We Come Alive 3

Stranded Part 1

"How long is that gonna take?" Jacob asked, leaning against the lockers.

Mateo sighed as he dropped his hands to his sides. "There's no telling. We're gonna be stuck in this building for the next couple hours. Maybe even until tomorrow. Maybe until Wednesday. But no matter what, we're stranded."

Mateo listened as the entire locker room full of players just erupted. Some concerned about what they were going to eat. Some concerned about what they were going to drink. Some about where they would sleep. How were they gonna last without electricity. How would they keep warm. And some were just concerned that they were going to have to deal with their teammates for the next couple hours to days.

Mateo sighed and whistled loudly for them all to stop talking and yelling. Right when he was about to speak again, he heard a scoff from a couple feet away from him. He looked down to see Clover in the desk chair.

"You didn't check the weather before calling practice?"

"No." Mateo answered. "Did you?"

"No." Clover replied, sitting up. "But I'm not responsible for 45 teenagers. So now we're stuck while the streets turn into the ocean."

Mateo just rolled his eyes and ignored her as he looked over the players. "Alright. If you guys want to roam about the athletic building and look for blankets and stuff, than go ahead. If not, stay where I can keep track of you guys. Me, Coach Sam, and Coach Victor are barricading the doors and windows so the water doesn't come in. If you want to help with that than go ahead. Soon we'll have to go up to the attic since the locker rooms will flood eventually. The attic's as big as the locker rooms and offices so I'm glad I don't have to sit around and listen to you complain anymore."

Right when he finished, Mateo could see all players go off in their own directions of where they would go or do. Most went to help and the other half went to go look for something to sleep with or to keep warm with.

Stephen and Jose went into the cheerleaders locker room while Diego and a few of the other players went into the coaches' lounge. Jacob had gone to help barricade the doors and windows. And finally, Clover and Manny stayed in the locker room with the other stragglers.

Jose and Stephen went through the cheerleaders bags looking for blankets and anything else they could use for warmth or comfort.

As they did, they found a couple small blankets, but nothing big. Stephen carried the blankets while Jose looked for more.

"Did you see Ethan?" Jose grumbled, throwing a bag on the ground that he didn't find anything in. "What's he doing here?"

Stephen nodded. "Yeah. Saw him get out of his car earlier. He came to ask Mateo to let him back on the team. At least let him fight for his position again. Give him a purpose, I guess."

"You talked to him?" Jose asked, turning around from the back of the smaller locker room. Stephen was leaning on the wall by the door, but shook his head.

"Rumors." Stephen answered. "Some of the guys were overhearing their conversation. Stood by the door while you were in the bathroom."

Jose's heart stopped for a minute, but he than remember that Stephen hadn't seen anything so he didn't need to worry.

"What were you two doing in there?" Stephen asked aloud.