What Matters Most (TWD)

5. 16 Months Later

*NOTE*
Clem is now 14
Carl is now 15

(Carl's POV)
16 months we had been out here for, we were vulnerable out here in the woods, any longer and I fear we would die out here. With it being Winter didn't help either, we were cold and starving and we needed to find safety soon...

It didn't take long for Clementine to recover, her shoulder still hurts but she gets through it, whoever this Lee guy was he sure taught her how to be and act strong...

"Look at this, it's pathetic." Dad said while cooking the weasel on the fire.

"What other choice do we have?" I asked.

"None, this is our only option." Clementine said rubbing her shoulder.

"The wood is to wet to burn, this rain will become sleet, then ice, then snow. It won't be easy." Dad said.

"We'll make it." Clementine assured us.

"No we won't." Dad mumbled.

"Not with that attitude, stop being so negative." Clementine said.

Dad put his head up and opened his mouth to say something but decided not to, he continued poking the fire with a stick but it was no use.

"I'm gunna go look for more wood." Dad said standing up.

"Just keep the fire lit." He added walking off into the forest.

(Clem's POV)
I walked over to my bag and opened it, I found it a few days ago hanging on a small tree branch so I took it as my own, everything I had was in here; the drawing of Kenny, Katjaa and Duck, my lighter and the torn picture of Lee.

I placed my hand in the bag and felt for my lighter, I found it at the bottom of the bag and picked it up, I zipped up my bag and walked over to the fire.

"You know, you really need to cool it with Dad, he is just stressed." Carl said.

"I know, I'll try harder." I replied lighting a piece of paper on fire.

"Thank you Clementine, I appreciate it." Carl smiled.

"No problem, besides I understand." I smiled back.

"What was it you were gunna tell me at Gil's Pitstop?" I asked.

"Oh no--it's nothing, don't worry about it." Carl said shrugging his shoulders.

"Tell me." I said walking towards him.

"It's just that I umm kinda--ugh." Carl stuttered.

"What is it?" I asked.

He stood up and walked closer to me, I noticed his eyes looked down at my lips and then back up at my eyes. He repeated this a few times and then looked away.

(Carl's POV)
"Carl, just tell me." Clementine said wiping the hair out of my eyes.

"I kinda like you...that's all." I said embarrassed.

"Oh..really..." Clementine muttered.

"Yeah." I said sitting back down on the log.

"Well...I-ugh--kinda like you to." Clementine mumbled.

"What?" I asked shocked.

"I kinda like you too." Clementine smiled.

"Really?" I asked.

"Since when?" I asked.

"Well when I first met you I thought you were pretty cute, but I didn't actually start liking you until Gil's Pitstop." Clementine said.

"Oh okay." I said.

"How about you?" She asked.

"Since I first met you." I smiled.

(Clem's POV)
For some reason, I knew that was gunna be Carl's answer, I could tell he liked me when we first met; his eyes lit up like they had built in fireworks...to tell you the truth I actually liked Carl when I first met him as well but I had to lie...just a little.

"Oh, I thought so." I smiled back.

"I wanted to tell you but I didn't have the courage." He said.

"Me either." I said under my breath.

"Really?!" Carl asked shocked.

"Yeah, back when we were at Gil's Pitstop, Dad could tell that I liked you and that's why I came in, he made me go in, I was about to tell you but that's when that girl emerged from the stall" I said.

"I wonder what's taking Dad so long?" Carl asked.

"I'm sure his fine." I said grabbing his hands, standing him up.

"So here we are." Carl laughed.

I laughed back and looked into his eyes, I then looked down at his lips and placed my hand on his face, he placed his hand over mine and clutched onto it. We both leaned forward for our lips to finally meet and that's when we heard what sounded like bandits;

"DONT LIE TO US!" one shouted.

"WHERES THE REST OF YOUR GROUP?!" another screamed out.