and we b oth stepped into Sarah’s room when she bade us to come in after my knock.
“You’re both going to stare at us while we attempt to sleep?” Grant asked with a raised
eyebrow. He looked pointedly at Simon. “I’m not sure how comfortable I am with that.”
“Tough.” Simon’s one word answer was said in a tone that was meant to brook no argument.
Grant looked like he was about to protest, but then he just shrugged. “Fine. Whatever.
The world has already turned upside d own. I guess being watched by a vardoger while I sleep isn’t any crazier.”
I sat in a beanbag chair that Sarah had in the cor ner of her room, and Simon took her desk chair. It was pretty awkward once Sarah and Grant settled into bed and we
turned off the lights except for the small lamp on her desk. Sarah fell asleep pretty quickly but Grant was watching Simon as much as we were watching him, and I thought he’d never
go to sleep. Bu t he slowly drifted off, the combination of the day’s trauma plus the beer probably mixing into a potent cocktail for sleep.
Simon and I were silent as the night wore on, but he ended up joining me on the beanbag
chair, his body cradling mine as we crowded into the small seat. We watched the haze
of sunlight as dawn broke, both of us lost in our own thoughts. I felt the sure and
steady beat of Simon’s heart as I leaned my cheek against his chest, trying to convince
myself that I could save everyone, including Simon.
Chapter Five
I never ended up waking Ryan to take over watch since it was only a few hours till morning. He was already awake when I shuffled out of Sarah’s bedroom after Grant had balked at being watched while taking a shower. He was sitting on the couch, the sheets
neatly folded with the pillow stacked on top.
He didn’t bother with pleasantries when he caught si ght of me. “You never woke me to take over watch.”
“I figured it wasn’t worth it since it was only a few hours. I’m not that tired so
it was no big deal.”
Ryan looked at me disapprovingly as he stood. “You need to keep your strength up.
That includes getting enough rest. You’re no good if you’re weak and tired.”
“I’m fine,” I replied irritably. I didn’t feel like answering to Ryan this morning,
whose father figure act was annoying me. I didn’t wan t to admit that it might have something to do with my exhaustion and the fact that he was probably right.
Ryan just raised his eyebrows but didn’t make any further comment. His gaze shifted
to behind me, and I turned to see Simon approaching. Simon didn’t acknowledge Ryan’s
presence and just addressed me.
“Grant and Sarah are still determined to go to class today.”
“Is that necessarily a bad idea?” I asked. “We’re all tired of being trapped in here. My father is already
winning because he’s forcing us to live in fear, afra id to venture out of this apartment . Now with Ryan here, we don’t have to worry about being surprised by him.” I glanced
at Ryan before turning back to Simon. “Ryan and I will go with Grant to class. You
should go with Sarah.”
“Absolutely not,” Simon said emphatically. “There’s no w ay in hell I’m leaving you alone with him.”
Simon’s attitude, compounded by my earlier irritation with Ryan’s demeanor, just made
me more frustrated.
“Simon, I’ll be fine!” I exclaimed irritably. “Ryan and I need to be with Grant in
case his vardoger tries to attack him. And I’ll be distracted if I’m worrying about
Sarah. For once, can you not fight me on this and just do as I ask?”
Simon seemed s urprised by my outburst and studied me for a moment before answering. I hadn’t meant to speak to him so harshly,
but I was feeling smothered by him. As much as I appreciated him wanting to protect
me, I wanted him to believe in my abilities as well.
“I’m just worried about you, that’s all,” he said in a measured tone.
“I know. I
“You’re both going to stare at us while we attempt to sleep?” Grant asked with a raised
eyebrow. He looked pointedly at Simon. “I’m not sure how comfortable I am with that.”
“Tough.” Simon’s one word answer was said in a tone that was meant to brook no argument.
Grant looked like he was about to protest, but then he just shrugged. “Fine. Whatever.
The world has already turned upside d own. I guess being watched by a vardoger while I sleep isn’t any crazier.”
I sat in a beanbag chair that Sarah had in the cor ner of her room, and Simon took her desk chair. It was pretty awkward once Sarah and Grant settled into bed and we
turned off the lights except for the small lamp on her desk. Sarah fell asleep pretty quickly but Grant was watching Simon as much as we were watching him, and I thought he’d never
go to sleep. Bu t he slowly drifted off, the combination of the day’s trauma plus the beer probably mixing into a potent cocktail for sleep.
Simon and I were silent as the night wore on, but he ended up joining me on the beanbag
chair, his body cradling mine as we crowded into the small seat. We watched the haze
of sunlight as dawn broke, both of us lost in our own thoughts. I felt the sure and
steady beat of Simon’s heart as I leaned my cheek against his chest, trying to convince
myself that I could save everyone, including Simon.
Chapter Five
I never ended up waking Ryan to take over watch since it was only a few hours till morning. He was already awake when I shuffled out of Sarah’s bedroom after Grant had balked at being watched while taking a shower. He was sitting on the couch, the sheets
neatly folded with the pillow stacked on top.
He didn’t bother with pleasantries when he caught si ght of me. “You never woke me to take over watch.”
“I figured it wasn’t worth it since it was only a few hours. I’m not that tired so
it was no big deal.”
Ryan looked at me disapprovingly as he stood. “You need to keep your strength up.
That includes getting enough rest. You’re no good if you’re weak and tired.”
“I’m fine,” I replied irritably. I didn’t feel like answering to Ryan this morning,
whose father figure act was annoying me. I didn’t wan t to admit that it might have something to do with my exhaustion and the fact that he was probably right.
Ryan just raised his eyebrows but didn’t make any further comment. His gaze shifted
to behind me, and I turned to see Simon approaching. Simon didn’t acknowledge Ryan’s
presence and just addressed me.
“Grant and Sarah are still determined to go to class today.”
“Is that necessarily a bad idea?” I asked. “We’re all tired of being trapped in here. My father is already
winning because he’s forcing us to live in fear, afra id to venture out of this apartment . Now with Ryan here, we don’t have to worry about being surprised by him.” I glanced
at Ryan before turning back to Simon. “Ryan and I will go with Grant to class. You
should go with Sarah.”
“Absolutely not,” Simon said emphatically. “There’s no w ay in hell I’m leaving you alone with him.”
Simon’s attitude, compounded by my earlier irritation with Ryan’s demeanor, just made
me more frustrated.
“Simon, I’ll be fine!” I exclaimed irritably. “Ryan and I need to be with Grant in
case his vardoger tries to attack him. And I’ll be distracted if I’m worrying about
Sarah. For once, can you not fight me on this and just do as I ask?”
Simon seemed s urprised by my outburst and studied me for a moment before answering. I hadn’t meant to speak to him so harshly,
but I was feeling smothered by him. As much as I appreciated him wanting to protect
me, I wanted him to believe in my abilities as well.
“I’m just worried about you, that’s all,” he said in a measured tone.
“I know. I
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