Mable: Here we are; here's the next chapter! ^-^ Not much to say, so I'll keep it brief. I hope you Enjoy!
Can't Go Home Again
Chapter Forty-Eight
Today was not a good day for things to be awkward. Not with the growing swarm of children that had decided to come into the pizzeria.
This was possibly a good sign, signaling that Foxy's had finally managed to get a foothold in society. Finally, profit would be high enough to add more necessities to the business. Though this was the last thing on Mike's mind as he kept an eye on the dining room. Both Foxy and Marionette had to be out and tending to children, but Marionette also had to continuously return to the Prize Corner.
More kids than ever needed to exchange their tickets for prizes, which somewhat forced the Puppet back into his box. Mike lingered outside of the prize area and watched him exchange toys and merchandise. He couldn't help but smile a little as he watched, feeling a sort of pride in how easily the animatronic did a job that a human might struggle with. He certainly was born to do this; it was good to know that his talent with children wasn't being wasted. He was free to do what he wanted and he chose to do this. He wasn't forced to perform by programming.
Marionette wasn't just a mindless animatronic. He was a living, existing being with thoughts, feelings, and dreams. He was just as capable of sentience as a human. Mike found himself focusing in on this, trying to force himself to acknowledge this. Of course, he already had, but the recent events had made him seek reassurance. It didn't stop him from lingering in the doorframe and keeping an eye on the animatronic. That was, until Fritz eventually did his rounds and stopped by Mike's post.
"Can you take over the kitchen for a couple of minutes?" He sounded like he needed a break and, slightly reluctantly, Mike agreed.
"Sure. Just keep an eye on the kids, okay? Natalie's got her hands full over in the arcade," Mike pointed out. "A couple of kids were trying to shove coins into the machines." Fritz briefly got a look of alarm before looking in that direction.
"That's a disaster waiting to happen. I'll take care of it," Fritz reassured. Mike wasn't sure how he intended to fix something like that and wasn't exactly willing to ask. Instead he gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Good luck," he quipped and then headed to the kitchen. Fritz headed off to assist Natalie, who was now having to physically go through the children's tokens before they used them, to make sure they didn't sneak any coins in. Mike stepped into the kitchen and was immediately hit by the heat wafting from the oven. It was uncomfortably stuffy and he unbuttoned his jacket. "Where am I needed?"
"Slice this? I can't get this thing to work." Jeremy stepped out of the way and handed him a pizza roller, then went to the fridge to take out a couple of cups of ice cream. "We're running out of chocolate."
"They're not going to care. Just start handing out the vanilla and don't stick around long enough to hear complaints," Mike suggested as he easily sliced through the pizza. "First thing we're getting with all this cash is a chef. We can't keep going on like this."
"I know. Even with the premade dough, we just can't cook these fast enough. Someone's always going to have to be in here," Jeremy agreed as he splayed out a few, colorful paper plates on the counter. "And someone's usually me. I'm not complaining, but I… I could be doing more than cooking." He then looked to his fellow security guard and studied his face. "…So, uh."
"So?" Mike questioned back, keeping his eyes on his work. It wasn't exactly difficult work, but he wanted to be as efficient as possible.
"So… How's things with Mari? Any better?" Jeremy asked in concern. Mike's reaction was immediate; he slowed his motions and suddenly was staring blankly at the counter. How was he supposed to answer that? It was as though, suddenly, Mike was unable to think of a good excuse of any kind. His mind all but blacked out as he desperately tried to cover himself.
"…Yeah, you know, it'll take time. We talked things through," Mike eventually forced out and continued working. "It's better. We've worked it out."
"That's good…" Jeremy spoke with clear hesitation in his voice. He obviously suspected something; he would have to be completely ignorant not to notice Mike's odd response time. The latter looked to the older male with his own questioning. "He was- He was pretty upset. The Magician and Daisy were really worried about it. I was worried about it… Did he… Did he say anything?"
Mike hoped that Jeremy only was guessing one side of the situation. He was fine with him thinking that Mike was stunned by Marionette's confession, but he couldn't figure out anything else. He couldn't know about anything that happened last night. It suddenly dawned on him that he never told Marionette not to tell anyone. It was very possible that Foxy could find out, which could in turn lead to a lot of excessive difficulty. Suddenly he knew that he would have to get into the Prize Corner and have a 'talk' before anyone 'happened' to find out.
"…You're spacing out," Jeremy pointed out.
"It's the pizza fumes," Mike excused as he started nudging the pizza plates closer. "Mind taking these out?"
"Oh, yeah, sure," Jeremy agreed and started to place the plates on the serving tray before heading out. Mike was relieved to get out of the conversation, but knew it wouldn't be long before it came back. Jeremy shortly returned to get more pizza slices, then ice cream, and Mike kept himself busy in the kitchen. It didn't distract him too well, but it somewhat kept him from being out in the open. Eventually Jeremy came in and began to start on a new pizza while Mike pulled out a cake to prepare for a coming party.
It was then when Fritz poked his head in. "Hey, there's a lady out here calling on you, Mike," he forewarned. Naturally, Mike assumed that he was being coy and it was Louise, and he inwardly cringed.
"Yeah, I'm on it." Mike headed to the door and stepped out. As soon as he was gone, and Fritz took his place to set the candles, Jeremy looked to him.
"Do you notice Mike is a little-?"
The door burst back open and Mike scrambled back inside, closing it behind him. Both of his coworkers looked over at his frantic entrance.
"What the hell was that?" Fritz asked with a quipped brow as Mike removed his hat and combed his hair with his fingers.
"My aunt's out there. How did she even find the place?" Mike couldn't help but feel cornered. The second he stepped out and noticed the woman he was struck nearly dead. She was just as he remembered; studious, put together, and scouring the pizzeria with a hawk-like gaze. Somehow, she figured out that he was here, and now was here to find him. "Which of you told her I was here?"
"I just did, but I never saw this woman before," Fritz explained as he wandered to the door and peered out. Surprisingly, the woman didn't notice Mike, even though he flailed his way back into the kitchen. "Do you usually act this kooky around your aunt?"
"Yes," Mike bluntly stated, "and it'll only get worse if we don't get her out of here before she finds me out." He looked over the two before looking directly at Jeremy. "Jere, go out there and say that I already left." Jeremy looked doubtful of this plan. The door started to open and Mike got a briefly exasperated look, thinking that she was letting herself in, only to see Natalie instead.
"We're going to need that cake. The birthday boy's mother is going to have to leave fifteen minutes early," Natalie announced to the group. Fritz took the liberty of finishing and lighting the candles.
"I've got it covered. I'll be right out there," he explained and Natalie smiled back.
"I'll flag down Foxy," she finished and stepped back out of the kitchen. Fritz hurried out after her and the door shut behind him. This left Mike and Jeremy alone in the kitchen.
"I should've expected this," Mike grimaced. "She's been calling me on and off for the last few days, so I should've known she wouldn't give up. Is it too much to ask to not have to deal with family?" Mike asked theoretically as he looked to the other guard. "Someone eventually has to get the hint."
"Oh, come on. You can't hate your aunt that much," Jeremy protested. "I'd give a lot to have my family still interested in my life."
"Bad blood?" Mike questioned in a loose, but interested way. He didn't want to pry, but he didn't really want to brush off the comment either. In all actuality, Mike didn't know Jeremy nearly as well as he knew Fritz. He knew him on a personality level and knew his quirks, but other than his alleged rap sheet, Mike knew nothing about what led Jeremy on the path to Freddy's.
"Not… Not really… It's more of a loss of touch thing," he admitted. Though Jeremy wasn't very sure that his own words were fully truthful.
"I've been trying to lose touch for years, and they're still dogging me," Mike continued to vent with a sigh. "…You don't have to be stuck in the kitchen. I'll be staying back here for a while."
"Really? Thanks. I could use a change of scene," Jeremy smiled as he attempted to return to his previously upbeat tone. He headed to the door. "If I see her, I won't tell her you're back here."
"Thanks." Then Mike was left alone. He hated being stuck in the back room, but he didn't have much of a choice. Reluctantly, he began to continue on kitchen duty.
Out in the dining hall, things were going much better for Marionette. The entire day was going perfectly, though he was possibly biased by a good mood. The events of the day before had certainly left the Puppet smiling, an actual smile and not just his normal fair. It was also wonderful to have the pizzeria overflowing with patrons. Even with the numerous adults, the many happy children were more than enough to make him feel fulfilled. There was little down time; he had to constantly keep moving and tending to the children.
Mike had vanished into the back somewhere, but he didn't have the time to check in on him. He assumed it was all fine. Besides, he agreed to not let it distract his work, and that included keeping track of Mike's location. He moved closer to Foxy as the animatronic moved away from the birthday party he was just at. Some of the children just got ice cream and he was not planning to stand in firing range. This seemed like a good time to briefly reconnect; hopefully quiet enough that the kids couldn't hear.
Though this wasn't just to talk. By now, Marionette suddenly had a bold idea, and he wondered if Foxy would be interested in it as much as he was. It would, in fact, be a big step. He moved as close as he could without tugging at his strings and the track awkwardly. "Foxy?" Foxy looked to him and leaned in so that he could hear him better. Marionette was quick with his decision, murmuring near Foxy's audio receptors and hoping for a reaction. Foxy's reaction was immediate.
Foxy gave him a pat on the back, which briefly sent him swinging, and turned to the stage. He quickly climbed on and strode past the curtain. The Puppet moved closer and watched the curtain, hoping that they wouldn't be interrupted before they could do this. Foxy returned with a tape deck dangling off his hook and a tape in the other. He crouched down and flashed the title scribbled on the tape. "Ya got this one?" Marionette nodded eagerly. "You sure about this? Yer pretty quiet around the kids, Marion." The striped one nodded again.
The captain fiddled to set the tape deck down and get the tape in it. This involved a little frustration that eventually was resolved with Marionette daring to reach out and hold the tape deck. It was closed and the play button was pressed. Before the music could even begin, Foxy got to his feet, standing on the stage to draw attention. Marionette rode his track back to the other side of the room, standing near the entrance to his Prize Corner. Foxy drew the room to attention.
"Boys and girls, it's time for the show!~" Foxy wasn't rusty in the slightest. He immediately broke into song and the children started to look over. "When ya want fun you know where to go.~" He couldn't remember the last time he heard Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica singing this song, but he remembered the words by heart. Foxy remembered every verse and every pause. "We've been waiting a while and it's time to start. Don't need to know the words; just sing from the heart! Welcome all and come on in, the party of a lifetime's about to begin!~"
Foxy briefly locked eyes with Marionette. He wanted to make sure he was going to keep along. After all, while the captain was fine with singing with an audience, Marionette had never sung in front of an audience before now. "We'll have some fun and yer gonna see how great it can be,~" Foxy promised to the children, and perhaps partially to his younger sibling. "So… Let's eat!~"
As the song kicked in, Marionette joined his brother. Foxy's was still the more dominant of the two, but he was audible. "Let's eat! Oh, let's eat! Come on down, settle down for a treat!~" they called in together over the pizzeria. "There'll be no more strife with our little slice of life!~" Foxy prepared to hand over the reins. "So, let's eat, oh, let's eat!~" Foxy fell silent and gave a wave of his hook to signal Marionette to take over. Normally, it would be Freddy handing over the reins to Chica, but he was confident that none of these children knew about that.
"We've been waiting day and night for today,~" Marionette began, quickly spinning underneath his strings. Foxy broke in with a quick, "That's right!"
"Life's not fit for all work and no play,~" the Puppet paused as Foxy again chimed in. "You heard 'em!"
"So, join us for some fun and when the day is done,~" it was then that Marionette realized how easy it going. It was so easy to sing to the children, and it felt good to let them hear his voice. "I promise, you'll be wishing you could stay!"
Mike had been in the state of sulking in the kitchen when the music had suddenly begun. Hearing Foxy, he sort of smirked to himself in amusement, but it was then that Marionette took over. His head snapped upwards from his work on the next pizza. This was a surprising change; Marionette had never sung in the pizzeria before this moment. He almost immediately headed to the door, but paused in place as he remembered that his aunt would surly see him. His cover would be blown…
"So, let's eat! Oh, let's eat!~" But this was the one time that he needed to be out there. Considering that the last time Marionette sung to a group it involved destroying multiple animatronics. "Come on down, settle down for a treat!~" If he was going to be supportive, then he needed to be out there. In fact, he wanted to be out there. He wanted to watch his puppet perform. Because, in all actuality, he truly was his now.
"Settle down with us, now!~" Foxy called out before the two animatronic began to sing together once again. "There'll be no more strife with our little slice of life! So, let's eat, oh, let's eat!"
At this moment, Foxy randomly started to sing the 'Pirate Song', or tune, as though they were pausing for a musical number. This was usually when Bonnie's guitar solo would come in, but for now they needed to improvise. Marionette, quite overexcited, decided to stitch in his own words.
"We have no time to wait and sigh. No patience to wait 'til by and by.~" Marionette felt Mike in the room. He couldn't tell when was the moment that Mike had stepped through the door to start watching him, but he suddenly could feel him amongst the numerous children. His words slipped a bit too easily. "Kiss me quick, I'm off, goodbye! But for tonight-.~"
"Let's eat, yes, come on, let's eat!~" Foxy and Marionette then returned to their song again.
Foxy gave a brief call of, "Sing with us!"
Marionette added in with, "All together, my friends!"
"Come on down, settle down for a treat! There'll be no more strife with our little slice of life! So, let's eat, oh, let's eat!~" And then one final, "Let's eat!~"
Most of the children clapped, and the ones who didn't were either smiling, jumping around, or saying positive things. The parents clapped, the staff members clapped, Mike clapped; Marionette felt only more exhilarated. Risking his reliance on the strings being questioned, he let his legs touch the ground and allowed himself to sweep down in a brief bow. Foxy was much less formal and instead waved to the children.
Mike didn't know why he felt proud over something so simple. Marionette had shared his voice and, while Mike no longer could say that he only sung for him, he was glad to hear this more open performance. Not to mention that it was a good performance. While Foxy wasn't necessarily the best singer in the world, Marionette's voice was brilliantly tuned. He sounded like he was made to sing and it was wasted on Freddy's, where he had once been stuck out of the way.
It was at that moment that Mike admitted that he may have been biased.
Looking over, he could see his aunt had noticed him and was waving to him. As firm as she had been in the messages, she looked so happy to see him, and he decided to smother the instant ill feeling that gripped his insides. He knew he couldn't run this time. With a sigh, Mike crossed the dining room and passed behind Marionette. He briefly reached upwards to pat his back and gave a quick, "Your strings are twisted." The smirk was evident and Marionette responded with a happy chime. This was soon drowned out by the children that started to approach.
Soon Mike was at the small table where his aunt sat alone. He sat down across from her, "Aunt Lees, I didn't expect to see you. I heard you called." If Lisa knew he was avoiding her, she wasn't showing it now. She just smiled and watched him sit down.
"Dad told me where you worked. I'm just so proud of you! You own this pizzeria?" His grandfather obviously said more than he thought; he didn't even remember saying that much to him about where he worked. Something about this all seemed a little fake, so he assumed that she was purposefully saying what she thought would keep him open and flattered. It made sense, so he decided to not call it out while not getting too comfortable. He could just imagine what she really thought about him working here.
"It's a three-way ownership, but yeah, basically. We opened it together." Mike aimed the conversation away from himself, "So how's life been?"
"It's been very good! The family has all been well, but they've been asking about you. It's been so long since anyone's seen or heard from you…" Her tone shifted and a frown started to slip through. "We didn't expect you to just disappear."
"Things happen, but I turned out alright," Mike shrugged off. "I did better than I would've done stuck at home. The mood was starting to kill me."
"But we were all worried," Lisa assured. "You mother was distraught after we couldn't find you."
"I hope she didn't drive that night," Mike said with a slightly more apathetic tone. Though he followed by falling right into the trap. "How's she been?"
"She's been wonderful! She turned her entire life around! Here, I have her number…" Lisa dug into her purse as Mike warily watched her. At that moment, something brushed his back, and he looked back to see Marionette. The Puppet boldly rested his hand on the human's shoulder, seemingly recognizing the woman's voice. He pulled his hand away just as she straightened.
"I wrote down everyone's numbers," Lisa said as she handed over a slip of paper covered in phone numbers. "Maybe you could call of couple of them tonight?" She then noticed the animatronic now behind her nephew. Taking this as a sign, Marionette turned away and started to the Prize Corner to tend to the children who were waiting inside.
"Let's stop playing games, Aunt Lees. I know why you're here." Suddenly Mike's boldness returned once again. He got his nerve and decided to stand his ground. "I don't want to talk with her and I'm not going to be boxed into corner." He glanced away, looking at the children circling around Foxy and running around the tables. "So, if she appears at my house, I'm 'not going to be there'." He added in the quotation gesture, inadvertently admitting that he had been purposefully missing her calls, but she seemed to ignore this.
"Michael, she really has gotten back on track. She went back to work, she started going to therapy; she only wants to talk to you and show that she's changed. She's the reason I'm here," Lisa reassured.
"Really? Then why isn't she here?" Mike quipped back, almost smugly.
"Because she knew you wouldn't be," Lisa flatly answered.
This left Mike briefly without words. "…Damn, she still knows me." He gave a slow exhale and, again, averted his eyes. "I'll think about it, okay? I'm not making promises." He hoped that it was enough to get his aunt to drop the subject. He then glanced to the Prize Corner, noticing the kids starting to leave. He started to stand, "I'll be right back." Thankfully, she let him go without a struggle, and he headed over to the door.
He waited until the last couple of children left before he approached Marionette. The Puppet was clearly excited to see him, if the brief shift on his face had anything to say about it.
"I knew you had it in you, but I never thought you'd actually go through with it," Mike led in with. Naturally, the other knew what he was referring to. "How in the hell have we not put you on stage yet?"
"The strings, Mike. I wouldn't be able to continue my illusion on the stage, not when the track halts," Marionette explained in a rather humble fashion. His tone then shifted, "Unless I had a puppeteer."
"I don't know what you're suggesting, but I'm not dressing up in a weasel costume. That's beyond my capabilities," the security guard scoffed back. Though he promptly followed with a sincerer smile, moving closer to the box. "Seriously, though, that was perfect."
"Mike,~" Marionette turned away with a growing chime of delight on his voice and his hand resting on his cheek. "Your bias is showing."
"My bias is spot on," Mike reassured with a slight wink. Right afterwards, he second guessed this action. "Ah geez, he probably thinks I'm flirting." He attempted to recover somewhat. "You should be using your voice like this more often. I know I'd enjoy it." This was followed with an odd silence. "...I'll be damned, I am flirting," Mike realized and was prepared to head back out of the Prize Corner. Though he then remembered what he was escaping from. Even though he genuinely wanted to congratulate him, Mike also wanted to flee from the stress his aunt had brought.
He glanced to the door, making sure nobody was coming, and then allowed himself to seek what he wanted. With a smile, he reached out towards the animatronic. Marionette, somewhat confused by the motion but willing, reached forwards to take Mike's hand. The motion was immediately sending warmth into his chest, right where he needed it. The stress was already starting to get lost amongst a new rush of emotions.
"You know that I only sing for you, Mike," Marionette spoke quieter and squeezed the hand holding his. "The children hearing was simply a perk." In a way, Mike hoped this exaggeration was partially true. He chuckled and traced his thumb over the black fabric.
"That's good to know. I was sort of worried that you were starting to serenade Jeremy when I wasn't looking," Mike playfully quipped back. Thankfully, Marionette would never know how true it was that jealousy had briefly emerged. At least Marionette was also guilty of this.
Though Marionette's features seemed to lose their luster for a moment. "How are you feeling?" Mike didn't need clarification; he knew that the Puppet was asking about him speaking with his aunt. He begrudgingly wondered if he was that obvious.
"I'm fine. If she thought she was going to guilt me into crawling back to them…" His hand tightened and he glared towards the door. "She has another thing coming." Marionette didn't ask questions, but Mike knew they were there. His mother was a sore spot that he hadn't been willing to discuss, but now there was no choice. "I'll tell you later. It's a long story." The Puppet rested his other hand atop Mike's, affectionately trapping it. It made Mike hyperaware that someone could walk in and see them, but he didn't move away.
"If you need to escape, you can come in here. There's children, yes, but I doubt your aunt will follow you in here," Marionette pointed out as he nodded towards the counter. "I could always use the company."
"I might take you up on that offer. First, I've got to try and see if I can her out of here. She's confiscated an entire table." He squeezed tighter in an attempt to not have to go. Subconsciously, he clung to some sort of escape. "And I should probably tell someone that I abandoned the kitchen."
"I could come with you," Marionette suggested. "She won't come near if she sees me." Apparently, he had confidence in his 'terrifying' appearance. Mike highly doubted that this illusion was as prevalent considering that he had just sung a duet with a pirate themed fox.
"Nah, I can handle her," Mike insisted further as he drew his hand back, only to move it back to gently pet over the stripes on his arm. He then headed to the doorway. "I'll be back in a few."
"You didn't answer my offer," Marionette pointed out. "It would give you something to do if you need to get away from everyone else… And I wouldn't have anyone else do it. You're the only one I would ever let tug my strings and live." The playfulness did not cover the truth in that comment. He wouldn't allow anyone else to control him, but he was willing to give the security guard a limited control. If only to get them closer together.
"Do you really want me sticking my hand in your back?... Don't answer that," Mike cut the question short. It was better if he simply didn't know the answer to that. "You're just not going to be happy until I'm carrying you around the pizzeria, are you?" he asked with a smirk. Marionette chimed in amusement, but gave no direct answer. Mike stepped out the door, "Don't get your strings in a tangle while I'm gone."
That playful mood died at the door. Once back in the fray, with an aunt and work waiting for him, Mike felt weariness settle over him. He forced himself forwards.
He slammed the door shut behind him and angrily planted his hands on it. It was all he could do to not keep from slamming his fists into the door until he either drew blood or broke it down. There was no smothering this sensation, no quieting this anger, and for a moment he was entirely overwhelmed. With a huff, holding back words he wanted to say, Mike stumbled over to the sink and stared into the soft pink of his aunt's bathroom sink. There was nothing in it, but he still looked to the bottom as though it could eventually give him answers.
A curt knock came at the door. "Michael?" Mike resisted the urge to roll his eyes back. As though it couldn't get any worse.
"I'm fine!" he called out, anger evident in his voice. "Just leave me alone." He didn't mean to be so aggressive to his aunt. Maybe she knew this, as she proceeded to leave him alone, heading into a different room. This left Mike alone again. He didn't want comfort, he didn't need his family, he just needed a minute to process this.
She had said no. He hadn't thought that she would say no.
His hands tightened on the sink and he pushed back. Well, that was it. That was the last straw. He had been waiting all this time and it ended in failure, so he knew what he was going to do. He had the money, he had the car, and all he needed was to get out of here and get back home. Mike stormed out of the bathroom with a call of, "I'm heading out."
Lisa immediately darted around the corner, but Mike had already turned to head to the front door. "Wait, Mike, please, it's not over just yet."
"Oh, it's over. She said her peace; there is no problem. We're exaggerating," he sarcastically recited as his mother had. "I'm not sticking around. She can do what she wants."
"At least let me drive you," Lisa offered. Considering that he drove them to her house, this made the most sense, but Mike was blinded by his distraught.
"I can walk. Just let me go," Mike nearly snapped back as he took outside and jogged down the driveway. Once on the sidewalk, he began the moderate walk to the home he shared with his mother. Anger was a terrible fuel at a time like this, and with every step he concocted and scowled further. He would be free of this once and for all.
He slipped into his bedroom window, deciding not to even try crossing through the front door or risk having to look at what the house had become. He flipped on the lamp on his desk and looked around at the room. Didn't she care that, if it wasn't for family, they wouldn't have electricity? She couldn't just say yes as a reward for them stocking their fridge? It seemed ungrateful, like a slap in the face, and even more so that she would just waltz back into the house like nothing happened and begin the cycle again.
Mike wouldn't sit through another year of this. He couldn't, but she wasn't planning on taking their offer… Unless someone gave her a real ultimatum. Their threats of not paying for basic commodities did nothing except, maybe, make his life more uncomfortable. She didn't care whether the lights were on or whether there were groceries, but there was one thing that Mike could do that perhaps would change her mind. If he was out of the equation entirely, maybe it would convince her.
He couldn't just threaten to leave and he couldn't just go stay would family. He would have to flat out take off and stay gone for at least a month, far enough where cops or family members couldn't find him. Then, once he was sure she had steeped in his absence long enough, he would return and give her the option to agree. She would be more than willing and if she wasn't then he would leave again. It made perfect sense.
In a short amount of time, Mike packed a few bags, grabbed the money that he had stashed away, and headed back to his car. He didn't know where he was going, but he already knew of the nearby shelters in the city and knew that, somehow, he would figure out something that would work. This was only a temporary thing, but he had already been alone this long; it was time for him to set out. He could already imagine her reaction; she would finally show some sort of concern for his wellbeing. She would agree to the ultimatum.
Mike had no doubt that after this his mother would agree to go to rehab. What he didn't foresee was that he wouldn't be coming back, or that it would be by his own choice. Everything was about to change.
Mable: We all knew that Mike had a bad habit of running from his problems… And now we get to see where that stemmed from. Along with some of the recovered music from Freddy's, on a lighter note. Before you ask why it's so cheesy, yes, I threw it together on a whim and the cheesiness was only partially intentional. XD At least I can excuse the campiness.
However, the day's not over yet, and some things have not yet been handled. The next chapter will be posted next Saturday; I hope you enjoyed!