two.     warm like a gun

The harsh, colorless winter has faded into spring, leaving the earth full of blooming wildflowers. The air, still crisp, smells of earth and renewal— a promise of warmth that feels distant yet inevitable. This might be Alaska's favorite time of year, for it means a fresh start for everybody.

Ellie hasn't spoken of Joel in months. The silence between them has become its own presence, one that neither acknowledges. Alaska, ever cautious, refrains from prying. She's already more involved than she'd like to be. Yet, despite the weight of the unknown, patrols amongst them have become routine and seem to somehow bring them closer.

Morning light beams through a reluctant sky, breaking free of the heavy clouds. It's weak, tentative at first, but it promises to grow. Alaska can't focus on anything other than the back of Ellie's head. There's a kind of stillness around her now, an uncomfortable silence that has never belonged.

Alaska realizes that she hasn't heard Ellie speak in a few hours—not since the brief exchange earlier that morning when Tommy started going on about his dumb argument with Maria.

Tommy, for all his bluster, has never really been great at keeping things light. He's talking now, rambling, but Alaska has already lost track of the details. It hadn't been that serious, in her opinion. Tommy's just stubborn. It's nothing compared to the heaviness that lingers between Ellie and Joel. Tommy can't help but fill the void with stories of his own, of how Maria had given him the cold shoulder over something trivial.

Alaska walks slightly behind the two, her boots scraping softly against the muddy dirt path as she tries to make sense of her own thoughts. Her mind, like the sky overhead, seems unwilling to clear. Tommy and Ellie are used to Alaska's silence, and so they continue their conversation as if she isn't there, a natural rhythm between them.

"Anyway, this silent treatment..." Tommy mutters, voice gruff with a mix of frustration and humor. "Man! I'd forget my own birthday if she didn't remind me when it was." He chuckles.

Ellie, who'd been unusually quiet until now, breaks her silence with a distant voice. "You should just apologize to her," she says, but her tone feels detached, as if her mind is elsewhere.

Tommy's chuckle falters. "I just said—" He pauses, sensing the shift. "Okay, what's going on?"

"Nothing. Why?" Ellie's reply comes quickly, too quickly. Alaska notices the way Ellie's voice barely catches the air. The familiar hum of her tone is gone, replaced by something hollow.

"I can tell when you're off," Tommy says, his voice soft but firm, pushing past the walls that Ellie is ever so good at building.

Ellie sighs, long and drawn out, before muttering, "Just got some stuff on my mind."

Tommy doesn't press any further. He simply lets out a quiet, knowing grunt, his head dropping slightly in understanding. "Let me know if you wanna talk about it," he says. The words are casual, but they hang in the air like a weight lifted, even if only temporarily.

Ellie nods, and the silence returns.

Alaska catches glimpses of Ellie's shoulders, the way her hands are shoved deep into her pockets, the way she avoids looking anyone in the eye for too long. There's a familiar isolation in it, something that tugs at Alaska's chest. She wonders if Ellie even realizes how often she builds these walls around herself.

The tension between Ellie and Joel has been like this for a while– fragile, thin ice covering an ocean of things left unsaid. Each fight, each argument between them, seems to leave a crack. Alaska has always been there to witness the aftermath.

"How 'bout you, Al?" Tommy's voice pulls her back to the present, his words soft but insistent. He'd noticed her slow steps, the way her gaze had wandered off.

Alaska blinks, focusing on him for a moment before offering a smile, small but genuine. "Just making sure we don't get ambushed, or whatever." She half-jokes, a dry chuckle escaping her lips.

Tommy raises an eyebrow, a knowing smirk spreading across his face. He glances over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes playfully. "Ambushes don't happen unless you're looking for one."

Alaska shrugs, pretending to consider his words. "I dunno 'bout that," she says lightly, her eyes scanning the trees around them. "The world's full of surprises."

Tommy doesn't respond, but the corners of his lips twitch into a hidden smile as they continue down the path. Alaska almost doesn't notice how close Ellie stands until they nearly brush shoulders. The two of them walk in comfortable proximity, their quiet understanding filling the space between them.

Alaska catches the faintest of grins on Ellie's lips—just a small curve and a glimpse of the dimples in each cheek. It's the kind of smile that would've been missed entirely by anyone else.

For a fleeting moment, the air between them lightens, the tension easing just a bit. Alaska lets out a quiet breath, as if the simple act of breathing has become a ritual in calming the storm inside of her.

Tommy stops abruptly before a fallen branch, pushing it aside with ease. "Ladies first," he says, flashing them a grin.

The three of them make their way down the grassy slope, the earth soft beneath their boots. Alaska lingers behind, her thoughts drifting back to the weight of Ellie's silence. Tommy's words had fallen like stones into the water— he'd been right about one thing. If Ellie doesn't reach out to Joel soon, whatever's left between them might be lost.

"I'm not supposed to say anything..." Tommy begins again. "But Joel's worried about you, Ellie."

Ellie's eyes drop to the ground, a tightness around her mouth. "There's nothing to worry about."

"I'm sure there isn't." Tommy's voice softens, but his words are insistent. "But if you don't talk to him, he's gonna think something's wrong."

"I talk to him." Ellie's response is quick, but the defensiveness in her voice makes it clear that she isn't convinced.

Alaska stays quiet, watching the exchange unfold. She knows better than to insert herself, but the awkwardness  and avoidance in Ellie's posture says everything. She wonders if Ellie even realizes how much of herself, her thoughts, she keeps locked away.

"You gotta do more than 'hi' and 'bye'," Tommy presses gently, his tone just short of playful, but with a hint of something deeper.

Ellie's shoulders slump, the fight leaving her in one long exhale. "Okay," she mutters. "I'll try."

They move in silence after that, the air heavy.

As they enter the abandoned building, the flickering glow of sunlight streaming through broken windows catches Alaska's attention. It feels warm in the way only old places could offer— like they had stories to tell, if you were quiet enough to listen.

Joel sits inside, his hands cradling the guitar he'd gifted Ellie years ago. Alaska can't help but admire the craftsmanship, how the wood almost glows in the dim room. Joel has a talent for this kind of thing. He'd promised to make her a guitar one day. She's still waiting for it.

Ellie and Alaska move to pull out chairs beside the table where Joel sits, their movements synchronized.

"I see you've, uh..." Joel clears his throat, eyes flicking over to Ellie. "You haven't gotten around to changing the strings yet."

Ellie lets out an awkward chuckle, crossing her arms over her chest. "I didn't know I was supposed to."

Joel shakes his head with a sigh, his voice softer. "Yeah, you... we'll get you some new ones." His words feel like a quiet offer, a gesture of something unspoken.

A promise, maybe.

Tommy, ever the observer, gives a knowing look. "Well, there's that music store down there," he says, motioning vaguely in the direction of the street. "Bet they got guitar stuff."

Alaska's face instantly lights up with excitement. The thought of exploring a forgotten music shop is too tempting to ignore. Music has quickly become one of her few joys since moving into Jackson. It's a simple pleasure that breaks through the weight of everything else. It brings people together, it effortlessly understands.

Ellie's lack of enthusiasm doesn't go unnoticed.

Tommy's grin widens when he sees Alaska's excitement. "That area's long overdue for a sweep, anyway. I can keep watch."

Joel turns to Ellie, eyebrows raised. "What do you say, kiddo?"

Ellie looks over at Alaska, the expression on her face impossible to miss. She could never say no. "Sure," she says, shrugging again. "But only if Al can come, too."

Alaska's eyes grow wide with surprise. She gives Joel a pleading look, her eyes big with all the sincerity of a lost puppy. Tommy chuckles, shaking his head.

"Alright, alright," Joel relents with a hidden grin. "Let's get going."

Ellie stands up quickly, the hint of a smile tugging at her lips as she meets Alaska's gaze. This moment feels like it might last forever. Alaska can't help but wonder if Ellie feels the same thing— that quiet tug at her chest, right where her heart lays.

The ride to the music shop is quiet, peaceful in a way that Alaska has grown to appreciate. The wind against the trees seems to drown out everything else. The awkward tension, the unspoken words between Ellie and Joel, it's all gone. And for a brief moment, everything feels right.

When they arrive at the music shop, it's just as abandoned as any other, but there's a certain charm to it. The vines latch onto the walls and cover the dirty windows, almost romantically. The faded beige walls contrast the burgundy roof. Alaska examines the place with an open mind. The door, however, appears to be locked.

Joel kneels beside the entrance, his eyes scanning for any way in. A small gap near the bottom of the door catches his eye, and he turns to Ellie. "Think you can fit in there?" He asks.

Ellie raises an eyebrow, the flicker of a smirk crossing her face. "It's worth a shot."

Without hesitation, Ellie crouches and wriggles through the gap in the wall with surprising grace. Joel and Alaska wait outside, and for a moment, Alaska lets herself wonder what Ellie is really thinking behind that determined expression.

Soon, Ellie's voice breaks the silence. "Why, hello."

"Howdy," Joel replies, his voice warm with a simple touch of playful.

"You impressed?" Ellie's sarcastic tone is back in full force.

"Nope," Joel replies, not missing a beat. "You're just too skinny. You needa' eat more."

Ellie rolls her eyes. "You're welcome!"

Alaska steps in after Joel, her own grin spreading. "I dunno, I thought that was pretty impressive." Her brows raise knowingly.

Ellie grins back. "Why, thank you."

The inside of the shop is dark and dusty, filled with shelves of forgotten items. The flicker of their flashlights illuminates the path ahead as they move carefully through the space, cautious of danger. Each room they check, each corner they examine, feels like another adventure waiting to unfold.

They walk into another room, the sun breaks through the broken windows, casting a warm glow over the dozens of instruments, vinyl records, tools– an abandoned museum of sound. Alaska lets out a long sigh of contentment as she wanders through the space, the light dancing across her face.

"Man, Dina and Jesse would love this place," Alaska mutters, caught up in the joy of it all.

Ellie catches sight of Alaska, staring for a little longer than acceptable. She looks away before anyone can notice her.

Joel raises an eyebrow. "What's the deal with them two, anyway?" He crosses his arms as he leans against an old shelf. "They're dating, right?"

Alaska's expression falters slightly. "On and off, I think," she replies, unsure. "Why?"

"Oh, nothing..." Joel scratches the back of his neck, his tone shifting. "I hear the way Jesse talks about Ellie."

Alaska glances at Ellie, only to find a flash of panic cross her face. It's subtle, but unmistakable.

Ellie quickly shakes her head, yet her voice remains casual and calm. "No, Jesse and I are just friends."

Joel smirks, enjoying this a little too much. "Now, now, now. I've got a pretty keen eye for these sorts of things."

Ellie's face scrunches up. "Not so 'keen' with this one."

Alaska can't help but laugh, covering her mouth to hide it. Ellie, slightly embarrassed and awkward, lightly hits Alaska's shoulder with the back of her hand.

"We'll see..." Joel says, completely unaware.

Ellie sighs. "Don't hold your breath," she mutters.

Finally, they stumble upon what they've been looking for. Hidden beside a rustic record player sits a small package of guitar strings, definitely old but still usable.

"Here we are," Joel says, holding them up in the air as though he'd just found treasure.

Ellie lets out a relieved sigh. A soft, genuine smile curled at the corners of her lips. "About damn time," she mumbles under her breath.

For a second, Alaska thinks she catches sight of something in Joel's eyes, a familiar sadness. Regret, maybe. The mere remembrance, moments he and Ellie had shared, moments when things were slightly less complicated. Maybe it's the knowledge of his decisions, his untold secrets. It's fleeting, that look— gone as quickly as it had appeared.

Alaska wonders what he's thinking.

Ellie catches on, too. The light disappears from her face, leaving no traces, as if it had never been there at all. The guitar strings in Joel's hands, the wooden guitar strapped onto Ellie's back– the one thing they have to themselves when the rest of the world seems to crash down, a symbol of their bond.

In that simple moment, Alaska thinks Joel might say something, that he might confess all of his sins right then and there. Maybe it's the right time. Maybe telling Ellie the truth about everything isn't as bad as Joel makes it out to be. Maybe they could fix things. Yet, Alaska refuses to say anything because she'd promised Joel. And Joel refuses to say anything because, deep down, he feels that Ellie might already know.

And in the same breath, whatever had passed is gone. Whatever look had appeared in Joel's eyes, whatever emotion had filled his chest and radiated through the old music store has perished completely, hidden once again along with his secrets. Forgotten.

author's notes.
— 2,410 words

this chapter is a little shorter than usual but i just wanted to emphasize ellie and joel's rocky relationship while also showing how alaska has integrated herself in town, patrols, with her newfound family, etc.