Free Becca by Jennie Taylor Page B

floor probably means none of the sick ones are sneaking in a window.
     
    “Does everyone feel okay with splitting up now?” I asked. They all nodded. “Well, we’ve got three bedrooms. I guess David, being the only boy, should probably have his own.”
    “I’ll share with you.” Amber said.
    “That’s really not going to happen.” Tasha told her.  
    “Tasha and I have shared a bedroom for a long time. We’re used to it, and we’re comfortable.” I explained.
    “Not to mention the fact that you want privacy while you’re doing it.” David said.
    “Hey!”
    “Then I want the bedroom down here.” Amber said.
    “No. We’ve been trying to figure out a way to put up and alarm or something so we don’t have to have a guard every night, but I still don’t think it’s safe for anyone to stay in the downstairs bedroom.”
    “This isn’t fair.”
    “I’m sorry. You can share with Bridget or with David.”
    “Whatever.”
     
    Well I’m glad that went well. What is her problem? She didn’t really think I was going to share a bedroom with her, did she? Or be irresponsible enough to let her stay down here alone.
     
    “Just put some bells on a string.” David said.
    “Huh?”
    “For your alarm. Stretch a string across the bottom of the stairs and put some bells on it.”
    “Why wouldn’t they just unhook the string or climb under it or over it?” Bridget asked.
    “Well I don’t think the sick ones are that smart.” he said.
    “Yeah, but what if it’s someone who’s not sick?”
    “Then either an alarm won’t do us any good or they’ll be smart enough to wait and shoot us through the window or something.”
    “He’s got a point.” Tasha said.
    “And we could put one of those bells up on the doors in case someone does try to come in.” Amber added.
    “That’s really good, you guys.” I told them. “I think we’ll do it.”
     
    We spent the day setting up our rooms and moving things around. We tried to do whatever we could to make the rooms our own, so David took a picture of a giant deer from the downstairs and put it up in his room, Tasha and I went with the frilliest blankets in the house and some lace curtains that were in the downstairs bedroom, Bridget and Amber dragged an extra dresser up the stairs. And we rigged our bell system. I actually think it’ll work.
     
    For the first time in a week we were all going to try to go to sleep at the same time. It has me a little worried, but I know we can’t keep standing watch every night. It just wears us out too much.
     
    “This is different.” Tasha said. She lifted the covers and slid up against me.
    “We can drag another bed up here if you’d prefer.”  
    “No, this is okay. But Becca, I don’t want to do anything, ya know?”
    “I know.”
    “I don’t mean ever, just not now. Maybe not ever, but maybe some day.”
    “Tasha, I’m not ready, either. And I don’t want to push you into anything. If you don’t want to be my girlfriend I’ll survive. I’m in love with you, but I don’t want you to feel like you have to do anything. I want you to be happy. And if being with me doesn’t make you happy then we won’t do anything.”
    “You’re really insecure, you know that?” She laughed. “I’m just saying I’m not ready yet. I’m getting used to the idea of being with you, Becca. You’re like perfect for me, okay, I just want to take it slow.”
     
    I’m perfect for her. That’s what she said. She’s perfect for me, too. I’ve known it since third grade, so it’s no surprise to me. The fact that she thinks I’m perfect for her is.
     
    We laid there, holding hands, trying to get to sleep. It was so cool to just lay there with my girlfriend. But as I was drifting off I kept thinking of those women that were clearly being held as captives by the men.
     
    “I wish I could have saved them.” I mumbled.
    “Who?”
    “Those women a couple of days ago.”
    “You can’t save the world,