Holding On

Day One: 5:37 a.m.

I woke up groggy and confused. I could feel my face was red with the heat of the gym. Light streamed in from the skylights but it was still pretty dark.
Felix reached for my hand and I reassuringly squeezed it. "You awake?" I whispered.
She sat up and rubbed her eyes gingerly, trying not to mess up her makeup. She nodded and tapped Gray on the shoulder. He bolted upright and quickly reached for Felix.
My biology teacher, Ms. Region shuffled over with cold water bottles. She handed one to each of us and kelt down beside us.
"First ones awake," she whispers.
"Is everyone still here?" I ask, looking around. I see the lumps of blankets scattered around and a few heads but I can't tell for sure.
Ms. Region nods. "No one comes in or out."
"Where's Coach Gyre?" I ask, also looking around.
She shrugs. "I have no idea. The power went out around midnight and there's no way we can get it back on without going outside. No A/C, no lighting."
I take a swig of my water and nod. Some other people start to wake up and Ms. Felix hurries to give them water and information.
I slept in my athletic clothes since that was what I wore when they corralled us into here. I have my school clothes in my athletic bag and I'm sure they'd let me run to the bathroom to change. After all, someone must've had to go to the bathroom before now.
I stand up and grab my athletic bag that has all of my stuff in it—hair supplies, makeup, deodorant, and my change of clothes. Felix grabs her athletic bag as well.
"Be right back," she says as she stands up and pats his knee.
We head to the doors for the gym bathrooms that everyone uses. Mr. Floyd stops us.
"Where you headed? Trying to sneak off?" He motions to our bags.
"Certainly not," Felix growls.
"We need to get to the bathroom," I add.
He shakes his head. "You can use the locker rooms for bathrooms."
I shrug and we head that way. It didn't make me any different. If anything, I might have some food in my athletic locker that I can hoard for later.

After we had gotten changed and touched up, we settled back onto our blankets to wait out the day. The outlets didn't work so no one could charge their phones. I had my portable charger, but it was almost dead. I'd save the battery for something urgent. My phone had about sixty percent so I'd best save that. I kept my phone turned off, checking it occasionally to see any news from my parents. Not a word.
They allowed us to mill around in the foyer, which was a plus. The gym had grown hot and stuffy. From the foyer, the world looked entirely different.
Cars were abandoned and torn apart. The streets were littered with broken glass and trash. There wasn't a living person to be seen. Bodies were strung out everywhere, the skin black and bloody. I guess all of the parents had given up. Either they didn't want to get the disease, or they didn't want to give it.
They fed us lunch from the concession stand which was accessible by the foyer. Nachos for lunch seemed so ordinary, it was almost like this whole thing hadn't happened.