Jingle Bells and Parallels

8. Jerome

Chapter 8

~Jerome~

       "Are you sure you don't want to help us take down Santa Claus?" I asked Nolan, who was peacefully reading a book as he cuddled up next to me. "We could use your brains."

       Nolan snorted. "Taking down Santa Claus? If any of my family members overheard you say that, they would be so concerned for you."

       "I think everyone's concerned for me anyway," I said. "So is that a yes or a no to taking down Santa?"

       "It's a no. I really don't want to get involved with... Whatever it is that's happening," Nolan said. "And if Santa really does some sort of heist at the mall, wouldn't it just be the best to tell the police."

       "You think they'll believe a bunch of teenagers?" I asked. "What are we going to say to the police? 'Hey, Santa Claus staged a heist at the mall. Arrest him.' And we don't really have any proof. That's what we're working on right now."

       "Well, good luck," Nolan said.

       "You're really not going to help?" I asked.

       "I'd rather spend my winter break reading books, writing, and eating a bunch of food," Nolan said. 

       "What about me?" I asked. "Is spending time with me not one of the things you'd rather do?"

       Nolan actually looked like he was contemplating the answer. "Well... I mean... You're my... Fifth priority," he said.

       "Fifth?" I asked. "Fifth? But... You only listed three things before that. What's the fourth thing that's more important than me?"

       "Sleeping," Nolan said. "I love sleeping."

       "Good to know," I muttered, turning my attention away from him and looking at my phone. 

       "I'm kidding," Nolan said.

       "Uh huh."

       If I looked at Nolan, I probably would have seen that he was frowning right now. So I was probably a horrible boyfriend for still ignoring him just to bug him but I couldn't help it. Part of my personality was to pester people.

       "Fine, I guess we're just breaking up then," Nolan said.

       I looked at him. "I'm sorry,what?"

       Nolan smiled. "I got you to look at me."

       I rolled my eyes but I couldn't help but smile. "You're unbelievable." I pulled him in for a lingering kiss. When we pulled away, I gently stroked his cheek with my thumb. "I love you, Nolan."

       Nolan smiled. "I love you, too."

       I gave Nolan another kiss before he went back to snuggling into me to continue reading his book.

       When I had to choose between getting back together with Brandon or giving Nolan a chance, I was worried that no matter who I choose, I would partially regret it later on, always wondering 'what if I chose the other'?

       I never, not even once, regretted choosing Nolan or thought what it would be like if I chose Brandon.

       Well, I did think about it.

       And I came up with the conclusion that if I chose Brandon, I wouldn't be as happy as I was now. 

       Nolan was my best friend. He had been since the moment we met. We rarely argued and even when we did, we were quick to resolve it. We both put each other's needs in front of our own. I couldn't see myself being unhappy with this amazing person.

       Which, honestly, was making me feel a bit stressed for Christmas. I still haven't been able to find a second gift for him and I definitely wasn't going to buy him something just Secret Santa.

       Worst case scenario, I use the present I already bought as my boyfriend present and just buy Nolan a bunch of food for his food stash. I really didn't want to do that though so I was still trying to think of another present to buy him.

       That was what I was trying to look up on my phone right now.

       "Dad, come on," Alan said as he and Orchid followed Grayson out of the kitchen and into the living room. "You're our dad. You should help us."

       Grayson sighed. "Alan, I am not giving you duct tape, robe, and a pocket knife so you can ambush Santa Claus and stop his evil plan."

       That wasn't something you heard every day.

       "I'm not saying we need it now," Alan said. "Possibly in the next few days. Orchid and I have to investigate still to see if Santa went through with his plan yet."

       "Why can't I just have one sane kid?" Grayson asked. "That's all I want."

       "Uh, I exist," Nolan said. "I thought I was the sane child in this family."

       "Well, that depends," Grayson said. "Are you feeding into your brother and sister's insane idea that Santa Claus is an evil mastermind planning some kind of heist?"

       "What exactly do you mean by feeding into their idea?" Nolan asked.

       "Are you plotting with them to stop Santa Claus?" Grayson asked.

       "Nope," Nolan said. "I'm staying out of it. I'd rather not get mixed up in all of that."

       "Wait, you were being serious when you said that?" Orchid asked.  "Come on, we need your brain for this mission."

       "His brain is the reason why he's not helping you two out," Grayson said. "He's being smart about this. If you, by chance, are right with Santa, I don't want you two get involved with it. It could be a legal issue so you need to let the officials handle it."

       Once Grayson walked off and was out of earshot, Orchid said, "He didn't specify what kind of officials. Official what? Official police? Official troublemakers?"

       "I think we meant official troublemakers," Alan said. "Ooh, and we just so happen to be two troublemakers."

       "I don't think that's what we meant when he said officials," I said.

       "But that's what we understood from it," Alan said. "So we're not going to stop with this investigation. We need to actually find out when Santa is planning the heist."

       "What if he already did the heist?" I asked. "But he was so thorough with it that nobody has noticed yet."

       "Who wouldn't notice a heist?" Nolan asked. "That would mean a lot of things were stolen. How could people not notice that?"

       I shrugged as Alan said, "It's a possibility, though."

       "How is it a possi--" Nolan began but was cut off by Alan who started talking to Orchid.

       "I have work again today," he said. "I'll try snooping around and eavesdropping to see if anyone else at the North Pole is involved with the heist."

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oof it's december in less than two hours so i really need to start spamming this woo. and starting next chapter, we finally get one of the dialogue previews. but they won't be in every single chapter after that. they will still be spread out because of the pov order.

anyway jerlan is still my number one otp and will never be replaced thank you for coming to my ted talk