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IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE, AND THERE wasn't much to say. Rue and Ellie would pass each other by with their silent glances and forged grins. Not a word was spoken.
Aside from their relationship, nothing else had changed. Maria was still running the community, Tommy and Joel were still the brotherly duo, and as for Dina and Jesse, they stayed the same too. They've broken up "for good" the last time Rue was aware, but it's only been a week. She bets they'll be back together in no time.
And there's Elah who became Rue's girlfriend for a year and a half— though it wasn't the smoothest. They became reckless; rather they were slacking off on an assignment or making out on patrol on a ragged couch as they got caught by Ellie who stormed out of the room, pushing past a patrol member.
Yet after a while, she decided to let Rue go along with her feelings.
Ellie hadn't pursued anyone romantically in those years. It wasn't like she cared to actively search— but recently, she's found eye candy from a fellow friend.
Seeing how Rue missed the other winter dances, she was clueless as to why she was getting ready for the next one. She figured it would've been nice to enjoy herself for a night.
This time she wasn't the life of the party. She took a place beside an old table as she observed her surroundings, drinking from a cup that dulled to her touch and was lined with her lip markings.
Her eyes unexpectedly caught Jesse's and he sent a warm smile with a friendly wave. She sent the same gestures back to him, hanging her head low over her cup as the woman beside him looked Rue over.
The liquid in her cup seemed to have fascinated her to the point she didn't notice a figure approaching her. She looked up and instantly recognized the taller woman.
"Dance with me."
Elah held an open hand out. Rue looked at her hand and then into her eyes as she gulped the last bit with a smirk, accepting Elah's hand as she set her cup aside.
Elah guided her onto the dance floor that was once furnished with pews and a church pedestal. The music shifted from a fast to a slow beat, and everyone around them moved closer to their dance partner.
"So, how are you? You look very nice. Is that the sweater Dina knitted that I love so much?" Elah took Rue's other hand in hers, swinging their hands as she grinned from ear to ear.
Rue dropped her chin. "What is it, Elah?"
"What? I can't see how my favorite girl is without wanting something?"
When she saw Rue's deadpan expression didn't change, she sighed. "Okay, fine. I just..." she sighed heavily, "I really miss you... and I want to try and fix what happened."
There was once a time when Rue would've thrown herself at her at any given chance— but that time ran out during their relationship which is why Rue ended it.
She pulled her in and hugged her tightly as the scent of cinnamon entered her nostrils. It was a polite way of declining; telling her that she didn't feel the same way and wanted to continue being friends. Despite Elah's heart yearning for more, she respected Rue's wishes.
Elah reciprocated with the same firm embrace, closing her eyes.
Rue's orbs roamed the room as she surveyed the couples in the same position, slow dancing with their significant other. So many couples, yet one stood out to her: Dina and Ellie.
They were in the same position Rue once was with the auburn-haired woman.
They were kissing. And when she saw it, it finally made sense why Dina was ensuring Rue and Ellie's relationship wasn't what she thought.
"No, Dina. We haven't talked in like, forever."
Rue didn't think much of it at the time, but now she could see. And a part of her was surprised there wasn't an immediate reaction. She felt relieved that she lost the feeling of the phase that once made her feel crazed.
"Hey!" An older man approached Ellie and Dina seconds after they pulled away with a scowl on his face. Rue's ears couldn't pick up their conversation so she tried reading their lips.
She could see Dina pulling Ellie away with their awkward smiles, and she could tell they didn't want to cause a scene. But Rue's ears were able to hear the homophobic slur that fell from Seth's lips.
Ellie froze for a second as she processed the word that stuck out, lighting a fire under her. She turned on the balls of her feet as quick as lightning as she charged at him with her pointer finger. Dina tried holding her back in the process.
"The fuck did you just say?"
"Hey!" A strong voice rushed to the scene and shoved Seth back, demanding Seth to get the hell out of there. Joel's muscular build stood secure as he glared at Seth's red face, hard.
"Hey! Enough." Maria quickly came between them before she and Tommy escorted Seth out. And after he left, Joel approached Ellie with compassion written in his eyes as he searched her face for any harm.
"You alright, kiddo—?"
"What is wrong with you?" Ellie turned to face him.
"He had no right—"
"And you do?" Ellie's face contorted into a stone-cold glare before saying,
"I don't need your fucking help, Joel."
Joel took a long, meaningful beat. His eyes that were filled with compassion stormed into gloom as he looked around to see all eyes were on them.
"Right," he says with a gruff voice as he walked away.
The second he left, Ellie was now aware of the number of people who watched the entire scene; and it only increased the feeling of wrongfulness ridden in her gut.
Before she left, she caught eyes with Rue who departed from Elah's arms to move closer to the scene. Ellie's eyes left hers after a while, but Rue watched her leave.
