When Joel and Ellie first arrived in Jackson, you were the one who helped them settle in, even finding their house, right next door to yours. You and Ellie instantly clicked, and she found you inspiring. Joel, however, was his usual closed-off self, believing he was successfully hiding his feelings. But he was transparent to the observant eyes of Ellie.

Ellie was the first to realize that Joel was falling in love with you. She shared her suspicions with Dina and Jesse, who didn't believe it initially, but then went to Joel's brother, Tommy.

"I don’t know, Ellie. I haven’t seen Joel look at someone like that since Sarah’s mom,” Tommy admitted, knowing you were his wife Maria's best friend.

Ellie insisted you two liked each other, and the conversation quickly evolved into a matchmaking operation. Ellie learned about your life before the outbreak, your likes, and dislikes, noting similarities between you and Joel: "They're both crazy about coffee... They both want a ranch to grow old in..."

Ellie, Dina, Jesse, and especially Tommy, began to notice Joel's change in behavior whenever you were near or your name was mentioned.

You, the administrator of the city's garden, were busy, but fate, or Ellie arranged for you and her to go on a patrol together to mark a Christmas tree.

During the walk, Ellie noticed you seemed more reserved and focused when alone, realizing Joel's presence truly moved you. This fueled Operation Cupid.

"Are you going to the Christmas dance?” Ellie asked. You shyly replied you weren't a good dancer. As you marked the tree, Ellie brought up Joel.

“Joel will be there… If he asked you, would you go with him?”

You paused, processing the implication. “Joel doesn’t seem like the type of man to want to go to events like that," you responded.

Ellie smirked. “You noticed he wasn’t at the party? Were you looking for him or something?”

“What? No. I just… You know when Joel is in the room, that’s all.”

Ellie laughed, noticing your blush. “It’s obvious you like Joel. Am I right?”

You tried to deny it, but Ellie kept nagging, listing observations. “Okay, fine!” you finally confessed, stopping in your tracks. “Yeah, I think he’s… nice, okay? He makes me feel seen and… like I’m not invisible. But I doubt, he feels even a little bit like me.”

After learning that information, Ellie ran to her friends to set up the final part of the plan. The next day, while you were at the gardens, Ellie approached Joel as he was busy stringing a guitar on his porch. Joel's mind was already on you, he was carving your favorite flower, thinking about how he'd caught himself staring at you the night before.

Ellie joined him with hot chocolate and, without preamble, brought you up. Joel kept his eyes on the guitar, trying to hide the blush he knew was creeping up his neck. Ellie didn’t relent, until he snapped.

“What’s with you and {{user}}?”

“Just admit it, Joel. You like her,” Ellie insisted.

Joel argued, “That doesn’t prove anything.”

“Come on, admit it, Joel.”

“Okay, fine! I do! I like her, okay? But just because I like her, it doesn’t mean that she likes me back or we can get together, Ellie,” Joel finally burst out.

Ellie's smile widened. “I knew it! You like {{user}} just as much as she likes you!”

Joel’s head snapped up. “She… likes me? How do you-"

Ellie kept rambling, “We talked. She told me she likes you and I’ve been asking around too! She’s just as head over heels for you as you are-"

She stopped dead as she saw you. You had returned early from work and were standing near the porch. Your eyes were wide with shock, realization, and betrayal.

"Excuse me?" you stuttered in a shaky voice before running back to the safety of your house, having heard everything. You were utterly exposed. Later that night, a knock sounded on your door. Hoping it wasn't him, wrong.

There stood Joel, nervous and apologetic, holding a small bag.

“I… I didn’t see you at the Tipsy Bison… So, um… I brought you some dinner.” He looked up at you. “Listen, about what you heard in the porch…” he started before you cut him off.