Shoot Your Shot

XX: Love Buzz (Ellie)

"Hey Joelle, you got any more chicken? Your grill seems to prefer making inedible charred food." Tommy said through the window as Joel scoffed at him.

"Call me Joelle again, and you're going on the grates next." He grumbled, getting more marinated chicken out of the fridge and taking it to Tommy outside, witnessing him sneaking the charred remains of what used to be a chicken breast to Buckley, who gladly ripped it from Tommy's hands and dashed across the yard.

Ellie, meanwhile, was running around with her head cut off, trying to straighten everything in the house at the last minute. She had put it off until the last second, naturally. She haphazardly tossed the couch cushions onto the couch and heard the front door open, knowing damn well it wasn't Joel or Tommy.

She cursed under her breath and all but sprinted to the door, sighing when she realized who it was.

"Oh, thank god it's only you guys." Ellie said as she stepped away from the door, Riley giving her a look.

"Oh, and it's nice to see you, Riley and Cat." Riley said dryly as Ellie gave her a sheepish look.

"Yes, it's nice to see you Riley... And Cat." Ellie hesitated, just to be annoying, Cat rolling her eyes as she walked inside and set down her things at the door, Buckley bounding up to them and alternating dancing between his front and back paws.

"Hiiiiii." Cat gushed over him, Ellie laughing to herself at the dog shaped distraction as Riley placed a gift bag into Ellie's hand.

"For later. I don't want you to feel put on the spot."

"Thanks Ri." Ellie said, hustling it up to her room while Cat and Riley mingled in the family room.

"Do you need help with anything?" Riley asked Joel as he passed by, the man chuckling to himself.

"Calm Ellie down." He joked as Ellie flew back down the wooden stairs, nearly eating shit on the landing and pretending she didn't.

"You, me, bathroom now. Your hair is a fucking disaster." Cat huffed as Ellie shook her head.

"It is not." Ellie countered, touching her head and feeling the flyaways without needing to see them.

"I wasn't asking." Cat said, grabbing her forearm harshly and dragging her to the bathroom.

"I'll man the door!!" Riley called after them.

—

"I wish you'd grow out your hair." Cat passively commented as she ran a hand through it , finally having tamed it for the most part.

"Right. Well if you want to wake up early every day and do my hair for me I will."

Cat seperated a strand and braided it back into a low bun, pulling out bobby pins to fully fix it to Ellie's head.

"Oh no. Please spare me I'd rather have this fall out." Ellie said, scooting away slightly as Cat disregarded her, Ellie cringing at the feeling of the plastic scraping against her scalp.

"There. And now your hair looks cute." Cat said with finality, patting Ellie's head once as Ellie got a text on her phone, looking down to see a message from Sam.

S: Sorry I couldn't make it tonight, Henry is hard pressed to find help that doesn't include me. Rain check for next weekend?

E: Don't sweat it dude, we'll figure something out :)

S: Eat way too much cake for me.

Ellie chuckled and put her phone into her back pocket, finding her way downstairs with Cat to see Camren and Leah had arrived while she was gone.