Wildflower

Forty-Two

Calum's eyes shoot open quite suddenly, the overhead light of his own bedroom coming into focus as he blinks.

Dream.

He was in a dream again, but his dad's words played loudly through his mind, reminding him that he was supposed to not be in this place anymore. His family and band were waiting for him elsewhere.

Despite that thought he sighed, relaxing back into the warm bed, enjoying the lack of pain in his neck, head, and hip. Running a hand over his head, frowning in confusion as his fingers card through long curled strands.

Yep, definitely a dream.

He startles as a loud noise comes from the hallway, the sound of crashing glass before he hears a loud "FUCK!" smiling to himself as he recognizes Zeppelynn's voice.

Rolling from the bed he pads across the floor in his sweats, swinging the bedroom door open to see Zeppelynn bent over a mess of things on the floor, Duke tucked into one of her arms. The strong aroma of coffee filling the space as Calum assesses. Seeing there are indeed two ceramic coffee cups spilled and shattered, along with a plate that survived and one that didn't. Eggs and pancakes soaking up the dark liquid.

"Duke no! You can't drink coffee, or step on glass." Zeppelynn hasn't noticed Calum's presence in the hallway, carefully stacking the glass pieces back on the tray sitting beside her.

"Did you make me breakfast in bed?" He crosses his arms, leaning against the doorframe.

"Fuck." She jumps hard, turning to look up at him.

"Well did you?" he chuckles.

"I was trying to. Then Duke here decided it would be fun to run figure eights around my ankles like a damn cat." she glares at the small dog who tilts his head at her in response.

"That's so cute. Why don't we clean this up though, and we can find something easy to eat. Like cereal." he asks, finally bending down to start helping her collect the ceramic shards from the wood floor.

"I was planning on having a conversation that was very much not one you should have over cereal." she groans.

"Oh?" He frowns, isn't this his dream? She can't break up with him in his own dream right? Right.

"Ya..." she sighs.

"Well then I'll drive us down to that cute bistro, we can talk there?"

"Can we postmate it here? I don't want to do this publicly." She bites her lip nervously.

"Sure..." He knits his eyebrows together, very confused why the dream version of her is making him nervous, he's in control here isn't he?

"Thanks." She smiles softly, handing Duke over to Calum before collecting the tray of garbage and heading back towards the kitchen.

"Duke, what is going on?" Calum asks quietly, almost expecting the dog to respond with how this dream seems to be going.

"You know what I'm going to say already Cal, don't ask the dog." Zeppelynn is back much quicker than expected, cleaning supplies in hand.

"If you're going to hurt me, do it not over food. I don't want to think of you breaking my heart every time I eat a cheese danish or pancakes or whatever." He sighs, his voice sounding hostile.

"I- I'm not breaking up with you Calum." She almost laughs, "It's the other thing."

"The other thing?" He frowns, wracking his brain for what the other bad news option might be.

"Come on." she rolls her eyes at him, reaching for his hand. Calum letting her pull him through the house and out onto the patio. Confused still as Zeppelynn cuddles into his lap, her legs thrown over his as she looks up into his face.