Blankets

Snow whirled around Claire as she stepped outside the cockpit. She chattered softly as she pulled her red vest closer to her body. She found it hard to believe that she had made it this far. Only last night had she been inside the Ashford's mansion and now she was in the deep arctic. She wondered where her brother was and hoped that Leon received her message. She heard Steve call her name from inside the cockpit and smiled. As much as she hated being on Rockfort Island, she was glad that she at least had Steve there to keep her company. Alfred nor the zombies offered exactly the best hospitality. She signed to herself and stepped back inside.

"There you are," Steve still trying various controls. "I was starting to think you wandered off."

Claire slammed the heavy door behind her and took a seat in the passengers' seat. "Is there any hope of getting out of here?" she asked.

"No, everything is totally shut down. I guess Alfred wanted us to end up here, wherever the hell we are. We're stuck here in - where? Antarctica?"

"That what it looks like," Claire stared out the windshield, wondering where to go next. All she should see was a thick blanket of snow and the faint outline of a large facility. She had a feeling that she was no where done with her dosage of zombies. Yet she needed rest and some food, and she longed for a long relaxing bubble bath. "We should stay here for the night. At least we know the plane is safe."

Steve nodded in agreement, but felt his ears begin to burn. He would be spending the night with Claire in the cockpit of a plane. Alone. He messed up his hair to make sure his ears were covered and hoped she hadn't noticed. He couldn't believe that he had found such a beautiful girl under the circumstances. Even in a world were everyone had betrayed him, he felt that he could trust her. Or at least he thought he could considering they had gotten this far together.

The two rummaged around for supplies and Steve found a heavy tarp that could be used as a blanket it. Claire found a bottle of first-aid spray in a pile of empty ones, along with a few can good. It wasn't the five-star dinner she felt she deserved but it would have to work for now.

Claire brought what she had found to the front of the plane. "I found some food and some first-aid spray," she threw her items down on the passenger's seat. "Did you find anything useful?"

"I found a tarp," Steve began to brush off the dust and refold it again, keeping himself busy. "But there's only one..." he softly added. He couldn't understand why he felt so shy around her. And even if they did share the blanket, nothing was going to happen.

"Oh, well that's alright. You can have it," Claire smiled as she tried to contain her shivers. The plane wasn't the warmest place.

"No! You can have it," Steve said shoving it into her arms, realizing how ridiculous he was being. It was only a blanket, not even a blanket. "I'll be fine."

"Steve, you'll freeze," Claire protested. "Why don't we just share it? I don't mind."

"But I probably stink," Steve muttered feeling his face redden knowing that he couldn't keep it from Claire.

"Well, so do I," Claire laughed. "Here, we'll sleep here." She spread the tarp across the hard floor. She realized that it was big enough that they could easily fold it in half and have a slight cushion as well as a blanket. She took a seat and patted the spot next to her, asking Steve to sit. He reluctantly took a seat. It's only a blanket, he kept telling himself. Claire passed him a can of tuna.

As the two ate in silence, they secretly threw glances at each other. Claire was beginning to realize that this wasn't just an angry adolescent boy. He was heartbroken, scared, and alone. He deserved so much more than what he had. She had started to grow a liking for him, still confused whether or not these feelings were romantic or nothing at all. She quickly shook the thought from her mind. She didn't have time for anyone though, all she wanted was to find Chris and return home. But even when she ignored the feeling, she still felt a strange tingle throughout her body every time he smiled.