Change on the Horizon

President of Nothing

Gwen's POV

I couldn't stop laughing at the fact that Ashley was still obsessing over the time milk came out of my nose when I laughed so hard.

"Mate it's been what? five years?"

I was still laughing when Ashley looked at me sentimentally.

"Yeah, I know. But It was still funny."

I snorted and just brushed it off thinking about how stupid funny it was. Ashley tells me about ONE dream she has and not even a minute in I was wheezing and dying. She couldn't say it properly without laughing so it was the most chaotic dream mixed with loud laughter. Oh, and not to mention the crappy milk that I insisted on drinking from the cafeteria. Okay, To be honest it was pretty good. Good enough for me to take whoevers didn't drink theirs in the group and stuff it in my backpack to drink after school. Good times...

I couldn't help but pop out of my thoughts when I felt someone's hand on my lower back. My face was hotter than a mOMMaSitA. Their thumb rubbed small circles over and over making the butterflies in my stomach flutter. I can't express how much I just felt like I was dying. My body was frozen in embarrassment. I tried to sneak a peek at their face. They were slightly serious with slight mellowing waves hidden behind the embers of the bonfire and its bright light. Before Parker could catch me staring, I tried to play it off my laying on their shoulder. OH GREAT REAL SUBTLE ME!!! Then I just heard some light laughs.

"You know you didn't have to do that."

If anyone could communicate by groaning and whining, it would definitely be me.

"Hm?"

And Parker knew this too.

"MMMmMMmNMNnnnnNMnNnn"

"Sorry I didn't quite hear what you said."

"MMmmemmmmemmeeeemememememmmm"

"Use your words."

I could tell Parker was laughing even when I buried my face in their jacket. It was soft and warm. Parker's smell was all over it and it was a smell that made me feel safe no matter what. A green waxed cotton jacket they were wearing ever since the day we met. The memories stayed with me forever.

"No."

Starting to get up, I made a pouty face like usual.

"NOOOOOOO COME BACKKK."

I laughed as I jogged away carrying a tiny brown booklet I kept in their inside pockets. Inside were schematics of places that we'd been to, indicating supply potential and safety measures we had set up to prevent raids. Not gonna lie though, it kept the few pictures we were able to take and some keepsakes I decided to keep around with me. Not many things like that were valuable to the others so I kept it in the spot I thought would be the most safe. Let's keep this clear though. Parker is not my significant other. I wish they were, but they had turned me down a while back. So, we're JUST friends. I do have to admit. It does break my heart a little bit (A LOT), but it's okay. The world doesn't revolve around me and especially not a relationship.

I let out an audible sigh before stomping SO FAST, PULLING FROM THE SPED FORCE, Jade and Johnathan.

"GET TO STEPPIN' SCHLATT, I'M MORE IMPORTANT."

He looks at me wide eyed as Jade raises her brow at me. As the breathy gorilla (that's meeeee) comes-a ballin' he walks backwards with his hands up. When I finally get there I throw down the little booklet and let some folded up papers go flying out.

"If the flash was ever to have a genderbend actress, they'd dial you up so fast."

Huffing and puffing, I couldn't manage to laugh so I just wheezed and pointed at the papers on the ground.

"G, I don't know what you want me to do with these."

"rEaD BiTCh."

B re ATh

"WiThY OuR E yeS."

"oKaY."

She really hit me with that oKaY.

Jade shuffled through the papers meticulously and unfolded them out. First was the map. Then came the passport of a dead man and lastly, a crumpled up notepad stapled together.

7/12/20

At present, a transmission was received from the radio; a group

of survivors gathering to seek shelter at the white house. They are

hopeful in beginning some kind of civilization that may ultimately lead to the end of this apocalypse. I am skeptical. However, I shall comply with their message for it has the potential of ending the hell that initially started as a minor international Pandemic that turned into a crisis.

I looked at Jade with stars in my eyes.

"This is it! Maybe I can ACTUALLY BE THE PRESIDENT."

She rolls her eyes laughing.

"The president of what?"

"I dunno? Mate maybe I can be the first president of nothing."

Jade had the most DONE look on her face.

"C'mon wouldn't it be a good change of pace? Whether there's actual people there or not, the trip might be worth it."

She thinks about it and I hope for the best. Eventually I give in and try and appeal to the logic in the situation.

"Listen. There's an actual chance that people could be rebuilding life. Not just that. There's an actual chance of the zombies being taken out. If the government even decided to fight back, we both know that there'll be firearms left over."

I lay out the papers more clearly, separating momentos from actual useful papers. There were bits and pieces of other messages saying "Washington Front" and photographs of other families with words like;

"Find us in Washington DC."

"Go North East."

"Supplies Here."

There were several maps I had that were circling Washington DC. Some in marker, blood, or even just indentations. There was even a map that had other circles.

"I think these are other camps in the areas or even places people have been."

The circles are all over the country.

"I think we owe it to them to give hope of something else instead of wasting around. I think we still have enough supplies to make it around. Stuff like underground subways are still around and there's a couple papers saying that there could still be people working at the waterfront to make electricity. There are railroads and waterways that can take us around without walking."

I look at the gate and everyone is hanging out in front of the firepit.

"We both know this place isn't gonna last forever, whether it be raiders or zombies taking over."

She hums and looks at the maps that had scaped the route we were supposed to take. Flipping pages, thinking about possibilities, and looking at what we have now, she looks at me mildly irritated. A big sigh is let out and she finally speaks.

"We'll ask the group and it'll be their decision."

I let out a squeal and gave her a tight hug.

"HEWL YEAHHHHHHH!!!"