Again, unedited chapter but i will get round to it! please keep reading and review because it means the world to me! love you xo

"hey, wake up." Ellie opened her eyes to a yellow sky, it was early morning and she felt the car slow to a stop.

"where are we?" she yawned stretching her arms. Joel still had both hands clenched over the steering wheel, his eyes where red from tears. He couldnt have been crying right? She thought.

Joel wasnt moving, so she unbuckled her seat belt and stepped out of the car.

"Joel is this your home?" she said peering into the car window.

" it was my home." he said coldly. Joel finally got out of the car and walked up to the front steps of the house. He grabbed a pair of keys from under a plant pot.

"wait what about past you!" Ellie shouted, running up to him. "what if you mess up the future or something!"

"THE FUTURE IS ALREADY MESSED UP!" Joel was facing the small girl, but he wasn't angry at her. He was angry at himself for what happened all those years ago, but now if everything was okay again then maybe god had given him a second chance, just maybe. Joel relaxed his hands and spoke in a softer tone. "there aint nothin' we can do to change this situation, so im takin' this chance." Ellie didn't like being shouted at, it made her angry... but she could tell Joel was struggling with something deep in side, so all she did was nod.

"okay."

Joel turned to the door and jammed the key into the hole, and with a twist he was free to enter. Ellie watched as her worn down companion slid open the door quietly to peer in. Everything was tense, she didnt want there to be another Joel living here, it would cause problems. Joel widened the door and crept in, followed by Ellie who by looking at Joel expression, could tell he was getting his hopes up about something. But what?

"what the fuck are you looking for Joel." she whispered. No answer. "Joel!" she said a bit louder.

"huh, what. Ellie shush" Ellie was steaming, ready to shoot a nasty comment at him when she saw that he was kneeling in front of a desk table next to the sofa. Joe's shoulders where drooped down supporting his clenched fists, his head was facing the floor and Ellie saw a single tear drip down from his eyes.

"Joel..." she started to reach out and touch his shoulder when she heard him say something under his breath.

"Sarah." Ellies hand flinched away when the man stood up and ran up the stairs shouting that name. She didnt know what else to do but slowly follow him.

Ellie tread carefully up the stairs, wondering who sarah could be. Joel's wife? She thought. It frustrated her how he had never mentioned any family before, but then again she supposed it was none of her business... maybe it is now, though. She came to the top of the steps and walked down the hall to the door that she heard Joel charge into, when she came to it, she creaked it open so she could just about see inside, she didnt want to walk into anything awkward, like Joel crying his eyes out. peaking in she saw that the room was bare apart from a plain wooden bed, and on the wooden bed was Joel, sitting upright against the post with his head back on the wall and his eyes closed, he looked peaceful, but certainly not content. her hand backed away from the door handle as she decided to leave him alone for a while, when she heard him call out to her.

"Ellie."

"yeah?" she walked into the room, Joel was in exactly the same position. She was hoping for an explanation, for him to open up and just tell her everything.

"i guess you can sleep in here tonight." Ellies brow furrowed, Joels decision to keep her in the dark from his whole sharade pissed her of a little.

"what the fuck Joel!" Ellie slammed the room door and stood infront of him, hands on her hips and walking back and fourth as she talked. "you cant just totally freak out on me like that and expect me to not want answers! I have accepted everything you've told me since this shit happend and its not enough anymore!" Joel opened his eyes and leaned forward to look Ellie straight in the eye, she found it a bit intimidating but she held her stare.

"fine." Joel wiped his mouth. "what do you to know." Ellie relaxed her muscles and leant against the wall.

"who's sarah?" Ellie was expecting Joel be angry about this question, but he wasnt.

" sarah was my daughter, this was her bedroom and that table downstairs should have a picture of her on it. And this fucking room should have posters of her favourite band, it should have a mirror right there! She should be here but it seems like she doesnt exist, like she never existed." Joel's eyes where pulsing red and salty water threatend to pour over his cheeks, he wiped his face again from sweat and tears. Shit. what do i say... shit shit shit shit shit! Ellie felt awkward, whatever she could say wouldnt be enough to comfort Joel in any way.

"you dont have to say anything Ellie. Just go." Ellie wasnt offended by Joel wanting her to leave, she could understand because she never wants anyone to see her cry... it embarrasing. Ellie nodded and left the room. The teen walked downstairs and sat herself on the sofa, she observed the tv set wondering what was on it, at her military school they had just one television to play old kids movies for the young kids. Ellie stood up to walk over to the tv when she heard footsteps coming towards the door, she started to look for a weapon on instinct again, but she couldnt find anything. The footsteps got closer and Ellie panniced more, but as she was about to run up the stairs to warn Joel, some paper piled through the letter box and the person walked away. Ellie sighed in relief, went over to the pile and picked it up.

"w-what the fuck!" the first letter had Ellies name on, more preciseley it said

to the parent/gaurdian of Ellie Hemsworth.

Ellie quickly shuffled through the rest of the letters but they where all just addressed to Joel. she dropped the ones that werent for her and began to open the one that was. The first words Ellie came to read on the letter where 'mr Hemsworth, we are pleased to announce that your daughter Ellie, has been accepted to join thomson high school! Ellies new uniform should arrive shortly and she will start her first day on the up coming monday.' Ellie stopped reading and let the letter fall from her hands.

"what is it." a booming voice came from behind her, she saw Joel crouch down beside her and scoop up the letters, he started to read the one that had been open.

"Joel, i dont know why-"

"shhh" Joel put up his hand to silence Ellie, his eyes kept scanning the words on the letter and when he finished, he let out a sigh. "i enrolled sarah in this school for when she turned 13, she wanted to go there."

"then why does it say my name! And your second name! This is so fucked up" they both got up from the floor.

"Ellie i think you're gonna have to go to this school." Joel spoke in a low tone and he wasnt looking Ellie in the eye.

"no im not!"

"its the law Ellie you have to!" Ellies fists where clenched in anger, so she released her emotions in a single tear that trickled down her face, she looked at Joel who was obviously having a harder time than her. Ellies expression relaxed and she snatched the letter from Joels hand, she overlooked the words again to make sure she hadnt mis-read anything.

"when is it monday."

"in two days."

"fine, but i wont enjoy it one bit." Joel turned to walk into the kitchen.

"i dont care." this struck a chord with Ellie, she thought maybe he would care a little bit, he was her only familiar face in the world. It made her feel more alone than ever.

Joel woke up to a piercing buzzing noise coming from a clock next to his head, he rolled over to stop it from making so much noise. It was monday morning, and Joel needed to get dressed for work. Since they had got to his house, Joel realised that the days would carry on like everything was normal. People would see Ellie as his daughter and he would have to go work, he would see the dead walking again. Joel stood up, stretched his arms, and stumbled over to his closet. It was full of clothes that he hadnt seen for 20 years yet it didnt bother him, to Joel they where just clothes. A day after they got here, Ellie had found some of his bank details next to his computer so he could access his money. This bought Ellie a few outfits and underwear that she needed, other than that the fridge and cupboards where well stocked and everything was as he left it.

"Joel?" Ellie was standing in the hallway looking at him, she was dressed in her uniform that had arrived yesterday which was a navy blue skirt just above the knee, a white long-sleeved shirt with a ribbon on the collar, a blue blazer buttoned half way up, a pair of long white socks and some black trainers. She had a backpack on similar to the one she had lost, her hair was washed and tied up in the usual pony tail and she looked cleaner than Joel had ever seen her.

"why you up so early." Joel knew the answer to this, she was probably so anxious that her worries woke her up.

"i just woke up, Joel i hate these fucking clothes!" Joel walked out into the hall and passed Ellie.

"just deal with it and come down for some breakfast." he said as he stomped down the stairs.

After eating some cereal, the pair left the house to get in the car, when suddenly Joel heard a familiar voice which made the hair on his neck stand on end.

"hey Joel, nice morning!" it was his neighbour,the one he shot while protecting sarah. It felt wierd for him, seeing the dead living again.

"yeah." Joel replied whilst opening his car door and sliding inside, Ellie followed suit.

"how far away is the school Joel?" Ellie asked.

"bout a 5 minute drive. after you know the way you can start walking there and back."

"okay." the drive to the school was a short one, and when they pulled up in the school car park Ellie and Joel both sat in the vehicle for a few seconds.

"here." Joel handed what looked like a timetable to her. "just find what day it is and go to the first lesson, in sure the teacher will tell you where to sit."

"Joel..."

"yeah.

"im kinda nervous..." Ellie looked genuinely frustrated.

"listen here, you have dealt with a whole lot worse than this Ellie, your a tough little smartass. They give you shit, you give them shit back. Now go on and i'll pick you up here at 3:15." Ellies spirits lifted.

"yeah! And besides, im from the fucking future! Ive practically got super powers." she joked whilst slamming the car door. Joel laughed as he pulled out of the car park. Ellie watched until the car was out of sight, took in a deep breath and let it out. You're okay Ellie, they arent any different to the kids you knew back home. Just then a tall boy who looked about 17 walked past her, he had jet black hair and metal things in his eyebrows, nose and ears. He had slightly modified the uniform he was wearing with black studs on the collar and cuffs of the blazer.

"whoa." Ellie said under he breath, she couldnt help but stare. It was so different to what she had already seen of the teenagers round here, she thought it was kind of badass.

Ellie shook her head realising she probably needed to be somewhere, scrounging around in her jean pocket she extracted the time table Joel had given her. She looked for monday, and when she found it she read what her first lesson was. History, okay thats good she thought. Ellie started to walk to the main entrance of the school, and she was amazed how shiny the floors where, and how many teenagers older and younger than her where walking the halls. they where putting books and all sorts of things into lockers, quite a few where kissing. She began to walk forward with no idea where she needed to be, so she went up to a boy that was standing alone to ask for directions. He was about her age or maybe older, and when he turned at her touch of his shoulder, she saw that he had the most beautiful face she had ever seen: golden blonde locks that fell perfectly on his forehead, dazzling blue eyes and a perfect nose. He was about a foot and a bit taller than Ellie aswell. His image made Ellie gasp slightly. Ellie looked at what he was wearing, he had a tie instead of a ribbon, and black pants instead of a skirt. Also a pair of headphones where hanging from the back of his neck, letting off a small beat of music.

"uh, hey!" Ellie exclaimed, she was nervously fiddling with the piece of paper in her hands, her heart racing for some unknown reason.

"hi." the cute boy flashed her a smile.

"do you know where, um, room 113 is? I just started today and i dont know." Ellie scratched at the back of her neck.

"yeah! I do actually, its right near my english room. Your'e in 9th grade right? Im in the year above." the boy bolted to Ellies side, grabbed her arm and started to guide her the way. Ellie suddenly became cautious of this contact and broke free of his grasp.

"hey get the fuck off of me!" she shouted at him. The boy stood still in confusion, and then he smiled.

"sorry, i guess i shouldnt have grabbed you like that. But really i can show you where your room is" Ellie stared at him for a second, and decided he was a friendly.

"okay." the two walked together past countless people, Ellie noticed a few stares from girls along the way. They looked jelous for some reason.

"this is it!" Ellie hadnt realised that they had stopped.

"oh." she looked into the room, about 25 people her age where sat in there and it made her feel queezy.

"i never asked your name?" the boy was still looking at Ellie whilst she was peering into the classroom. She turned to his attention and blushed when she saw his perfect face again.

"its Ellie!" she put out her hand to shake his. The boy laughed and grabbed it.

"im austin."

"austin." she repeated to herself. Ellie looked up and noticed that austin was already heading to his room.

"guess i'll see you later!" he shouted whilst walking backwards. Ellie smiled and turned to her class when she bumped into three girls.

"oh, sorry!" she said. The three girls where taller than her, and they all had make up on. Here we go... Ellie thought.

"you're the new girl." the girl with straight brown hair and a full fringe stated.

"yep." Ellie stood in a demeanour that said she wouldnt take any of their crap. They give me shit, i give them shit back.

"saw you talking to austin just then." one of the other girls said, she was bleach blonde and her hair had more volume than a squirrels tail.

"really." Ellie sensed the attitude in their sentences, they werent trying to be nice.

"just to let you know, he flirts with all the new girls." the blonde said again. Ellie was kind of surprised that they would think she'd care, austin was cute but she'd only spoken to him once.

"ive got to go in there so can you move."Ellie shoved past them, and hoped that they werent in her class. She looked behing her and saw that they where walking to the room across the hall, she sighed in relief. Ellie turned to see that everyone in the room was staring at her, she scanned the area for a teacher, who would most likley be an adult. Before she found one, one found her.

"Ellie Hemsworth is it?" the man asked. Ellie swivled round to see a very tall person towering over her. As if by habit Ellie saluted the man, and when the whole classed laughed at her she realised thats probably not how its done here. "no need to be so formal my dear!" the man laughed, Ellie thought him to be around 50.

"sorry, where do i sit sir." the teacher chuckled.

"please, call me mr samson!" mr samson directed her to an empty desk at the back next to a window. Ellie sat down at her desk, slumped her bag on the floor and listend to her teacher drone on for an hour about history. No one made an effort to talk to Ellie throughout her lesson. Its going to be a boring day... Ellie sighed.

R&R PLEASE! HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS :)