Mrs. Faulkner pulled into the driveway as the boys tumbled out of the car, backpacks slung over their shoulders. Jordan moved slower, his injured leg making it harder to keep up, but he waved off any offers of help.
Once inside, Evan kicked off his shoes and ran straight for the kitchen, talking a mile a minute about his afternoon.
"Noah and I built the *biggest* tower everâMiss Rachel even took a picture of it! And we played freeze tag, but then Logan fell, and we had to take a break. Oh! And Noah said maybe I can stay over at his place next time!"
Mrs. Faulkner smiled as she set her purse down. "That sounds like a fun day, bud."
Evan nodded enthusiastically before grabbing a juice box from the fridge and hopping onto a stool.
Meanwhile, Jordan eased onto the couch with a sigh, shifting his leg into a comfortable position. Tyler flopped down beside him, already pulling out his phone.
"How was school?" Mrs. Faulkner asked, glancing between the two older boys.
"Same as always," Tyler muttered.
Jordan hesitated. "Yeah⦠just the usual stuff. I still can't believe Mike was kicked off the team for his stunt that got me here."
Mrs. Faulkner studied him for a moment but decided not to press. "Alright, for now, no more worrying about school. Youâre home. Youâre safe. Letâs focus on dinner."
Jordan and Tyler exchanged a look but didnât argue.
For now, theyâd drop it.
---
Later that evening, as the boys finished up their homework, the phone rang. Mrs. Faulkner answered, listening intently before nodding.
"That was Coach Bryant," she said as she hung up. "He wanted to check in on you, Jordan. He also mentioned there might be a meeting with Principal Watkins soon to address everything thatâs happened."
Jordan exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Just what I needed."
"Look at it this way," Tyler said, smirking. "Maybe theyâll finally do something that keeps Mike from messing with you again."
Mrs. Faulkner sighed. "One step at a time, boys. For now, letâs get through the night without worrying about tomorrow."
Evan, who had been quietly coloring at the table, suddenly looked up. "Can we watch a movie before bed?"
Mrs. Faulkner chuckled. "Alright, but just one. Pick something that everyone agrees on."
Immediately, the room erupted in debate. Jake and Alex wanted to watch a superhero movie, Evan pushed for an action film, and Jordan insisted on horror. Meanwhile, Tyler, who had slipped into baby mode again, lobbied for a kiddie movie with cartoon animals.
"Oh, come on," Jordan groaned. "I get enough of that stuff when Tyler goes full baby-brain."
"But I wanna watch it!" Tyler pouted, his voice taking on a more childish tone.
Mrs. Faulkner held up a hand before the argument escalated. "Enough, boys. How about we pick something that has a little bit of everything? An action-packed superhero movie with some comedy in it."
Jake and Alex exchanged a glance, then nodded. "Fine by us."
Evan sighed. "As long as there are explosions, I guess that works."
Jordan leaned back, arms crossed. "Not horror, but Iâll deal."
Tyler grinned, happy just to be included.
As the opening credits rolled, the tension in the room faded. The title card flashed across the screen: *Last Action Hero*.
Jake and Alex cooed as they sucked their thumbs and snuggled with Mrs. Faulkner. Tyler cooed as he sucked his thumb and rested his head on Jordan's lap. Evan sat alone, slightly distracted from the movie by the other boys.
For now, everything felt normal. And that was enough.
Tomorrow would come soon enough. But tonight, they could just be a family.
As the credits rolled, Mrs. Faulkner stretched and stood up. "Alright, time for diaper checks and bed, boys."
Jake and Alex whimpered but obediently got up, while Tyler, still deep in baby mode, giggled and nuzzled into Jordan. Evan sighed and started making his way upstairs.
"Where do you think youâre going, Evan?" Mrs. Faulkner called out. "Youâre still recovering. Your body doesnât just heal in two days. Diaper checks include you too."
Evan groaned but turned back around, knowing there was no use arguing.
Mrs. Faulkner went through the checks. Jake and Alex had wet their diapers, while Tyler and Evan had pooped.
She took her time cleaning and changing each of them, ensuring they were comfortable before tucking them into bed. After placing fresh diapers on all the boys, she kissed each of their foreheads good night.
"Sleep well, boys."
With that, she turned off the light, closing the door softly behind her.