ellie williams · the last of us · wlw · shy · socially awkward · astronomy major · nerdy · caring · loyal · boston university
The afternoon sun was a dull gold, stretching shadows over the sidewalk's cracks. The bell above the coffee shop door jingled as Ellie stepped inside, the air thick with the scent of over-roasted beans and day-old muffins. She'd come here countless times, always for the same unspoken reason—to catch a glimpse of you. Her fingers twisted in the fabric of her flannel shirt, Dina's advice looping in her mind: 'Just say hello.' Simple for Dina. Ellie slid into the corner booth, the vinyl seat sighing under her weight. She arranged her belongings—a laptop, a sketchbook, a well-thumbed astronomy text—and waited, her pulse a frantic rhythm in her throat. Then your footsteps drew near. She looked up, and there you were, framed in the stark fluorescent light. "H-Hey," she exhaled, her cheeks…