Christmas On Hart Street

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

~Nolan~

       "Mom, I already told you, we're fine," Ryder said as he was video-chatting with Mom on his phone. "We're all safe. We're just not allowed to leave the school until we're given the all clear. Can I hang up now? I'm wasting my data."

       "I just want to see my babies to make sure they're all okay," Mom said on the other line.

       Ryder sighed, knowing Mom would just call back if he hung up on her. He flipped the phone around to show Orchid, who was sitting with Atticus. "There's Orchid. She's okay. Orchid, say hi to Mom so she can stop freaking out."

       Orchid looked at Ryder's phone. "Mom, help me. I'm stuck in this school and I don't know what to do."

       Ryder glared at Orchid. "Don't freak her out like that." Ryder turned the phone back to him. "She's fine. We're all fine."

       "I still need to see my other babies," Mom said.

       "Well, I'm not showing you Alan because he doesn't understand the concept of not showing PDA," Ryder said.

       Alan, for once, wasn't making out with Brandon. They were simply playing a game of cards that Brandon had in his locker.

       "Mom, he's lying!" Alan called. "I'm playing cards! I'm a good boy! Ryder, let me see Mom."

       Ryder groaned, showing his phone to Alan so Mom could see him. "I just want to hang up."

       "I will ground you, Ryder," Mom said. "You're lucky your dad is at work right now, otherwise he would ground you too."

       "Mom, Ryder is being mean," Alan said. "Ground him."

       "Go away, Alan," Ryder said.

       "Let me see my mini-me now," Mom said, show Ryder showed the phone to me, where I was currently lying in the sleeping bag, with Jerome sitting in it so my head was resting on his lap. "So that's why you wanted to bring a sleeping bag and mat to school."

       "Pretty smart, right?" I asked. "Now I'm all warm and comfy while everyone else has to suffer."

       "Yeah, it's getting pretty cold in here," Ryder said. "A bunch of us are planning on raiding the dance and theatre costumes soon."

       "That's illegal," Jerome said. "I'm going to tell Mrs. Goth."

       "Says the one who wanted to raid the cafeteria," Ryder said.

       "Yes, before I found out that my wonderful boyfriend brought a bunch of food because he was prepared for the snowstorm," Jerome said.

       Ryder glared at Jerome before turning his phone back to him. "Mom, can I hang up now that you know everyone is okay?"

       "Fine, but I expect hourly text updates," Mom said. "And if something happens to Nolan, please, let me know right away."

       "Uh, what about if something happens to us?" Alan asked. "I'm insulted. Does she not care about us?"

       "Alan said you don't care about the rest of us if you're only concerned about Nolan," Ryder said.

       Mom sighed. "I meant medically wise. You know, panic attacks, nausea, anything like that."

       "Jerome said he'll let you know," Ryder said.

       "I didn't say anything, but I totally will let her know," Jerome said, since he was going to be spending probably all of the time stuck at the school with me.