A/N - This chapter is written kind of funny, so please bear with me. It's meant to be like the whole first bit up to the verb tense change was written when the verb tense change was "now". I'm hoping that it makes some sense... I actually did handwrite it, much like Warblerland Mansion dwelling me did. Although my version is on looseleaf.

Ten: Schooltime Sobbing and Reading 27.2

This morning was not a fun experience. Not that any of us particularly enjoy being awoken at 6:30am to prepare for school on a normal day, but you'd think that on a day like today Mama could write us a collective note requesting that we be admitted late. The schools would probably accept it. Alas, we were actually woken up a bit earlier than usual because everyone had to go up to their rooms before they could get dressed or grab their backpacks. Stupid extra step. It robbed me of 15 minutes of extra sleep!

I found my backpack, put on my coat, picked up Jerry – who I'd dropped on the bed while looking for my backpack (IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE CLOSET. WHY WAS MY BACKPACK IN THE FREAKING CLOSET? THAT IS NOT WHERE MY BACKPACK GOES) – and walked to the bus that awaited us outside.

I can't honestly say I paid much attention this morning. Jerry sat in my lap during class and I coloured in Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet.

During 3rd period (my free period/study hall), I sat in the back of the library with Syaz and tried to keep her from crying too much. I failed miserably. We ended up just sitting there, clinging to each other (and our teddy bears) and sobbing until the bell rang.

In an effort to keep our emotions under control, Sydney and I sat with people from the PJO fandom at lunch. We ended up in the middle of a bit Percabeth vs Percico vs Thalico debate, so I was pretty happy. I like a good argument.

I almost collided with Maria, another Daltonite with whom I often flail over NCIS, in the hallway before my 7th period Brit Lit class. I'm a little … distracted, you might say. I barely paid attention to the discussion on tomorrow's sonnet project – I wrote mine last weekend anyway – and just played with the hood of Jerry's "I heart NY" sweatshirt instead.

Now I'm in math class. We have a substitute teacher and I'm incredibly bored. Nobody really understands the work and the sub doesn't understand why 3 people in the class have teddy bears or other stuffed animals or why another two have boxes of tissues.

We think she's new in town.

After math, I run to my locker to put away anything I won't pretend to need for the night. I meet Gracey by the front door. We're missing rehearsal again, but the director will understand. She's used to this by now. We get on the bus with a bunch of other Daltonites. I continue squishing Jerry like I have been all day. When we walk in the door to Warblerland Mansion, we smell cookies baking again. Gracey, who is slightly less distressed by all of this than I am, pats me on the head and walks up to our room. I have a Jules-free Blame the Squid Club meeting to attend. As I walk to the Library, today's meeting place, I overhear Carley and Cassidy worrying about Reed and expressing frustration over their canceled plans with him.

Oh, did I mention? The characters are all confined to their wing again.

The Blame the Squid Club spends the rest of the afternoon fretting over our dear Julian. Normal our meetings are at least semi-coherent (more than that if Jules is actually around). Today, more than half of the "conversation" is just babbling.

I have actually spent most of today not speaking – just listening to what was going on around me. Other than at lunch – during which Sydney and I fiercely defended Percico – I've mostly only talked to Jerry. Now I know that sounds odd (I mean… he's a teddy bear…) but I always talk to him! He's not just any teddy bear – he's my teddy bear! Don't judge me.

Anyway, there's two reasons for my silence. The first is worry – living in Fictionville means that the characters are not just characters for us. They are our friends. They're real. We see them every day. The idea of losing one of them… I can't think about it. The other reason is the fire. The idea of it is terrifying to me. Big building fires like that – especially one in which people I've grown fond of/attached to are trapped – are literally the stuff of my nightmares.

"Guys, I think it's almost dinnertime," I say, speaking to a person for the first time in hours.

"Right," Julia responds.

In the dining hall, I sit between Danny and Katherine. I don't really feel like eating much, but I nibble at my sandwich anyway.

Not long after that, we return to our squishy sleeping bags in the Great Hall and Mama begins to tell us what happened next.

I'll do my best to do a reaction recap this time.

Basically the whole time, I sobbed.

When Evan was insisting that Ethan should jump, and then later when he did and Ethan was signing to Audee, I clung to Gracey and sobbed even harder.

By the time Dwight was on his own and heard Alan (again), I was crying so hard I couldn't even make a sound anymore.

And Julian… Well, I suppose you're lucky you're reading a typed version of this, because at this point the tears have made the page nearly illegible.

As I write, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up to see Mama CP. "What are you writing?" she asks me.

I show her the cover of the composition book, which says The Story Time Chronicles. "I'm writing about life in Warblerland Mansion. It's how I deal with chapters like this one."

"Clever," Mama replies. "Does that mean you don't want your hug and extra cookie tonight?"

"Definitely not! How could you suggest that, Mommy CP?" I answer. She smiles and hugs me. "Thanks, Mama." Then she hands me another cookie (I already have two sitting on a napkin) and continues her trip around the room.

I curl up with Jerry inside my sleeping bag, thinking, I'll write some more tomorrow.

A/N - I really hope you liked it and the switchyness wasn't too confusing. Fun fact: I actually do have a teddy bear named Jerry. I made him at Build-a-Bear when I was in New York. I was with Sydney (THIS Sydney) and it was really really great! I hope my Jerry related anecdote lightened your Dalton-depressed moods.