chapter thirty-two:
❛ gut feeling ❜

tw: mentions of sewer side

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!! COMMENT AND VOTE PLEASE

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Clementine was deep in sleep, completely unaware of how she had sprawled out across the bed. She had shared the bed with Miguel, but while she slept like a baby, Miguel had spent most of the night trying to dodge her kicks. The morning sun was peeking through the curtains when a pillow suddenly hit her face.

She shot up, startled. "I'm up, I'm up!" she shouted, her voice still groggy. She exhaled sharply, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep as she looked around, slightly disoriented.

Miguel was standing at the side of the bed, laughing. "Good morning, sleepyhead," he said, a grin plastered on his face. "Come on, get ready. You, my dad, and I are going to this club."

Clementine groaned and pulled the sheets off herself, her body stiff from the bus ride they had taken the day before. She stretched her arms out, feeling her muscles loosen. "I slept great. Better than the seat on that bus," she commented, her voice a little brighter now that she was waking up fully.

Miguel gave her a pointed glare. "What?" she asked, confused by the sudden change in his expression.

"I didn't sleep well because you kept kicking me!" he exclaimed, his tone half-joking but with a hint of genuine frustration.

Clementine laughed nervously, running a hand through her messy hair. "Oh, yeah... I forgot to mention that," she admitted with a sheepish smile. Miguel shook his head but couldn't help but laugh along with her.

Clementine climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom. The bathroom was far fancier than what she was used to, and she couldn't help but admire the sleek, modern design. On the counter, she noticed a black tank top and shorts neatly folded, clearly laid out for her.

She picked up the clothes, about to start getting ready, when Miguel's voice called out from the other side of the door. "Also, my dad thinks we're dating!"

Before she could respond, the door clicked shut, leaving Clementine standing in the middle of the bathroom, stunned. Her lips parted in shock, and she gasped softly. "What?" she muttered to herself, her mind racing.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror, the realization of what Miguel had just said slowly sinking in. How on earth did his dad get the idea that they were dating? Her thoughts swirled as she tried to process the news, all while her heart started to race, adding a new layer of nervousness to the day ahead.

Clementine shook off the initial shock of Miguel's revelation as best she could and focused on getting ready. She quickly changed into the black tank top and shorts, feeling a little more comfortable in the simple, casual clothes. She splashed water on her face and brushed her hair, trying to calm the nerves that had started to bubble up.

As she was finishing up, she suddenly heard muffled voices from the other side of the bathroom door. She paused, straining to make out what was being said, but the words were too muffled to understand clearly. The tone, however, was unmistakable—someone was arguing.

Curiosity got the better of her, and Clementine slowly opened the bathroom door. She peeked out and saw Miguel standing in the middle of the room, his back to her. He was holding his phone to his ear, and even though she couldn't hear the other side of the conversation, it was clear that he was upset.

A moment later, Miguel hung up the call with a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. Clementine stepped out of the bathroom, concern written on her face. "Who were you talking to?" she asked softly.

Miguel looked at her, his expression still tense. "My mom," he admitted. "She's... she's saying my dad is dangerous. That I should stay away from him."

Clementine's eyes widened slightly. "Well... what if she's right?" she asked cautiously, not wanting to upset him but feeling like she had to voice her concern.

Miguel's eyes flashed with frustration. "Clem, you don't understand," he said, his voice tight. "My mom's been saying stuff like this for years. She just doesn't want me to have anything to do with my dad. It's not fair."

Clementine took a deep breath, wanting to choose her words carefully. "I get that it's complicated, Miguel. But maybe she's just worried about you."

Miguel shook his head, his frustration clear. "She's always worried about something. I'm trying to get to know my dad, and she's just making it harder."

Clementine could see how much this was bothering him, and she decided not to press the issue any further. She could tell he was conflicted, but she didn't want to push him away by arguing. "Okay," she said softly, giving him a small nod. "I understand."

Miguel sighed again, some of the tension in his shoulders easing. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you," he said, his tone apologetic.

"It's okay," Clementine replied, giving him a reassuring smile. "Let's just... get through today, okay? We'll figure everything else out later."

Miguel nodded, appreciating her understanding. The tension between them settled as they both turned their attention back to getting ready for the day ahead, though the weight of the conversation lingered in the back of Clementine's mind. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than Miguel was willing to admit, but for now, she decided to let it go.

At the club, they bypassed the long line at the entrance, thanks to Hector. As they entered, the noise hit them—people chattering in rapid Spanish, music pounding, and the occasional cheer from across the room. Clementine couldn't understand most of what was being said, which made everything feel a bit surreal, but the energy was infectious.

Hector guided them upstairs to a balcony overlooking the main floor. The moment they reached the railing, Clementine noticed the wrestling ring set up below. She leaned against the railing beside Miguel, her eyes wide with excitement as she took in the scene. The wrestlers in the ring moved with an intensity and skill that fascinated her.

"This is so cool," Miguel said, his voice full of awe as he watched the match. His eyes were glued to the action, clearly impressed by the spectacle.

"I knew you'd love it," Hector replied with a chuckle, clearly pleased with Miguel's reaction. He turned to Clementine, his smile warm and welcoming. "What about you, Clementine? What do you think?"

Clementine grinned at him, her excitement mirroring Miguel's. "I so wanna be a wrestler. That shit looks fun."

Miguel laughed at her enthusiasm. "You'd be a great wrestler, Clem," he said, nodding as if the idea made perfect sense.

Before Clementine could respond, Hector's attention was drawn to someone approaching. "Vicente!" Hector called out, his voice carrying over the noise of the club.

"Hector!" Vicente responded with equal enthusiasm as he walked over, a broad smile on his face.

Hector clapped a hand on Vicente's shoulder as they greeted each other. "Permítanme presentarles a mis amigos aquí. Nos acabamos de conocer. Me ayudó a evitar un accidente el otro día," Hector explained to Vicente in Spanish, his voice carrying a tone of familiarity and respect.

Clementine clicked her tongue, feeling slightly out of the loop as the conversation continued in Spanish. She turned to Miguel, tapping him lightly on the arm. "I'll be back, Mig. Gonna go find something to drink," she said, feeling the need to step away and regroup.

Miguel nodded, still half-focused on the match but giving her a quick smile. "Okay, don't get lost," he teased lightly.

Clementine gave him a playful eye roll before slipping away from the group, making her way down the stairs and through the crowded floor in search of a drink.

The club was a maze of flashing lights, thumping music, and a blur of Spanish conversations that Clementine could only catch bits and pieces of.

The air was thick with the scent of sweat and alcohol, and as she weaved her way through the crowd, she found herself both exhilarated and slightly overwhelmed.
Eventually, she found the bar tucked away in a corner, a line of people waiting for drinks.

Clementine approached the counter and waved down the bartender, a burly man with a thick beard and a scowl that seemed to be his default expression. She leaned in closer, trying to get his attention over the noise.

"Hey! Can I get a water?" she called out, her voice raised to be heard above the music.

The bartender glanced at her but didn't respond. Instead, he turned to the person next to her and took their order, speaking rapidly in Spanish. Clementine frowned and tried again, louder this time.

"Water, please!" she repeated, but the bartender ignored her completely, moving on to the next person in line. Frustration bubbled up in Clementine's chest as she realized he either didn't understand her or just didn't care.

As she stood there, trying to figure out her next move, a man sidled up to her. He was tall, with slicked-back hair and a greasy smile that made her skin crawl. He leaned in close, his breath reeking of alcohol.

"Hey there, bonita," he slurred, his hand reaching out to brush against her arm.

Clementine stiffened, immediately on edge. She took a step back, but the man closed the distance, his hand lingering on her arm.

"Back off," Clementine said sharply, her voice firm, but the man just chuckled, clearly not taking her seriously. He leaned in even closer, his eyes leering as he tried to kiss her.

Clementine turned her head away, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to push him off. "Get away from me!" she snapped, her voice rising as panic began to set in. She tried to shove him, but he was stronger, his grip on her tightening as he leaned in further.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Clementine saw a flash of movement. Robby had just walked into the club with Caleb and Johnny, and his eyes immediately locked onto Clementine. The moment he saw the guy harassing her, his expression darkened.

Without wasting a second, Robby bolted towards the stairs, taking them two at a time as he raced to reach her. Just as the man was about to force another unwanted advance on Clementine, Robby's fist connected with the guy's jaw in a powerful punch. The man staggered back, stunned, and then crumpled to the floor.

Clementine gasped in shock, her eyes wide as she looked at Robby. Relief flooded through her, and before she could even think, she threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug.

"Thank you, Robby!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly. She pulled back just enough to look at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Robby wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "You're okay," he murmured, his voice low and reassuring. Clementine nodded, her heart still racing, but she felt safer with Robby there.

Without thinking, she leaned in and kissed him, the adrenaline still pumping through her veins. As they broke apart, Clementine turned her head back towards the spot where Miguel and Hector had been, only to find that they were gone. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she scanned the area, but there was no sign of them.

"Where'd they go?" she muttered, more to herself than to Robby, her eyes still searching the crowded club.

As Clementine and Robby stared at each other, she finally noticed what Robby was wearing—a black shirt with bold white letters that read "FBI." She furrowed her brow in confusion and tilted her head to the side, eyeing him with amusement.

"Why the hell are you wearing an FBI shirt?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and humor.

Robby glanced down at his shirt as if he had forgotten what he was wearing and then smirked. "My dad," he replied with a shrug.

Clementine couldn't help but laugh at that, the tension from earlier melting away. "Of course. Classic Johnny move," she said, shaking her head.

Just then, something caught her eye across the club. She turned her head and saw her dad, Caleb, in the middle of the wrestling ring, engaged in a heated match with one of the wrestlers. The sight of him wrestling, and even throwing in some karate moves, made Clementine's jaw drop. She hadn't expected to see her dad in the thick of things, let alone fighting a professional wrestler.

"Is that... my dad?" Clementine asked, still in disbelief as she pointed towards the ring.

Robby followed her gaze and then grinned. "Yeah, that's definitely your dad," he confirmed. Without wasting a moment, Clementine grabbed Robby's hand, and they made their way down the stairs, weaving through the crowd to get closer to the ring.

They reached the edge of the ring just in time to see Caleb land a solid kick to the wrestler's chest. Clementine and Robby, along with Johnny, who had joined them, began cheering him on.

"Go, Dad! Kick his ass!" Clementine shouted, her voice loud and full of excitement. Robby and Johnny were right there with her, their voices mixing with hers as they rooted for Caleb.

The match was intense. Caleb was holding his own, but the wrestler was skilled, and soon enough, he had Caleb in a chokehold. Clementine's heart leapt into her throat as she watched her dad struggle to break free. The crowd was roaring, but it all felt distant to Clementine as her focus zeroed in on her dad.

Just when it seemed like Caleb might be in real trouble, Robby reached into his pocket and pulled out a jalapeño popper. He leaned over the ropes and handed it to Caleb, shouting, "Use this!"

Caleb, with his face turning red from the chokehold, managed to grab the jalapeño popper. Without missing a beat, he squeezed the juice directly into the wrestler's eyes. The wrestler howled in pain, releasing Caleb and stumbling backward, blinded by the spicy juice.

Clementine blinked in surprise and turned to Robby, her eyebrows raised. "Where did you even get that?"

Robby just shrugged with a smirk. "Long story," he replied, clearly enjoying the moment.

Back in the ring, Caleb didn't waste the opportunity. With the wrestler temporarily incapacitated, Caleb landed a powerful kick to the wrestler's midsection, sending him crashing to the mat. The crowd erupted in cheers as the wrestler struggled to get back up but eventually stayed down, defeated.

Clementine, Robby, and Johnny all cheered loudly, their voices blending with the roar of the crowd. Caleb stood over his opponent, catching his breath, before leaning down to ask the wrestler in Spanish, "¿Dónde está Hector?"

The wrestler, still wincing from the kick and the burning sensation in his eyes, mumbled something incoherent, too dazed to give a proper answer. But it was clear Caleb wasn't going to stop until he got what he came for. As the scene unfolded, the excitement in the air was palpable, the stakes higher than ever.

After Caleb finished questioning the wrestler, he climbed out of the ring, still slightly winded but with a determined look in his eyes. He made his way over to Clementine, his expression a mix of relief, frustration, and a touch of pride. Before Clementine could say anything, he pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close as if he was afraid she might disappear again.

"Dad, you were amazing!" Clementine exclaimed, still buzzing from the adrenaline of the match.

Caleb pulled back slightly to look at her, his eyes softening as he took in her face. "Clementine, you can't keep doing this. You're grounded for the rest of your life, you hear me?" he said, his voice firm but laced with concern. "You can't run off like this ever again. I mean it."

Clementine's grin faltered as she heard the seriousness in her dad's voice. "Dad, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to worry you," she began, feeling a pang of guilt. She hadn't thought about how her actions would affect him, and seeing the worry etched on his face made her realize just how reckless she'd been.

Caleb sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You scared the hell out of me, Clem," he admitted. "I know you're tough, and I know you can handle yourself, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to worry. You're my daughter. I can't lose you."

Clementine nodded, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "I promise I'll be more careful," she said softly, her voice sincere. "And I won't run off like that again."

Caleb nodded, finally letting go of some of the tension in his shoulders. He gave her a small smile, one that showed how much he cared. "Good. Because I don't think my heart can take another scare like that," he said, pulling her into another hug.

As they stood there, Clementine felt a deep sense of gratitude. Despite everything that had happened, her dad was still there, still looking out for her. And even though she knew she was in for some serious grounding, she was just glad to have him by her side.

Robby and Johnny watched the father-daughter moment in silence, both of them understanding the gravity of what had just happened. Robby, seeing the love and concern Caleb had for Clementine, couldn't help but feel a renewed respect for the man. And Clementine, wrapped in her dad's arms, knew that no matter what came next, she had a family who loved her—and that was enough.

When they arrived at the address given by the wrestler, they found Miguel on the phone, his face streaked with tears. Johnny, noticing Miguel's distress, immediately got out of the car and wrapped him in a comforting hug. Miguel leaned into Johnny's embrace, his sobs muffled against his shoulder.

"Dad... is he okay?" Clementine asked from the backseat, her eyes filled with concern as she watched the scene unfold.

Caleb, who had driven them here, shook his head slowly. "I think he just realized how dangerous his dad is," he said softly, glancing at Clementine and then at Robby.

Clementine, feeling a surge of empathy, got out of the car and walked over to Miguel. "Mig," she said gently, wrapping her arms around him. Miguel buried his face in her shoulder, his cries growing more intense. "He doesn't even care, Clem. He— He said he doesn't regret his past crimes. He doesn't care about me. I didn't tell him I'm his son," Miguel choked out between sobs.

Clementine's eyes filled with tears as she rubbed his back soothingly. Robby, standing near the car, watched with a conflicted expression. Despite his lingering feelings of dislike towards Miguel, seeing his girlfriend comforting him made him feel helpless.

Miguel and Robby's eyes met briefly, and the unspoken tension between them was palpable. Miguel's tears continued to flow as he turned back to Clementine, who was doing her best to provide comfort.

"Miggie, come on. Let's go home," Clementine said softly, her voice full of warmth. Miguel nodded, his expression weary but grateful. Together, they walked back to the car, where Miguel and Robby exchanged another tense glance before getting into the backseat.

Clementine settled between the two boys as Caleb started the car. The drive was quiet, the weight of the night's events hanging heavily in the air. After a while, Clementine leaned her head on Robby's shoulder, exhaustion overtaking her. "I'm poofed. Goodnight," she murmured, her voice trailing off as she drifted into sleep.

Robby, despite his discomfort with the situation, wrapped his arm around Clementine, trying to provide some sense of security. The car ride continued in silence, each person lost in their own thoughts as they made their way home.

A few hours into the drive, the night was calm except for the steady hum of the car engine. Johnny had fallen asleep in the passenger seat, and Miguel was slumped against the window, peacefully dreaming. Clementine remained nestled against Robby's shoulder, her breathing steady and even. Robby, however, was wide awake, his thoughts consumed by the weight of recent revelations. Caleb, focused on the road, was the only other one who was fully alert.

The rumble of the tires over a large rock jolted
Clementine awake. She looked up at Robby with sleepy eyes. "How long was I out?" she asked, her voice soft and groggy.

Robby glanced at her, his expression thoughtful.
"A few hours," he replied quietly, his gaze returning to the passing landscape.

Clementine frowned, noticing something was off. "Robby, what's wrong?" she inquired, her concern evident.

Robby hesitated, feeling uneasy about addressing such personal matters in a confined space. "Caleb, can you stop at that parking lot?" he asked, nodding toward a dimly lit area just ahead. Caleb, understanding the gravity of the situation, pulled the car into the lot.

Clementine's worry deepened as the car came to a stop. "We'll just sleep here for the night. I'm tired anyway," Caleb announced, turning off the engine. Robby and Clementine exited the vehicle, and Clementine followed Robby, her concern etched on her face.

"Robby, what's wrong?" she repeated, her voice laced with apprehension. Robby stopped and turned to face her, his expression troubled.

"Your suicide attempt a few months ago... that wasn't your first attempt?" he asked gently. Clementine's face fell, and she shook her head slowly, her fingers nervously playing with the hair tie on her wrist.

Robby continued, "I'm just worried, Clem. Me and your dad thought you were struggling with the All Valley loss, but you went off to Mexico with Miguel. I don't want to force you to talk about it, but I just want to know if you're okay. I mean, you have that bruise on your eye from the All Valley, and it's gonna be a reminder until it heals."

Clementine exhaled sharply, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm a lot better now, Robby. Therapy is helping. I haven't cut since the attempt," she said, her voice trembling. She rubbed her fingers over the scars on her arms. "I'm not that upset about the All Valley. Yeah, I'm disappointed, but it's whatever. Tory won; she deserves it. She's been doing karate longer than I have. I only knew basics when I first joined, and she did kickboxing..."

Robby listened intently, giving her space to express her feelings. Clementine took a deep breath before continuing. "But, yes. I've tried to kill myself twice. The first time was a few years ago. I was in a really dark place. My depression was overwhelming, and I started having these terrible thoughts. I told myself I wasn't worth it and began to cut myself. My brother, Tyler, was the first to notice. My dad was still at the army base working as a doctor at that time. Tyler saw how closed off I was, how I barely went to school and was failing. Then he found the razors in my room. He confronted me about it, and I- 1 slapped him. I ran away, and that's when I tried to end my life for the first time."

Tears streamed down Clementine's face as she recounted the painful memory. Robby stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace. "Clem..." he murmured softly, his voice filled with empathy.

Clementine looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy. "I'm sorry I made you think I was dead when I was just in Mexico... I left my phone behind, thinking it was the best thing to do," she cried, her voice breaking with guilt.

Robby held her tightly, his heart aching for her.
"It's okay," he whispered. "I'm just glad you're here now. We'll get through this together."

As Clementine's sobs subsided, she clung to Robby, finding solace in his presence. They stood together in the parking lot, the quiet night wrapping around them as they faced the challenges ahead, united and stronger.

ASH SPEAKS!

i feel like some things that i wrote in season 2, i forgot about, so i'm trying to make sure i keep it into the story cause i have problems with writing where i forget and i completely change things without realizing—i mean i accidentally had tylers name spencer and then i started writing tyler??? so i decided to keep his name as tyler😭😭😭