Mike
Munroe Household
17:34
"Turn in here," Mike said.
Sam pulled into the driveway of a small house and parked Mike's truck in the driveway. As soon as they exited the vehicle, a petite, older woman with brown hair ran up and bear hugged Mike. Mike put his arms around her.
"Michael! Oh my God!" She pulled away from him. And put her hand on his cheek, surveying his facial wounds. "Oh my God. Oh my God. What happened to you? Oh I should've come to the hospital. You told me everything was fine. This is not fine."
"Mom, it's okay. I'm fine. There's no need to worry," Mike said.
She kept checking him for wounds, and stopped at his left hand. "Michael! Oh my God! Why didn't you tell me? What happened?"
He jerked his hand away from her. "Mom, it's okay. Everything's fine. It doesn't even hurt anymore."
"It's not fine, Michael! You lost your fingers!" his mother said. "How did this happened?"
"It's my fault. I was being stupid," Mike said.
His mom furrowed her brow.
"Mom, this is my friend Sam," Mike said. Sam stepped forward.
"Mrs. Munroe," she greeted.
"She going to stay in the guest room until her parents get back. They're out of town," he said.
"Really, I can go home. It's not a big deal. My parents will be home on Wednesday. I'm sure there's an extra key somewhere," Sam said.
"Any friend of Michael's is welcome here," his mom said. She touched Sam's arm lightly. "Are you doing okay?"
Sam lips stretched thin in an attempt to smile. "I'm doing okay. Ya know, under the circumstances."
"Well, if you need anything, I'm here, okay?" She smiled lightly. "Come in, both of you. The boys are inside."
"Prepare yourself," Mike murmured to Sam as they walked in the house.
Sam didn't know what he meant at first. Inside was a cozy living room with two boys sitting on the couch talking.
"Hey! Mike!" the older one said.
He looked a lot like Mike, except taller with a military buzz cut. He slapped Mike on the back and then hugged him.
"Donavan?" Mike laughed. "I thought you were gone until the end of May?"
"Well, when your baby bro makes the news it warrants a day off," Will laughed.
"Mom won't tell us anything," the other boy said. He was still planted on the couch. He looked only a few years younger than Mike with long hair and a scowl on his face.
"Not much to tell," Mike said. He looked over at Sam. Sam nodded. He didn't want to scare his family; Sam understood that. "This is my friend Sam. She's going to stay with us for a few days."
"Nice to meet you, Sam," Donovan said with a wink. Sam couldn't help but smile a bit.
"Is it true? What they say on the news?" the boy on the couch asked. "There was a maniac on the mountain trying to kill you all."
"Sean, shut it. You'll upset Mom," Mike said.
"What happen to your hand?" Sean asked, pointing to his bandage.
"Sean. Stop," Donavan warned. "He doesn't wanna talk about it."
"Whatever."
"Respect your elders," Donavan said. He smacked Sean upside the head, playfully, but hard enough to make a point.
"Dinner's ready!" his mom called from the other room.
Sam
Guest Room
23:47
Sam couldn't bring herself to turn off the lights. She had gotten up to turn off the lights three times, but retreat back into her bed every time without going through with it.
Mike's family had been so accommodating. His mother had even put fresh sheets on the bed.
She got up a final time, pacing back and forth. "Shit, Sam. Get yourself together." She didn't turn off the lights. Instead she looked at the knick knacks on the bed side table.
There was a picture of a younger Mike and Donavan and Sean. Maybe ten and fifteen and six respectively. They were all smiling widely. Mike was in the middle with his arms slung around the other two. She picked up the frame, smiling at the picture.
"Cute, huh?" a voice behind her said. It made her jump.
"Jesus, Mike. You scared me," she said turning around. Mike was standing in the doorway wearing a white tank top and plaid pajama pants.
"Sorry. I couldn't sleep."
"Me either," she said, setting down the photos. "I didn't know you had brothers."
Mike chuckled. "Yeah, they can be a little much. Ever since Donavan enlisted we only see him once or twice a year. He has to leave in the morning."
"You seem close," Sam said.
"We are. Sean's not a bad guy either. He's… complicated. Used to be a lot more fun to be around," Mike said.
"I always wanted siblings," she said. She laid down in the bed, facing away from Mike. "Sit down," she said patting the bed. He did. "The Washingtons were kind of my pseudo family. But…"
Mike laid down beside Sam. They were about six inches from each other. For a while, they just laid there without speaking. There was no sound, but the snow falling outside. Mike facing the ceiling, and Sam with her back turned to him.
"Mike?" Sam asked.
"Yeah?"
"Stay with me would you? Just until dawn."
"Until dawn," he repeated.
Mike
Guest Room
5:34
Sam was still asleep. At some point in the night, she had curled up into a little ball behind Mike. Her head touching his shoulder; her knees touching the small of his back.
There was a quiet knock at the door. Mike slowly got up, careful not to disturb Sam. On his way to the door, Mike flipped off the light switch. With the morning light shining through the windows, the lights didn't need to be on. He opened the door and carefully stepped out.
"I figured you'd be in here," Donavan said, smirking. He was in full uniform. Even though he had been a military man for over a year now, it was still weird to see him like this.
"Are you leaving?" Mike asked.
"Unfortunately, yes. I gotta be back by midday."
"Well, it was good having you here."
"Michael, can you stop?" Donavan said.
"Stop what?"
"Faking it. Listen, I don't know what happen to you two up in that mountain, but it must've been pretty damn bad. I've never seen you like this," Donavan said. "You two look like you just came out of a warzone."
"I don't know what you want me to say. You'll never believe the truth," Mike said.
"Then talk to someone that does believe you." Donavan jutted his chin in the direction of the bedroom where Sam was sleeping.
