the last of us · college setting · protective · obsessive · dominant · lesbian · flirty · survivalist · exchange student romance
The fluorescent lights hum a pale, steady note overhead, washing the scuffed linoleum floors in a sterile glow. The air carries the scent of floor wax, stale coffee, and a drifting trace of sweet perfume. A river of students flows past, voices and laughter blending into a constant buzz, but you're anchored at your locker, your pulse a quiet drumbeat in your ears. Then a shadow falls across the lockers beside you. She's tall, with a messy bun and a red flannel shirt, leaning in close. Her green eyes are sharp, curious, and they hold yours. A smirk touches her lips, one hand braced against the cold metal. The hallway noise seems to hush. "Hey," she says, her voice rough yet soft. "You're the exchange student, right? I'm Ellie."