She glanced once more at Caitlin before slipping back into the room.
Part of Caitlin felt confident that whatever happened, they’d handle it.
Luck or no luck, they’d dug themselves out of worse positions. They could do it again.
But an even larger part—a loud, overwhelming part rooted deep inside—was drowning in dread. For Nicole, for Scott…
For everyone.
* * * * * * *
Caitlin shifted under her sleeping bag, slowly coming back to awareness.
Blue grey morning light sifted through the row of windows across from their makeshift bed in the corner.
Sometimes she missed being on the road—missed having a forward trajectory, even if it was only for a few days. But she never missed sleeping in the back of the Jeep. Their layered foam mats and cot mattress, adorned with a quilt and two sleeping bags, were the creature comforts she was always happy to return to.
Rolling onto her back, she blinked up at the tile ceiling.
It couldn’t have been later than six-thirty if the cold winter light was anything to go by.
She wondered if she’d ever get a full night’s sleep ever again.
“You up?” Booker mumbled, half of his face buried in the blankets.
She smiled, looking over at him. “Barely.”
Grunting, he nestled back into the bedding. “Five more minutes then.”
Tugging the sleeping bag up around his shoulders, she gently brushed a stray lock of hair off his forehead.
He still had nightmares, but they’d dipped in frequency. Sometimes they were bad— talking in his sleep, cold sweats, jolting awake like he was ready to fight or flee.
Caitlin knew the drill now. Knew how to calm him down, how to talk to him while he was still half in dreamland to bring him back around, knew the best way to soothe him back to sleep.
She’d never tell him she also knew how to block his flailing limbs to prevent getting a black eye.
It would only break his heart more.
Booker’s nightmares also made it so they had a room all to themselves near the end of one of the corridors. A smaller classroom probably used for tutoring or special needs students once upon a time. Now it was all theirs.
Silver lining, Booker had said, flashing a shy smile as they dropped their gear and began settling in.
“Fine,” he said with a groan, rolling into a stretch. “If you’re gonna be up thinkin’ this loud, I might as well get up too.”
Caitlin laughed. “I didn’t realize my thoughts were depriving you of sleep.”
“More than just your thoughts,” he murmured, kissing the curve of her shoulder. “Not that I’m complainin’.”
“How can you be such a flirt before it’s even dawn?”
“Maybe wakin’ up next t’you keeps me inspired.”
“Oh wow,” she said, smirking. “That’s possibly the corniest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Booker’s laugh was muffled by the blue nylon sleeping bag.
“What? Not Hallmark card material?”
“Needs a little polishing, but you’ll get there.”
As she started to disentangle herself from the bedding, Booker reached for her.
“Just ‘cause we’re up don’t mean we gotta go anywhere.”
Caitlin leaned back and gave him a peck on the forehead.
“All I can taste is that garlic sauce from last night,” she said. “I’m just going to brush my teeth and I’ll be back.”
With minimal protest, Booker nodded and rolled onto his stomach, arms wrapping around his pillow.
Grabbing her thermal leggings and boots, Caitlin quickly dressed herself. She debated putting on a bra under her oversized long sleeve shirt but figured if Booker was awake and interested when she got back, it would only get in the way.
The school’s restrooms had become a luxury to the whole group.
Stalls and sinks with running water were something she hadn’t thought they’d get to enjoy daily. Not to mention the working locker room showers in the basement. The temperature might not always be the warmest depending on the propane levels, but it was better than wet wipes and hand soap on damp rags.
With her toothbrush and tube of toothpaste in hand, Caitlin sleepily wandered down the hallway towards the first bathroom in the dim light.
Pushing her hair away from her face, she blinked at the white and red tile floors.
The toe of a shoe emerged from one of the doorways, and for a moment she thought she was seeing things.
“Good morning.”
Caitlin jerked. “Oh god,” she exclaimed, free hand going to her throat in surprise. “Seth. Hi. I’m sorry, I didn’t even see you.”
“It’s okay,” he said, leaning his shoulder into the doorframe. “Not many people up at this hour.”
Swallowing down her initial shock, she tried to smile. “Yeah well, I guess we’re the early birds.”
“Can’t sleep?”
She shrugged. “I don’t think a full eight hours exists for me anymore.”
Seth nodded. “Yeah, me either. Good thing there’s plenty of halls to pace.”
It was an innocuous admission—plenty of people wandered around at night when they couldn’t sleep—but something in his tone made Caitlin’s spine tingle.
“Hope that doesn’t mean you’re spying on anyone,” she said, just light enough to be considered a joke, but her eyes were sharp.
“No, no,” he said, waving her off. “Just reading a lot of the championship plaques in those display cases.”
Not a hint of offense at being called a peeping Tom, even as a joke.
Caitlin forced a smile. “Well if you’re ever in need of new reading material, I’m sure the library has some good stuff.” Lifting her toothbrush, she gestured to the bathrooms. “I’m just going to rid myself of this heinous morning breath. I’ll see you later.”
“Sure will,” he said, grinning as he waved goodbye and retreated into the room he’d been standing by.
Entering the restroom, Caitlin flicked on the camping lantern set on the paper towel dispenser and shut the door firmly behind her.
After a moment of consideration,
