Impossible

Chapter 34

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I woke up with a startle, as I felt like I was falling. I jolted up, dropped my bow, and flung the blanket off of me. The blanket brushed Blain's nose and he rose with a jolt, getting tangled in the blanket. He hit Rose (who was beside him) and she jumped awake. I started a chain reaction that woke up the whole camp. All except John, who slept like a rock and snored louder than a wild boar. Everyone was tense. But I knew that it would go away. It was christmas. I thought it would be a great idea to go shopping for presents, while enjoying the uncommon peace. Leah started to cook some breakfast. I looked over to Sam's sleeping bag, which was empty. At first I thought something happened to him or he ran off, but then I spotted him petting Blain's pugs. Everything was great. John finally woke up to the wonderful smell of banana pancakes. My mouth watered at the idea of syrup covered delight hitting my stomach. Leah passed out some plates and gave us each a pancake. I poured on some syrup and then stopped when I saw Blain.

"Pancakes, pancakes pancakes pancakes, yum yum yum." he mumbled happily to himself

He let the golden liquid flow from it's container and then soak into the pancakes. He got out some utensils, gave thanks, and took one enormious bite. Then he frowed and swallowed it down harshly. He gave the pancake to his pets and walked over to Leah.

"This isn't real maple syrup." he complained

"What's the difference?"

His mouth was hanging. She smiled and handed over a jar of real maple syrup. He happily got a new pancake, and started to chow down.

"Thanks." Ayden said as he got his

That was the first time he talked in a long time. In fact, I didn't recall seeing him the entire mission. I ate mine, and I had to say she did a darn good job. As we all ate breakfast we were all thinking about what each other wanted for christmas. I knew it couldn't be money, because it had no value. It had to be something special, that they would remember. We all walked away from each other, going to seperate, stores to pick something out. I got Blain some treats for his dogs, and a pair of gloves. I got Rose a nice coat, and Leah a box of chocolates. I got John a multi-tool, and Antonio a pack of gum. I gave Sydney some hair elastics, and Sam a frame for his picture. And last, but not least, I got Ayden a hat. Not everyone's gift was expensive, put they all fit the person's personalities. I wrapped and labeled everyone's gifts and met everyone back at the camp. We all exchanged gifts to one another, and all got a present. Sam loved his, even though it was one of the simplest.

"Oh, a pair of gloves," Blain said, "It's just what I've always never wanted."

Rose put on the warm coat I gave her and gave me a gift. It was weird reciving a gift. How did they know what I wanted, when I didn't even know? I ripped open the wrapping and was excited to recive a book. I never told anyone this, but I used to read before the apocolaypse began. I would do it every night before I went to bed. She must have been a friend of one of my friends. John gave everyone cards, and Sydney didn't get us anything at all. Leah gave me drawing materials, which I also did in my old life. Antonio got me a recipe for cràpes, and Ayden gave me a picture of when we were little kids. We used to hang out, but then he moved away, and then moved back. In the time he was gone, I got new friends. Sam didn't get me anything, which I expected. I treasured my gifts and put them all away. And that was it, that was christmas. Not alot, but it was enough. Antonio had gotten some hambergers, hotdogs, buns, and smores for a christmas dinner. We were all starving from no lunch and were ready to eat a bus! Antonio and I flipped some patties while the others were socializing.

"Thanks for making dinner with me." I said gratefuly, "It's different than I expected. I thought the end of the world was going to be filled with selfish people that only cared about themselves, and here we are, as a group!"

"Yeah, it happened so fast." he said having a smoke

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but why? Why do smoke at your age?"

"Two reasons," he said stopping and looking at me, " One: my old man did it, and I picked up the habit. Two: Since it was the end of the world, I thought I could do anything I wanted. But just because we have an excuse to do something, that doesn't mean we won't have any consequences."

"I never thought of it that way." I said thinking about it

I sat there in silence, thinking about what he said. I thought about how I was in charge of the team, and the consequences that happen will be my doing. The thought haunted me that if something happened to someone, it would be my fault. I thought about how I let Zac go, and now he's my worst nightmare. I didn't want anyone else to be like him. I knew I now had to be more carful than ever. I dished out everyone's dinner, sat down next to Blain and started on my own. He was staring over at Rose while his traitorus friends feasted on what was to be his dinner.

"You should ask her out." I whispered in Blain's ear

"What do you call what we've been doing this whole time?" he whispered

"You should just do it to make it offical."

"Sure, I'll do it later." he said

We sat by the fire. All of us. As a team. We laughed, talked and lived it out whike we could. We had no idea what tommorrow would bring, but we didn't worry about it, because what good would worring do? We played some games, told tall tales and funny stories. It was great. A different, but okay christmas. I huddled in my sleeping bag, and started off to sleep while the others stayed up a little longer, and just as I started closing my eyes, and everything started to fade, I saw Blain and Rose. He was talking to her and I focused on her expressions. At first she was suprised, but then happy. I knew Blain had finally done it and I drifted out of thought and the last things that came to mind were happy.

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