Rachel

*Previous chapter continued*

I hear Nina contemplate between choosing to pick up the call from her dad or turn off the phone and pretend the power went down. The ringing sound gets on her nerves and she finally answers the phone and puts it on speaker. Before saying anything she mouths to me, "Jump in if I tell you to."

"Hey Dad", she says unenthusiastically.

"Nina! My God! You scared me. I thought you were walking home after school. Are you okay? Where are you?", he sounds relieved and worried at the same time.

"Oh, yeah sorry about that. I decided to go to Rachel's house with Alex and her. I'm still there. Want me to get Rachel on the phone?", Nina says.
I make a cross with my arms to tell her I really don't want to talk to him, especially after the whole 'therapy awkwardness'.

"No that won't be necessary. I'm glad you're safe, although I do wish you would be more careful in informing me about your whereabouts.", He is attempting to sound stern but I can hear his voice going soft for his daughter.

"Yeah whatever Dad. I'll do it next time."

"Good. What time are you going to be back home? I'll make dinner"

"Uh just gimme a minute.", Nina says as she puts her phone on mute.
"How long do I have to stall for Naomi?", I ask
"Could you maybe stay over for the night? I think it'll distract mom for just a bit.", I lie to her probably for the first time, all I actually need is a friend by my side to help me get through this mess. Maybe I also wanted to have an excuse not to confront mom.

Nina unmutes the call and says, "Can I stay over for the night?" 

"Nina.", He sighs. "I want you to be home sometime too. I never get to spend time with you because you're always doing something."

"I know Dad, Just this once, Okay? I promise."

"Fine. But please take care and I'll come to pick you by morning."

"Okay, Bye dad." She ends the call.

I realize what we've gotten ourselves into. 
"We literally just have tonight to make sure Mom doesn't notice Naomi's gone, we have to get in touch with Alex AND figure out how to explain things to Naomi's stepdad.", I practically scream at Rachel as soon as the call is ended. I usually don't react intensely but this situation is really putting the pressure on me. 

"I know Rachel, but we have to stay calm and figure stuff out one at a time.", Nina speaks to me how I usually explain things to her, and it's kind of helping.

"Okay.", I grab a sheet of paper and a pencil, and scribble out a mind map. That's what I do when life doesn't give me a map. I make one.

***

The end of the world plan

Hiding Naomi's Absence        Figuring out the rest of Alex' plan       Making something up to Naomi's stepdad 

***

"Okay, hiding Naomi's absence. We could do something stupid that distracts your Mom?", Nina says.

"Hmm, like a prank?", I ask

"Yeah, but that would work only for a few minutes. How about we say she is crying in the bathroom or something like that.", Nina suggests.

"Sounds about right. Mom gets uncomfortable around 'emotional situations' ", I agree with air quotes.

"But what about when her stepdad comes to get her?", Nina asks.

"hmm." We stay quiet for a couple of minutes thinking. Eventually I decide that's something we need to call Alex for.

"I'm calling Alex.", I say. Naomi picks ups his phone immediately.

"We're still on our way. Want me to put it on speaker?", she says and her voice trembles a bit.

"Yeah. I gotta talk to Alex."

"Okay its done now."

"Alex, do you know what we're going to do when her stepdad comes to get her? Cuz I sure as heck don't.", I sound frustrated and annoyed but it gets the point across.

"Rachel, calm down. Put me on the phone with him when that happens, He'll have to find out eventually and so will mom. All I want you to do is stall till the time I'm not available. I don't want you guys handling a potentially dangerous situation.", Alex says and Naomi says goodbye and disconnects.

Sometimes I truly wonder how Alex always has the right thing to say at the right time. What must truly bother him?