A/N: This author probably has a death wish because she's having her 'O'-levels right now and is supposed to be revising for chemistry instead of writing this. Standard disclaimers apply.

Story inspired by the song 'Sometime Around Midnight' by The Airborne Toxic Event.

005: Nostalgia

Across the rim of his cup, on the peeling grey wall, was an old poster of Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders. The bartender had a love for Greek mythology and Caleb was left to contemplate. The bland, peeling grey walls seemed seemed tantalising against the backdrop of mellow music that the band was playing. He checked his wristwatch- it seemed that no one was coming.

Slender fingers brushed against his shoulder. Her touch was hesitant and tentative but her voice wasn't. "Hey, it's just the two of us tonight. The other girls couldn't attend- busy schedule."

"You think after two hours of waiting, I wouldn't know that?" He raised his hand to call the waitress to no avail.

"Yet here you are; still waiting," her voice was airy but her words tugged on his heartstrings. She sat on the stool next to his and he saw that she was without a ring.

"How's your life in mid-thirties, Cornelia?" Having attracted the waitress' attention, he proceeded to order.

"Divorced," she shrugged nonchalantly but he knew her well enough to see the fleeting sadness. He reached out and gripped her hand in a gesture of comfort.

"You want me to beat the bastard into the next century?" He cracked his knuckles but his smile was playful.

Her countenance turned into one of mock distress, "Thanks but I don't want to end up cleaning your mess. So how's your life?"

"Ugh, screw me," he groaned placing his elbows on the table and rubbed his temples.

"Already did, ten years ago," she was tracing her finger on the carvings on the heavy wooden table probably made by infatuated teens. Ah, to feel young and invincible again.

He took the opportunity to look at the profile of her downcast face. A few tendrils of blond hair framed her face. He saw a grey hair amidst the golden.

"Why don't we start over? Hi, my name is Caleb"

She smiled the poignant smile that made him feel nostalgic. Maybe it was the song the band was playing.

She leaned so close towards him that he could see the permanent scar on her throat and the ageing lines on her face. He could smell her perfume- it was redolent of flowers. "We've had too much of a history to start over."

For the rest of the night all he thought of were her words. Even after she left they echoed in his mind and he continued to think about her melancholic smile. He thought of all the possibilities and like weeds, there was no end to them.

Because even though their tumultuous relationship was over years ago there were still vestiges of those old feelings: ashes of a flame that was so bright, that they consumed everything in its path.