Why did Joel do that...? Was it to shut me up or what?
I stare at him intensely while following behind him as quiet as I can; with every step I take my broken ribs jab into me making me want to scream in pain. We sneak our way down the broken steps down to the first floor, Tommy shakes his head doubtfully at what he just witnessed, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
Tommy's not impressed that Joel kissed me; honestly I didn't see it coming either.
My heart still flutters around, it's weird; I've never had this feeling before. Especially around Joel.
I peer over the railing, noticing the rotting half decayed body behind the counter while kicking over one of the many bandits' corpses that litter the upstairs hallway and down here so I don't trip down the steps and break my neck; or worse, alert the Clickers.
My eyes tear up a little, the pain's becoming unbearable.
Elliot's body was in the hallway upstairs, I guess he didn't make it far until Joel got a hold of him. I feel bad in a way, he was quiet and seemed like he felt bad for what Dan always did; but in the end he didn't even try to stop him.
The clicking sound echo against the walls in this deteriorating building from the infected that are blinded by the huge fungus sprouting from their skull, leaving them sensitive to sound.
I'm still mad that he lied to me, but I've been questioning Joel a lot lately; he'll do little tiny favors such as bringing me back some comic books, or finding me some sweets; something he'd never do before.
My mind wanders around at endless possibilities as to why Joel suddenly changed like that, only to be cut short by his voice interrupting my thoughts.
"Shit." He mutters, picking up a glass bottle and tossing it against the wall to create a distraction, while Tommy loads up his rifle, aiming silently at one of the Clickers that's by the doorway; where we need to go.
The bottle shatters into a hundred pieces, a few of the Clickers let out eat splitting screeches while they run about wildly towards where the bottle shattered.
Like flies to a bug zapper...
Joel sneers.
"Gotcha."
He fires off his shotgun; followed by Tommy's rifle cleaning up the remaining ones roaming around the main room.
They explode with that horrible fungus scent, and lots of decaying blood splatters everywhere in the process, enough to make Tommy cringe a little.
That never gets old, those damn things are stupid.
I smirk.
"Still got it; old man." I roll my eyes playing around, while Joel ignores my comment. Tommy glances at me, flashing a quick smile.
"He's gotten a bit off, coulda aimed to the right a little and-" Tommy joins in, he must have bugged the shit out of him too when they were growing up.
"Okay, we get it." Joel cuts him off sounding a bit irritated, while Tommy backs off completely; not saying another word.
Confused, I just stand there. What the Hell was that about?
"Hey, why so grumpy?" I question him, defending Tommy while he glances around the corner and down the stairs into the basement, making sure there aren't any more Clickers down there before we carry on.
"Don't worry 'bout it." He simply states; avoiding my eyes.
What's gotten into him? He was happy a second ago…
Tommy seems alright I guess; I like his wife Maria better though. Mainly because he threatens me behind my back. Funny how he thinks I don't know. I've heard him a couple times. But then again, he did come with Joel to "rescue" me.
I smile, grinning at Joel while he glares at me a little, focusing back on scouting around the remaining rooms to make sure there's no stragglers left behind.
There's about a few fresh corpses down here without any of their blood anywhere. Most of them are facing down, and hopefully they don't become Runners…
Seriously, what's his problem? He's usually nicer than this.
"Jesus Ellie, you didn't even bring a weapon with you?" He appears from behind the corner, walking slowly into the middle of the room, kicking one of the bodies out of the way before waiting for us to follow.
Shit.
"Uhh, I don't think I did...?" I smirk a little, pretending to check my pockets, wincing in pain while he shakes his head and sighs. Tommy cracks another smile, I guess he loves the way I torture his older brother.
"It's not a damn joke Ellie. Did you not learn anythin' from being with me?" His hazel eyes darken, locking onto mine with a fearful, intense gaze.
His eyes…
My heart pounds lightly, every time he holds my gaze I can't help but feel giggly inside. That isn't like me at all; what the fuck am I thinking?
I pretend to think for a minute, smiling.
My time to shine.
"I learned that you can be a dick sometimes, you snore in your sleep like a grizzly bear, and- oh! Yeah, you like to sing to yourself when you-"
"Okay that's enough." Joel cuts me off while Tommy dies of laughter again; Joel walks towards us with a distasteful expression.
"What? You asked." I look down, hiding my huge grin on my face while I pace around the room a little.
He gets so defensive whenever I bring up that he wanted to be a singer. Yet all this time I've never actually heard him sing.
"Damn Joel, she got you figured out already." Tommy smirks, heading towards the door so we can leave this place and go back home to Maria and the other families that are there. They're probably cooking dinner right about now by the looks of it.
I know mostly everything that happened in Joel's life. Sarah, Tess, Marlene. I know all of the stories; or so I thought I did. I'm pretty sure he's the one who killed Marlene; he always avoids my eyes whenever I bring her up. She brought up Riley as well a long time ago, but they're both gone now so, I guess it doesn't matter. I never told Joel she kissed me though; that'll be fun when he finds out.
"Yeah, damn kid. This is why I don't talk much." He spits on the ground, taking one last look behind us to make sure there's none left, avoiding my eyes.
Prick.
"Ellie are you feelin' alright?" Tommy questions the way I'm walking, holding my ribs and trying to breathe.
"I'm feeling wonderful, fucker broke my ribs…" Breathing is very difficult with shattered ribs.
Joel tenses up yet again, the anger returns in his hazel eyes.
I think he's mad because of Dan…
"We'll check you out at the safe zone; you can rest for a few days." Tommy smiles, knowing that I hate doing work.
"I wouldn't mind that one bit." I force out a tiny grin.
"Yeah, I wouldn't mind that either. Kick me in the ribs too." Joel mutters sarcastically, standing in the middle of the room, not even cracking a smile.
Bastard, it hurt like Hell.
Clearly he's making fun of me; I'm too tired to even say anything.
"Whatever, so did you accidentally set them free, or "accidentally" set them free?" I smugly reply, gazing at Joel expecting an answer.
"It wasn't planned at first, opened the door and realized we could use them as a getaway." Tommy laughs a tiny bit, while walking out of the Ranch and standing outside, waiting for us and keeping watch at the same time.
Huh, how the Hell could you not hear the clicking from the basement? Then again, I didn't even know there were Clickers in the basement either…
My eyes linger around the crippled room, old pictures are barely hanging on the walls, glass shards litter the hardwood flooring of this place, and it's a complete mess.
I wonder if the rest of the owners made it out alive, that little girl should have died in the basement or somewhere dark and moist. That's what Joel taught me.
Joel's taught me many important things; he can just be an asshole sometimes. I learned how to swim a few months back because of him, mainly because he was pushed into the river by a few bandits wanting our supplies the last time we left Tommy's.
Without any warning; Joel suddenly turns around, walking towards me with a fierce gaze in his eye. Not speaking a word, or showing emotion at all.
I tense up a little; he was waiting for Tommy to leave so he could scold me like a little kid, wonderful.
Shit, just my luck huh?
My heart hurts, pounding furiously against my shattered ribs while he stops in front of me. Afraid of what he's going to do.
I prepare myself for the argument that's about to break out, knowing that he'll never talk to me for a few days afterwards. This wasn't the first time we fought.
"Don't leave me like that ever again." The words barely escape his lips as he pulls me into him, holding me closer to his warm body.
My ribs…
The cracking sound of my ribs catches his attention; he loosens his grip on me a little, smiling softly.
"W-what?"
Confused, I just let him continue. He won't let go, plus I don't think I want him to either.
Did I hear what I think I just heard?
He holds me tightly, watching out for my ribs and suffocating me in his thick musky scent, placing his lips against my ear.
"I said don't leave me, Ellie."
My heart explodes, I've never been so happy in my life to hear someone say that. What the Hell is happening to me?
Baffled, I stand there, slowly wrapping my arms around his waist, I haven't really hugged anyone like this before, so it's all new to me.
His lips curl into a smile, pulling away and grabbing my face without hesitation, kissing me gently once more.
What's gotten into him?
My heart thumps wildly, he smirks feeling it against his chest.
I don't question him that much; I've been traveling with him for over a year now. Safe to say I think I'm starting to feel the same way too by the looks of it…
He pulls away, not wanting to leave my presence one bit; but he has to before Tommy reenters the room questions him once again.
"I wasn't mad at you, I was mad at the fucker who tried to rape you." He kisses me again, this time with more fire in his soul, letting his fingers trail up my back.
Honestly, I'd feel a lot safer if it was Joel taking my virginity… What the Hell am I thinking?! Stop it!
My skin tingles underneath my clothes as his fingers glide up. Smirking, I return the kiss while he holds me closer to him placing his hands on my back as if he was going to pick me up and place me down on the counter behind us.
Please do it.
Just as I'm getting a little excited, he stops. Letting go of me and turning around to face the entrance where Tommy's supposedly standing. Leaving me there with a weird tingly feeling inside my chest that numbs the aching pain my ribs are in.
Why does he always do that? He treats me like a kid, but then he treats me like I'm something more when I least expect it.
"I don't get you at all Joel..." I speak up, walking towards the entrance so we can leave; and not have Tommy come waltzing back inside to check on us randomly.
"Get what?"
Our footsteps echo a little on the solid, cracked floor beneath us.
Really?
I roll my eyes at him, playfully pushing him aside a little. Wincing in pain afterwards.
He smiles.
"Your attitude stupid. One minute you push me away and treat me like a fucking kid, then the next it's- it's this."
He smirks, glancing at me by his side from the corner of his eye, holding my small hand in his.
H-He's doing it again….
My heart gets excited; I've grown used to having him around and I really would like to keep it that way.
"It's my secret, why the Hell would I reveal it to you?"
Grinning, he squeezes my hand, not wanting to let go but he does before we reach the entrance and Tommy could notice again.
And with that he walks outside, joining Tommy by his side while they both wait for me to come out.
I'll never understand you, you prick.
"C'mon Ellie! It's getting late, Maria's got deer cookin'!" Tommy hollers, hopefully he doesn't alert anyone; or anything like the first time.
I smile to myself, looking around the crumbling building once more before walking outside into the fresh air, joining the two as we head back up the path through the dense forest towards the overgrown road towards the safe zone.
I think I might be falling for him. Shit.