John sat in front of me for weeks. I always wanted to say something to him. But he and his sister were so close, I felt like a fool. He was so handsome. I never knew it was him. My father had told me of him, in all his glory. The magnificent man who led the resistance, the man who single handily controlled a rebel against machines. How could this cute boy, who always asked for help, and could never remember graphing, be that great and powerful man? I didn't know, I never would, but I wanted to. John was a kind soul, but you could see in his eyes he had a heavy heart. I knew why, I understood. He carried the world on his shoulders. He was going to be responsible for the survival of humanity. But now, he was just some random kid, a normal teenager with acne and homework. No one knew. No one knew he was so important. All those who pushed him aside, they had no idea how important he was. I knew. I admired him. I loved him.

In 1984 Kyle Reese went back in time to save the life of Sarah Connors. He did that because John Connors sent him. Kyle Reese was, is his father. Kyle died trying to save Sarah, he loved her. My father was Dominic Milton, Kyle's best friend. They grew up together, fought together, survived together. When Kyle was sent back, my father went too. He wasn't going to live in the destroyed world without Kyle. They were closer than brothers. My father asked John Connors; at first he said no, but after time, something changed his mind, and he let it happen. My father came too late though. He came in time to find Kyle dead. But the good thing was Sarah was still alive. And for years my father watched her, to make sure she was alright, to protect her. But he couldn't do that forever, and soon, he fell in love. He met my mother. Hope Saunders. She was young and vibrant; a nurse with a giant heart. My brother Reese John was born, then me, Astrid Kylie.

I always wanted to talk to John. The fact that after years and years of hearing his stories, learning everything about him, he was in my class, at my school, it was brilliant feeling. I always wanted to talk to him. To say hi, ask how he was doing…but how to approach that type of person? I couldn't just run up to him and tell him he was my hero, tell him I was named after his father, and my brother was named after him and his father. That would scare him. But I needed to convey my emotions. I need to let him know he wasn't alone. I thought about him for weeks. Every night I dreamt another meeting between us- some good, some bad, some just normal. I didn't tell my father, I couldn't. He would storm John and Sarah. He would bring back painful memories of Kyle, he would ruin what little happiness I hoped they had. I couldn't bare to be the one who brought that on them. One day, I told myself, one day I would talk to John, more than just give him answers to yesterday's homework. One day I would tell him I loved him.

That day came. After waiting, and hoping, after all that time, we met—officially. It was a Monday after Christmas break. I've never liked Christmas, my mother died on Christmas Eve when I was 8. I was happy to be back in school, back to normality. On breaks my father trained us to fight, to survive. It was hard and painful. He was so hard on us. He was so tough, but it pained him to watch us fight. It pained him to think of the future; his past. He knew half the people we met would die. It's a horrible burden to bare when you know the life you live will end horrifically.

I was walking the halls when I saw Cameron Connors, John's odd sister on the floor searching. She was feeling every inch. "Do you need help?" I asked timidly. She sometimes did odd things, and changed her mood, or remained feeling-less, I assumed she was perhaps bipolar? She looked at me. "No." she said abruptly. "Are you sure?" I was trying to be as nice as possible. "No. Leave." She said rudely as she continued to feel the ground. "But I think I can help?" I said, she then pushed my legs out from under me and fell directly on my back. It hurt terribly. But from my training I learned that pain can be disconnected. "Shit sorry!" John said as he came running up and extended a hand to me. "I'm sorry about my sister. She lost her uhh—contact lenses." He smiled politely. He had a perfect smile, warm yet strong. "It's alright, I was offering her help, but I guess I was just too stubborn." I laughed. John smiled. "I'm John Reese." He extended his hand. My heart leapt, I extended mine. "Astrid Milton, hi." I smiled like a fool. I was star-struck.

"Yeah I know you sit behind me in math." John said. My heart leapt again, he knew me. "Yeah, is your sister going to be okay?" I asked. I was worried she was still searching the floor. "Yeah just fine, thanks. C'mon Cameron, thanks again, I'll see you in class." He helped Cameron up; he gave her an angry look. "That wasn't very normal." He whispered. She got out of his grip. "I was searching for something." "What?" "My cool." She said it perfectly normal. John looked her with confusion. "What?" "A girl told me I 'lost my cool' so I was looking for it." John began to laugh. They continued to walk away, as I watched them, I smiled. I went to my locker and grabbed my books. "Hey sis!" Reese said as he came up to me. "Sup?" he asked.

"I formally just met John Connors." I said proudly. Reese stared at me, his mouth a gape. "No! You're shittin me!" he said, I smiled. "Nope, he sits in front of me in math, and today we met. He goes by John Reese- which is so obvious. I wonder who the girl is though. I mean he calls her his sister. But we both know John's brother died before Kyle was sent back in time." I wondered who this Cameron was. She was very young, she wasn't from the future, and I don't remember my father saying Sarah had other children. But if she was the same age…she wasn't Kyle's that's for sure. "Well shit. John Connors. The John Connors. How long have you known?" Reese was intrigued, I could tell. His blue eyes sparkled with interest. "For a while. Like, almost two months." "And you haven't told me?" "No, and you can't tell dad! Promise please! I don't want him to bug them. You know he will." "Alright, but once you two get closer, I want to meet him. Man the shit you could learn from him." Reese was off thinking of his future abilities. "You know, he doesn't know that stuff yet? He's still training. He's still learning." I burst Reese's bubble. He laughed "good point, but still in the future he'll have known us. Wow." Reese walked away happily.

That night I dreamt not about meeting John, but about being with him. I knew I was not to be his wife. His wife was another girl, one from his childhood, one he bonds with, his second in command. Me, I was just a girl who loves him. In my dream he saved me, he took me to a place where I wouldn't die from the bombs. He stayed with me, and we spent the night together; emotionally and intimately. I awoke to my father running a drill. The end of the world was now and we had to prepare. It was 3 am, I was tired and angry he ruined my perfect dream. I participated but was not pleasant. Afterwards I crawled back into bed. Reese came into my room and laid next to me. "You know, these drills may be lame, but they will help. When it does happen, we'll be prepared." I nodded. "I know. The only reason I'd want to live is to see John become the great ruler he's destined to be." Reese laughed. "I think my baby sister has a crush." I sighed. "If the world knew of his future accomplishments everyone would have a 'crush' on him. Now it's only 5am, I'd like to sleep for a least another hour and a half." Reese nodded and went to leave. "Astrid, his destiny is with Kate. He's going to love her forever." He was at my doorway. I rolled over to look at him, he looked sad. I closed my eyes. "I know. But that's in the future. They won't meet for years. Right now, at this moment in time, maybe he can love me. Even if he forgets, and he will, he will move on. At least I'll have had him." I opened my eyes to see Reese turned around. "For your sake I hope you're right." Reese left. I wanted to cry. I held my pillow and wept.