Nick yawned. First watch was not a bad thing. At least it didn't disrupt the lack of sleep pattern they had. He looked at the clock on the wall, which was still keeping time, and looked back at the door. Ten minutes. Then he could sleep. All he had to do was switch with Ellis.
He stood up, stretched his arms above his head and walked over to Ellis. He could start five minutes early.
"Ellis" he touched the kids shoulder.
"Mmm?" he rolled over, facing the back of the lounge and started snoring softly.
Nick's brows furrowed, threatening to meet. "Ellis" he said more sternly.
"Five more minutes."
"No, now."
"Night."
"I want to go to bed, so you do your damn job."
"Mmm…"
Nick pulled Ellis into a seated position.
Ellis opened his eyes. "Go away."
"Ellis-"
"I wanna sleep. So tired."
He sighed. "Come on kid, you can do this."
"Yeah…" he yawned and licked his top lip. "Go on to bed then."
"Thanks." Nick looked around and glanced at the clock. It was now five minutes past his watch. Damn Ellis.
Ellis stumbled over to the table near the door and sat down.
Nick walked to the room he had loudly and somewhat obnoxiously claimed as his own. His eyelids were heavy and his feet dragged. He opened the door, kicked his shoes off and climbed into bed without a second thought.
"Who's there?"
"Mm..?" Nick froze.
"Ellis, is that you boy?"
Well shit.
He rolled over at the same time as Coach did so they were facing each other.
How the hell did he not notice Coach in here? Shit he must have been tired.
"Nicolas? Is this a sick joke?"
"What? This is my bed. I claimed it!"
"I ain't sleepin' on the lounge. Too old for that shit."
"Hey! I'm getting there!"
"Get out Nicolas before I beatcho ass!"
"Goddammit." He walked out of the room feeling ridiculously disappointed in the lackof safe house bedding, to see Rochelle peering out of her room and chuckling.
He frowned.
He walked out to the lounge Ellis had been lying on and lay down.
"Hey man, thought you'd be back out soon."
"Shut up Ellis."
"Okay. Just one question. Did you two snuggle for a sec?"
"Fuck off." He knew the hick would never let him live this down. He lay down and tried to get comfy on the old, sinking sofa.
He could still hear Ellis chuckling.
This was not how he wanted to spend his six hours of sleep.