Always & Forever (A 'The Last Of Us' Fanfic)

Chapter 17

They got to her room and she went to her closet. She pulled out the two luggage bags that she had ready.

"Did you put everything you need in there?" Joel asked.

"Yeah. Nothing else I could think of to pack," she said.

"You could pack one more thing. Or better yet, you could just wear it," Joel said.

He pulled out a necklace that had an exquisite camera pendant, from the back of his pocket.

Her eyes widened at how beautiful it was.

"Joel...you...you didn't have to," she said.

"Sorry I didn't have time to wrap it," he said.

She got choked up.

"It's beautiful," she managed to get out.

"I saw this the other day and thought of you. Figured it would make a good going away present. Turn around and I'll put it on," he said.

She turned and moved her hair out of the way.

"You're really making this harder on me," she said.

She turned back around to face him and a tear had trickled down her cheek. Joel wiped it way with his thumb.

"I didn't mean to make you emotional," Joel said.

"Well, too late for that," she chuckled.

She wiped her face and cleared her throat. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. He kissed the top of her head.

"We should get those bags to the car," he said.

She leaned back and looked at him then pulled him in for a deep kiss.

"I love you," she said once they parted.

He leaned in to kiss her again.

"I love you too," he said when they parted for a second time.

Joel took her bags downstairs and to her car. It was time for her to leave. She looked around her room.

"It's only gonna be for the summer," she told herself.

The sooner she left, the sooner she'd be back here with her dad and Joel. She grabbed her carry-on, closed her door then made her way down the stairs.

"You ready, kid?" Don asked once she reached the bottom.

"As ready as I'll ever be I guess," she said.

He wrapped his arm around her and led her out the door.

"Bethy!" Tommy shouted the minute she was out.

He came up to her and squeezed her tightly.

"Tommy...I sorta can't breathe," she said.

He quickly let her go.

"Sorry," he said.

"It's cool. You coming to the airport?" she asked.

"Oh hell yeah. Joel and I will be there," he said.

She looked to their driveway and saw Joel waiting by his truck.

"Okay. I'll see you guys there," she said.

Tommy went over to Joel's truck.

"Come on, sweetheart," Don said patting her on the shoulder.

She nodded and went over to the passenger side. Don started the car and pulled out of the driveway. She looked back and saw Joel peel out as well.