Joel Miller imagines (The Last Of Us)

Part 6

Joel was sitting on his couch, watching what he thought was a lousy movie that he borrowed from Ellie. It was a sappy teenage drama. He was feeling kinda lonesome tonight, with Ellie gone sleeping over at Dina's. He was about to fall asleep, when suddenly, there was a knock on the door. He looked at the door puzzled and kinda annoyed, wondering who the hell could it be at his door this late.

He placed his beer bottle on the coffee table, got up and walked slowly towards the door. His annoyed expression quickly changed into an endearing one.

"Oh hi, Esther. I didn't expect it to be you."

"I'm sorry, I know it's late. But I didn't wanna be even more late with this." she said, holding both of her arms behind her back. It looked like she was holding something. She revealed a gift bag, "A little birdie told me it was your birthday yesterday." She handed the bag to Joel.

He looked a bit stunned, "Oh. Yes it was, but you shouldn't have... Really, you didn't have to bother with this." She shrugged and smiled.

"But thank you. I appreciate it." he said. "Come inside."

Joel placed the bag on the dining table.

"Make yourself comfortable. I have strawberry tea. Would you like some?"

"I would love some." she said while roaming around in his living room, looking at his book collection.

Joel came up to her and handed her a cup of tea. "Thanks." she said. She kept on looking at his books.

Joel saw the gift bag he placed on the dining table and suddenly, he got curious what was inside. What could a woman that barely knows him get him as a birthday present? He made his way over to the bag. Esther was still checking out his bookshelf.

"What were you watching?" she asked, suddenly.

"Some lousy teen movie I borrowed off Ellie." He proceeded to open the gift bag to reveal a colorfully painted pottery vase. "This looks snazzy. Where'd you get it?" Their backs were turned to each other.

"I made it."

He turned to her direction, "You do pottery?"

"I do. I taught myself to do it just 'cuz I always wanted to. Do you like it?"

"I like it." he said smiling.

"I would have made you a new one. That one I was already working on. But I wouldn't have had the time to start on a new one, so I finished this one and... it's yours now. I painted it and all. It's probably too colorful, but I usually do them that way. It's alright if you don't like it. I can make you a new one. Or perhaps I can carve something in soap if you want to. Makes the room smell all dainty and all. Looks fancier too."

"No, no. I like it, I really do." She seemed really interested by his books, so he let her admire them quietly while he went upstairs in his working room. He wanted to place the vase somewhere in there, but was a little confused as to where to put it, since his stuff took most of the space. He went over to the worktable by the window and made some space to put the vase there.

"Never would have taken you as the artistic type." Joel got startled by her sneaking behind him and almost dropped the vase. She came over next to him and looked over the worktable where Joel carved things in wood. She then went over to his shelf where most of his carvings were put and admired them, while Joel was still making space for his vase.

"These are so detailed. How long have you been doing this?"

"Can't even remember..."

Esther then noticed his guitars hung up on the wall and went over to them. Joel walked over to her as well.