Even on difficult days...OC x Joel Miller

•Three•

Ellie paid close attention to the cracks that crept from the walls onto the ceiling of the apartment. A stale smell hung in the air and dust lightly covered most surfaces. A table holding a radio stood out amongst the furniture due to its much cleaner looking appearance. Footsteps could be heard stomping up the stairs. Joel opened the door, eyeing Ellie who was stood in the middle of the room with a distrustful look in his eye. He pulled his lips into a thin line and shut the door behind him.

Imogen watched him silently as he sat down on the sofa swinging his feet up to lie down. "What are you doing?" Ellie questioned whilst
watching Joel place his arms behind his head.

"Killing time," he grumbled with eyes closed.

"Well, what are we supposed to do?"

"I'm sure you'll figure that out." he muttered
whilst shifting to adjust his position.

"Still a grumpy bastard then." Imogen huffs with
an eye roll.

Her words caused the older man to lift his head
from the cushion slightly, whilst opening an eye glaring at her and arching his brow, though by the time he had, she'd perched herself beside Ellie on the spacious armchair beside the large window, her back to him.

Imogen could feel the pressure growing in her chest. It saddened her to be in this familiar apartment sat in her armchair once again by her spot by the window. The view had never changed, like she had never been gone. Part of her wished she had stayed and the rest of her hated Joel for the things he had said.

Ellie noticed the crease in Imogen's face, she noted how ,when deep in thought, Imogen flicked her eyes around without actually looking at anything as of searching her head for answers. Her teeth would grind in a circular motion and her lip would twitch. Ellie let out a raspberry and jumped to her feet aimlessly wandering around the apartment. THUNK. A throwing star shot past Ellie's face straight into the wall behind her. To Imogen's surprise Ellie turned in amazement and with quiet excitement to not wake the sleeping grump on the sofa. She begged Imogen to let her have a go. Holding the star pinched between her index finger and thumb Ellie threw the six point star with as much force as she could sticking it deep into the dry wall. She spun round proudly to face Imogen who was stood beaming, Ellie had caught on so quickly. "Nice one" Imogen held her hand up for a high five, with out hesitating Ellie gave the hand a good slap letting off a clap that stirred Joel enough to open one eye begrudgingly. The two girls looked at each other playfully, aware that they had irritated Joel.

"What's his deal anyway?" Ellie tipped her head in the direction of Joel.

"He's always been a twat" Imogen responded

"Twat? What does that even mean" Ellie said taking another turn at the throwing star.

"Means he's a dick" Imogen was stood by the wall pulling some of the previously thrown stars out. Ellie nodded in agreement as if she too believed he was a dick. She looked at Joel on the sofa and looked back to Imogen who was also looking at Joel. Her eyebrow twitched angrily but her eyes looked saddened, Ellie struggled to read her face dismissing it by throwing her final star into the wall.

Joel woke with a start causing the two girls to flinch in the armchair they had squashed back on to. He sat forward placing his feet on the floor, his elbows on his knees breathing deeply. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the pair suspiciously glancing at the wall the Ellie had flicked her eyes too. He raised his eyebrows at Imogen mildly pissed off that she had filled the wall with slices, Imogen looked at Joel as if she didn't give a shit because she didn't.

Less than a minute later Tess came through the door. Orange light from the sunset was creeping into the apartment, rain started tapping on the windows at a steady rate. Joel and Tess stood in another room just to the left of the freshly holed wall having a discussion.