Joel stared down into his bowl of soup, listening to the voices around him in the mess hall. Ellie had launched into a retelling of a book she had read recently. Tommy and Maria smiled and nodded along, listening patiently as Ellie gestured wildly, getting to the climax of the novel. Ashton and a woman named Janet listened along as well, but Janet occasionally snuck glances in Joel's direction, who paid her no mind.

"And then he dies!" Ellie announced, slamming her hand on the table for emphasis.

The eyes of her audience widened and Joel perked up at the noise.

"Wait...that's it?" Maria quirked a brow.

"Yeah!" Ellie replied, exasperated, "Just like that! That's the end of the book."

"That's not a very good ending," Ash added.

"Tell me about it. I almost threw it out the window. I thought maybe pages were missing or something, but no, the asshole ends his book with Jamie's death."

"That's sad…"

"Yeah it's sad. What about Erin? They were gonna travel the world together. They were in love." Ellie threw up her hands, shaking her head disappointedly.

"Well," Tommy began, "Not all books have happy endings."

"Okay," Ellie added, leaning forward," But the world sucks enough as it is, couldn't Jamie and Erin just get a decent ending in fiction?"

"Joel used to say stuff like that," Tommy chuckled.

Joel, upon hearing his name, fully came into the conversation.

"Remember Of Mice and Men?" Tommy asked him.

"Hell you mean do I remember? Of course I do. Book was terrible." Joel growled.

"Hey, Ms. Jones said it was a tragedy."

"No, what was tragic is that I had to write a report about why I liked the book."

"Never liked that book either," Ashton volunteered.

Ellie's eyes went back and forth between Ash and Joel and a small smirk crept across her face.

"So...what do you like, Ash?" she asked, resting her elbow and the table and cradling her chin in her hand.

Joel shot her a look, but her eyes were on Ash.

"Uh...you ever read Hatchet? Good book. Had to read it in middle school. It made me want to be a survivalist. Careful what you wish for, huh?"

Everyone let out an uncomfortable laugh, Joel released little more than a huff.

As silence fell upon them, Ellie took the opportunity to dig again. Joel went back to eating his soup, lifting the spoon to his lips.

"So, Ash, there a special someone in your life?" Ellie pressed.

Joel sputtered, choking on the spoonful. He coughed loudly and everyone's eyes fell on him. As he took a long sip from his cup to clear his throat, he locked eyes with Ellie, shooting her a warning glare.

"Nope, nobody," Ash laughed, flicking his eyes briefly to Joel then back to Ellie.

"Interesting," Ellie chirped, turning to Joel.

"What about you?" Janet asked, cocking her head to the side as she looked at Joel as well.

Ash's face fell slightly and Ellie's eyes narrowed in annoyance.

Joel looked behind him before returning his gaze to Janet.

"Me?"

Janet nodded, smiling pleasantly at him.

"Uh, no, been single for some time now," he explained before swallowing uncomfortably.

"Aw, that's sad," Janet cooed.

Joel shrugged.

Ash had gone back to eating his food. Ellie's glare at Janet only intensified as the woman spoke.

"Handsome guy like you?" Janet continued.

"Anyway," Ellie cut in, rolling her eyes, "Tommy had something he wanted to say to you, Joel."

Janet, stunned at Ellie's outburst, frowned slightly. Tommy stifled a laugh and nodded.

"That's right, I forgot," he turned to Joel, "Couple'a the boys have been thinking of branching out. Y'know...we've been here almost six months, haven't had a raid since before you two showed back up. Some of 'em thought it was time to go out surveying the area, expand the fence."

Joel nodded, interested.

"We know some of the area," Tommy continued, "Like the path to the ranch house. Might make a good addition to the property. Families are getting bigger, might not be a bad idea to take in more land."

"That's smart. Could use the space," Joel agreed.

Suddenly, a small boy with curly blond hair came scampering up to their table. The crew's eyes snapped to the child as he smiled at Tommy.

"Is it movie time yet?" The little boy asked, tipping his head to the side inquisitively.

Tommy laughed, "Yeah, it's about that time. You run ahead and get the other kids to pick the movie. I'll be in."

xXx

Joel walked down the hall back towards his room when Ellie jogged to catch up.

"Joel!"

He turned back to face her.

"Not watching the movie?" she pressed.

"No, I was jus' gonna head back to my room."

Ellie nodded, "I'll walk with you."

"You might miss the beginning," Joel insisted.

"Already seen it. They want to watch Cars again. No offense, but I can only see talking vehicles so many times."

Joel laughed and began walking again, allowing Ellie to keep pace with him.

"So Ash definitely likes you," Ellie added, breaking the silence.

Joel sighed heavily, shaking his head.

"Well he does. Do you think you might like him?"

"I thought we talked about this."

"Okay, but you didn't actually get to talk to him before so-"

Joel stopped in his tracks, shooting her a look.

"Ellie, enough."

Ellie let out a huff.

"I'm just saying-"

"What about Janet?" Joel asked.

Ellie's face scrunched in disgust, "What about her?"

"She seems nice."

"No."

"No? You're so bent on me endin' up with Ash you didn't notice she seemed interested?"

Ellie shook her head, miming vomiting, "No, Joel, not Janet. She's a cheater."

"Oh?" Joel let out a laugh, crossing his arms.

"Yes, she slept with Simon when she got tired of Nick. She's bad news."

"Why do you care so much?"

"She cheated, Joel, and not just on Nick. Cause then she cheated on Simon with Rico. Sorry I don't want her to do that to you-"

"No, why do you care to set me up? I can find my own partner if I care. Which I don't."

"Psh, yeah."

"What?"

"That you can find your own person."

Joel's face displayed surprise.

"What makes you think I haven't already found someone?" He pressed.

Ellie let out a laugh, "Joel, we share a wall…"

Joel's eyes narrowed, "Go watch the creepy car movie."

He turned back around and opened his door.

"It's not creepy," she corrected, "Just weird."

"Goodnight," Joel told her, closing his door.

"Hey, we are still going swimming tomorrow, right?" Ellie pressed, peeking through the narrowing gap in the door.

"Yes, goodnight."

"Ash likes you!"

"Goodnight."

The door closed tightly.