My Zombie Girlfriend

Chapter 22

The tired and bloody band of brothers and sisters re-entered the gymnasium to find a relative calm. The boys' locker room had been cleared, and the soldiers, including the additional troops called in, had returned to their posts. Cots were reassembled and righted, and though it did not appear that anyone was going to go back to sleep anytime soon, most of the crying children had been calmed and people were sitting quietly if not more vigilantly than before.

"Man, all I want to do is go to sleep right now," Ross said. He was leaning heavily on Wilson and Dylan or Tyler. Zane walked behind them, rubbing his sore jaw. There was definitely going to be a lump, and his back teeth felt loose in his gums. Ross had already proven to be a baby about his injuries. Zane figured he was going to be just as big of a baby about being tired.

"Some people just never stop bitching," muttered Tamiko beside him.

Zane gave her half a smile. "Seriously. He totally ran out on us when we were at Ricky's house, and now we're supposed to feel bad for him?"

They reached a few empty cots and Ross slumped heavily down on his. Within seconds he was snoring.

Zane dropped on a cot. He had never felt a mattress so cushiony and soft. Tamiko sat down beside him... a little closer than "just friends" would dictate. Wilson puckered his lips, then sat down on Zane's other side. Also closer than "just friends."

"How's that bromance going?" Rebecka asked smartly. She and Dylan or Tyler had seated themselves on the cot across from the trio. Mike Snow collapsed onto the floor. Hunter dragged over another cot, not seeming to care that the squealing of the cot's legs on the wooden floor had started the people around them, who reached for their weapons. Even a few of the soldiers put their hands on the butts of their guns and looked around before relaxing.

"You know," Tamiko said sleepily, "that entrance to the girls' locker room, the one from the locker room into the hallway? We never checked that door."

"If any zombies managed to get into the hallway, they'll just have to go back through the girls' locker room to get in here," Wilson yawned. "I think the army's got this now."

Tammy shook her head. "I don't know. The army almost didn't have this. And if we hadn't cleared out the girls' locker room, it could have been much, much worse."

"They still haven't done anything about the girls' room," Zane said, looking back.

"They need to get their heads out of their asses," Wilson said. "Oh, well. I'm finally tired, and things seem calm. I'm taking five."

"You're not sleeping my lap, dude," Zane said.

"Fine. I'll stay awake." Wilson looked indignant, and when he dozed off a few minutes later, Zane just let the kid's head stay on his shoulder.

After a few more minutes, Tamiko's head nodded and came to rest against his other shoulder. This Zane found he didn't mind so much. Feeling sleepy himself, he placed his cheek against Tamiko's glossy, soft hair, and let his eyes fall shut.

He awoke when Wilson jerked against him. "Wha..." Zane mumbled. Wilson elbowed him and he tried to feel more alert. His jaw was still throbbing. Should have put some ice on it. If there is any ice here.

"Wake up," Wilson hissed.

Tamiko roused herself on his other side, and Zane saw Rebecka and Dylan or Tyler wide awake. They were looking at something with wide eyes, down by where Mike Snow sat on the floor.