They needed to find the person responsible for the Geek swarm before someone got hurt, either by their hand or from an angry mob.
The gym was mostly empty, save for a few older boys attempting to play basketball with a red kickball, and Desi tossing a rope toy for Fancy in the corner.
“Mind if I join you?” Caitlin asked, walking up.
Desi shook her head, curls bouncing around her face.
“Where’s Booker?” She asked, taking a piece of a treat out of her overalls pocket and giving it to Fancy.
“He’s with Scott,” Caitlin said, sitting on the first row of bleachers. “He’ll be around later.”
As Fancy playfully yanked on the rope toy, Desi giggled and pulled back.
“She likes you,” Caitlin commented after a moment.
Desi smiled. “We couldn’t have dogs in my apartment building. But my grandpa had them on his farm.”
“A farm, huh? Where was that?”
“New Mexico.” She took out another treat, having Fancy sit for it. “He lives outside Santa Fe. We’d go visit him at Christmas time every year.”
Caitlin smiled, watching the girl. “That sounds like a lot of fun.”
“It was,” Desi said. “Mom said I could move there one day when I got older.”
Her expression fell as sorrow and remembrance washed over her.
“Guess that probably won’t happen now.”
“You never know,” Caitlin said. “Maybe you’ll get to go back.”
Through the narrow window in the door leading to the locker rooms, Caitlin spotted movement. Jet black hair she was starting to grow weary of was the first clue, and then Seth’s profile came into view.
Like an animal sensing they were being watched, Seth froze for a millisecond before turning to stare directly at her.
Caitlin’s stomach clenched.
She expected him to hide or walk away.
Instead, Seth pushed open the door and strode into the gymnasium with his hands in his pockets like the most casual person in the world.
“Afternoon,” he said, offering a smile.
Caitlin didn’t speak.
“Seems like it’s been quite a day, huh?”
Arching a brow in question, she said, “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
Seth gestured to the hallway leading to the rest of the school.
“Oh, I just meant the disagreement over the food rations.”
Caught off guard, Caitlin blinked owlishly.
“Huh?”
Shrugging, Seth tucked his hand back in his pocket. “I guess a few people on the kitchen detail were worried about the food we have left. Things apparently got heated—no pun intended.”
Desi giggled and Seth beamed at her.
“I didn’t realize people were worried about the rations,” Caitlin admitted.
Seth held her gaze for a moment before saying, “Looks like your next supply run will come at just the right time.”
“None of the others want to go?”
“Well, sure, but…” He glanced over at the door and back. “We all know they’re not as experienced as you. I mean, look what happened last time.”
It was eerie to have her own words repeated to her, and by someone she wasn’t sure she could trust.
“Booker and I will talk to the officials,” Caitlin said, trying to keep her tone even. “See if we need to move our run up a few days.”
“I hope the kitchen staff stays sedated until then,” Seth said.
Before Caitlin could comment, he was waving goodbye to her and Desi and walking out of the gym.
As soon as he was out of sight, Caitlin stood up.
“Desi, I’ll be right back,” she said. “Stay here with Fancy.”
“Where are you going?”
Heading towards the door Seth had come in from, she said, “I just want to check something. Don’t worry.”
The closer she got to the door, the louder her heart pounded.
What was Seth doing in the locker rooms if he wasn’t showering? His hair had been dry, and he wasn’t carrying extra clothes or a towel.
Occasionally people would use the restrooms attached but there was only one stall and the door didn’t latch all the way. It was much easier and more private to use the bathrooms closer to the bunks.
Pausing with her fingertips on the handle, Caitlin tried to take an even breath.
There were plenty of logical explanations for Seth’s trip to the locker rooms.
But Caitlin couldn’t quiet the voice in her head telling her something was wrong.
A sharp whistle made her jump, hand flying off the metal knob like it had shocked her.
Whirling around, she exhaled roughly.
“Where ya goin’ off to?” Booker called.
Caitlin glanced over her shoulder and then back.
“Uh… Nowhere,” she said. “It was nothing.”
Bending down to scratch Fancy behind the ears, Booker grinned and motioned for Desi to toss him the dog toy.
The perfect domesticity of it all was enough to yank her mind out of the spinning fear and worry. She didn’t want to dwell in anxiety—not then, anyway.
Caitlin wanted to stay in the warmth of Desi’s laugh and Booker’s lighthearted teasing.
She stepped away from the door, quickly joining them.
There’d be plenty of time for worry later.
* * * * * * *
Returning from the hall bathroom, toothbrush and toothpaste in one hand, Caitlin opened their door with the other.
Seated on the edge of their mat, Booker was turning something over and over in his palm.
“You okay?” Caitlin asked, twisting the lock on the door and pulling the towel they’d tacked up as a curtain over the window.
Nodding, Booker made an affirmative noise at the back of his throat.
“Just wonderin’ if I should start takin’ these now.”
It was then Caitlin could see the shape of a small pill bottle.
“Scott said it’ll take a few days to really notice a difference,” Booker continued. “But he said they won’t make me a…” He chuckled to himself. “Well, a zombie.”
Tucking her things back into her pack, Caitlin went over to sit next to him.
“I’m proud
