting a golden hue across the horizon, a gentle breeze stirred through the grounds of the school. It phased through its open windows and metal gates, dancing gracefully around it before sweeping through the residents gathered around the courtyard. It's biting freeze made them shiver as they huddled themselves even closer to the fire.
The cold air kissed Derek's skin but his body ignored the sensation. His eyes, focused on the task at hand. He was in the middle of process in cleaning the AK-47 he 'found', meticulously cleaning and inspecting it with careful eyes, its sturdy frame resting on his calloused hands. The rhythmic sound of a cleaning rod swabbing the barrel filled the air, after a few more swabs, he put the rod aside and grabbed a spare rag and started cleaning and polishing the other components. With each stroke, he carefully wiped away the grime and residue, revealing the weapon's true potential. Surprisingly, the weapon is in good condition and well maintained despite the circumstances, he would usually find rifles in poor conditions, sometimes missing parts, or full of dirt and grime. Something tells him, whoever owned this weapon had the necessary parts and tools to keep it well-maintained.
He could've performed a more in-depth cleaning but unfortunately, the lack of tools prevented him to do so. It was in these solitary moments, as he breathed life back into the weapon, that Derek found solace—a connection to his past, a reminder of the skills he possessed, and a haunting reflection of the choices he had made.
He shook his head.
Let the past remain undisturbed. It may define him for who he is but it will not choose how he will live his life. That is his own freedom. His own choice.
"Hey guys! It's supper time."
Derek looked up from his work and turned towards the source. It was Louis, a smile was present in his face as he waved towards them with a plate on one hand.
"Give me a minute!" Derek called back. With practiced ease and memorization, he reassembled the rifle back to its former glory within a few minutes. With one pull at the chamber he smirked at his work, proud at his own speed and efficiency. He placed the rifle on the table and went towards the crowd.
As he arrived, he also noticed Clementine and AJ already eating their own share.
"Hungry, eh?" he smirked.
"Yeah I am! It was hard work." AJ said.
Derek scanned the crowd until he saw the leader of the school. "Hey Marlon. Thanks for the food." He nodded at him in appreciation.
Marlon was taken aback by the sudden callout. He swallowed the food in his mouth and smiled. "N-No problem." He coughed.
'Must be the food.' Derek thought, noticing the strange behavior.
He grabbed the food provided to him and ate in silence.
The residents ate in relative silence as they gathered themselves around the dimly lit courtyard, a respite considering the day's exhausting events. No small talks were made, perhaps too tired or not interested to do so. The aroma of a modest meal permeated the air, warming both stomachs and spirits. Derek looked towards AJ and saw the small smile he had as he ate his meal. Funnily enough, Clementine mentioned that AJ ate haphazardly earlier which earned a disapproving glare from Ruby. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. He would've loved to see that.
AJ looked down at his bowl in disappointment, he looked up to his guardian with pleading, hungry eyes as he showed her his empty food bowl. "Clem?"
Clementine felt her heart ache at the sight but as much as she wanted to share, she was hungry too. "I'm sorry, buddy. I'm sure they shared as much as they could."
Louis, overhearing the conversation, looked down at his own bowl then at AJ, an idea occurred to him. "AJ, heads up!" he slid his bowl towards the hungry child. "I'm full, kiddo. You can have the rest." He said, smiling.
Clementine and Derek looked at him with surprise. "You sure?" The former asked.
Louis nodded in confirmation. "You bet."
AJ broke into a wide grin and quickly dug into the new bowl of food.
Derek flashed a small smile towards the teen. "Thanks man. You're all right." He nodded at him.
"Just doing what I do best." His tone carried a hint of pride yet also honesty.
"Well keep at it then." Derek slightly at him.
It was these moments of simple acts of kindness reminded Derek that despite the current state of the world, there are still people who understood the weight of their shared existence and are willing to help whenever they can. A sign that there is still a small glimmer of hope in humanity who aims to make the world a better place.
With satisfied bellies and rested bodies, the residents of Ericson's boarding school are now preparing to call it a night. The once full bowls of food are now empty, leaving only a smidgen of evidence that food was served there. Ruby and Omar cleared the used bowls and utensils on the table, their actions only punctuated by the gentle clinking of utensils being cleared away.
Aasim, Mitch, and Willy already called in for the night while Marlon was nowhere to be seen. Brody, Clementine, AJ, Derek, Louis, Violet, and Tenn were the only ones left in the courtyard. A mischievous grin flashed on Louis's features as he took a deck of cards seemingly out of his jacket.
"Time for something...very important." He chimed, grinning from ear to ear.
Brody took one look at the cards in hand and rolled her eyes. "Oh God. Goodnight." She muttered lowly and walked away.
Louis chuckled at her reaction and looked at Violet from afar. "Violet! It's time!" he hollered.
Derek and Clementine looked at the cards in hand with curiosity. Clementine was the first to speak up. "I don't really play cards. The only game I played had less people in it."
Derek's eyes glimmered with childish excitement; he was visibly jumping in his place. "Is it poker?" He asked excitedly.
Louis stopped shuffling the cards and looked at him with surprise. "You play?"
He nodded.
Louis grinned widely. "Oh man I've been looking for someone else to know that game. Ruby seems to beat me all the time. But no, we're playing a different game."
This earned a small pout from Derek.
Violet was quick to chime in, her confident pose was a telltale sign she played this a lot. "Don't worry it's easy. Everyone gets a stack of cards, everyone flips one over. Highest card wins."
"And the winner gets to ask you guys a question." Louis added.
The two new players shifted their looks at him, one was with caution, the other curiosity.
Like a deer caught in headlights, his eyes widened when they looked at him. "What? I want to get to know you. We all do."
Derek looked at Clementine and shrugged. "A few games won't hurt." He said. Clementine hummed in agreement, nodding. "Sure. We'll play."
"Alright!" Louis handed each of them their own stacks of cards, one for each player.
Derek noticed the lack of a small child usually by his side. "Wait, where's AJ?" His eyes scanned the surrounding area. Clementine seemed to notice too as she joined the search.
"What about him? Looks like he's made a friend." Louis motioned his head towards the general direction where AJ was. He and Tenn was hanging around on a separate table with Tenn drawing on a sketchbook.
"It's not like he's gonna run off anywhere. He'll be fine." Violet said.
Clementine took one last look at AJ and reluctantly nodded. "Yeah, maybe. It's just… it's his first time around anyone his own age. Sometimes he acts more like an adult than a kid. It's nice to see him act like a little boy again."
"He'll always be your little boy." Derek smirked at her.
She jabbed at his ribs in response.
The deck of cards laid down innocently by the table, waiting to be used. Each person took a card from their pile and revealed their contents. Clementine got a Queen of Spades, Louis got a Jack of Hearts, Violet got a two of hearts, while Derek got an Ace of Diamonds.
"Ha! Suck it losers!" Derek grinned widely as he saw his card. "Got an ace! I beat all of y'all."
Louis chuckled darkly, his own smile overpowering Derek's as the latter shifted from joy to confusion.
"You think the ace is the highest?" he laughed. "It's actually the lowest of them all."
The revelation hit Derek like a truck as he felt cold dread at the realization. He grabbed his head with both hands and cried out.
"NO! -"
"SHHH!"
"SHHH!"
"SHHH!"
Three people hushing followed by a light slap immediately shut Derek up as he lightly caressed his head after being hit by Clementine.
"You want every walker in the area hear you?!" Violet glared at him.
Derek blushed dark red in embarrassment. "I… I'm sorry. I just get worked up with card games."
Louis looked at him with wide-eyes disbelief. "Uh huh. Noted." he coughed into his fist then shook his head. "Anyway, Clementine is the highest, so I guess she won."
Clementine hummed as she thought about her question. She wasn't about to ask something personal and make their relationship with the residents worse. So, she opted for a safe and easy one. "You guys meet anyone famous out here?"
The two teens shook their head.
"Well I'm not surprised. Considering how damn isolated this school is." Derek said, quietly cheering in the inside that he can swear since AJ wasn't around.
Violet was quick to add. "They had like millions of dollars. They're probably living in a bunker somewhere with butlers and water beds out their ass."
Clementine remembered the time she met Javi, a former baseball star who she fought alongside with for a short amount of time to find AJ's whereabouts. "I met a guy who used to be a baseball player. Like, for money." Clementine added.
Derek raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Really? How come you never told me?"
"You never asked." She simply said.
Derek pondered in silent thought. "Huh."
"Oh man I used to love baseball. Was he good at it?" Louis asked.
Clementine shrugged. "Dunno, we never got to play. He was good with a bat, though." She added.
Derek looked at the banter between the two and looked down shyly. "I never really played any sports." he confessed in a low voice but loud enough for everyone to hear. They looked at him with surprise in their eyes, expecting someone like him to know atleast a thing or two about sports.
Louis looked at him with disbelief. "Really? But you look like you could take down a quarterback."
Violet remarked. "Or be the quarterback."
Derek rubbed the back of his neck. "I really wasn't into sports when I was young. Or any sports for that matter. I was more of a video games kinda guy."
"Shame." Violet muttered.
With nothing else to add, the group took another card from their decks. Clementine got a Five of Clovers, Derek got a Queen of Hearts, Violet got a Jack of Spades, while Louis got a King of Diamonds.
"King me." He smirked at his victory.
"Ah shucks. Ah well, what's your question." Derek asked.
Suddenly, Louis went shy, avoiding eye contact with the group all of a sudden, finding interest on anything else rather than them.
"Come on. Spit it out." Violet glared at the teen.
"Are you guys… well… Are you guys dating?"
The question hung in the air, catching Clementine off guard. A warm blush crept up her cheeks, as she shyly looked away, while Derek's expression tightened with a mix of discomfort and uncertainty. The table fell into an awkward silence as the two other teens turned their eyes to the pair.
"It's… complicated. But no, we're not… We're not dating."
A lingering disappointment settled within Derek's heart, overshadowing the flickering moments of camaraderie. Though he had denied their romantic involvement, a part of him yearned for something more, something true, not the usual flirting he'd do from time to time. He had grown fond of Clementine, admired her resilience and strength but also her cunning and bravery, but the harsh reality of their world made any pursuit of love feel risky and uncertain. The fear of loss, bringing more complications into their already precarious lives.
A mix of emotions flooded Clementine's heart. The unexpected spotlight cast upon her and Derek made her cheeks flush with a delicate shade of pink. She admired his unwavering loyalty and the strength he carried within him. There was a sense of safety and familiarity whenever he was by her side, a feeling that he understood the weight she carried as well. His presence brought her comfort in this chaotic world, reminding her that she wasn't alone in the fight. Not anymore.
But the world is cruel and unforgiving. Everything they have could be taken away by mere moments of a single mistake. They couldn't afford the risks, not when they still haven't found a place to call home. Though disappointment tugged at Clementine's heart, she knew deep down that it was the right decision. They would continue to navigate the complexities of their feelings, finding solace in the unspoken moments, until the time was right to speak out their true feelings to one another.
But until the time comes, their responsibilities come first.
An uncomfortable silence filled the table. A look of regret fell on Louis's face followed by a look of disapproval from Violet aimed towards him.
A cough from Derek got everybody's attention. He gestured to the deck of cards in front of them. "Shall we?" he said, waiting for them. Not wanting to go back to the awkward silence, the teens silently agreed to let bygones be bygones. They flipped their own cards, revealing the contents within. Derek got a King of Clovers, Clementine got a Ten of Hearts, Louis got a Five of Hearts, while Violet got an Ace of Spades.
"Ha! Suck it!" Derek grinned, this time knowing he won for sure. The rapid change of attitude caught the other two teens off-guard but not Clementine, having experience dealing with his rapid change of behavior for almost two years.
"Alright, shoot." Louis said.
Derek always was a curious person might as well take advantage of the situation. "What did you guys do before the apocalypse?"
"What do you mean? We were just kids, it's not like we got much to do." Violet sarcastically replied.
Now that she mentions it, it was kind of a stupid question.
Derek scratched his chin subconsciously, his ears turning red in embarrassment. "You know what? Let's just go with how'd you ended up here." he rephrased.
"All of us here are students before." Louis began. "When we heard about people coming back from the dead eating people, most of us didn't believe it. Then suddenly, the adults just up and left us. It didn't take long until we found ourselves that it was true."
He recounted the story of how they were isolated so far from the cities, they didn't even know what was happening until it was too late. "Didn't take long until most of us left the school to look for their parents. Most of them never came back." He shook his head solemnly, not knowing the fates of those who left.
"And those who did?" Violet chimed in. "Were usually bit and turned on us eventually." She clenched her fist as she remembered the close calls, the people who died and almost died.
Derek nodded in sympathy, his lips shifted into a thin line, knowing all too well about their pain. He contemplated whether or not he should tell them his story but ultimately decided to share it. He owed it to them for what happened earlier.
"I… I was in Boston when it happened." Derek said. This earned a curious gaze from the two other teens, even Clementine, who didn't actually know the full story. "We were on a vacation to watch a dumb baseball game my father wanted as well as 'enjoy the American dream'. We stopped by a small convenience store- "
"Wait, wait. You're not American?" Louis interrupted.
Derek shook his head. "I'm Canadian." He clarified.
"What?!" The three teens exclaimed in shock. Clementine was the most surprised of them all, having living and surviving with him for almost two years and she realized just now that her friend and partner was technically a foreigner. It was surreal, especially for her.
"Yes, really. I'm Canadian. It's not a big deal." He waved them off. "Anyways, while we were stopping by on this small convenience store, I kinda wandered off on my own. I guess you could say I was curious. Then… out of nowhere, this girl just jumped on this person and started biting their face off." The vivid imagery of the memory made Derek shiver, as if experiencing it for the first time again. "I… I didn't know what to do. I just stood there." His tone shifted into more desperate, confused, angry. "I stood there like a fucking idiot. Didn't take long when one became two, then it became four. Suddenly, there were dozens shambling towards me as they rounded around the corner."
The table fell into a solemn stillness, fully entranced around Derek's story.
"There were screaming, a lot of screaming. Cars crashing into one another people running for their lives. It was crazy!" Derek exclaimed. He swallowed heavily as he remembered what comes next. A look of realization dawned on Clementine's face as she too knew what happens next. "My… My parents rushed into the car and drove off. Probably haven't realized I was there. I mean, I don't blame them. The next thing I knew, I was being dragged off by some people and huddled around a fortified hardware store. At least, I think it was. I don't remember." He huffed dismissively.
"Then what happened?" Louis asked.
"A few hours later the military rolled in with their vehicles, started getting us out and drove us towards the nearest 'safe zone' as they called it." He quoted with his hands. "It… Well. Let's just say I got moved from safe zone to safe zone after each time it fell. I only got lucky cause I was a kid back then."
After he finished his story, a heavy, uncomfortable silence filled the room. Nobody said a thing, what could they say? There really wasn't much room to talk about.
The silence was starting to feel deafening for Derek to bear, and immediately moved on to the story to end it in a lighter note. "I-In any case. I was moved to a much bigger and more fortified safe zone with concrete walls surrounding us. We kinda survived there for over four years living mostly from the rations the military provided."
Derek jumped back in surprise as they exploded into a cacophony of surprise. "Four years?! In the cities? How?" They demanded.
Derek shrugged. "We just did." He said cryptically, not expounding anymore information as he kept quiet, finished with his story.
The truth was it was much uglier in reality. The establishment of peace and order came at a steep price, with strict rules and regulations governing every aspect of daily life, exchanging freedom for protection. Those who didn't abide were publicly executed, a brutal display of power meant to deter any form of dissent or disobedience. It was a necessary evil, according to the leaders, to maintain order and ensure the safety of the people. But a worse fate awaited those who committed treason against the self-proclaimed rulers of the safe zone. Walker bait. It doesn't take a child to understand the unimaginable pain one could experience if that were to happen to them. As young as he was at that time, he knew his chances of survival are higher by playing by the rules no matter how… brutal or questionable it was.
To say they were disappointed by the lack of explanation was an understatement but they decided not to push the issue any further and continue on their game. They grabbed another card from their deck and revealed their hands. Clementine got a Two of Clovers, Derek got a Three of Diamonds, Louis got a Four of Diamonds, and Violet got a Six of Hearts.
"Victory, Violet." She smirked. Her eyes shifted towards Derek, specifically the large scar running through his right cheek. "What's with the scar?"
Violet's question hung in the air, causing a flicker of unease within the group. Clementine's smile faded from her features, now replaced with a guilty look. Derek's gaze shifted lightly, his mind racing to navigate the delicate situation before the former can connect the dots.
"Ah, this scar?" he began, his voice tinged with amusement. "I was pretty young when I got this, earned it during an intense firefight against some raiders trying to get our supplies. Bastard sniper grazed me even though I was in cover. Doctors said I got off lightly, a few inches more I'd be losing my jaw." He lied smoothly.
The two teens leaned in, completely captivated by the tale, unaware of the pure lies he spoke. Clementine's gaze lingered on him, a mix of gratitude and guilt swirling within her. Derek merely winked at her in return.
"Damn man. Compared to us, you're like a walking killing machine." Louis remarked.
Derek's smile dropped lightly, an action completely went unnoticed except for one. He smiled widely as he posed to a macho stance, showing off his biceps. "Hell yeah. I'm a goddamn walking, talking, killing machine." He made one last pose before laughing at the sheer ridiculousness. Suddenly, a wave of fatigue hit him, making him yawn. The day's events finally catching up to him. "I think I'm gonna call it a day. You guys have fun." He stood up from his spot and left, opting to grab his stuff first before going to their room.
Clementine gently pushed the cards towards Louis. "It was fun but I think I'm gonna turn in as well." She stood up and called in AJ, they grabbed their stuff and headed in for the night. As they headed towards the dormitory, a sudden realization hit them. They don't know what room to stay in.
"Uhmm… Should we- "
"Hey you three."
The sudden voice from the shadows made the three jump in surprise, each one of them reaching for their weapons.
"Woah, woah, woah. It's just me." Marlon walked closer, revealing himself to the group. The trio immediately relaxed, and looked at him apologetically.
"Sorry! Sorry. We just don't like surprises." Derek said.
"It's okay, I should've met you earlier instead of leaving you guys. I'm your host. The least I can do is be hospitable." He smiled at them.
Clementine shook her head in reply. "Letting us stay here for the night and giving us food was more than hospitable enough. Thank you."
"Thank you." AJ was quick to follow up.
A strange look flashed in Marlon's eyes but it was gone as fast as it appeared. "I-In any case. I-I'm just gonna show you where you'll be sleeping." He gestured for them to follow.
A quick walk past the hallway and Marlon opened a door, revealing a small room with two bunk beds on each side of the room with a nightstand on the middle. A small closet on one corner and a table with one chair. There was a huge window in the middle of the room but was boarded up.
"This should suffice." Derek commented.
The trio slowly walked inside the room, marveling in its simple design. It wasn't much but it was better than the car.
"You guys relax, get some sleep, feel human for a night. In the morning, come find me. We'll clear some things up and maybe discuss about your temporary stay. Alright?" Marlon said.
Clementine and Derek nodded in sync. Without another word, he closed the door shut. Derek didn't waste any time dropping the bag into some random corner. He grabbed the rifle and placed it near his bed, it's not like he could use it but the discipline he acquired over the years prompted him to keep his rifle close. Clementine dropped her own bag near his as well, and placed her hat by the nightstand beside the bed. AJ was curious about the handful of drawings on the wall and table, eyeing each one with an intense look.
Clementine noticed the number of coloring materials and drawings strewn about. "An artist must've lived here." she said.
AJ tilted his head on one side. "What's an artist?"
Clementine pondered how to explain the concept of an artist to a young mind that had only known survival in a world overrun by walkers. She took off her denim jacket and gently set it aside. "It's someone who draws a lot. Colors. Does pictures and stuff."
AJ's eyes widened in realization. "You mean like Tenn?"
She nodded, a sparkle of encouragement in her eyes. "Exactly like Tenn."
AJ pondered for a moment before grabbing a sheet of paper and some coloring supplies and started drawing his own work. "Huh. I like to do pictures too." He muttered.
Clementine shifted her gaze towards her partner and saw he was already fast asleep, snoring lightly. She watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, a peaceful rhythm of his breathing. The usual serious face he used when they're outside seemed to be non-existent in this place, revealing a side only she and AJ saw.
A sudden turning of the doorknob grabbed their attention, revealing Violet, who was as surprised as them.
"Oh shit. I didn't know Marlon set you up in this room. I just wanted to grab something. From the closet." She silently walked her way inside and checked the closet. "What the-? Where is it?" she frantically searched the closet. She turned around and her eyes landed on the box AJ was using. "Oh…"
Clementine looked at her in concern, wondered if something was wrong. "What?"
There was a look of reluctance in Violet's eyes. "That's what I was looking for." She began. "It belonged to Sophie. Uh... Tenn's sister. He was asking for more art supplies and stuff, so I was going to..." she trailed off, simply hoping Clementine would get the message.
Which she did, and sadly looked at AJ, knowing that he could sometimes be possessive of his newfound treasures. However, it wasn't theirs to begin with. "You should probably give the box back. It doesn't belong to us." AJ looked at her sadly, but nodded.
"You can finish your drawing, though. I don't mind." Violet shared a small smile, which made AJ grateful that he could atleast finish what he started.
Violet took the time to look around the room, her expression tinged with a mixture of nostalgia and sadness. "Huh! I see you're, um... settling in." she commented.
Clementine shook her head. "It's only temporary. We're still not sure if we plan to stay." A thought occurred to her. "Is… Is that okay? With us staying here?" she asked in concern.
Violet shrugged. "It's...it's okay. Yeah. Yeah, I'm glad. I'm glad, actually. I'm glad it's getting some use. Instead of just sitting around, picking up dust... I always liked this room." she began, her voice carrying the weight of bittersweet remembrance. "It used to belong to a couple of twins. Sophie and Minerva." She said, a pained look in her eyes as she mentioned the names. "Sophie had, like, paintings and shit on the walls. Lots of color. And Minerva... she was really musical. Not like Louis, though... she had actual talent."
Clementine laughed at the remark which made Violet laugh too.
"She had the most amazing voice. Real bluesy." She continued, a hint of wistfulness in her tone. "Marlon always joked that he would scavenge a guitar and the two of them would tour the country. That was a long time ago. After they..." She shook her head, her eyes glistened as tears threatened to fall. "Afterwards, Brody and Tenn took down all the paintings. And that was the end of it. I shouldn't have even brought it up. It's not a good memory. Guess I just lost my train of thought."
Clementine listened intently the entire time, her eyes reflecting Violet's emotions. She knew the pain of loss all too well, having experienced it herself throughout her journey. Lee, Kenny, Luke, Jane, Rebecca, and many others. Those who sacrificed their lives just to keep her alive. She sighed wistfully at the memory.
"What… What happened to them? If you don't mind me asking."
"They went scavenging with Marlon and Brody out past the safe zone. Didn't make it back. It happens."
She tried to pass it off as something that happens everyday but her tone carried a hint of pain and regret. Thankfully, Clementine didn't comment on it.
"Honestly, I just miss having someone around to talk to." She continued. "There's just... so many dudes. This place can get a little too bro-town for my liking sometimes. And I'm not exactly, like... a people person. You know? I know I sometimes have a habit... have a habit of being a little bit too harsh."
Clementine smiled warmly at her. "You're alright. Sometimes we just want to be left alone. I get that."
Violet offered a faint but grateful smile and nodded.
"Hey Clem." AJ said, grabbing the two teen's attention. "I'm an artist now." He showed his drawing to her.
The surrogate mother/guardian looked over AJ's drawing, a small smile hinted her lips as she saw the amount of effort, he put into it. "Not bad, kiddo."
"I should get back." Violet said, moving in to pack the coloring supplies AJ used. "Thanks again for the box. You're pretty cool, AJ."
AJ smiled a wide grin.
"See ya." On that note, the girl left the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. AJ hanged the drawing into the wall using a few pins he found, earning a curious look from Clementine. "What are you doing goofball?" she asked.
"To make our home look nice." He simply said.
That one innocent proclamation made Clementine pause. Her heart stilled as she realized AJ didn't know they weren't going to stay. He believed that they would stay in the school and they foolishly let him be to spare his feelings. She shook her head as she realized it would only be harder now to leave.
But should they?
She turned to look at Derek's direction, what would he think about the situation? What would he say? He wasn't exactly against the idea but there's still a lot of things to consider. She shook her head. Dwelling on it now will only make her head spin. They'll talk about it in the morning. She patted the empty spot beside her, prompting AJ to pick himself up and laid down beside her.
"Goodnight Clem."
"Goodnight goofball."
A tiny groan could then be heard, making Clementine smirk by herself. A few quiet moments passed, a blissful sleep washed over them.
They didn't hear the radio crackling to life coming from Derek's backpack, saying: "I've got them..."
AN: Didn't have much time to write will all the craziness catching up to me. Good thing is at least I'm alive. As I was looking down on some notes about Derek, I realized the amount of shit I put him into and most of them aren't exactly 'fun'. Additionally, I'm starting to run out of notes my late friend gave me so I hope I'm doing my best with this.
If you liked the story leave a review! I would love to hear about what you think!