Lost Hope || Ellie Williams fanfic ||

forgetful

--------- TWO MONTHS LATER ----------

I started patrol 2 weeks after I got to Jackson. I told everyone I was ready, Dina still guided me every step of the way. We had patrols together since I felt uncomfortable with everyone else, or even knowing anyone else.

Me and Dina have gotten quite close, she likes to talk about JJ, and Jesse. She has brought up Ellie a few times. All I know is that they used to date. Dina claims they weren't made for each other. As soon as I heard Dina talk abour Ellie and their relationship, I told her about the dance.

Dina knew about me, not A lot but enough. She knew me enough to know I'm a chatter box, just like her. Maybe after all I was 'whimsical'. But all I knew is that I was happy, and I was starting to know myself.

I was on patrol with Dina, this was gonna be my last patrol with her as she had jj, and I didn't need this training and welcoming anymore.

"Tomorrow you have Ellie, after that you're stuck with Nova..... But don't worry when I'm on patrol I'll still most likely be with you."

Ellie? I was gonna be on patrol with her? The woman my dad would make that crazy story up about? Is the woman that is the reason I even moved here in the first place? Fuck. I was gonna have her for patrol. I just know I'm gonna be so awkward.

Me and Dina quickly wiped out the infected in the area, Dina signed us out before we headed back. Once we headed back I decided to get lunch. I wasn't clingy to her anymore, I felt comfortable, way more comfortable. I sit at the table and see Ellie walk in. I glance at her and watch her get her food before sitting alone, she notices me staring once she sits down and I look away. I had her for patrol tomorrow and I didn't even know how to feel. Fuck my life.

After lunch I head to the horses where I see maria and Tommy talking, once they see me they greet me.

"Who needs working on today?" Putting my hands on my hips.

"If you could feed them all and check their hooves that would be nice, I have cotton balls and homemade ear clean on the shelf next to the hooves supplies , their ears are nasty"

I nod and get to work, cleaning their ears, trimming and cleaning hooves, and feeding them when a girl with brown  hair and bright green eyes walks up to me.

"Hey I'm Nova, your new patrol partner, um I'm here to say hi and help with the horses"

"Oh hi Nova! Nice to meet you...This is my last horse, but if you don't mind checking on the baby that would be a pleasure" I say greeting her with a warm smile. She smiles back and goes to check on the pony.

--------- THE NEXT MORNING -----------

I head to patrols, I'm waiting for Ellie. I'm reloading my gun and getting my horse ready and she walks up next to me and does the same. "So you're my new patrol partner huh?"

Dina said she wasn't the talkative type, yet here she was, came over here a minute ago and is already talking to me.

"Just for today then I'll be off your ass"

I noticed Ellie quietly laughed to my comment. We got up on our horses and. Left, hearing the sound of the muddy melted ice crunch below me and the sound of Ellie clicking at her horse to go faster.  January yet the snow decided to melt. It was fucking freezing outside still, why the hell is the snow melting?

During patrol I didn't make small talk, I took dinas words even though I doubted them a little. The smell of weed lingering on me as I smoked last night before bed, yet in the same clothes as yesterday. I accidentally bumped into Ellie while clearing a place, I apologize.

"I'm sorry didn't see you there"

"It's good"

"Wait is that weed? Are you smoking on the job?" Ellie turns to me with a look. a undescribable look, slight anger, slight confusion, slight upsetness.

"Oh hell no... I smoked before bed last night and didn't have time to change this morning, I woke up late"

She sighed of relief.
"Good. If maria were to smell that she would think you did it out here with me during the job man my ass would have been busted, don't get me in trouble kid."

I laugh as I continue searching the place.

"Maria told me some about you."

I knew what Ellie meant by that. I mean Ellie had to know it was kinda required and common sense. I pause for a second before speaking.

"I usually do patrols with Dina, she told me you aren't a talker"

She looks at me and sarcastically laughs before saying "yeah not around her."
She paused for a second before speaking again "I was told two different things about you from different people, and you seem none of them."

"Some may say I'm confusing"  I say grabbing ammo out of a cabinet"

"Hah same."
-----------------------------------------------

Me and Ellie soon finish patrol. We headed back and I just went back home, I was exhausted and didn't even feel like grabbing food. So I just slept, or tried to at least. I had nothing to do anyways so I might as well kill time.

I can't sleep though, I think about how Ellie told me maria told her about me. What does Ellie know? I don't want her to think I'm like after her or something. And why did Dina tell me she isn't talkative? I mean no she isn't as chattery as Dina, but she talks. The woman talks. The first time I talked to Ellie and I felt like she was gonna bust my ass any moment. But patrol was good today, not with Dina, but still alright.

Now I had these new patrols with Nova, I wasn't nervous since me and her chatted once or twice, she seemed sweet. She is quiet and generous. I just know I will miss having patrol with Dina.