A Matter of Time

by Ducibus

Meet me, fifteen years old and living in a cordyceps-raged era in a hydroelectric plant. Meet this auburn-haired chick with a unknown history who just arrived. Meet her guardian and mentor, the brother of one of the leaders of the dam. I'd say come and join us on this adventure...but you're already doing it.

15. Mikey's Ultimatum

Ahh...summer break is here. Can y'all believe it's almost been 2 years since I started this fanfic? Yeesh, time goes by.
I suppose my attempt at updating during the school year failed...this is more of a summer fic in the end.
And thank you all for the kind words and compliments and WOOHOO! All the lovely reviews. It's always sweet to go back and re-read them whenever I feel like the story's in a rut.

Anywhoozies, enjoy this next chapter! I know I haven't done this in a while, but again, if there's any scenes/ideas that you want to have happen, feel free to PM me or leave it in a review. Y'all run the show, too!

With promises to update more frequently and injure myself less often, I leave y'all with this little nugget. Finally drudging up some old emotions/ideas that I didn't get to acknowledge beforehand.

*Also, from now on the chapters will just be months to keep the story moving along* (unless that method sucks)

Cheers!

(-_-(-_-(-_-)-_-)-_-)

I can't help myself from giggling like a little kid whenever Ellie kisses me, as she presses her lips to my smiling ones, her hand going to the back of my neck. She's a lot better at being serious while being romantic, while my mind is all over the place.

On the bright side, she finds all my giggling and grinning cute. So I guess it's a bonus I don't turn her off.

(-_-(-_-(-_-)-_-)-_-)

"It's...so...c-cold." Ellie stutters, slamming the front door shut as Joel and I look up. She's soaking wet and shivering, and Joel sighs, "I told you that you needed a jacket."

"No, you didn't!" Ellie whines, but avoids his eyes. Joel pushes back from the table, heading upstairs as she wraps her arms around herself in a vain attempt to stay warm. I watch from the table and grin, "You look like a drowned rat."

"Assclown." She replies back, just before we hear Joel thumping down the steps. He crosses the room to where she shakes and wraps a big, thick towel around her shoulders, giving a smug smile, "This is why you bring a jacket next time."

"Thank you." Ellie mumbles, not meeting his eyes again as he chuckles, sitting back down at the table with me. Ellie pulls back a chair and seats herself down, Joel clucking his tongue at her, "Don't get water everywhere."

"It's not my fault it started to rain!" Ellie shoots back, and Joel turns to face me, "There's always something, isn't there?"

"Don't you dare side with him." She glares at me, frowning. "Or else you're carrying your own books to school."

We all stay silent for a few minutes, and then begin to crack up. The constant bickering and bantering between Ellie and Joel reminds me of the bickering between me and my brother, always held in jest. Something that's never meant to be taken seriously.

"What're you two working on, anyway?" Ellie asks, reaching out to the piece of paper in between me and Joel. Joel shrugs, "Helping her go over Dr. Mundell's training schedule."

"Isn't he supposed to give it to Alicia?" Ellie scans the paper, and I shake my head, "When he can't, I'm just supposed to come here and pick it up."

"You must be making some progress for Dr. Mundell to be recommending some of these things." Joel remarks, and I look out the window to the rain pouring down. "I guess you could say that. I don't notice it too much."

"It's been a month." Ellie murmurs, and I shrug, "Alicia says there's still time for me to regain the use of my leg, but I don't know any more."

"Endure and survive, my friend."

I grin reluctantly at the advice, trying not to let what I'm feeling show on my face. Of being held back from training in school, of physical therapy, of that nagging feeling of me just being a hassle. I know I'm supposed to give myself time to heal, but at the prospect of being in another bandit attack...well, it just makes me want to speed up time. To get to that point where I can use my leg again.

Then Ellie thumps her palms on the table and stands up, "I'm gonna head up to my room. Maria, I need your advice with something. Get upstairs."

Joel eyes the two of us as we shuffle up the stairs, and then calls, as soon as we're almost out of view, "Nothing too crazy!"

"Joel!" Ellie calls back in exasperation, as I begin to laugh. She shoves me, ignoring my canes, "It takes two to be stupid, you assclown."

I get my balance under control and she throws back the door to her room. Over the past few months, she's taken to decorating it more, hanging up a picture of her and Riley, and the painting that Mitzi gave her while I was still in a coma. Then there's rip-out posters from Starlight Savage, and storyboards we've made in animation. Ellie's pissed that I'm a better artist than her, but she has the better ideas for stories. So when we work together, it balances out.

"Close the door." She says as I shuffle into her room, and I balance on one leg and a cane and use the other cane to push it shut. I've grown more versatile with my canes over the past few weeks. I used to call them crutches, but canes sounds cooler.

Then Ellie lets me flop down on her bed as she sifts through her closet. I pat her comforter and raise my eyebrows, pulling back the blankets, "Do you sleep on rocks?"

"No, I—hey! Put that down!" Ellie says, rushing forward as I let go of the blankets. But she's not quick enough to block everything, and once her back is turned to me, I smile, "Nice job of hiding your clothes. Did that underwear have dinosaurs on it?"

"You suck." But her voice is somewhere else when she replies, and I raise my eyebrows, "So, why'd you bring me up here, anyway?"

"Joel's birthday." Ellie turns, walking back to me with a list on a makeshift clipboard. She takes the pen out from behind her ear and begins reading off a list of ideas. I try to listen in, but my mind wanders.

It's only the slamming of the pen onto the clipboard do I turn back around to face Ellie as she eyes me, "You listening or nah?"

"Sorry." I manage, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, and she glares down at her list. "I don't know what to do for Joel."

"Material wise?"

"Yeah...I mean, I was thinking of a new gun, or fixing up one of his old ones..." Her words trail off and I raise my eyebrows, "You don't sound too sure."

"I mean," Ellie comes and sits beside me, tossing the clipboard to the floor, "how do you say a 'thanks' that big for all the shit we've gone through? Cleaning a gun doesn't sound like a surefire way to do it."

"Write him a letter." I suggest, and Ellie eyes me, "You think I'm gonna be good at doing all that sappy shit?"

"Like you don't keep letters closer to you than guns. If you write him something really nice, he'll keep it with him forever."

Ellie stays quiet, but she looks thoughtful. I push my canes underneath me and hoist myself over to her makeshift desk, reaching for pen and paper, "Give me some ideas to jot down. Then we'll narrow it down."

"Alright." She sounds agreeable enough, lying on her bed and propping her legs up onto the walls. I start easy, "When you first think of Joel, what's the first thing that pops into your head?"

"Dad. Or...a father. Mentor-ish." She blows a raspberry, and I quickly write it all down, "Don't get frustrated if you can't communicate everything that needs to be said."

She stays quiet, and then I continue on, "So...why do you feel like he's your mentor?"

"He's never taught me a bad lesson. Whether it be about life or death, or shooting weapons, or...I guess he's like the kind of person you could kick back and talk to with for hours. I've never felt like my life was in danger when he was looking over me."

I smile, relating to the whole idea of Joel being someone to talk with. I haven't had much time to talk to him past playing card games or looking for a guitar for Ellie, but on nights when we all collect on the porch, he and Tommy can talk for hours on end about their lives growing up.

"What's one moment where you felt completely safe, or relieved?"

"When..." Ellie blows another raspberry, blinking hard, "When he hauled my ass off of David, and held me back."

Her voice is thick and I push back the desk chair with one good leg, offering a hand for her to squeeze. She does so and continues on, "The fact that he came to save me, feeling like shit as it was...no one's ever done something like that for me."

I run my thumb over her knuckles, feeling the rough skin, and write down the gist of what she's said. We spend the rest of the afternoon pulling the letter out of Ellie, coming up with moments to references, of the lessons taught, of fun memories like seeing the giraffes or meeting Bill for the first time (with Ellie laughing now at their first impressions).

Finally, as the sun begins to waver in the sky, Ellie rolls onto her feet, taking the paper from my hands, "Shit, I've got a lot to write."

"It won't be too hard."

Ellie meets my eyes and cracks up, and I swat her upside the head, "Shut it."

"That's what she said...uh, you want me to walk you home?"

"Just so you can push me into the bushes and make out with me?" I tease, pulling on my jacket. The idea's so brazen for me to suggest that I'm surprised when Ellie simply shrugs, "I mean, whatever you're cool with."

I grin and we head downstairs, to where Tommy and Joel are taking on dinner. Joel looks up as we thump down the stairs, "You staying with us for dinner, Maria?"

"Nah, I have to head home. But I'll stick around next time." I remark, and the two give me waves. Ellie pauses by the front door, "Cool if I walk her home?"

"Alright." Joel says, waving us out the door. Ellie grins and holds the door open for me as I head out, closing it shut behind us. My stomach feels as if it's drowning in butterflies. Am I supposed to be this excited for a possible make-out?

Keep your cool, idiot, I remind myself, pushing myself on my canes. When I pass Ellie, she gives a low whistle, "Would you look at that body."

"Shut up." I reply back half-heartedly, and because she's her and I'm me, she glances up at the sky, "I don't think this is good make-out weather."

"Oh, c'mon. I was teasing." I say in my defense, and Ellie laughs, rolling her eyes, "I can read your face like a book, Maria. That sure as hell wasn't what you were suggesting."

We walk in silence, holding back laughter, and then, as we reach my house, Ellie pulls me back around the garage as best as she can.

"Thanks for the help today." She murmurs, sounding sincere, and I shrug, "Hey, it's what you do for friends. Or...people more than friends, I suppose."

She gets on the tips of her toes to kiss me, and I keep the side of the garage behind me to use as leverage. Then there's a huge clap of thunder and we break away, Ellie being so surprised she falls straight onto her ass. I crack up and she kicks my canes out from under me. I'm so used to that habit of hers that I drop myself to the ground without hurting anything.

Rain pours down harder now, and we eye each other, sitting on the cold, muddy ground, out of sight from both the house and the street. My heart pounds at the possibilities, but Ellie only smiles, "I know what you're thinking."

"Does my face really show it?" I ask, and she shrugs, "Not too much. But we think alike for the most part."

"Good. You're just as crazy as I am."

But Ellie moves in closer, and I close my eyes, letting my guard down for a second and I know something's wrong when I hear the snort of her laughter and then I feel myself wincing as mud is shoved down my shirt.

When I open my eyes, Ellie's on her feet, laughing and trying to run away. I reach for my canes and stand up, the leftover mud plopping to the ground. She laughs harder and I make up the distance in no time, tackling her to the ground. Pressing my lips to hers and leaving no time for reaction, she only kisses back.

Her cold fingers reach for the hem of my shirt, slipping underneath to warm themselves. I pull away from her mouth, breathing hard, and she giggles, "Little too much effort there?"

"Possibly." I reply, not letting her know, and her grin only grows wider. Her eyes close and I pretend as if I'm going to kiss her again, reaching my hand into soft mud close by. Just as I'm about to close the gap, I lean back, shoving a wad of mud into her mouth.

Her fingers snap nails into my back as her eyes shoot open. I roll off of her and grab my canes, leaving her to lean to the side and spit out the dirt.

"Payback, sistah!" I shout at Ellie, using this precious time to put as much distance between her and myself. Her eyes show just how pissed she is, and I crank up my speed, hauling ass to get back into my own house.

"Get back here, you assclown!" She manages, using her tongue to work out the rest of the dirt in her mouth. I giggle harder, feeling my heart pound as I race up my steps, having mastered my canes almost completely, and yanking back the front door, launching myself into the front hallway and slamming the door just before she can get it.

I lock it and wave 'bye' from behind the curtain, to which she flips me off. I can't help myself from grinning, but she's looking a little steamed, motioning for me to get my ass back outside. I shake my head no, put the curtain back, and race up the steps, eager to take a hot shower.

(-_-(-_-(-_-)-_-)-_-)

"She shoved mud into my mouth, Mitzi!"

Mitzi only cracks up, eyeing the two of us, "These are your relationship troubles?"

Ellie and I exchange looks and begin to laugh as well. To be honest, there isn't much time to fight between us. We've both dealt with loss in our own ways, and being together only emphasizes what we've learned, that the person standing beside you today won't always be there tomorrow.

I mean, to be fair, we do have our little fights and stuff over...well, things like mud, for example. And there was that time after I got out of my coma, which is a funny time to be fighting, when you think about it.

Mitzi brushes her mouth off with the back of her hand, and then turns to face me, "Have you heard about what they're doing with the top class?"

"Mikey's?" I ask, and she nods, continuing, "After this school year, they're heading up north. Back to Boston and Baltimore and New York and wherever else they think is necessary."

"All of his grade?"

She shakes her head, "It's voluntary. But if they don't meet their quota, they'll be opening it up to the rest of the high school."

"What's it for?" Ellie asks, and Mitzi replies, "Unspecified. But I think it's got something to do with looking for survivors, and vaccines, and maybe medical personnel."

"They're still going after supplies even though we're weeks out of that attack?" I ask, thinking how ironic it is for me to be complaining. I mindlessly adjust the straps on my canes as Mitzi focuses on Ellie, "Hey...you alright?"

I finish adjusting them and turn to see her blanching significantly. She swallows hard, and Mitzi's eyebrows furrow, "Kid?"

Her pupils stop growing so damn wide and she shakes her head, "I'm...I'm fine. Maria, can we get water or something?"

Ellie's over shock now. I can already hear the anger in her voice. So I roll onto my feet and canes and she gets the door.

Once we're out in the hallway, she begins to pace, holding her head in her hands. I see her hands shaking and reach for her shoulder, "Dude."

"What?!" Her head whips up to glare at me, and once she sees my face the anger is lessened a little bit. But not that much, "Sorry, for...snapping."

"'s cool." I lie, and gesture to the floor, "Care to sit?"

"Not here. Let's...uh, go to..." I know something's bothering her when she can't even state at least one of our three favorite hangout places in school.

So I take her hand, direct it to my arm, and begin making my way to the spare tech room with Ellie in tow. The room's filled with junk, but we keep it filled in case of spare parts from old computers and printers and whatnot. My laptop fried the other day, but to be honest, I'm so busy I don't even use it now.

"Sit." I direct, and Ellie sits. She brushes aside some computer equipment and draws her knees up to her chest and refuses to look up at me. So I sit across from her and stare her down until she finally makes eye contact with me.

"Hey." I murmur softly, propping my canes up on spare chairs and putting a hand on her knee. "What's going on?"

Ellie sucks in a deep breath, and then, "Maria, you know how I'm immune?"

She takes my hand and puts it on her arm, and under the thin hoodie she wears I can still feel the uneven bumpiness of the bite. I nod, "Yeah."

"Well, there were these people. That's how I met Joel. He was supposed to take me to the Fireflies, and they were going to use me to find a cure."

"By killing you." I piece together, and Ellie eyes me, "Have I told you about this?"

"No, but that thing grows on the brain. Mr. Shawn said something the other day about how if a human was immune they'd be killed quickly." I see her face blanch and quickly add, "But there'll be me and Joel to keep that from happening."

Ellie sighs, holding her head in her hands, pushing stray auburn hairs behind her ears, "They were going to kill me...and then Joel came and got me out."

"What's so bad about that?" I ask, and she grits her teeth, leaping to her feet, whirling around, slamming fists into the table, "Because everything he told me afterwards was a fucking lie, that's why!"

Ellie places her hands on a nearby computer and I think she's about to wreck it, "I mean, I get it. He wanted to protect me. I fucking understand that. But...it's everything else too, Maria. It's...everyone dying and..."

She mentally takes a step back, shaking her head, her back still turned to me, "I...I..."

"Don't know how to confront him about it." I supply, and she turns around, facing me but her eyes searching the floor, leaning back on the desk. She looks so dejected that I look down too.

"I don't know how to ask. And if he bullshits me again, I don't think I could take it." Ellie murmurs, and I scooch over to where she is, "Sometimes you've gotta live with lies."

"Yeah." Ellie heaves a sigh, smiling ruefully, "Me with Joel and you...with Rachel."

I look out of the dirty windows of the room. There's barely any light back here, but the broken blinds help a little bit. I see kids playing tag in the yard, laughing and screaming and shouting, running hard and fast and feeling safe. I think back to my own childhood, growing up in Baltimore, kept indoors, taught to fear and taught to fight.

What did the world look like? And what will it look like with a cure? The idea's tantalizing, but I know it's just a snowball waiting to happen, with a new monopoly rising for the cure, another black market coming into play.

I heave a sigh, and Ellie throws her arm around me, "Yeah. I hear you."

"Did you really want to die?" I ask, and she eyes me, "What?"

"To make the cure. Did you really want to?"

She shrugs, "I...I was in a bad place. Everyone around me kept dying, and I thought I could've saved them all if I had just gotten to the Fireflies sooner."

"But what changed that?" I ask, and Ellie blows a raspberry, "You getting shot like a buffalo."

"A buffalo?" I laugh, sounding incredulous, and she lets herself smile, "Yes, a buffalo. Hunted and all that shit."

But Ellie turns to face me with something else in her eyes, "So...even if I had become a cure, it wouldn't stop everything. It wouldn't stop bandits or guns or shitstorms of fighting or anything else. Honestly, in this world, the disease is...kinda used as an excuse for everything."

I nod, looking back out the window as the kids are hustled inside, "Yeah. I can understand that."

"So...do you think Mikey's really going to go east with everyone?"

I chuckle, shaking my head, "Nah. He's got too much stuff here, what with Avery and his friends. And Mom would never let him go."

Ellie nods, and I glance at the clock, "Oops. We're wasting training time."

"What a pity." She deadpans, giving me a nudge before we both crack up.

(-_-(-_-(-_-)-_-)-_-)

"Mom!"

"Maria, I've told you this three times already. Go and ask your brother why."

I glare at her, "Stand your ground!"

"I can only do so much. Sweetie, he's turning eighteen. I'm not allowed to hold him back here with me, no matter how much I want to."

I balance precariously on my canes, "Why would you let him do this?"

"Because," Mom begins, gesturing for me to set the table (add this to something I miss about being on the run: not having to eat with utensils), "he's going to be eighteen. He's got his own reasons, and God knows I've told you multiple times to go ask him yourself."

I keep the forks and spoons and knives in my pocket as I head over to the table, "Where is he?"

"Staying at the introductory for the program tonight. He's not eating with us."

I take back a set of silverware and instantly I'm launched back years to doing the same thing, but push on, "I don't get him."

"I'm not the main mean of communication between you two. Ask him when he gets home." Mom says, and I make a silent vow to do so.

(-_-(-_-(-_-)-_-)-_-)

Mikey comes home late. Like, super late, in comparison to other nights and his study sessions. He's one of the top students in his classes, and Ellie constantly teases me about if I missed out on the smart gene. Because of that, I made her do her math homework on her own for a week to prove a point about stupidity.

I watch from my room as he crosses into his own, flicking on his lamp and pulling off his jacket. He looks wiped, and I know for a fact people tend to be more honest when they're tired. So I haul ass into his bedroom, "Yo."

"Can I help you?" Mikey asks, and I sit down on his bed, "Why're you going back east?"

He chuckles at his dresser, "Knew I was gonna have to deal with you."

"Why?" I press on, and Mikey turns to face me, folding up his spare clothes, "C'mere."

I eye him dubiously, and he rolls his eyes, "C'mon."

So I put my canes underneath of me and start to make my way over, and he sits on another bed. I get close and he drops a shirt in my way, "Pick it up."

I groan, but do so anyway, wincing as everything is put onto the balance on one leg. I rise, leaning graciously on my canes, and toss it back at Mikey, "Here."

He digs a shoe out from underneath of his bed and tosses it at me, "Catch. Put it on."

Catching the shoe almost puts me on the floor, and tying it is another difficulty. I almost impale myself on my canes trying to sit down and angle myself, and even then he's given me a shoe for my bad leg. I don't feel the need to explain to him that Ellie usually ties my shoes.

When that's done, Mikey eyes me, "Tired?"

"Yeah." I reply back angrily, and he sighs, "That's why I'm going."

I bring my eyebrows together, "Why, exactly?"

"Because, you're struggling. I know your canes help, but you need more medical help. They're doing that sort of thing back home, and in Boston. Testing out prosthetics for civilians."

"Prosthetics?!" My voice squeaks, and I get it down before, "Where's this all coming from?"

"Can't a big brother be looking out for his kid sister?"

I glare at him, "I'm hardly a 'kid', thank you." But Mikey's grin doesn't waver, and I eye him, "What? What is it?"

"I'm not losing another sister."

My eyes widen, and then, "Mikey, that's ludicrous. You don't need to worry about that."

"All it takes, Maria, is for something to trip you and you're out."

I feel my face go hot, "I'm not that defenseless."

"You're not." He agrees, and I feel some of the tension settles. But he sighs, "Mom's gonna go insane if something else happens to us."

"So you think that by going to Boston or whatever is somehow going to heal her nerves? Mikey, how the hell are you going to get a prosthetic and bring it back? Who the hell here knows how to do that sort of surgery."

"An exo-prosthetic." He says, and I eye him, "What?"

"A prosthetic that'd go around the outside of your leg. You wouldn't need to cut it off."

"And you think that's going to fix everything?"

"What's there to lose?" Mikey asks, and I kick him with my good leg, "You, you idiot. On some stupid quest with all your friends and taking on the world like idiots."

"I'll give you an ultimatum." He remarks, and I eye him warily, "Like what?"

"I don't get to make the decision until I'm eighteen, in January. If you get that much better on your canes by then, or get some control of your leg, then I won't go."

"How about this," I begin, and Mikey laughs, "You're sounding like Mom."

I roll my eyes and continue on, "If I get that good on my canes or crutches or whatever by then, you'll go and I'll come with you."

He raises his eyebrows, "Really? Homesick pup like you?"

I glare at him, "Ellie will be coming with me."

Mikey begins to laugh for real, "Your girlfriend can kick ass. Alright, it's a deal."

(-_-(-_-(-_-)-_-)-_-)

"I can't believe you." Ellie murmurs the next night, as we veg out in front of her TV, watching a movie for animation class. We're supposed to write down three techniques that we see being used, but so far I've only got 'hose-arms'.

"Believe me over what?" I ask, and she scrawls something on our sheet before crossing it out, "Signing me up to go with you. How about no?"

"C'mon, it's in three months."

"A shit ton of things can go down in that time." She mutters, not even turning back to face me, eyeing my contribution of 'hose-arms' to our shared list.

"I love you and all, but...couldn't you have thought to maybe ask me?" Ellie adds after some silence, and I sigh, "Sorry."

And then it clicks, and I face-palm, "I'm such an idiot."

"Only space for one genius in the family." Ellie notes, and I grin, peering at her through my fingers, "Thanks for that vote of confidence. But...the reason you don't want to go...the people in Boston, right?"

Ellie turns and gives me a thumbs-up, "Look, you got it right!"

"You're still worried, huh?"

She backs up to the couch, still sitting on the floor, heaving a sigh, "Yeah. I'm just...comfy here."

"The world starts at the end of your comfort zone." I remark, and Ellie flips me off, "I could do without the cheesy quotes. I've had enough of the world."

"No." I nudge her head with my socked foot. "No, you sure as hell haven't. You miss it. Admit it."

We sit in silence, and then, "Y'know what...fuck it."

I raise my eyebrows, "What?"

"Fuck it. You're right, as much as I hate to admit it, you assclown. I need a break from this place."

I keep quiet, and she turns, an excellent poker face being donned, "I'll stick with you."

It takes a moment, but I roll off the couch and onto her, grinning wildly, feeling just that much more at ease, "Thank you!"

"Get...off!" Ellie grunts, but giggles as I peck her with kisses. I bury my forehead in the back of her neck, and she promptly shoves a pencil in my ear, "No time for cuddling. Gotta get this animation stuff done."

(-_-(-_-(-_-)-_-)-_-)

"How do you feel about knives?" Alicia asks, and I eye her, "What?"

"Your evaluation," she begins, glancing down at a sheet, "says that you've got an understandable fear of guns due to your late sister and father."

Quick note for you wondering how the hell she's gotten this information: When you first get to school, they take you aside to do a quick evaluation of you both physically and mentally. If you're determined unstable, or just a little bit anxious than the next person, they call you in every week to see the school therapist. To the school, mental health is just as important as physical health.

I shift in my seat a little bit, "Yes, that's correct."

"Guns aren't the only weapons to be using. However, I'm also seeing that you managed to shoot your classmate Abel last spring with a bow and arrow."

I choke back a laugh. He's fine, if you're wondering. I managed to just graze his ass with an arrow while I wasn't paying attention. I got out of it easily enough, blaming it on someone distracting me.

"Aside from that, bows are two handed weapons. To operate them would mean complete balance on a single leg, or to wear a cuff on the other leg to keep it steady."

"Wouldn't I drop my canes though?" I ask, and she nods, "Another point to consider. Knives...are single-handed weapons. So long as we can wean you off of a single cane, or improve your balance and strength enough, knives are in consideration for you to be trained with."

She pulls out a wheelchair and gestures for me to sit in it, "They've set up some targets by request."

I swallow my pride and seat myself down in the wheelchair, putting my hands on the wheels and rolling myself out before letting Alicia steer me. The gym doors are open, and the place itself is empty.

"They're doing a course outside today." Alicia remarks, noting my expression, and I look at the windows, wondering if I can see Ellie. I'm sure she's going to be jealous when she hears I got to stay indoors instead of dealing with the cold and rain.

Alicia hands me a bag of knives and I hoist myself onto a stool. Breaking open the bag, I pull out a knife, admiring the cool metal and the weight it has in my palm.

I glance back at Alicia, and she nods towards the makeshift targets. So I arch my arm back with the knife in hand and send it hurtling towards the target. It finds it niche closer to the outside, and I reach for another one. There's something satisfying about throwing knives.

"What do you think?" Alicia asks, and to be honest, I've forgotten about her there with her being so quiet and all. I grin and turn back to face her, "This isn't such a bad idea."

(-_-(-_-(-_-)-_-)-_-)

Ellie stands behind me, nodding her approval with each knife that hits its target. The setting sun shines in through the cracked and dirty glass windows, but it still makes the room look beautiful.

"Look at you, assclown." She teases. "Taking on those knives like a pro."

I throw another three and feel satisfied as they hit a little bit closer to the center with a 'thwock' for each sunken blade. Ellie stands beside me and grabs some out of the bag, "Lemme try."

"You're gonna impale the walls." I tease, and Ellie sticks her tongue out at me, "Haha. You're just so...funny."

But, true to my prediction, on the fourth knife it doesn't land on the target, but rather on the floor behind it. I begin cracking up while Ellie groans, "Shit."

"You have as much skill with knives as you do with basketballs." I tease, and she sticks her tongue out at me. I head over to the targets myself on my wheelchair, pulling out my stack of knives, and then, "How'd Joel's birthday go?"

"Good." Ellie replies, and I raise my eyebrows, "Did he...y'know, like the letter?"

"I think he did."

"You don't sound too sure." I note, and Ellie sighs, "I...it's just weird now. Before I didn't really have much of a need to talk about what happened, with him lying and all. But now that there's all these...flaws in what he's told me...I guess confronting him is the next step."

I grin, "Remember when you thought coming out to him would be the worst thing in the world?"

Ellie laughs, pushing her hair back, "Yeah. I remember."

We set up our knives, each of us getting an even number, and then we begin shooting. I woke up with a sore throat the morning of Joel's birthday, plus I thought it would be weird to be there. I know I'm like family-ish, but...still.

"You excited to be heading out, then, over the summer?" Ellie asks, and I shrug. "It seems so damn far away."

"It does." She muses, and then throws two knives, grinning as they hit their targets, "But life only goes faster the older you get."

"That is true." I agree, and I take a break to eye her. There's this determination in her green eyes, and when she catches me looking, she lowers her arms, "What? Is something on my face?"

"No. Continue." I reply, gesturing back to the targets. Ellie sets up again, and then turns to look at me, dropping her arms in exasperation, "Maria, c'mon! What is it?"

"I don't know! You look...pretty today!"

"Well, thank you!"

We grin, and then Ellie moves in closer to me, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear, her green eyes taking in my face.

"You gonna shove mud into my mouth again, assclown?" She asks, voice soft, and I shrug, enjoying the teasing, "Not yet, at least."

"We're gonna have fun this summer, aren't we?" Ellie asks, and I feel particularly cocky, so I smirk, "Who says we've gotta wait till this summer?"

Sometimes, I feel like I can take on the world when I'm kissing her.