THE UNEXPECTED

13

Joel and I didn't get a wink of sleep, we sat flush against one another and neither one of us dared to move, I still had Joel's arm wrapped around me. It was comforting, his presence alone was relaxing.

I hadn't a clue what time it was but my guess was early hours of the morning, the sun would begin to rise soon enough and then we'd depart to head to Jackson county. Part of me was nervous to see Tommy again, it hadn't been as long as when I last saw Joel but it had been long enough. It got me thinking about when I first met the Miller brothers, we were all such different people and yet, we bonded in the midst of chaos.

"You know, Joel, now that we're friends again," I paused, feeling him stiffen beside me. He went to move his arm but I soon stopped it, placing my palm around his bicep, "back when we first met, you being all rough and man handling me was kinda hot. I feel like I can comment on that now." I chuckle, remembering all too well about my initial attraction towards the older man.

I feel Joel stiffen once more, inhaling slightly before he relaxed again. Why was he so tense?

"Careful, Em, one might think you're flirtin' with me." I feel his chest vibrate when he laughed, we often used to joke like this. I have no idea how we got so close but somehow we just clicked.

"Well, cowboy, maybe I am." I say boldly, nudging at his side ever so slightly causing him to nip at my waist with his fingers. Jumping away from, I yelp but this only makes him pull me in closer towards him. His hands go everywhere, pinching and feeling at my sides which sends a shiver through my spine. He started off playful but as he continues I soon begin to think it's more sensual.

His touch is slow but it moves with purpose, fingers delicately rubbing at the exposed skin on my waist that I caught him looking at earlier. Joel looks directly at me, almost as if he's communicating with me, testing my limits before I dare speak. But it's like I'm suddenly in a trance, his touch is addictive and it only makes me want more. More. More. More.

We're now laying on our sides, facing one another on the sofa and his hands are still on my skin. I tingle with excitement, it's like static is running through my body, jolting wherever he touches. He hasn't even done anything to me, yet I'm practically melting in his hold. Soon, his calloused fingers move up my body and underneath my shirt, he's dangerously close to my breasts as he slides up and over my ribs.

I hadn't a clue when our relationship took a turn but perhaps it was just our hormones, I didn't know about him but it had been a God damn while since I'd been with anyone sexually. I knew we were close so maybe we were both mistaking it for something more. But I was definitely certain that I liked this side of him, maybe a little too much.

"Joel." I murmur quietly and breathlessly while looking up at him, we lock eyes and I swear his darken or was it just the lighting? Or lack of it.

Feeling his fingers tighten around my torso, it's then that I realise just how small my frame is compared to him. His hands are huge against my body and I couldn't help but feel slightly turned on by it. Everything that Joel did had me spiralling, his mannerisms, his voice, how gentle he could be. It was stark to how he was around everyone else. It made me feel special.

"You're breakin' my heart, baby." He just about utters out, making me frown a little. Whilst I loved the pet name, it felt wrong. Like he was sad? I wasn't sure but I begin to think he's keeping something from me.

A beat passes and slowly his hands withdraw from my body, he gives me a little squeeze before removing them altogether. A part of me feels disappointed and the other already misses the warmth from his touch. I needed to get it together.

"Lets get some shut eye, yeah?" He speaks but I'm way ahead of him as my eyes are screwed shut and lips thinned into a line. I don't know why that irked me so much, it was like he was purposely trying to ruin the moment. Or at-least I thought we were having a moment. Ridding my thoughts, I curl up and attempt to get a bit of sleep.

As night bleeds into day, my eyes flutter open at the bright light. The natural intrusion wakes me from my slumber but I soon realise that I'm unable to move as my waist is clamped down, Joel's arm is tucked around me nicely. Slowly, I peel him off of me and straighten up, soon the others will be coming into this room to eat and get together before leaving.

I spoke too soon as I heard the creak of a door,

"Morning." Henry yawns, looking over at us, "surprised he's still out cold." He comments, before gravitating towards the food and the cooker.

"Me too." I respond tiredly and reach for my water, feeling rather parched. Henry begins cooking once more, and I ask if I can help but he respectfully declines my offer.

Moments later, I hear Joel yawn as he awakes. He looks around, spotting Henry and then rubs his eyes tiredly. We both didn't get much sleep.

"Mornin'." I smile at him, deciding to forget about my bad feeling from last night.

"Damn, that smells good," Ellie says as she enters the room, half-asleep still. "Where's Sam?"

Henry looks up and shrugs. "I let him sleep in for once." He then continues stirring the contents of the pot.

"Oh."

"Well, if you want him to join us, you can go wake his ass up." Henry grins at the little girl.

"Okay." Ellie climbs to her feet with a smile before venturing into the other room. I smile at the kid, happy that she was happy. Turning to Joel, I notice a similar expression on his face and I was about to speak until I heard a distressed yell from behind the closed door.

"Sam!" It was Ellie.

"What the hell?" Joel abandoned the sofa and walks toward the door and it quickly bursts open as Ellie was launched backward with Sam on top of her. "Shit, he's turnin'!"

"Ellie!" I yell out in a panic

Joel scrambled for his gun, his primal instincts taking over but a shot sounds, dangerously close to us.

Henry had his gun pointed on us, "That's my fucking brother!" My heart sinks at this.

Joel's arm is protectively wrapped in front of my stomach. "Joel...do something" I pleaded, I felt terrible for Henry but what else could we do?

"Screw it!" Joel moves quickly and points the gun at Sam, he hesitates but before he could even fire, a second gun shot fires and Sam's movement ceases. All goes silent, too silent and Ellie quickly scrambles away from the dead body and into my side.

"You two stay here." Joel is the first to speak as he slowly approaches Henry. "Henry."

"Henry, what have you done?" The young man begins muttering to himself, shaking his head and pacing. It was all so distressing for us to watch and I felt so helpless.

"I'm gonna get the gun from you, okay?" Joel says softly, trying not to alert him or trigger him.

"Sa...Sa...Sam..." He croaks out, tears streaming from his eyes,"This is your fault," Henry eventually says, anger replacing his broken tone. He abruptly points his gun at Joel but his hands are shaking terribly.

"This is nobody's fault, Henry,"

He repeats it, louder like some sort of mantra. "This is all your fault!"

"Henry! Henry, no - !"

I wish I could say I was surprised about what happened next. But still, I was frozen in place as Henry swiftly placed the barrel of the gun against his temple. I think both me and Joel didn't expect for him to do this so quickly, but all of a sudden he pulls the trigger sending his body limp and the gun clatters to the ground aggressively. No body made a sound after that, too stunned to even speak.