THE UNEXPECTED

08

My eyes fluttered open as I gradually regained consciousness, my head was thumping and my chest tight.

"Fuck." I coughed, frowning as my throat burned. Must've swallowed a load of water.

"Oh thank fuck!" From beside me, Ellie lifted me to my feet, "I'm so glad you're alive." She smiled, teeth and all before explaining how Sam he spotted us and the brothers brought us upon shore.

"Where is Joel? And where the fuck is that asshole?" Before Ellie could even utter a word out, I noticed the older man still passed out on the sand. His lips parted as his chest rose and fell, a sigh escaped me as I realised he was still breathing, "Oh thank God." I breathed, kneeling beside him.

My hand came out and brushed some of his hair from his closed eyes, fuck, I was down bad. My fingertips delicately brushed his skin as I smiled, hopefully he'd awake soon.

"Hey...nice to see you're in the land of the living. I'm glad we spotted yous." As Henry advanced towards us I think I nearly lost it. Ellie bit her lip, trying to suppress a smirk as I stood up and faced him.

"What the fuck was that back there? Team my ass! How about I punch the other side of your face, huh? Match that bruise of yours that Joel gave you." I seethed, my fist practically shaking as I neared closer to him. Henry looked almost afraid as he rose his hands in surrender, slowly backing away. I noticed his eyes flicker behind me but before I could react, I felt strong arms pulling me backwards into a hard chest.

"Easy, girl." I breathed out, Joel was okay. Feeling his breath near my ear made me shiver, but he made no indications to move as his arm slotted comfortably round my waist. I smirked as I noticed him cock his gun and point it directly at the younger man who betrayed us, "Get back, son!" He drawled out, looking at Sam.

"He's pissed but he's not gonna do anything." Henry maintained a front but I could tell he was afraid. He eyed the gun warily, "Coming back for you meant putting him at risk." He pointed to Sam. "If it was the other way around, would you have come back for us?" He proposed the question, and unfortunately, I think he's right and as much as I'm pissed off I didn't want him dead. I knew for a fact Joel shared the same perspective.

He threw his gun frustratedly into the sand before running a hand down his face and audibly groaning. Emotions were high but we couldn't let it cloud our judgement.

"Y'know, for what it's worth, I'm really glad we spotted you. Now, the radio tower is on the other side of this cliff. Okay? Place is going to be filled with supplies." He points a finger at Joel with a cheeky grin on his face. "You're gonna be really happy you didn't kill me." That a fact?

Ellie, Joel and I took to searching one area of the beach and the brothers took the other one.

"That was intense. You, cool? Both of you?" Ellie asks, still skipping ahead of us but glancing back over her shoulder.

"Yeah." Joel hesitantly answered.

"Just about." I chuckled.

"For a second there, I thought you might shoot him." She spoke, "And I was convinced you'd punch his ass, that was badass!" She then directed at me, wide eyed.

Joel huffs a laugh, looking at me with his eyebrows raised. "Yeah, almost did."

"Same here, was fuming when I woke up."

Down the beach, something caught Ellie's eye.

"Hey, maybe we can find something in that boat over there!" She called over to us excitedly.

"Ellie, be careful over there!" I'd grown to like the girl the short space of time I'd known her.

Joel and I didn't seem to be in any hurry, however. I enjoyed the peace and quiet as I gazed upon the horizon, waves lapping against the sand and crashing into one another. It was pretty.

"I've rarely seen you get that angry before." Was the first thing Joel said. His tone wasn't judgmental whatsoever, merely questioning.

"Well, cowboy, I haven't see you since before you started sprouting grey hairs." I teased, grinning at him as his lips upturned amusingly. "Shit has happened, Joel, I'm not that scared damsel in distress anymore that needed yours and Tommy's help. I'm a big girl now." I felt bad to put a damper on the mood but it was all fact. This world isn't for the weak and I found that out on my own.

"I don't doubt that, Em. I just don't want you to lose yourself." He and I both knew he was speaking from experience, Joel was involved in some shady shit but I guess that's what desperation does to you and I'd never judge him for that.

"Don't worry about me, cowboy. I got thick skin." I smiled, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek before calling out to Ellie and chasing after her.

I found her inspecting a washed up boat, completely unaware of my presence as well as the slimy seaweed clutched between my fingers,

"Boo!" I smirked as she nearly jumped out of her skin, it was then that she noticed what I was holding and squealed before taking off. "I'm coming for you, Ellie!" I laughed as she told me to fuck off, hiding below the deck. Ellie was a good kid, and I could only guess that she wanted a friend during this time and I'm happy to be that for her.