#also sleeping next to somebody for like 4 nights in a row can kinda mess u up when u have to go back to ur own place

[urbanfiltered]

:-)

[the-walking-memelords]

Allegiances: Chapter 4

Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 5

Series is rated M

Word Count: 2178

The group tries to recover in the wake of the previous night's revelation and the early morning's meeting.

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The ten of them gathered in the library the next morning. Shelves of mold ridden books lined the room. The group gathered at the center table, tension filling the air as Violet started the meeting.

“Okay. We all know why we’re here.” Dark circles hung under the pale girl’s eyes. It was clear that no sleep came to her last night.

“Marlon is a lying bastard and a murderer. Even if he didn’t kill Minnie and Sophie himself, he sent them away to be as good as dead.”

“He has to go.”

“You can’t really mean that, Vi.” Louis pleaded.

“He’ll die out there!”

“I don’t give a shit.” She slammed her fist against the desk.

“Sending him out there on his own is more of a mercy than he showed the twins. You can’t actually say you still trust him after what he did.”

“It could have been me, Lou.”

“I-I know, Vi, I know.” Louis bit down on his bottom lip. Clementine tried to read what his decision would be. Though the way he scrunched his face told her he wasn’t sure himself.

“It’s not like he wanted to give them up! We were cornered! Those bastards could have taken us all if they wanted!” Brody pleaded with the blonde, who showed no mercy.

“Bold talk from someone who’s on thin fucking ice herself.” She spat.

“Pretty curious he didn’t give you up, too. Any reason for that? Why would he risk keeping someone who might -and did- tell on him?”

Brody dug her nails into her arms.

“Do you think he regrets it?”

“Back off, Vi. You had your say.” Mitch chewed the nail on his thumb.

“Let’s just calm down for a second, everyone.” Ruby stepped in.

“We all say our piece, then we vote.”

“You know where I stand.” Violet stepped back.

“Tennesee.” Ruby spoke softly.

“Your vote probably counts the most. So, what do you think.”

All eyes were on the nervous child.

“I…” He began.

“I think Marlon should stay.”

“Tenn.”

“No, Vi. You don’t get it.” He looked at her.

“He didn’t do it to hurt them. It was a problem with no right answer. Marlon thought that he was at least saving somebody.”

Violet looked at him in shock.

“The fact that he lied about it was bad, but… he thought he was protecting us.”

“Marlon should have given himself up.” Clementine spoke up, directing the attention to her.

“That’s what a real leader would have done. Sophie and Minerva had family here they needed to come home to. They were the ones who needed to be protected the most.”

Tennessee fell silent for a moment.

“He stays, that's my vote.”

“Alright, Tenn.” Ruby said

“I also think Marlon should stay.” Tenn smiled at her.

“We all know he ain’t a bad person at heart, just… maybe he shouldn’t be callin’ the shots anymore.”

“I agree.” Aasim sided with Ruby.

“I’m tired of this Safe Zone thing cutting into our food supply.”

“I think so too.” Omar agreed.

“It would be nice getting to cook an actual meal for you guys instead of the scraps the hunting grounds produce. He stays, but he ain’t in charge.”

Mitch was the next to speak up.

“He tried to kill Brody and Clem. I don’t think we can trust him anymore. He goes.”

“I’m with Mitch.” was all Willy had to say.

Brody continued to hold her arms tightly crossed.

“Marlon should stay. I’ve made up my mind.” The look in her eyes caused no one to challenge her.

“I guess you’re up next, Clem.”

Clementine was actually conflicted on whether or not she wanted Marlon gone. The vote could still go either way. If they voted to cut him loose, tracking him through the woods would be easy enough assuming he doesn’t get himself killed before nightfall.

Their leader would be a nice contribution before I can get the rest.

It was a bit of a risk, but this mission would likely end in a standoff. The last thing they needed was another opponent. Maybe handing him over early would buy her and AJ some time.

“Marlon leaves.” Her vote bringing the score to 4:5.

The attention was drawn to Louis. He hadn’t officially voted yet, though it would be no surprise what he would choose. If for some reason he chose to kick him out, the tied vote would cause more issues.

“I… I…” Louis’ eyes fell on Clem.

“I’m sorry, Clementine.”

Why is he apologizing to me?

“He… He’s my best friend. He has to stay.” His shoulders fell in defeat as if he had just fought a battle within himself.

Figured.

“I guess that settles it then.” Violet went along begrudgingly.

“Marlon stays.”

---

Even after given freedom, Marlon seemed to rather spend the day locked away in one of the empty dorm rooms. Now that Violet was deemed their new leader, she was busy looking over a map with Aasim, planning their next hunt with a new perimeter. The others tried to resume business as usual, but how could they when their community was just flipped on its head. People seemed to be keeping to themselves and their own emotions. A slight tension between opposing voters keeping everyone on their toes.

Clementine wandered the school aimlessly, mapping out the halls in the back of her mind as she tried not to get herself lost in the identical rows of classrooms. She felt like she had to be doing something, but no specific task could come to her. She supposed Violet would have something for her to do, but the emotional force that kept the others apart seemed to touch her as well. She walked for hours, exploring every graffiti-ridden room until the repetition bored her. Eventually, she managed to wander her way back to the music room.

The afternoon sun shone on the worn piano, left unattended to her mild disappointment. She wondered how Louis was handling this whole mess. His best friend was just revealed as a traitor, and now some of their friends were turning against him.

It’s not my problem.

Clem tried to convince herself, but she couldn't help thinking about it. She took a deep breath, giving in to her nervous habit again and scratching her fingers through her curls. She forced herself to back away from the room, entering the courtyard in search of a task to keep her mind away from things.

“Violet.” she spoke to the girl who seemed lost in thought, staring into the ashes of last night’s campfire.

“Vi?” The second time seemed to bring her back to earth.

“Uh, yeah. Sorry.” She stood from her seat.

“What’s up?”

“I wanted to know if there was anything you needed me to do.” She watched their frazzled newly-deemed leader scour over her map for any leftover tasks.

“Mitch and Aasim came back from their hunting trip a half hour ago. Ruby managed to convince Brody to go out and repair the fish traps with her, they’ve been back for a while… and you’re already scheduled for watch after dinner…” She shook the map in her hands as if the action might reveal something new.

“I guess there’s always perimeter but that's kinda dangerous and kinda pointless.”

“Are you alright?” The heavy fog that laid over the school seemed to cloud her head the most.

“Yeah. I… I’m okay.” She let out a heavy sigh.

“I just wanted to say thank you for this morning, for sticking by me.”

Violet drooped her head, her side-swept bangs concealing her eyes.

“To be honest I wasn’t sure if you were still here. No one’s seen you all day since the vote and with the decision… I was worried you might have taken off.” She folded the map back into her pocket.

The comment stung a little but she would never admit it.

“Sorry about that, I was just taking some time to think.” She kicked herself for being absent.

“I think we all just need time to think.” Violet let out a weak laugh.

“God, what’s happened here.”

Vi slumped back into her chair, Clementine taking a seat next to her.

“I can’t stop thinking about Marlon. What he did to Min and Soph. I don’t think I can ever forgive him.” An almost dazed smile crossed her face.

“But I keep imagining what it would have been like if they had come back that day, instead of him and Brody. They wouldn’t have lied about it. Minnie told me everything.”

Clementine listened in silence as Violet unburdened her heart to her.

“But then Louis’s best friend would be gone forever, not to mention Brody. God, I’ve been such a bitch to her.” Clementine could tell this was the overflow of a long time bottling up her troubles.

“Louis was there for me and Tennessee more than anyone else after they ‘died’. And I sat in that room, right in front of him, trying to convince the others that Marlon was better off dead than anywhere near here. Then, just, fuck. The shit I said to Brody. I can’t forgive her either but fuck, she didn’t deserve that.” Violet’s voice broke, her throat on the edge of a sob.

Clem opened her mouth but was unable to find any words.

“The king has fallen! Bow before your new queen!”

The words from that first card game the night she came here echoed in her head.

She wondered if they echoed in hers too.

“I’m sorry for laying that all on you. I just had to get it out, y’know?” She tried to shrug off her emotions.

“I’m good. I’m good.”

“It’s alright, we’re... friends, right?” The words fell easier off her tongue than she thought they would.

“Yeah, I guess we are.” She smiled

“Can you go see if Louis is okay? I don’t think we’re ready to talk to each other after this morning.”

“Where is he?” He wasn’t in the music room, nor was he anywhere in the school during her exploration.

“I think he’s still sitting outside of Marlon’s dorm.”

---

Faint whispering could be heard through the empty hall as Clementine turned the corner. Louis sat with his legs crossed and his back leaning against one of the door’s aligning the walls. He didn’t notice her. Through the dreadlocks that hung over his face, Clem could discern the slight movement of his lips. As she got closer she could make out the details of a baseball game he was retelling.

“Louis?” He jumped at hearing his name, so lost in his story he hadn't heard her approach.

“Are you okay?”

“So you are still around. Violet was worried.” He dodged her question.

“I talked to Violet already.” She looked at the locked door behind him.

“Has he said anything?”

“Nothing other than basically telling me to fuck off a few times, but when have I ever done what I’m told? Right, Marlon?” He elbowed the door, eliciting no response.

His smile was forced and dropped as quickly as it appeared. He leaned his head back with a thump, looking away from Clem.

“He just needs time. Everyone does. I can’t lie, things are never going to go back to the way they were but that doesn’t mean it won't get better.” God, she was starting to sound like Louis herself.

“A sudden optimist, I guess my stunning demeanour rubbed off on you.” She kicked his leg lightly at that comment.

“Don’t push your luck.” His smile was sad but real this time.

“I’m sorry.” Her apology surprised him.

“I guess I got a little carried away this morning.”

“No. You have the right to speak your mind around here.” His eyes fell to the purple mark on her face.

“How’s your eye?”

She leaned against the wall but stayed on her feet.

“Better, it only stings if I touch it.”

“I’m fine.” She said slightly louder, hoping her voice would fall on the ears of the boy inside the dorm.

“So what do we do now?” His voice fell into his serious tone. She seemed to be hearing it a lot more lately.

“We push on. We fight on. We look forward, never back.” She quoted the words of a man who lived at the McCarroll ranch. The words of Ol’ Richard often ran on repeat inside her mind when the talons of her horrid memories threatened to slice her to shreds.

“Wise words.” He chuckled.

“Indeed they are.”

“I’m not leaving until he talks to me so you might as well go on.” His head drooped once more, dreads hiding the emotions on his face.

“I’ll talk to you later then, Louis.” She decided to leave him be. Her words from before reverberated inside her skull as she made her way towards the light outside.

We push on. We fight on. We look forward, never back.

We push on. We fight on. We look forward, never back.

We push on. We fight on. We look forward, never back.

[adiafunke]

I did these at the beginning of last year so it’s a tradition now weeeee

1: is there a boy/girl in your life? I’ve been dating a boy since Spring 2: think of the last person who hurt you; do you forgive them? sure why not. 3: what do you think of when you hear the word “meow?” maybe i should be moved on from myspace surveys by the time i’m middle aged 4: what’s something you really want right now? the kind of laughter that makes it hard to breathe 5: are you afraid of falling in love? the falling isn’t the scary part so no, not really  6: do you like the beach? not terribly but i’ll go like once or twice a year for like an hour or two and then be like “wow so pretty mhm water. sand. yep yeah ok i’m good” 7: have you ever slept on a couch with someone else? of course 

8: What is the background on your cell phone? a picture of Harry when he had long curly hair :)))))))

9: name the last four beds you were sat on? This is a dumb question. 1)my bed in Oregon 2)Josh’s bed in his MIT apartment 3) Josh’s bed in his NorthEastern dorm thing 4) Nate’s after some party  10: do you like your phone? it’s platonic. 11: honestly, are things going the way you planned? not at all but when and why would that happen? life doesn’t care about our plans.  12: who was the last person whose phone number you added to your contacts? some guy from school named Michael  13: would you rather have a poodle or a rottweiler? poodles are like mad smart so probably one of those  14: which hurts the most, physical or emotional pain? emotional 15: would you rather visit a zoo or an art museum? art museum. zoos are a bit sad  16: are you tired? It’s 3:30AM and I’ve become basically nocturnal recently so no :( 

17: how long have you known your 1st phone contact? like alphabetically? The first contact in my phone is me lol ADia. We have a 20 year long love/hate relationship going on 18: are they a relative? technically?  19: would you ever consider getting back together with any of your exes? I think one of them is a very fun person but I’m well aware of all the reasons we should not be together and he would probably cheat on me if I made him my husband so it’s a hard pass 20: when did you last talk to the last person you shared a kiss with? 3ish hours ago.  21: if you knew you had the right person, would you marry them today? nah, weddings are a lot to plan/expensive and I have other priorities. If they’re right then they’ll be around for a while. we got time.  22: would you kiss the last person you kissed again? yeah for like all the days ever  23: how many bracelets do you have on your wrists right now? one 24: is there a certain quote you live by? “you can never be overdressed or overeducated”-Oscar Wilde 25: what’s on your mind? earlier I was thinking about this song I used to love but I can’t remember a single word just the music and it was by some girl who was super lowkey on soundcloud like 5 years ago UGH 26: do you have any tattoos? Nope. 15/16 year old me would be shocked and upset.  27: what is your favorite color? yellllllooooowwwwww 28: next time you will kiss someone on the lips? 2 weeks :((((((  29: who are you texting? no one, it’s 3:30AM  30: think to the last person you kissed, have you ever kissed them on a couch? bye lol 31: have you ever had the feeling something bad was going to happen and you were right? yeah dude  32: do you have a friend of the opposite sex you can talk to? the main 2 people I go to advice for are male  33: do you think anyone has feelings for you? i’m gonna place money on Josh because he says “I love you” a lot. fingers crossed.  34: has anyone ever told you you have pretty eyes? my eyes are the prettiest 35: say the last person you kissed was kissing someone right in front of you? yikes no thank you  36: were you single on valentines day? pretty much wow tha’s kinda whack  37: are you friends with the last person you kissed? bffl  38: what do your friends call you? adia.  39: has anyone upset you in the last week? I’m subtly mad at myself but like I’m also super self-centered so all is well.  40: have you ever cried over a text? texting has become the easiest way to give someone bad news so yeah 41: where’s your last bruise located? above my knee i dunno what happened 42: what is it from? oops got ahead of the game 43: last time you wanted to be away from somewhere really bad? omg my roomates and I did some drugs last week and this guy was being really weird and I just wanted him to go so badly but even not totally with it Adia didnt have the nerve to be like “hi hello please gtfo” 44: who was the last person you were on the phone with? Josh 45: do you have a favourite pair of shoes? converse are just a classic  46: do you wear hats if your having a bad hair day? Nah hats are a statement to me. I’m looking cute if I got a hat on.  47: would you ever go bald if it was the style? Nah I got a werid shaped face so I probs got a weird shaped head.  48: do you make supper for your family? I haven’t lived with them for a little bit but I probably will soon.  49: does your bedroom have a door? yeah fuck not having a door  50: top 3 web-pages? wikipedia, youtube, tumblr 51: do you know anyone who hates shopping? i know some that claim it but then get excited while we’re doing it so like idk 52: does anything on your body hurt? No. All limbs are accounted for too, things are looking good.  53: are goodbyes hard for you? No. I’m not sure if I am just good at supressing emotions or if they genuinly don’t bother me becuase of how connected you can be with phones and social media  54: what was the last beverage you spilled on yourself? hahaha, probably alchohol.  55: how is your hair? I think it’s cute. The other night I decided to cut some of it and add pink streaks with one of my friends. Don’t worry, I’m fine.  56: what do you usually do first in the morning? scroll through twitter and avoid getting up for a solid 20 minutes  57: do you think two people can last forever?  Idk I think the basics of a happy healthy relationship are fairly simple but you have to have 2 people who want to consistantly work towards those things together and life gets hard so sometimes one person has to pick up the slack and that creates strain SO IDK  58: think back to january 2007, were you single? I was 10 and my only crush was on Josh Hutcherson  59: green or purple grapes? #allgrapesmatter (tbh I prefer purple though)  60: when’s the next time you will give someone a big hug? in 4 or 5 hours when my little sister wakes up for school  61: do you wish you were somewhere else right now? mentally, yeah. 62: when will be the next time you text someone? in the next 10 hours or so 63: where will you be 5 hours from now? hopefuly asleep  64: what were you doing at 8 this morning. sleeping. 65: this time last year, can you remember who you liked? I think this time last year I was the most single I had been in forever 66: is there one person in your life that can always make you smile? yes  67: did you kiss or hug anyone today? no :(  68: what was your last thought before you went to bed last night? “I should probably shouldnt sleep in a pillow fort on my floor 3 nights in a row”  69: have you ever tried your hardest and then gotten disappointed in the end? of course 70: how many windows are open on your computer? i’ve got 9 open and one of them is just blank. why am I like this?  71: how many fingers do you have? … 72: what is your ringtone? a marimba remix of “hotline bling” by Drake  73: how old will you be in 5 months? 20 74: where is your mum right now? she fell asleep listening to a podcast  75: why aren’t you with the person you were first in love with or almost in love? We would never work as a couple. we are far too similiar and end up clashing instead of complimenting eachother and it’s just a mess. 76: have you held hands with somebody in the past three days? just my sister but she has tiny 4 year old hands and they are real cute  77: are you friends with the people you were friends with two years ago? yes and it’s very nice :))  78: do you remember who you had a crush on in year 7? yeh this boy named Kane and he told me he liked me at the pencil sharpener awww  79: is there anyone you know with the name mike? lol my best friend from high school got a dad named Mike  80: have you ever fallen asleep in someones arms? yes. 81: how many people have you liked in the past three months? one 82: has anyone seen you in your underwear in the last 3 days? yeah  83: will you talk to the person you like tonight? yep!  84: you’re drunk and yelling at hot guys/girls out of your car window, you’re with? fuck that 85: if your bf/gf was into drugs would you care? depends on the “drug” and how into it they were.  86: what was the most eventful thing that happened last time you went to see a movie? last time i was in a theatre Josh had flown in from Boston to see me in Oregon and he fell asleep on me for the majority of the film but it was so cute and I love him lots so it didn’t matter.  87: who was your last received call from? Josh. December 13th 2017  88: if someone gave you $1,000 to burn a butterfly over a candle, would you? no that’s so mean and would make me sad.  89: what is something you wish you had more of? perspective. 90: have you ever trusted someone too much? yeah  91: do you sleep with your window open? I loved sleeping with my window open in Oregon becuase of all the rain  92: do you get along with girls? I don’t NOT get along with girls but I’ve had more male friends than female friends going all the way back to first grade  93: are you keeping a secret from someone who needs to know the truth? nope!  94: does sex mean love? it can mean that if you ascribe said meaning to it but you do you  95: you’re locked in a room with the last person you kissed, is that a problem? no that would be the best thing ever 96: have you ever kissed anyone with a lip ring? nope!   97: did you sleep alone this week? Yeah :( Josh needs to come home for Winter break.  98: everybody has somebody that makes them happy, do you? yes, i have a few people. 99: do you believe in love at first sight? no but I like the fact that I noticed my boyfriend immediatly in fairly crowded place the first time I saw him  100: who was the last person that you pinky promise? idk maybe my boyfriend? Pinky promises are practically law so I wish I remembered.