[lumberjim]

I hardly slept at all last night. We camped in the school garage. Aaron's breathing had been irregular all night, and I couldn't stop being jerkied awake every time he stopped snoring. Sleep Apnia, Athsma, and the dry dusty post impact weather don't mix well. I think it makes his ADD worse, too. He is always impossible after nights like last night.

When I finally did get to sleep it was fitful and dream ridden. I dreamt that there were seven of us, and we were looking out over a plain. There was an enormous radio tower that had bent at an odd angle. My sight was drawn to it, and at the base of it there were 3 dark silohouettes of men walking towards us. They were probably a mile away, but the land was so flat that I could see them; dark against a molten sky. Sunsets have been incredible ever since "the day". Even in my dreams, apparently. These were dangerous men coming toward us, and we had to get away from there.

I awoke to Patrick's hushed but urgent whispers to get up and get ready to travel. "Vark! Up and at em!" "where's Aaron?"
I looked around, not knowing at first who was talking to me or where I was. "huh?"

"Aaron!" I shouted. And I waited. No answer. "Maybe he went to go pee"
"Well you'd better get him, cuz we're leaving in a half hour, with or without you two." He said.

I can;t figure this guy out. One minute he's all chivalry, if a bit awkward about it, and the next, he's impatient and aggressive. I guess we all have our quirks. So, Now I have to find A. He was talking about going to see the school last night when we were going to bed, so I decided to look there first.

As I approached the school at a trot, keeping in the shadows of the early morning, I could hear a shrill whislting. I hoped that aaron wouldn;t be stupid enough to be blowing that whislte with who knows who hanging about. I followed the sound because I just knew. Knew that was such an Aaron thing to do. I came into where the Gym used to be. I could see him at the far end of the area standing triumphantly over a very deceased soda machine. He saw me as I enter the area, and started shouting some nonsense about being the boss while blowing the whistle even harder. I didn;t want to shout and raise even more alarm, so I made faces and waved my arms, made decapitating motions and shhhh faces. It only seemed to make him think I was playing along. Did I mention that he's a pain in the ass? By the time I navigated the rubble and got into earshot, he had busied himself rummaging in the debris.

" You little bastard! Stop with the freakin whislte already! You trying to get mugged?! Stupid little kid! C'mon, we're leaving! NOW!"

He made the standard "not my mom" remark, but he did start toward me.

" C'mon, Aaron. Patrick says he's leaving with or with out us. We have to hurry!"
fweeeet!
I slapped him in the back of his dirty little head.

God, I want a bath. A nice hot bath. I don;t even have to have soap. I just want to relax and soak. Maybe in Colorado. I'll have to ask Pat if he has a nice big tub waiting for us.

Loading each others stretched out shirts with cans of soda, we began to head back to the garage. About a third of the way across, I twisted my ankle. I can walk, but it is very sore. I'll have to be more careful. There are no doctors anymore. A broken leg would probably get me abandoned.

When we got back, They were all waiting to go. I noticed a flicker of rage pass across Skye's face as she watched Aaron do his soda dance for Patrick. Drinks were important. He had done well finding a machine that had not been raped already. The angry look had faded by the time Skye turned to me and offered to help me pack up our bedrolls.

Skye is a little bit of a kiss ass, which is kind of strange because she's older than me. She's nice, though. And gorgeous. I hope I fillout like that. I still feel like a girl. She's a woman. a little scattered, maybe...or it could just be an act. She seems to look to me for direction a lot. She must have been very dependant on "mum". She talks a lot about her. I guess some people just have submissive personalities. Not me. I'm a leader. I still miss MY mom, though.

I don't know if Patrick is a leader...he seems uncomfortable with it, but he does seem to be the one making the decisions. Patrick is a little paranoid. He says he has good reason. Says some bandits took his first backpack, and knocked him down in the middle of the street in broad daylight.

People stuck together in little groups nowadays. It was the only way to appear strong enough to defend yourself.