Introductions

After Duck got off of Clementine, and the group of seven were sat in the living room, Kenny started to introduce himself and his family.

"I met Sarita a few weeks after moving to Texas." Kenny gestured to her, his eyes kept going to Clementine, "Things were a bit… turbulent after…"

"Yeah, we, er, it's in Clem's file." Said Alvin, scratching the back of his head.

"Oh, right…" Kenny trailed off, glancing at Clementine, "Sorry, it's just been so long since we last saw Clem, how's things been treating her?"

"I've gone through eleven families, ten since this is my second stint with Alvin and Rebecca." Said Clementine, scratching her knee, "A few things happened."

"Hmm." Kenny frowned and looked at Clementine's left hand, "What happened to your hand?"

Clementine immediately covered her left hand with her right, "It's a long story."

"When we last saw Clementine, she was with Omid and Christa." Said Duck, getting a flinch from Clementine.

"Y-yeah." Clementine looked at the floor, "They, er, they gave me back."

"They what?" Demanded Kenny, looking furious, "They promised Lee they'd look out for you!"

"T-they were going to have a baby and-" Kenny cut Clementine off.

"Clem, they promised Lee and Carley, a later me, that they'd keep you safe, fed and watered," Interjected Kenny, "They were being given money to help!"

"Wait, what do you mean 'they were being given money'?" Asked Rebecca, frowning.

"Clementine's Lee and Carley's sole beneficiary," Explained Kenny, "Since Lee's folks and brother were killed in that drug store fire in Macon and Carley wasn't on speaking terms with hers, they left everything they had to Clementine."

"What?"

Kenny looked at Clementine, startled, before scowling, "Of course, they didn't bother to explain it to you."

"I'm sorry, but Lee and Carley?" Asked Alvin, "As in her first set of foster parents?"

"And in my opinion, they should've been her only set of foster parents, no disrespect to y'all." Said Kenny, "That sick bastard didn't deserve to live after what he did."

"W-what do you mean everything?" Asked Clementine, getting Kenny's attention.

"Well, there's the pharmacy, now it's back up a running, their belongings, or at least the bits that haven't been sold, and all of their money, plus whatever was made from the selling of their belongings." Explained Kenny, "After the oh so wonderful invention of taxes, I'd say you'd have at least a couple hundred thousand dollars."

Rebecca frowned, "I hope it's in a secure account, so she can access it when she's older."

"Yeah, but the only ones with the details are Omid and Christa." Grumbled Kenny, "I used to have the details, but I destroyed my copies after my, er, incident."

"Dad had a mental breakdown after mom died." Said Duck, cheerfully.

"Duck!" Scolded Sarita, as Kenny facepalmed.

"Sorry, I derailed this whole conversation." Apologised Kenny, looking over at them.

"It's fine," Rebecca waved him off, "Clem actually came back to us at the end of August, she's been with us ever since. She's actually made a couple of friends."

"Really?" Asked Kenny, looking at Clementine, who was still looking at her knees, "What're their names, Clem?"

"W-well, there's Sarah, she kind of like Duck, but she quieter, and smart," Duck pulled a face, "There's Becca, she used to be a bully, and then there's Gill, he was just there."

"What do you mean 'he was just there'?" Asked Kenny, frowning.

"We met him while we were doing detention." Answered Clementine, "Other than that, we'd never met him before."

"How'd you meet the other two?" Asked Sarita, finally fixing her hand.

"I met Sarah before school started," Said Clementine, pausing for a moment, "and I met Becca after I beat her up for bullying Sarah."

Kenny and Sarita stared at Clementine, slack jawed.

"…I apologised?"

"Is, is there anything else that might surprise us?" Asked Kenny, in disbelief.

"I saw a guy get his skull caved in?"

"What?!"

I

Clementine winced as Duck talked at a mile a minute, she guided him through the packed school corridors, glaring at everyone in front of her. A plus, she supposed, of beating someone up on the first day of term. No one wanted to cross her.

"Hey, Clem." Greeted Gill, before spotting Duck, "Who's that?"

"This is Duck, his real name's Kenneth, he's moved in next door." Said Clementine, as Duck looked around, "He also knew me a few years ago."

"So, he's a 'level four friend'?" Asked Gill, as Becca joined them.

"Who's the cunt?"

"…I see you're all caught up with Game of Thrones." Said Gill, as Clementine sighed.

"I'm going to wait for Sarah to get here, before repeating myself." Grumbled Clementine, dropping into a chair.

"Ooh." Said Duck, getting their attention. They saw Duck pressed against the glass of a fish tank, staring at the fish. Becca slowly turned and looked at Clementine, "I think Sarah's going to be a while."

Sarah walked in, her head buried in her book, Clementine noticed it was a different to the one she was reading the day before.

"Did your dad not like Storm of Swords?" Asked Clementine, finally catching the books title, "What makes him think The Hobbit is any better?"

"There isn't any swearing in it." Answered Sarah, looking up from the book's pages.

"How do you walk with your face in that thing?" Asked Gill, taking his eyes off Duck.

"I shuffle." Sarah spotted Duck, "Who's that?"

The four looked over at Duck.

"An old friend from a few years ago, he's moved in next door to Alvin and Rebecca." Clementine watched Duck tap on the glass, "He's about a smart as a bag of hammers."

"A bag of hammer can't talk." Interjected Duck, looking away from the fish tank, "None of those fish are real."

The leant to look behind Duck, and stared at the plastic fish wiggling in the water.

"I've been putting fish food in that thing." Stated Clementine, outraged, "For three months!"

"You know, that explains a few things." Said Gill, still watching the plastic fish.

I

Clementine grunted as she, Becca, Sarah and Gill tried to move a car stuck in some mud. Luke and Pete had made another appearance, while Daryl quietly watching the two and the children. Nick dropped his head against the steering wheel.

"Okay, stop!" Called Nick, shoving the car door open, "It's not going anywhere."

"We could try and tow it out." Suggested Gill, panting as he leant against the car.

"The tractor is back at the school, and that's if the school lets us borrow it." Responded Daryl, running a hand down his face.

"What if we pulled from the front?" Asked Clementine, shivering from the cold.

"That just runs the risk of one or all of you getting hit by a car." Dismissed Luke, looking at the wheels, "We could try the wood again."

"Nah, it'd just slide right on under and shoot out the other side." Refuted Daryl, glaring at the vehicle, "We might have to leave it for tonight."

"That's alright," Snarked Becca, "I'm sure none of us mind freezing our tits off."

"Or, in your case," Responded Gill, "your nubs."

"We could move it, if the three adults actually help." Stated Clementine, throwing a glare at Daryl, Pete and Luke.

"Fair point." Conceded Daryl, jerking his head and motioning for Pete and Luke to help.

Nick got back int the car and the group of seven all shoved the car. A couple moments passed, before the car suddenly shot forwards out of the mud. That left Clementine, Sarah, Becca and Gill to fall, face first, into the mud, with three grown men dropping on top of them.

"Well," Said Luke, getting to his feet and helping Pete up, "That was fun."

Daryl scoffed, before helping the kid up, "We're done for today, go clean yourselves up and get home."

Becca spat some mud out of her mouth, while Sarah wiped mud off her glasses.

"Well," Said Gill, after getting the mud out of his eyes, "At least it wasn't manure."

"Still smells bad." Muttered Clementine, as they headed back to the school building, "The showers should still be open."

I

"You know, I just realised something." Said Becca, making Sarah and Clementine jump, "That was our last detention."

"Yay," Muttered Clementine, "you guys still free this weekend?"

"My dad's going to be working, so I shouldn't be doing anything." Replied Sarah, as Clementine popped her back.

"Same, more or less, why?" Said Becca, as she washed the mud of her face.

"There's that movie, you know, the horror movie of the century." Answered Clementine, "I was thinking on going and seeing it."

"Is Duck going to be there?" Asked Becca, turning the shower off.

"I don't know yet." Said Clementine, "I haven't asked him."

"What's up with Duck, anyway?" Asked Sarah, stepping out of the shower.

"He and I were friends a few years ago, we, er, we saw his mom kill herself." Said Clementine, "Duck, for the most part, shut down. The last time I saw him, it was like he was a ghost. I was actually surprised to see him smiling."

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Said Becca, "but, I think he should come with us."

"The anti-social member of our group, who doesn't like new people, is suggesting we invite someone new to a gathering?" Snarked Clementine, towelling herself dry.

"He's new to us, not you." Retorted Becca, pulling her shirt of her head, "I thought it might be nice if you had someone with something in common to talk to."

"That and the movies has a deal for free food for a group of five." Stated Sarah, pulling her jeans on, "But, other than that, I think Becca's right."

"…Thanks."

"Is your dad picking us up?" Asked Sarah, looking at Clementine, "His car is really warm."

I

"There's three hours we're never going to get back."

Clementine hummed, agreeing with Becca.

"The scariest part was the opening credits, and that was because it was in 3D!" Grumbled Sarah, as Duck looked at the poster for the movie.

"Maybe it was mis-listed." Suggested Duck, getting everyone's attention, "The actors are all some form of comedian."

Everyone stared at Duck, before looking at the poster.

"That would explain the sex scene." Stated Gill, frowning.

I

"You know," Said Becca, looking around Alvin and Rebecca's living room, "This place is bigger than I expected."

"It's the front," Said Duck, getting comfortable in an armchair, "It's kinda narrow, but it's long."

Becca hummed, as the dvd Clem put on started. Clementine dropped down next to Sarah, as Gill sat in the other armchair. Becca dropped herself down on the other side of Sarah. They made idle conversation, while the movie played.

"If you were to have any limb amputated, which one would it be?" Asked Becca, getting disturbed looks from everyone.

"Weird question," Said Duck, "I don't think I'd lose a limb."

"Me neither." Agreed Sarah, looking at Sarah.

"Any limb?" Asked Gill, frowning, "What constitutes as a limb?"

"I think she means an arm or a leg, Gill." Responded Clementine, "I'd lose one of my legs."

"I'd lose a finger."

"Becca, I'm not sure that's a limb." Said Duck, as Clementine adjusted herself on the sofa.

"It's part of your body, it's a limb."

Clementine snorted, glancing at them, "Then I should've been exempt from this."

"Oh, yeah." Muttered Becca, as Clementine wiggled her half-finger at her.

I

"I thought this was supposed to be a short-cut." Huffed Duck, as Clementine walked a couple feet a head.

They were walking through a forest, heading back to a cabin Alvin had rented near the school. Luke, Pete and Nick had offered to take Clementine and her friend hunting and, while Rebecca didn't like the idea of teaching the children how to handle a gun, Clementine's foster parents agreed. The trio were on their way back from a riverbank not far from the cabin.

"I said it was a detour, not a short cut." Stated Becca, stopping to let Duck catch up.

"What do you think Gill and Sarah are doing?" Asked Duck, making Clementine glance back at him and Becca.

"Sarah's probably going through that first aid course and Gill's spending time with his parents." Shrugged Clementine, absently rubbing her arm, "I can still feel that coyote."

"I can still see it." Muttered Becca, as Duck tripped over a root, "For fucks sake, Duck."

"Sorry."

"That's what, the twentieth time?" Asked Clementine, before someone bumped into her.

"Oh, jeez, sorry kid."

Clementine froze at the voice, before she slowly turned and looked at the voice's owner.

"Clementine?" Asked Jane, glancing around the group, "Who're these guys?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." Grumbled Clementine, "What are you doing here?"

"I was out for a walk." Answered Jane, jogging to keep up.

"Okay, fuck off."

Jane froze, allowing Clementine and her friends to put a little bit of distance between them and Jane.

"So," Asked Becca, "Who's that?"

"Foster parent number eleven, I think." Answered Clementine, looking at Becca, "She's the one I was with when Sam, that dog I told you about, bit me and tore a chunk out of my arm. She took one look at me and ran off, leaving me with a mangled arm and a dog trying to kill me."

"W-what happened to the dog?" Asked Duck, swallowing.

"I, I had to kill it." Responded Clementine, "Jane took me camping, and one of the tents had a branch land on it, breaking it," Clementine wiped her eyes to get rid of the burning feeling, "I kicked him onto some spikes while I was trying to get him off me. It would've been cruel to let him suffer like that. But, afterwards, I had to scavenge what first aid I could and stitched my arm up. I don't remember much else, but I know I passed out and, when I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. I remember seeing Bonnie and meeting someone called Jean or something. I, apparently, came really close to dying."

"Whoa." Whispered Becca, getting a snort from Clementine.

"You want to know the funny part?"

"What?" Asked Duck, swallowing thickly.

"I was disappointed." Stated Clementine, hollowly, "I was the happiest I'd ever been, when I was dying. It was so peaceful…"

"And then you woke up." Finished Becca, getting a scoff from Clementine.

"Yeah, then I was dragged back into the fucked-up reality of my life."

Becca glanced behind her, quietly noting that Jane had a guilty look on her face.

They spotted the cabin and Clementine power walked over to it and tore the door open. She rushed up the stairs and into the room she was sharing with Becca for the trip. Rebecca and Alvin looked after her, stunned at the silent fury the girl was emanating, before looking back at the door as Becca and Duck walked in.

"Is everything okay?" Asked Alvin, as Rebecca got up and went up to the room Clementine was in.

"Clem, she, uh," Duck looked at the floor, "she ran into someone from her past and things kinda ended up spilling out."

Alvin sighed, before glancing up at the door to the room Clementine was in. He noted that Rebecca wasn't by in, so he assumed she was in the room with Clementine.

Up in the room, Rebecca held Clementine, as she finished telling her what she told Becca and Duck, as she started to bawl. Clementine buried her face in Rebecca's shoulder, her tears wetting the fabric.

"Why?" Sobbed Clementine, making Rebecca freeze.

"Why what, Clem?" Asked Rebecca, gently, as Clementine hiccupped.

"Why does everyone leave me?!" Wailed Clementine, her voice slightly muffled by Rebecca's shoulder, "Why doesn't anyone want me?"

"That's not true," Murmured Rebecca, "Alvin and I want you; we're not going to leave you. Not again."

"T-that's w-what L-L-Lee a-and C-Carley said!" Cried Clementine, as Rebecca tightened the grip on Clementine.

Rebecca sighed through her nose and looked up at the ceiling, holding onto Clementine as she cried.

I

"Hey, Clem," Said Sarah, sitting across from Clementine in the school cafeteria, "When's your birthday?"

"October 26th." Answered Clementine, not looking up from her book.

"Wait, what?!" Exclaimed Becca, jumping up, "We passed over your birthday and you didn't say anything?!"

"It's not a big deal." Shrugged Clementine, looking up, "That last birthday I celebrated was my seventh birthday and that ended with my first set of foster parents being murdered."

Duck flinched and winced, "Oh, yeah. I guess that put a dampener on things."

Clementine snorted, "You could say that."

"So, you're, what, thirteen now?" Asked Gill, making Clementine look at him.

"I think so."

"Do you celebrate Christmas?" asked Becca, making Clementine look at her.

"Yeah, I celebrate Christmas, it's the only holiday that I can remember having a fixed date." Stated Clementine, digging her phone out of her pocket. The battered brick looked tiny when she put it on the table, Clementine picked the phone back up and then struck the table with it. The phone turned on, making Clementine put it back on the table.

"That's starting to become annoying." Said Gill, as Clementine started checking her texts.

"Trust me, you don't want this as an alarm clock." Muttered Clementine, as the phone died on her, "Shit."

"Where'd Alvin and Rebecca get that?" Asked Sarah, looking down at the phone, "And why didn't they get you one that worked?"

"It worked when I got it." Muttered Clementine, scowling at the phone, "Then I dropped it in a river…and forgot to take it out of my pocket when I put them out for the wash."

The group stared at Clementine, who shifted in her seat, "I've got a lot going on."

I

"You remember Chuck?" Asked Duck, making Clementine jump.

"Yeah, what about him?"

"Do you think he's still alive?" Murmured Duck, talking quietly so he didn't wake the rest of their friends. Sarah had invited them all to a sleep over, with the three girls joking about putting make up on the boys.

"I like to think he's got his guitar and he's travelling across the country, exploring everything he can find." Whispered Clementine, smiling gently, "I bet he's dragging Ben and Molly all over, drinking everything they can find."

"I miss them." Sighed Duck, "I miss how simple things were then."

"Yeah."

"I can still see it, sometimes," Whispered Duck, making Clementine look at him, "I see Mom sitting us down, telling us to keep looking at her-"

Duck's voice cracked, before he swallowed and continued, "Telling us to keep looking at her, a-and then she got that fucking gun."

Clementine swallowed thickly, her gaze returning to the ceiling, "What happened after, after Kenny placed me with Omid and Christa?"

"He had a breakdown, started drinking," Answered Duck, "He nearly crashed into a lake, he was driving drunk. After that, I was placed with my aunt. Dad went to rehab, he and I have been only been back together for about a year."

"Well," Said Clementine, looking over at Duck, "not to sound unsympathetic, but at least your dad came back for you."

Duck winced, looking back at Clementine, "I guess I was lucky, I thought that he wasn't for a while. I hated him for ages, I guess I still do at times, for ages I thought I lost my parents and my sister in the span of three weeks."

"Ha." Laughed Clementine, "I managed to get handed back to social services in that time."

Duck snorted, "I thought I had it bad, but hearing the stuff you went through, I don't think I'd be here today, if it happened to me."

Clementine snorted quietly, "We're so fucked up."

"Yeah." Agreed Duck, before slowly falling back asleep, with Clementine not far behind him.

I

Clementine looked around the Ski lodge that had been rented by the large group she was in. Sarita and Sarah were decorating a giant Christmas tree, while Becca helped Shel and Gill's dad, Randy, shift some tables. Alvin and Kenny sorting through the Christmas light, with Alvin finding a laser pointer. Rebecca was sitting off to the side with AJ, while Duck, Gill and Carlos shifted some of the furniture.

"And, done!" Said Patricia, making Clementine look up at her.

"It feels kinda weird." Admitted Clementine, nervously fiddling with the necklace Sarah had given her as a late birthday present.

"You'll get used to it, there'll be a day when you're not wearing it and it'll feel wrong." Assured Patricia, looking over the group, "I hope you don't mind, but Gill told me about that dog attack you suffered from."

"I've told a few people, so don't worry about it." Responded Clementine, looking around.

"If it helps, I'm a professional counsellor," Said Patricia, "I can speak with one of my colleagues about arranging some session with you."

Clementine looked at her feet, "Can, can I think about it?"

"Take all the time you need." Patricia reassured her.

"Hey, Clem," Said Becca, getting Clementine's attention, "I've been meaning to ask, how come you never take that hat off?"

Clementine stiffened slightly, before answering, "It was one of the last things Lee gave me."

"So, it has sentimental value." Grunted Becca, shoving the table, "I still don't get, how you seem to keep having accidents, I mean you're not clumsy, but you keep getting bruises all over the place."

"I'll tell you, but only if you never tell anyone else." Said Clementine, leaning forwards.

"Sure, we won't tell a soul." Said Becca, making Clementine lean back.

"I kept losing a fight against a tree."

Everyone stopped and looked at Clementine, there was a moment of silence, before Duck started laughing.

"A tree broke your arm!"

Within moments, everyone was laughing, Clementine cracking a smile as Duck slipped and crowned himself on the sofa.