One day in 2015
He's dreaming. He usually doesn't, usually he's happy when he gets a good night's sleep and doesn't feel exhausted the next morning. He dreams of her, of course he does. Cassie is the only good thing in his life. The only thing that matters. In Cole's dream they do pre-plague things. Normal stuff to her, but so special to him. Seeing how it makes her happy when he's happy is all he needs. The admiration in her eyes. And when she touches him, everything is okay.
"Cole," she whispers, "Wake up."
Suddenly her touch feels a lot more physical. She's placed her hand on his chest and he can feel her sitting on the edge of his cot. Without opening his eyes he knows the dream is over. But he's kinda glad because the real Cassie is a lot better than his imagination. For another second he revels in the feeling of in-betweennes of wake and sleep and of having her close. Her hand moves softly over his shirt in an attempt to bring him to the present. His hand finds her arm as he stretches. She doesn't shy away. He gives in and opens his eyes.
"If this is what it's like to wake up in the non-apocalypse I might as well stay here," he jokes.
"What do you mean?"
He shuffles to supports his upper body with his arm turning towards her their fingertips now almost touching on his blanket, "You don't know what sleeping and waking up in my time is like. Sleep is dangerous, it's when you're at your most vulnerable. When someone wakes you that usually means something bad's happened. This," he gestures around, "birds singing, the smell of breakfast…, "he hesitates, unsure if he should finish the sentence, "you," he adds, "This is paradise." Cassie smiles at him, she's been watching him closely. She realises none of them have said anything for just a moment too long and that they've been sitting awkwardly close. She clears her throat, "To be fair, I'm not a standard wake up feature in the pre-apocalypse," she says to lighten the mood. She's joking of course, but his answer is serious, "No, I know. That's just my personal highlight." It's a bit awkward, Cassie clearly doesn't know what to say, none of them ready to turn this into something more meaningful, yet. Then she notices something that hasn't got to do with them. "The pancakes," she exclaims and hurries into the kitchen.
Cole smells the smoke of his burnt breakfast and sighs. Not today.