Save each other // Joel Miller

Don't Stop

Joel's fist clench hard, white knuckling with anticipation and anger. He tightened his grip on his other hand and ground his teeth together. The tension in his body ready to let loose at any time and destroy the man in front of him.

"Answer my damn question!" He growled out, pulling so Tommy was just a bit closer. He wanted him to feel the radiation of seriousness. Tommy's face was cocky and annoyed and it pissed Joel off even more.

"I told you, she left. I tried to talk her into staying but you know Sophie. She was gone before you got here and I was on my way home." Tommy spat out, like explaining was a waste of time. He didn't even try to get out of Joel's harsh grasp or stare. He just looked down slightly and scoffed under his breath.

Joel shook his head in disbelief and shoved his brother, releasing his shirt and watching him stumble back on the wooden porch of his home. He had been walking out the front door when Joel arrived and he sneered, making Joel acutely aware of something being wrong.

"You treat everythin' like a fuckin' joke. What happened to protecting her no matter what? Can't do that if you let her just run off every time she feels somethin'!" Joel couldn't hold back anymore. His unfiltered words showcasing that this was the peek of frustration between the brothers.

"Unbelievable!" Tommy shouted, staring at Joel with bafflement. "First of all, this isn't about me! She's her own person, and stubborn as a donkey. None of us could have stopped her. And when did you start agreein' with me bein' anywhere near her?" His question was bating, egging Joel on, and he was ready for a fight.

Joel let out a hard breath through his teeth like a hissing snake. The chilled wind blew and chilled his heated skin, and he couldn't tell if the trembling of his hands was from the temperature or his feelings.

"Tommy. Please, just tell me where she went. This fight is going nowhere." Joel conceded, his tone failing to hide his frustration. Tommy chuckled bitterly.

"She didn't tell me. She made her choice." Tommy's words were deliberate and harsh. And there it was. Why he was so aggressive and defensive in this round of bickering. The statement wasn't just about Sophie leaving, it was about his resentment towards her rejection.

Joel swallowed hard. A small bit of his heart felt for his younger brother. But only a small portion. Joel would not accept any other reality without Sophie's love. A day wouldn't go by without a thought of her. He had only just began exploring the next steps to his dream of a life with the red haired girl and he wasn't going to let it end with Tommy or her taking off.

"I'm going after her." Joel said with determination. He turned, not giving Tommy a chance to react and let the door slam behind him. He couldn't care less if Tommy decided to join or go home. In Joel's mind, Tommy was guilty of letting her leave. But deep down, he blamed himself. Maybe if he would have approached her sooner or been at the house when she decided to go, he could have done something more. He gathered what he needed, packing a backpack with basic supplies, all while milling over every different scenario.

After a few moments, the door swung open behind him. He didn't bother to turn to see who it was as he finished what he was doing.

"If you're comin' in here to stop me, you can just leave." Joel said. The air was stagnant for a moment before he realized that the person neither moved nor answered him. When he flipped around, he found Ellie standing there, arms crossed.

"El..." Joel trailed his word, not knowing exactly what to say.

"Don't 'El' me and finish up. I'm coming with." She said, reaching for a flashlight on the side table and shoving it into her own bag, already on her back.