Dinner

The cabin group occupies one table, while the ski lodge group sits at another. Carley is already settled in with the ski lodge crew.

Clementine enters the dining room, and Eddie waves her over to join them at the ski group table. Simultaneously, Luke gestures to Clementine, inviting her to sit with the cabin group.

Without hesitation, Clementine chooses to sit with the ski lodge group, much to Luke's visible disappointment.

As she takes her seat, Eddie slides a steaming bowl of food he prepared toward her, his smile warm and inviting. "So, we were talking... That guy, Luke? Is he in charge?" he inquires, glancing between Clem and Carley.

"Eddie." Maria shoots him a warning look, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"We don't know those people," Eddie insists, his tone slightly defensive.

"But wi a eat rait now," Maria replies, raising an eyebrow.

Eddie lets out a sigh, conceding the point.

"I don't know yet. I haven't been with them long," Clementine admits, her voice thoughtful.

"Hm." Eddie makes a contemplative sound. "It does take a while to get to know someone."

"It do," Maria nods in agreement, shooting Eddie a knowing smirk.

Eddie rolls his eyes. "I like to hook my legs around yours when we sleep. It's not weird. Get over it."

Maria chuckles, a playful smirk on her face. "Sure. It nuh weird. It okay." She continues to eat, clearly amused.

"Well, I don't trust him. Or any of them," Carley interjects firmly.

Eddie nods in agreement. "Thought so."

"He seems like a nice enough guy to me," Walter chimes in, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Well, Ted Bundy seemed nice too, didn't he?" Eddie shrugs, narrowing his eyes. "The fat guy said they're on the run."

"Some people are after them," Clementine confirms, her voice steady.

"Yeah, well..." Eddie huffs, "you don't have to worry about that." He turns to Carley. "Neither do you. You two can stay here, obviously."

"Difinately," Maria chimes in with a bright smile.

"Thank you," Carley responds appreciatively.

"Yeah, I'm tired of running," Clementine admits, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

"A chuu yuh a," Maria agrees, nodding with an understanding smile. However, this was the first time that Carley and Clem didn't understand what she said.

"You don't have to run anymore," Eddie reassures her.

Once they finish their meals, Carley, Maria, and Walter take their plates back to the kitchen. Moments later, Luke and Nick approach their table and sit down without asking. Eddie openly displays his annoyance.

"Hello," he greets them in a deadpan tone.

"Hey," Luke replies, nodding.

"How was the food?" Eddie asks pointedly.

"Oh, it's... it's great. Thank you," Luke responds with a small smile. "So what was your plan here? Hold out for the winter?"

"And why are you asking?" Eddie shrugs.

"Just making conversation, man," Luke replies casually.

"Well, yeah. It's a good place," Eddie acknowledges, still skeptical.

"Sounds stupid," Nick snarls, his disdain evident.

"Well, you don't have to fucking like it, because you and your group will be leaving as soon as possible, right?" Eddie slams his fist on the table, his frustration boiling over.

"Well, that'd be just fine by me," Nick retorts angrily.

"What's your problem, man?" Eddie shoots back.

"Maybe I just don't like your face," Nick replies defiantly.

"Wanna go?" Eddie stands up, his fist clenched. "Should I crash in your windpipe, homie?"

"Hey, fuck you, buddy!" Nick stands as well, but Luke grabs his arm, trying to defuse the situation.

"It's fine, Nick. We're not staying," Luke says, his tone firm yet calm.

"Well, you and your group will. Clem and Car are staying," Eddie states, sitting back down.

"Wh-'scuse me?" Luke asks, clearly taken aback.

"You heard me, pretty boy," Eddie retorts, the term 'pretty boy' dripping with sarcasm.

Clementine instinctively covers her ears at the escalating tension.

"Gentlemen, please. There's no need for this. Now, look, we've all had a long day," Walter interjects, returning just in time to mediate.

Eddie turns to Clementine, his expression softening. "Clem, Maria and I are in the room at the very end of the hallway upstairs. You and Car—" he gestures toward Carley, "will sleep there with us." After patting her gently on the head, he leaves the table.

"Hey, Clementine. Would you, uh, lend me a hand outside for a moment?" Walter asks, his smile friendly and inviting. Clementine nods and rises to follow him outside.

After her talk with Walter, where she confessed her desire to stay at the ski lodge with him and Eddie, Clementine decides to grab her knife before heading outside. Walter patiently waits for her.

As she walks through the hall, she hears some muffled noises and, looking down the corridor, catches Eddie and Maria sharing a kiss. To her shock, she swears she sees Maria push her tongue into Eddie's mouth.

"Ewww...!" she exclaims, making a disgusted sound as she quickly covers her eyes.

The unexpected interruption causes both Eddie and Maria to pull away, startled to see Clementine. Eddie coughs awkwardly into his hand while Maria, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, playfully punches Eddie on the shoulder. "Mi tell yuh!" she exclaims before dashing upstairs.

"It's not like no one else saw us before!" Eddie chuckles, watching her retreat with a smirk before turning to Clementine. "Hey, what are you up to?" he asks, trying to regain his composure.

She looks at him, her expression still one of mild disgust. "Helping Walter outside."

"Ah, I see. I'm coming too," he replies, eager to join her.

They head to the entrance, where Clementine retrieves her knife while Eddie grabs his pistol. Together, they step outside to rejoin Walter. As they turn the corner, they spot a woman peering into their windows. Eddie instinctively takes a step forward, but Walter places a restraining hand on his shoulder.

"Miss?" Walter calls out, his voice calm.

Bonnie, caught off guard, raises her hands in surprise upon noticing Eddie's firearm.

"Please. Do you have any food?" she asks, desperation evident in her voice.

"Are you okay?" Walter inquires, concern etched on his face.

"I saw the house, and... I have a family. We're starving. We live down there," she explains, pointing in the distance.

"Bullshit," Eddie immediately calls her out, skepticism coloring his tone.

"You don't know that," Walter interjects, turning to Eddie. He then looks back at Bonnie. "Of course. Why don't you come in, miss...?"

"Bonnie," she introduces herself, her voice wavering slightly.

"You're just gonna let her in?" Eddie questions, disbelief in his voice.

"It's fine," Walter reassures him.

Eddie shakes his head in annoyance, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on him. The only silver lining in this frustrating situation is that he's reunited with Carley and Clementine.

Despite his irritation, Walter offers Bonnie a box of food, and she gratefully accepts before leaving.