''Mornin.'' He says to me, removing his hand around my waist. I felt as if someone pushed me, pushed me back to reality as I was no longer wrapped in his arms. I felt like no clickers, runners, hunters, or anything could harm me when I was in his arms. I wanted to go back immediately. ''Wait, maybe we could sleep for a couple more minutes?'' I asked him and looked straight on his enticing tan eyes. ''I know what you're feeling Ellie, but we need to keep moving.'' He told me stretching, and exercising his solid muscles. I couldn't help but stare at him while he does it. ''What's wrong Ellie, is there somethin on my face?'' He told me looking straightly at my face. god, he noticed me. I wanted to crawl up in a hole and hide in there forever. ''N-nothing, I-I was just checking the wrinkles on your face!'' I told him with a high pitched voice accompanied by obvious signs of nervousness.I was obviously lying, for his age, he was incredibly handsome. Sometimes I wonder how I keep my temptations in check. ''I ain't that old Ellie, now pack your things and lets get outta this damn place.'' He told me sounding a bit offended. ''Don't worry Joel, with your face I'm pretty sure you're still above everyone your age.'' I told him trying to encourage him. I tell him that but in reality, he is the only man I am attracted to, I don't think anything will change that. ''Ellie.'' He tells me at a firm voice cueing me its really time i pack my things. ''Alright, I'll go get my pack and everything I need.'' I tell him walking towards the direction of my bag.
After a few minutes, we left the house, going in for another exciting day of walking. ''How much farther to Salt Lake City?'' I ask him while going up a ladder. ''Not far, we're almost there.'' He tells me offering his hand to help me climb up. I take his hand trying to calm my senses of the physical contact. After a while we go to cross a destroyed building. And after I peek at the window, i couldn't believe what I was witnessing. ''Holy Shit!'' I shouted quietly and quickly sprint towards the direction of where it's headed. ''Ellie!'' Joel called out but I was too excited to stop. ''C'mon Joel hurry up!'' I tell him while dashing through the stairs. ''Dammit Ellie.'' I hear him speak, running to my direction, catching up. ''Holy.'' I thought to myself, I was in awe and was enjoying the view. No longer than a moment, Joel catched up to me and was going to ask what was happening, but stopped as he too, took in the view.
We saw dozens of giraffe, Live ones! walking around, eating the overgrown vegetation, accompanied by a gorgeous view. ''This everything you hoped for?'' He asked me, leaning on a railing. ''It has its ups and downs.'' I told him, still admiring the view. I loved that Joel never left me, and i can see that he cares for me, and I know that he would never abandon me, but there was still a lingering fear In my head that he would leave me after his mission was done. I wanted to stay at his side even after his mission, and go with him wherever he wants to go. Just being with him makes me feel overjoyed and safe. ''I sure am liking this view kiddo, but afraid we gotta keep movin.'' Joel told me placing his hands on my shoulder. ''Yeah, you're right, let's go.'' I told him removing my grip from the railing and continued on with our journey.
We go through a number of infected on the way, but this time, i helped Joel with killing them. I think he was proud of me if i do say so myself.''Ellie, wait up a bit.'' Joel says while scratching his hair. I turned around and wondered what he was going to say, then I see him take out a 9mm pistol from his pack. ''Figured you uhh, are more than capable of handling yourself.'' He tells me moving closer in my direction and placing the gun on my hands and holding it. ''For emergencies only, you hear?'' He tells me slightly tightening his grip on both my hand and the pistol. ''Of course Joel, I won't let you down with this.'' I tell him staring straightly in his eyes. After getting Joel's trust, I can't help but have a huge grin on my face.
After some more walking, Joel and I needed to cross over the bridge, but the water that isn't really shallow enough to walk through, was in our way. Luckily there was a few buses, big enough for us to walk. But, its not exactly safe, to say, the very,very very least! ''I'm not sure this is a good idea Joel.'' I tell him sounding very nervous. ''Well, we can't cross any other way, don't worry, just follow my lead.'' He tells me while offering his hand to help.I take his hand and we walked through the bus carefully. I feel safe knowing he is holding my hand, but I can't shake this bad feeling that I'm getting. Really, really bad feeling.
After crossing 3 buses, that barely had any footing in it. Joel lifted me up to the barely steady silver crossing. After climbing up on it, I heard a rumbling sound coming from Joel's direction, not even a second later, the bus gave in and Joel fell in the water inside the bus. ''Joel!'' I cried out and without even thinking, I jumped after him knowing full well that I cannot swim. I tried to swim as hard as I can, and fortunately before completely sinking i managed to grab a part of the bus and used it as a way to get to Joel. And there he was trying to break open the bus door. Hold on Joel! I told myself desperately trying to get to him. After using the bus as my guide, placing my hand to one part then another, slowly but surely I was getting to him.
After for what seemed like an eternity battling against the hard currents, I finally reached the door. And immediately, my eyes widened and I felt dreaded to see two fucking metal bars stuck on the side of the door. Joel saw me and I saw his widened, surprised, and very worried eyes. With both my hands, and with all my strength I attempted to remove the metal bars from the door. I cursed at the people who thought that attaching two fucking metal bars to a bus door would be a great fucking idea! I was getting out of breath rapidly and my strength starting to fade out. With one final push, I managed to get the bars out of the door. As soon as I opened it, I lost the strength to move my body,losing consciousness and all I could feel is the cold touch of the water. I opened my eyes and saw a clouded vision of someone lifting me up from the water. Then after passing out a second time I once again open my eyes only to see a blurry image of Joel. ''Ellie! you're gonna be fine ya hear me?'' Joel told me sounding incredibly worried and very pained yet very clouded. He was still saying something to me but I couldn't hear it, it became too clouded to hear.
I open my eyes. ''Joel?'' I called out. It was really the only thing that was on my mind as soon as I woke up. ''Mornin kiddo.'' He told me looking in the front mirror of the car looking at me. When the fuck did we get a car? ''What-what happened, the last thing I remember was opening the door and-and.'' I told him and was gonna ask more but I got interrupted. ''Easy kiddo, the drugs haven't completely worn out yet. He told me with hints of pain in his voice.''Alright, I don't think I'm going anywhere so you wanna fill me in?'' I told him with a smile in my face, seeing he is okay, that he is alive and most importantly, still at my side was all I needed. ''We found the fireflies.'' He told me, sounding serious.