Ellie's more bark than bite right now. But, unfortunately, she's more than used to sitting around in clothes with bodily fluids caked on them. She's not going to complain.

Drinking feels uncomfortable knowing there's a hole in her neck, but she manages a few small sips. It tastes good, feels good when her mouth feels like cotton, but she doesn't want to overwhelm herself and puke on Steve's bed on top of everything else.

"I don't think I would have." It's just musing. Physically, yeah, probably. Especially as an adult. But fourteen year old Ellie, lonely and bullied? She would have wanted to be friends, especially once she realized they both liked to draw. "I was always an easy target for bullies because I was small. I get that much, at least."