THE UNEXPECTED

18

After taking out a couple of hunters, we were ready to go again and head back to the power plant. Ellie and Tommy were already outside waiting for me and Joel beside the horses.

"Em," Joel speaks hoarsely and I almost ignore him. He hurt me today, and he hurt Ellie too, it was obvious. Sighing, I turn on my heel to face him, not expecting to see such emotion on his face. He gives me the saddest expression I'd ever seen, coming from him at least. His eyebrows are drawn together into a frown and his lips thinned, but it's his eyes which ultimately get me. They're glossy as they stare back at me. Fuck. "I'm..." He swallows but doesn't actually finish, I get the gist.

"...Sorry?" I say, finishing off and he merely nods back at me. I get that Joel is basically emotionally stunted after his past but I thought that just maybe I was different. It was silly to even think but we'd been so close recently and especially all those years ago that I thought this time it would've been different now that were older. "Let's just go." I say breathlessly, a little too hurt to even think.

The entire ride back to the plant was silent, a little too silent but it gave me time to calm down and revaluate my jumbled thoughts. Realistically I couldn't even begin to be that mad at Joel as my initial plan was to leave them behind too, I wasn't even thinking of joining their voyage until Joel said he was handing Ellie off to Tommy. Perhaps it would be for the best, at least then with Tommy, I could rid my feelings for Joel since by then he'd be long gone and I doubt I would ever see him again. That would just be too much of a coincidence and damn unexpected.

Suddenly, we came to a slow stop, we overlooked a cliff top and below was what really shocked me. Son of a bitch really did it. This was Jackson; rows upon rows of houses lined the perimeter and it looked to be a town of sorts. In the distance I could make out figures of people and smaller ones of children, I nearly gasped. This was what I was searching for, Tommy actually did it, and I knew for fact that once this was all over I'd come and settle here. It looked beautiful.

"Where's this lab of theirs?" Joel then asked, directing the question at Tommy. I was then reminded of the loop I was clearly drawn out of, I needed answers and fast.

"It's all the way out in University of Eastern Colorado." Tommy answered.

"Go Big Horns," Joel chuckled humorously, "Ellie, get off your horse and give it to Emily. We're gonna hang onto these guys if that's alright with you?" I watched as Ellie hopped off the horse and Joel gestured for me to take her place, I furrowed my brows and gave him a pointed look.

"Joel, what's going on?" Joel ignored me, only sending me a small smile before nodding at Tommy,

"Your wife kinds scares me, don't want her comin' after me." I soon realised what this meant and before I even knew it, a ghost of a smile twitched at my lips as well.

"Look, come back to town, let's discuss it at least." Tommy tried to protest but Joel shook his head,

"You know me, my minds all made up." He then goes to aid Ellie in getting her up and onto the back of his horse, "University of Eastern Colorado, how do I find this lab?"

"It's in the science building, looks like a giant mirror, you can't miss it." Tommy informed us. Got it - Science. Giant. Mirror.

"You take care of that wife of yours." Joel nods to his brother and I worry I'll get all teary as we soon depart. It's been so surreal to see Tommy again after such a long time.

"You take care of your girls," Tommy pauses, "There's a place here for you, all of you, y'know." I smile appreciatively at him but Joel doesn't respond.

"You good?" He then asks me and Ellie.

"I'm good." I say the same as I adjust the reins on the horse. Joel then turns back to his brother,

"Adios little brother." Tommy flashes him a grin and mock salutes him as we go to turn the opposite way.

"Bye Tommy, thank you for everything." I smile softy.

And at that, we leave. I'm happy that Joel decided to stay in the end, perhaps mine and Ellie's words meant something after all and perhaps he felt differently towards me too. I guess time would only tell.