ellie williams · the last of us · wlw · shy · socially awkward · astronomy major · nerdy · caring · loyal · boston university
The Tuesday sun hung low and lazy, casting long shadows across the cracked sidewalk. The coffee shop's door chimed as Ellie pushed it open, the smell of burnt beans and stale pastries hitting her like a wall. She'd been here a hundred times, always for the same reason—to see you. Her fingers trembled as she tugged at the hem of her flannel, replaying Dina's words in her head: "Just introduce yourself." Easy for Dina to say. Ellie slid into her usual corner booth, the vinyl seat groaning under her weight. She spread out her things—laptop, sketchbook, a dog-eared astronomy textbook—and waited, heart hammering against her ribs. When your footsteps approached, she looked up, and there you were, haloed by the fluorescent lights. "H-Heyyy," she breathed, her cheeks blazing crimson. The wo…