snowed in | grayson dolan

13

i shoot up from my bed, small beads of sweat forming on my forehead.

it was just a dream, i say to myself, as i try to calm my breathing. school shootings were always the worst of my nightmares, and i don't have them often, but when they do occur, they're intense.

i look over to grayson, who was staring at me closely, and i reach over to him.

"are you okay? you were tossing and turning a lot" he asks, pulling me back down close to him.

"i'm fine, just a bad dream" i say, and he hums.

"i've got you, don't worry" he assures me, and gently rubs circles on my back, before a fall asleep, for what feels like the tenth time that night.

-

"pancakes anyone?" josh asks chirpily, and everyone rushes over.

"jeez, you're all pigs aren't you" peter teases, and we glare at him. "whaaaat!"

"anymore updates on the snow?" i ask, and ethan pulls out his phone.

"nah, still pretty icy, i would still wait for the ice to melt" ethan says, and i groan.

"i'm gonna go text my mom, and tell her that i'm alive" i say, and i walk into the classroom where out detention was held the night before.

my phone was in my bag, because we were all sharing one charger, so i couldn't have it for long.

"hey, sweetie, how was your night?" she asks, and i smile at the familiarity of her voice.

"fine, i had someone keep me company in the night"

"alyssa?"

"no, a boy" i grin, as i wait for her reaction. my mom and i always share everything, whether it's the gossip in school, or me pouring my heart out to her about some stupid boy.

"oooooh! well, i hope you had protection"

"mom, we didn't have sex! but we kissed. once" i add on.

"aha! knew it" she says, and i can practically see her grinning like a mad woman through the phone.

"anyway, just calling to let that you know i'm fine" i say.

"thanks for letting me know, hopefully i'll see you at home in a bit"

"bye, love you"