Five POV

I woke up to the ear-bleeding annoyance that was my phone's alarm, crying out for me to stir. Rolling my head to the side on the arm of the couch, I reached for the idiotic thing, pressing the button that would end its obnoxious shriek. 8:30 am. 30 minutes to get to the exam. I've got time.

Groggily pulling up from the couch, I ran a hand through my ruffled up hair, smoothing it down. The shirt that I'd ripped off last night was laying balled up in the floor, and I picked it up, pulling it over my shoulders and onto my body. I rubbed my eyes. I was always punctual, but never a morning person. My body may be young, but my mind is an old man. I need my time off from contemplation.

In the kitchen I hear the coffee pot grumbling as it spews out fresh black gold. Ah. Good.

Vanya must already be awake. She must have snuck in super quietly last night, because I never woke up to her entrance. After I stood for a moment waiting on the coffee, Vanya came stepping out of her room wearing grey sweatpants and a baggy t shirt, her hair undone and sprawled across her shoulders. She looked nice, even though she'd just woken up. I'd always recognized that I had beautiful sisters.

She met eyes with me, and looked down at the ground, attempting to stifle a grin and failing. She knew exactly what I was thinking, and she looked like she might bust out laughing at any moment. I pursed my lips and put my hands in the pockets of my pants, tilting my head back in humorous frustration.

'So are you going to tell me whatever bomb Klaus dropped on you last night, or are you going to make me get it out of you?'

'Actually, I got halfway to the house last night and decided against telling any of them. It's too good.' , she answered me, nodding slightly and smiling. This girl. She thinks she can keep a secret from the man whose hunted down and murdered dozens of people, having only their names beforehand. How cute.

'I don't know why I'm so concerned. He's probably just started another cult.', I say, shaking my head.

Vanya lifted her palms above her head dramatically.

'Destiny's Children!', she said in a very Klaus-esque voice, mimicking his move. That pulled a toothless grin out of me.

'I hope to God that man never has any actual children. Can you imagine?' Vanya ignored that statement and grabbed a mug from the cabinet above her head. She raised her eyebrows at me, asking if I wanted one too. I nodded yes. Vanya handed me a cool blue ceramic mug, and I filled it to the brim with hot, dark coffee. Black. I would kill for this substance. Coffee is the elixir of the gods.

8:40 am. Twenty minutes. I sipped on the coffee more quickly than I ought, burning the roof of my mouth. The pain brought back a very vivid, disturbing memory.

'I burned my rugae. Have you ever burned your rugae?' The scene flashed in my mind, reminding me of the time that woman trapped me so awkwardly in the Temps Commission bathroom and I was forced to endure the torture of carrying on a cross-stall conversation with her while she released what seemed like a gallon of urine. I would've shuddered if I cared enough to.

I walked into the spare room at the back of the apartment, where I kept all of my things. Still holding the coffee mug in my hand, I rummaged around in my closet and selected a pair of khaki pants and a black Polo. Sleek. Sophisticated. Beyond that, I won't bore you with the details of my dressing. If the tables were turned, I wouldn't want to hear about yours.

The stairs going down to the sidewalk were dusted with snow, from overnight, I presumed. It was the thirteenth of December, America's favorite holiday coming up in just under two weeks. Christmas was always interesting with our bunch. This year, Diego had drawn the short straw and been given the task of planning the Hargreeves family Christmas party. You can imagine his level of enthusiasm about his role (and if you can't, it was hilariously low). I always borrowed Vanya's car to get to my classes. I unlocked the door, put the key in the ignition, and turned up the heaters. The time on the car's clock read 8:49. I needed to get going.

8 minutes later, I arrived at the class building with only minimal road rage. A middle aged woman driving a mini-van cut in front of me when I had the right of way, and I very justifiably flipped her off. That Karen deserved it, probably.

The parking lot was full of the cars of other students, walking in as I did, wincing like nervous cats and moving forward with their noses in their notes trying to absorb any last bit of information before the exam. I walked forward confidently, eyes straight ahead, carrying absolutely nothing but a pen in my pocket. I didn't need anything.

The automatic doors rolled open for me and three other students, enveloping us in the heated interior as we entered. I made eye contact with no one, striving straight ahead to the exam room. I was going to get this done with and leave. All was well. Until I saw her.

Down the hall, curly brown hair, glasses, smiling brown eyes and a face that reminded me of a portrait from the Victorian era. This was one very unusual looking young lady. She was beautiful. I was never struck by beauty, I'd lived long enough to not be swayed by just any pretty face. But this one. This dang girl. I'd never seen her before until now. And here I was, stopped dead in the middle of the hall, staring. She made eye contact with me, looked at the ground frowning, and carried on into class.

Even better. She turned into the exact same door I was headed into. Great. Focus, you idiot. She glanced back over her shoulder, to see if I was still looking. I made sure to look down at my shoes as I walked. Had I made her self conscious by my unintentional staring? I can't imagine why.

Focus. Focus. Focus, Five.

She sat down at a desk in the front of the room, ambitious. I made sure to sit a couple of rows behind her, so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. Taking off her coat, I saw that she was wearing a white blouse with black polka dots. So very familiar. So very much like - no.

The next hour passed in a haze. The exam was easy. But keeping myself from glancing up at her back, her long brown curls, her familiar blouse, after every question. That. That was the only difficulty I was facing.

I sped my way through Schrodinger's equation and aced every question, General Relativity and such. Child's play. What wasn't child's play? Wondering what this mystery woman's name was. I had to know. I would know. I wouldn't be leaving the building until I spoke to her. I just needed to find a way.

The timer ended on the exam, and the professor quietly came around and collected the answer sheets, and dismissed us. And as I was carrying my booklet up to his desk, I was struck by a stroke of luck. Mystery girl dropped her pen, and it went sliding across the floor, stopping right at my feet. I smirked lightly as I picked it up. Walking slowly over to her seat to return it to her, I felt accomplished, although this occurrence had happened purely by chance.

'Thanks.', she said, smiling lightly and then casting her gaze back down to her paper. From behind her, I read the name printed on the top of the page.

Dolores.

It was as if the wind had been shoved from my lungs with a vacuum sealer. Dolores. My only company in the apocalypse, and now, the name of the mystery beauty sitting in front of me. The name took on a whole new meaning. Klaus would have called it fate. Allison might've said it was meant to be. I called it a coincidence. But dang, coincidences don't play.

I had to know her now.

I put a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped around.

'Come and get a cup of coffee with me. You won't regret it.'

And I smirked so very hard.