(Ellie)

"So..."

It was about 7pm.

Ellie's mind wandered while she was having dinner with Joel.

A few months after returning to Tommy's, Ellie's suspicion about Joel's story grew.

She had asked the obvious questions like;'Why didn't I get to see Marlene', which were answered by a quick and stuttery Joel. 'She, uh, didn't make it to the hospital'.

The answers to her questions became more delayed, and more unbelievable.

"Why was I wearing that gown? I thought they only put those on patients" I said.

"This again? Yeah, they were just, uh, doing some tests on ya' "

"Why would they do tests on me if they stopped looking for a cure?"

"They, um," Joel was distant and he looked lost for words. He looked back at me.

"You took quite a bit of damage from the water, they just wanted to make sure nothing was broken"

"Oh" I said as I looked away from him.

Couldn't they just check that when I was awake? I thought.

Joel was clearly lying and Ellie could see it. When Joel lied he was usually so believable, but this was different. Ellie could sense shame in him. There was horror and fear in his words and she didn't know how or why. She did know one thing, she knew Joel was lying to her.

They were doing great thought, going about their new life at Tommy's. Joel and Ellie had became friends with most of the town. They had their own home, they had their jobs to do. She usually saw the Joel she knew. It was the Joel she cared so much about, the Joel she trusted with her life, who she knew would protect her no matter what. It's not like she needed protecting though. Joel convinced the others to let Ellie join them for hunting or scavenging. And boy, do Joel and Ellie make a deadly combination. He knew and understood what she was capable of. They relied on each other for help, support and comfort.

But when she remembered Salt Lake City or she asked Joel about it, he seemed so different, like a stranger, whenever she brought it up. She had to put her foot down, she couldn't take it any more, she couldn't -

"Ellie!" Joel shouted.

"Wha- What is it, sorry"

Ellie sprang back up on her chair, her head searching, then focusing on Joel.

"You okay?" Joel said softly.

"Yeah, sorry"

I got to ask him now, I have to put a stop to this!

Ellie looked up from her plate of food.

"Hey, I need to talk to you"

Joel raised his head.

"Sure, about what?"

"It's about Salt Lake City"

Joel's eyebrow raised and his face looked slightly worried. "Uh, yeah?"

Ellie gulped

"I know there's something you're not telling me. I know you're lying about something and I'm not sure why."

"About what?" He questioned

"About everything, why have you made up all these story's, about what happened"

Joel turned his head away

"Why would I lie? I've got nothing to lie about" Joel said as he gestured his arm.

"Stop with the bullshit!" Ellie raised her voice but kept it calm. "Just tell me what happened!"

Joel closed his eyes and took a deep breath . "I already told yo-"

"That's not what happened!"

"ELLIE!"

"Fine, if you can't tell me then I can't trust you!" Ellie pushed her plate forward and stood up. "Bye" She pouted as she walked up stairs.

"Fucking asshole.." She mumbled as she stomped her way up to her room.

"Jesus Christ..." Joel whispered.

He rested his elbow on the table, held his head in his hand and continued eating.