Finding Peace: a Sad Milk Apocalypse Story

Chapter 9

Once Oz and Flinders returned to the rest of the group, they were setting up camp. As rain poured on, they couldn't do much else until it stopped. It was calming in a way, as the fire crackled and burned illuminating the steadily darkening room. Loud claps of thunder shook the area as the group laughed and talked. They were nearly halfway done with their trip across the US. They would be in the halfway point by the next day, if the storm would let up by then.

Sopping wet, tired, but happy, the group sat around joking as they did before the whole apocalypse. It almost felt like they were back again to the old times, of making videos and only stressing about editing and getting videos monetized. The more simpler times of not having to wake up at the asscrack of dawn and try to stay alive against infected and other humans alike.

"Soo?" Blair leaned closer to Oz, whispering so that the others couldn't hear. "Are you and-."

"Not now." Oz grumbled scooting away from Blair and closer to Flinders. They didn't really make anything official, they were just, closer than they were before. It was fine with him, he was still new to the whole dating thing in general. Not that the two were dating, yet.

"Later then. I hold you to your word." Blair rolled her eyes, going elsewhere to talk to someone else. 

Oz only sighed in slight annoyance of Blair's constant nagging him of his nonofficial relationship with Flinders. He slid his arm around the other's waist burying his face into Flinders' shoulder. He was pretty tired from all the shit that had gone on in that single day. Not to mention he was on lookout duty early the same morning also. Though, he didn't want to sleep, he just wanted physical contact. He didn't get that much contact with other people that often, and usually it never bothered him. Sometimes, though, he just needed a hug or to just be next to someone.

It didn't bother anyone to see the two snuggled up next to each other. There was much less gay tension between the two, which was nice as they used to have enough tension to fill up a large room. The only two people now with gay tension was Click and Topic, which one of them was still painfully unaware. It was amusing to watch Click flirt with Topic deliberately and Topic just take it with a grain of salt.

A nice aroma filled the air as Wonder started to cook their supper. It was soup, usually was. Most of what they could find for food was cans that were not expired was soup. It was alright, usually they had variety so it was alright. When night fell, it was pretty cold most of the time so the warmth of the food was nice.

"Man, I miss memes." Flinders mumbled, he would kill to be able to go and scroll through his phone right about now. He was extremely comfortable and the mind meld of memes would make it just perfect. Oz chuckled, his whole body shaking with each laugh. "Who doesn't." 

On the other side of the fire Click was trying to get Topic to take a hint, as always. "The soup is looking great Wonder." Topic was trying not to pay attention to Click. "You know what else is looking great?" Click said seductively into Topic ear. Topic just ignored him as he carved into a wooden figure he had been working on for the trip so far. Click huffed, hints were not working at all, he needed to be bolder with his approach. So he tapped Topic's shoulder so that he would look at him. 

"What now." Topic looked up from the carving of what looked like the makings of a cat. Click didn't answer, but kissed him instead. He nearly skedaddled when he noticed Topic wasn't kissing back, but it wasn't soon before he did his hand now on the back of Click's head.

Blair loudly cleared her throat causing the two men to pull apart as fast as they could. "As much as I am happy for you two, there is a child right there." She pointed to Mini, who was not paying attention but was playing a game with the small figurines he found in the gift shop. "So if you would kindly keep the pda to a minimum because I can't trust that," she pointed at Click, "to keep himself in his pants."

Wonder made a choking snort like noise in attempt to keep from laughing as he watched the whole thing unfold. Immediately he regretted it when his throat hurt right after. He stared down at the pot of soup, not wanting to look up he'd die right there on spot. It was almost done so he rummaged through his bag to get their plastic bowls, although he didn't know how they were going to wash them out. He didn't want to go back out into the rain to wash them either, he just finished drying off.

Throughout the night as the storm raged on, the group of friends laughed and talked about the stupidest of things until it was late. "We should get to bed. I would've been having Click and Topic doing first shift, but I don't trust, well Click, to actually keep his mind in check. Anyone want to volunteer?"

"I'm not all that tired at the moment so I can take first shift." Oz offered, knowing well that Blair wasn't going to let him.

"Oz, you had a shift last night. It looks like you could use some sleep also." Blair shot a concerned look at him before turning away. "Topic and Salty. You two take first shift, Wonder and Click you take the second." She assigned knowing quite well that it would be more effective to assign the slots so that people who were on lookout had a better sleep the next night.

Oz sighed, he wouldn't be able to move all that well anyways, with Flinders fast asleep against him. It was like having a sleeping puppy on your lap, you dare not to move so that the puppy will not wake up. Thankfully for him, Flinders cracked open one of his eyes when Oz tried to move. "Oh shit, I didn't mean to fall asleep." He slurred tiredly. 

"S alright, was trying to lay down that's all." Oz knew well enough that he wasn't going to be able to actually sleep in the comfort of his sleeping bag that night. 

"Wait, would if we connect our sleeping bags to make one big sleeping bag?" Flinders asked tugging his over next to Oz's. He zipped the sides together cause that's how physics don't work but now do to make a huge sleeping bag.

The two fell asleep, enjoying the warmth as they cuddled in the large sleeping bag. And as the storm raged on outside, thus concluded another day.

sorry for getting this out later than usual, shit happened. Here ya go anyways.