------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 2
Sawyer was up at noon, his usual time. He staggered to the kitchen, surprisingly without a hangover but still exhausted, more so from what he had seen on TV that night than what he did yesterday. He was thinking about it again this morning, but this time with a clear head. Does it even matter that she was released? It had been too long; no doubt she's been through a lot these past four years. The last thing she'd be thinking about is that damn island. Besides, out of everyone there, Sawyer wasn't exactly her favorite person. That was pretty clear. However, there were times that had him questioning this. When you genuinely don't like someone, you stay away. Hell, that's why he was alone most of the time. Yet sometimes, when she could have easily told him to go away, she didn't. In the beginning, it was just for kicks. There was something about her he couldn't leave well enough alone. As time went on, however, it became something else. Something he tried to figure out for the rest of the time he was there. To this day, he was still confused. Shit, this needs to stop. That woman ain't nothing but been poison in your mind. Nothin' happened, nothin' ever will happen. Sawyer knew this was true; maybe it was time to forget all about it.
------------------------------------------------
That afternoon, Sawyer was making his way to the liquor store when he heard someone calling out his name. He stopped and looked around, not recognizing anyone. He continued walking when he heard it again.
"Hey, Sawyer!" It was definitely a man's voice, and very familiar. Sawyer looked around one more time until he noticed a black man with a kid at his side heading towards him.
"Well isn't this somethin, Mike the mariner and little junior." Sawyer smiled sarcastically at the now teenage Walt, who along with already possessing the indifferent attitude of a 14 year old, also managed to grow about 5 inches. Sawyer turned back to Michael. "I thought ya'll were back in New York?"
"Yeah, well, we were for awhile. Things didn't really.. work out." He shot a quick glance at Walt who was now occupied with his headphones. "Anyway, I got commissioned to do some murals around here. Guess when they realized who I was, they thought it would be good publicity, you know?"
"Well, at least one of us got something good outta all this madness, only ones callin' me up were people I owed money to. Guess they were thinking I found some buried treasure shit on that island or something. That's what I get for doing business with morons."
Michael chucked a little. They stood there in silence for what seemed like forever. Finally Sawyer spoke up.
"Looks like the kid wants to head on out, and I gotta take care of something so I better.."
"Wait, I have something for you." Michael reached into the messenger bag that he had draped across his chest and pulled out an envelope. It was a light yellow color. "It's a wedding invitation."
Sawyer wanted to smile, considering his past.. activities, he saw it as ironic that he was being invited to a wedding. He didn't show it, though. "I know we had our special time on the raft, captain, but I didn't think I'd be on your list of people to share your special day." He said mockingly as he stared at Michael's face, knowing he was right.
"My fiancée.. it was her idea. She knows the story, obviously, and I guess she wanted to put faces to the names. You don't have to go to the wedding, just the reception is fine." Suddenly, there was a look of amusement on Michael's face. "It's open bar."
Sawyer looked at him and grinned. "Well Mikey, you finally said the magic words."