A/N: Another short chapter. But it's chapter 20! Thank you all so much for reading and, hopefully, liking this story as it's developed into what it is now. :)

that being said, I start school again tomorrow(noooooo) so updates may get a bit shaky. I'll do my best.

Thanks to Bloodylilcorpse and the guest for reviewing the last chapter.

Enjoy!

The following weeks were a combination of work, insults, and little hope at all, really. Mike was kept busy with the housework yet rarely saw his elusive stepfather.

Mike was aware his pay from the play would come in soon. He hoped to buy something to wear to Zoey and Duncan's wedding with some of it. If he was allowed to go. He had yet to have enough time to ask Noah.

As his luck, if you could call it that, would have it, Noah was lingering in the living room one afternoon while Mike was cleaning off some of the tables in there. Noah was leafing through some official looking papers and shaking his head. He looked almost angry.

Mike looked up for a moment and the two of them made brief eye contact. "Um, sir, may I ask you about something?" he spoke up as he looked away again.

"Look at me when you speak to me, servant. And fine, what do you want, as if I will actually care?" Noah crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

"Two of my friends are getting married in about a week. Would you let me go? It won't cost you anything, I'm getting my check from the production soon-"

"Oh, you mean this?" Noah held up an envelope, addressed to Mike with the company seal on it.

Mike stared. Noah had taken his money out of the mail and didn't tell him? "Yes, that."

"I'm not really sorry, servant. But your money is my money, and I will do whatever I choose with it. You belong to me."

"What do you need it for?"

"That is none of your business." Noah was lying. Mike could tell. "Don't speak of it again. Get back to work, and I might let you walk there in your filthy rags." He left the room swiftly.

Noah hadn't said no. He hadn't answered the question at all. He'd just turned the conversation on its head to insult Mike and take his belongings.

Mike made a decision: He was going to the wedding. He didn't know what he would wear, or how he'd get there, but he'd find a way.

As luck would have it, he ran into Brick while he was in town to get some more food later that same day. He didn't like Brick to see him this way, still in tattered clothes since he'd not been allowed to change before heading out.

"Of course I can make you something for the wedding, Mike. That's what comrades do for each other." Brick gave him a quick salute.

"I can't pay you. My stepfather took my money from the show." Mike sighed.

"Now, that's just criminal. You earned that money with your hard work. You ought to tell somebody." Brick added, "and besides, I'd never accept money from a friend.

Mike nodded. "Thank you, Brick."

"Anytime, soldier." Brick saluted him again

Mike saluted back before heading back home. He'd already bought what he'd needed to.

Please review! And see you(hopefully) next Monday!