Chapter Text
As Clementine got out of the Everett family car, she stared up at a looming stadium. She could remember Lee bringing her before, when she was a lot younger. That felt like such a long time ago now. It was, really.
“Clem?”
She glanced down, spotting AJ. He was pulling on her sleeve, looking up with curious eyes. When she focused on reality again, she saw Lee, Louis and Violet staring back. They seemed confused, wondering why she was just standing there.
“Sorry, Goofball. I was... daydreaming.” Letting him guide her forward, she approached the front entrance.
“Clementine!” A boy around her age ran over to greet them once they were inside.
She hugged him when he was close enough. “Hey, Gabe. Thanks for inviting us.”
“Javi wanted you guys to be here. We do, too,” Marianna added, joining in.
When they broke apart, Lee whistled. “Man, it’s been too long since we saw him play.”
“Yeah, that injury really knocked him out.” Mari’s shoulders slumped, but she bounced back almost instantly. “But he’s back, better than ever.”
“I believe it.”
AJ scanned the baseball diamond, curious. This was his first time at a game. He’d watched enough on TV, but never in person.
Smiling, Lee ruffled his hair then turned to Clem. “Me and AJ will sit over there. Wouldn’t want to cramp your style.”
“Oh please,” Clementine scoffed. “You don’t do that… all the time.”
Lee chuckled at his own expense. “I have my moments of coolness.”
“You can come sit with us,” Gabe offered eagerly. “Mom and dad are here, too.”
Mariana nodded approvingly. “So are Pipo and Yaya.”
“That settles it then.”
Lee took AJ’s hand and followed the teens, leaving Clementine, Violet and Louis alone. After grabbing some food, the three of them sat down in the stand - Clementine in the middle.
“You… really do know a lot of people, Clem,” Violet commented, quietly impressed.
Finishing a bite of his hotdog, Louis put his feet up on the seat in front. “All cool af.”
“Real modest, Louis."
“Pfft. You should take it as a compliment, since you were included in that. You’re welcome, by the way.”
Violet rolled her eyes playfully. “Right, I’m sure you just said it for other people’s benefit.”
“That’s me, the selfless martyr.”
“Shame you can’t be the silent martyr instead.”
Louis put a hand on his chest, acting offended. “You would miss my incredible wit.”
Clementine laughed to herself. “God, you two argue like an old married couple.”
“I mean, we basically are. See these teeth.” He grinned, trying to show as many teeth as possible and tapping his top right side canine. “Totally not mine.”
“If I get married, it would not be to you.”
“Ah, Violet, Violet. Did you forget, we already are? Must be the grandma brain kicking in.” He smirked, raising an eyebrow in amusement.
Watching them fight, Clementine smiled. To the untrained eye, it might seem like they hated each other. She knew different.
“But, I’m totally okay sharing you, Vi. I already know who wi-”
Before he could say anything else, Violet reached over and covered his mouth with her hand. She glared at him, silently communicating. Suddenly, she took her hand back, wiping it on his shirt.
“Holy shit, Louis! You are gross.”
“And you just tried to suffocate me. Licking was my only hope of survival.” He stuck out his tongue at her.
Sighing deeply, Violet crossed her arms and focused on the field. She refused to even look at him, not for his lack of trying. Hoping that this was mostly pretend rage - sometimes it was hard to tell - Clementine watched the game unfold.
As expected, Javier crushed it. The time away hadn’t knocked him off his game. If anything, he came back stronger. By the end, everyone was cheering him on, no matter what team they’d come to support. Every now and then during the game, Clementine felt Violet’s leg brush against hers, immediately removed when the blonde girl realized. Occasionally, their gaze would meet, Violet looking away as quickly as possible.
Neither of them paid much attention to the baseball game.
When it was all over, Javi did a victory lap of the field. They could almost hear David’s sigh from the other side of the field. His brother had always been like this, some might call it obnoxious.
“Good game.” Louis shuffled forward in his seat. “Pretty sure I could teach them a thing or two, though. Got some ultra-secret moves. Only the true pros would know.”
For the first time since the game began, Violet finally paid attention to him. Never one to miss out the chance to tease him back. “What, like the ‘narrowly dodge the ball because I wasn’t ready’ move?”
“That one’s a classic.” Louis got to his feet, stretching. “I’m gonna go see if I can score some free signed merch. Ciao!”
He darted off quickly, leaving Clementine and Violet alone. Once the crowd had moved, Clem spotted Lee and the others talking to Javi on the field. This was the perfect opportunity… if she was brave enough, at least.
“Vi-”
“Clem-”
They both hesitated, not wanting to speak over one another.
“You go first,” Violet offered.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I wasn’t gonna say anything that important anyways.”
Somehow, Clementine didn’t believe that but didn’t want to argue. “Okay, um…”
Her throat went dry, suddenly very aware of how close Violet was to her. Why was this so hard? Her heart pounded, mind going completely blank.
“Clem? You okay?”
“I… yeah, I’m okay. Just... nervous, I guess.”
Hesitating for a moment, Violet put a hand over hers. “It’s okay. Take your time. I’m here.”
“I know. You always are. And… I appreciate that.” More than she could ever say.
Violet smiled at her, completely lowering her guard. Clementine was one of the very select few people she could truly relax around. When Clem looked into her eyes, she saw it. That unspoken, unconditional love she had wondered about for weeks. It was right there, impossible to hide.
She was sure Violet could see the same thing right now, perfectly mirrored in her own eyes and expression.
“You know, I was planning on taking you somewhere different. Earlier this week,” Clementine admitted sheepishly. “But… I sorta chickened out.”
How many times had Louis stayed up until some ungodly hour in the morning, giving her a pep talk? The answer… too many. His efforts had always been in vain. Until now, anyway. She hoped.
“Clementine Everett chickening out. Huh, that’s a new one.”
“I’m not as brave as you think I am. Not always.” Seeing the concern appear in her eyes, Clementine squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad. Something… good, actually. No, amazing. Like, the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Violet visibly relaxed, squeezing her hand back. “Good, because I was ready to go death glare whatever problem you had away.”
Clementine’s heart melted. She had known it all along, but at that moment she was reminded just how much Violet cared. Even if she didn’t always say it, her actions spoke louder than any words ever could.
Actions...
Taking a deep breath, Clementine leaned closer. That startled Violet at first, silent yet complete panic setting in. Clem paused, wondering if she had read the mood right. Maybe she was wrong, misinterpreting everything. Maybe- That thought was cut off instantly when she felt lips brush against hers. Soft, only for a second or two, but definitely there.
“Holy shit. I mean, holy shit… I… I didn’t…” Violet was freaking out, that much was obvious. “No, I did... did I just-?”
Running on instinct now, totally bypassing thought, Clementine leaned in again. Their lips met, still hesitant but undeniable. The kiss felt like an eternity and a millisecond all at the same time. When they broke apart they just stared at each other, both questioning reality. Did that actually happen? Before either of them could speak again, before their brains even kickstarted back into action, a shout echoed through the stadium.
“Hooooooooooooomerun!”
They both turned, seeing Louis swinging an imaginary bat. Even from here, they could see his beaming grin. Violet flipped him off, too embarrassed to say anything back right now. Desperate to hide her slowly reddening cheeks, she buried her head into Clementine’s shoulder, which only seemed to amuse him more.
A huge, dorky grin plastered to her face, Clem put an arm around Violet. There was no resistance, much too late for that. She felt so damn grateful to Louis for lighting a fire under their asses.
Whatever would they do without him?