Secure// Ellie Williams

Good Days, Bad Days

"Okay Will, what don't you understand?" I ask him as we sit in the classroom. We're crouched over a few books to help him read.

"Like, any of it." He sighs as he places his head on the desk.

"It's okay. Just sound out the letters when trying to form the sentence. We went over the alphabet and you're good with that. Now it's just about putting it all together."

Will looks down at the paper of sentences I wrote for him to read, "T-the sm-small man we-nt to the p-park and saw the in-in-in.."

"In-fec-ted" I say softly.

"Infected. He ran and fo-found more. There was a lot, so he kept run-running. He ran to find safe-ty. He ran until he co-ould run no more." Will stopped and looked at me.

"That was really good Will. Your reading is improving. Now for the next few days I want you to practice writing out the letters, here is a sheet I prepared. Just follow my lettering and you already know the alphabet so continue to sound it out while you write. For the next meeting try writing a sentence, even if it's a just a few words." Will nods at me with a smile and he picks up his work before running out. I keep a small smile on my face as I pack up the equipment from today. I hum to myself quietly as I clean up. I feel arms snake around my waist and lips on my neck.

"What are you doing?" I ask Ellie as she softly kisses my neck.

"Hugging my girlfriend."

I smile but turn my head to expose more of my neck, "More like distracting your girlfriend."

"Eh minor details."

"Hm." I mumble and continue to pack up.

"You staying at mine tonight?" Ellie asks.

"Sure. I mean you definitely can't stay at mine with Tommy and Maria knowing about us."

"He wouldn't care."

I turn to her with my eyebrow raised, "Have you seen Tommy?" Ellie shrugs and removes her arm slightly, but it still rest on my waist.

"You need help with any of this?" Ellie asks pointing to the box of supplies.

"No it's okay I should be good. I'll come over after dinner though, yeah?"

"You could always eat at my place."

"God you're so needy," I tease Ellie, "It's okay. Tommy and Maria want to sit down for dinner. That's something they like to do." Ellie nods.

"Right. Well I'll see you later then?" I nod with a smile before placing a light kiss on Ellie's lips. She smiles and leans in for one more before leaving. I finish up packing the rest of the supplies and move the boxes to the supply closet. I have trouble balancing the box with only one arm since the box is heavier than I anticipated. I see the shelf where I need to put the box is up high, so when I try to put it up I can't and the box falls along with all the supplies.

"God are you kidding me!" I sigh. I look down at my immobile arm, "God you really are useless." I go down on my knees and pick up the supplies and put them in the box. I decide that I can't put the box up so I just leave it on the ground in front of the supply closet. When I leave the school I go over to the wall and see Joel is on patrol watching it. I go over to the ladder and start making my way up. I again struggle which frustrates me. When I'm closer to the top Joel sees me and runs over to help me up.

"Hey kiddo let me help." Joel says as he leans down and wraps his arm around my waist to help pull me up.

"Thanks." I sigh and Joel nods.

"What are you doin' up here?"

"Sun sets earlier now. I wanted to see the view." I tell him and overlook the wall. Joel hands me a pistol and I smile at him in appreciation.

"You better get practicing with only one hand in case you need to shoot."

I nod, "Yeah I know. I was a decent shot before- don't know if I want to see my shot now."

"It will just take some adjusting kid. It takes time."

"I know. It just sucks. It's one thing not being able to use your hand, but it's another when you can't use or feel anything on a hand that was once fully functional."

"I know kiddo, I know." Me and Joel just sit in silence as we look at the horizon, "Ellie doesn't really talk about dating and that stuff, but I know she's happy with you, happier than I've seen her in a while."

"I think it's the same with me. It's just weird. We could have had this sooner if Ellie never ran off or we started to ignore each other."

"Ellie ran off? Is that what happened between you two?" Joel turns to me with furrowed eyebrows. Joel never really cares what anyone else does, but anytime it involves Ellie he wants answers.

"Mhm." Joel nods and hands me some water. I smile in appreciation and take a big gulp, "You want to help me down?" Joel nods and helps me down the ladder, "I'll see you later Joel."

"See ya later kid. Try not to think too poorly on your arm- you're a lot stronger than you think you are." I smile at Joel and nod before I head home for dinner. When I get home Maria is just bringing out dinner that she got from the Tipsy Bison. I greet her, "Hey, you need any help?"

"Sure. Just help me bring out the food." I nod and grab one plate before bringing it out to the table. When everything is set we sit down to eat together. I look over at Tommy and Maria who are cutting up their food. I go to try and cut mine with my fork, but it doesn't really help.

"Here, let me." Tommy says before grabbing my plate and cutting up my food. I just watch him cut it- my frustration keeps building up

"Thanks." I say lightly. Maria gives me a look before looking down at her own food. Tommy hands me back mine and I start eating.

"More infected are showing up on patrols. We need to be careful where we go." Maria says to Tommy.

"Yeah I got Jesse helping out on some routes. We're trying to think of a plan to get them all. Alaina and Jesse are patrol partners now- they've been taking extra routes along with Adam, Ellie and Dina."

"But Alaina was my patrol partner." I say. Maria and Tommy look at each other before they look back at me.

"Lils... we took you off of patrols. It's just too dangerous with all of the infected right now and your shot needs to improve again."

"But.. I know that I can't patrol right now, but I thought I would be able to go back at some point."

"Yeah Sweetpea, some point. Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"We can discuss this later, but right now Alaina will be patrolling with Jesse." Maria tells me.

I sigh, "Fine." I stand up and put away my dish, "I'm staying at Ellie's tonight."

"Lils-" Tommy starts.

"It's fine. You're right, I'm useless right now."

"Now we didn't say that. Just right now it's better you stay in the school. Everyone loves you there." Maria says.

"Okay. Goodnight." I go and leave to Ellie's. When I get there I just walk in and Ellie's there laying on her bed reading one of her comics.

"Hey." Ellie says with a smile as she puts down her comic. I don't say anything, but I just go to her bed and lay down on Ellie. My head rests in the crook of her neck and my arms wrap around her waist. She doesn't say anything and just positions herself in a more comfortable position, "Are you okay?" Ellie hesitantly asks.

"Yeah." I nod at her, "I am now." I take a deep breath and just hold onto her.