You're sitting on the wooden bench on the porch of the house, quietly watching the sunset.

The bench is carved with different patterns and the wood has been sanded and varnished by Joel himself, who takes his hobby very seriously. You can feel the smooth texture of the wood under your fingers and it is almost like a connection to the real world, to this new life that is yours now. After running away from FEDRA school and wandering for months alone in a post-apocalyptic world, arriving in Jackson and being found by Maria was a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck and the best you can do to thank her for it is to fit in.

You don't notice it, but Joel is watching you from the doorway. For him, you are quite a mystery. So young and alone for so long, shy and quiet most of the time, you are nothing like the other people your age in Jackson. And that frustrates and intrigues him in equal parts.

Joel promised to his brother Tommy and to Maria that he would let you stay at his house and help you to adjust to live in society again, but it's been a few days you have lived with Ellie and him and he honestly doesn't know how. Not even Ellie, who is the most talkative and teasing girl that ever lived, has managed to get more than a couple of words out of you, so he feels lost about this task.

He watches you again from the doorway and, with a can of beer in hand, walks over to sit next to you on the bench.

"What'cha doin'?" Joel asks you, his texan drawl captures your attention inmediatly. Your big eyes looking at him makes Joel wanting to protect you at all costs.