Disclaimer: I do not own The Lost Boys.
AN: Here's a little something new.
I rose the next morning rather early. The sun was just beginning to paint the sky. I quickly showered and slipped into a sun dress. I did not wear dresses often but today I worn the one that Mike had gifted me on my 16th birthday. He had done it as a joke since dresses were not my thing. I kept it and I am glad that I did. I slid on some sandals to go with it. I went to the kitchen and was greeted by grandpa. He was making some waffles. I was happy to see me, and we chatted as I made coffee. I also cut up a couple apples as I waited for coffee and waffles. I could tell that grandpa was really trying to be upbeat. I patted his shoulder and let him take a seat and sip some coffee. I served him some waffles and finished making the rest. It wasn't long before Mom entered the kitchen. Her eyes were puffy. She must've cried herself to sleep.
She thanked me as I sat a plate of fruit and waffles in front of her and a cup of coffee. I grabbed an apple and left the kitchen. I picked up the phone and called dad. He answered on the first ring. I let him know that I was at Mom's and would be going to the bank later to open an account. We chatted a few more minutes and then hung up. I went out to the porch and sat on the swing and just watched the sun rise as Nanook ran around the yard. I don't know how long I sat there just thinking about Mike. Nanook came up and licked my foot startling me out of my thoughts. I patted his head and moved back into the house. I saw that it was half past 8.
I sighed and then popped upstairs. Sam wasn't in my bed when I grabbed the bag my wallet was in. I went back to the kitchen to see mom. She was getting her own bag when I stepped in. She looked at me and asked if I would go with her to the funeral home. I nodded. I volunteered to drive us. We got in my Jeep and headed into town. I asked where she banked. She pointed it out to me, and I stopped there. I told her I was going to open myself an account. She nodded and said she would wait for me to come back. It didn't take too long. They gave me my first book of checks and a register to keep up with. Mom directed me to the funeral home. We parked and we both took a breath before we went inside.
The visit to the funeral home took a couple hours. We picked out a nice casket for my brother and made out the memorial as well. Mom had brought some pictures of Michael as he grew up. We got all the details ironed out and then came the money part. Mom looked so overwhelmed when this started. It wasn't too expensive, but it was more than Mom had. I told Mom to take a break and I would talk with them about the money. She stepped outside to get some air. I opened up my checkbook and wrote out the amount to cover my brother's entire funeral. I was given a receipt and then stepped with Mom. I told it was all taken and paid for.
"Dad's money. Now let's get the flowers." I said before she could question me, Mom didn't need the burden.
She sobbed in the passenger's seat as I drove over to the flower shop. It was next door to the bank, so I had seen it when we left for the funeral home. We popped into the shop and picked out a pall and a basket. Mom insisted that she pay for them. I let her. We left and headed home. I was very distraught after all of that. I needed to run. I was going to have a panic attack if I didn't. I changed into my spandex exercise pants and a sports bra. I slipped on my running shoes and grabbed my Walkman and headphones. I had Poison blaring as I ran. Flashes of my brother's face came to my mind. Was he alone when he died? Was he scared? Had it been quick, or had he died slowly? Why hadn't I been here? So much guilt filled my stomach. Maybe if I had been here Michael would still be here. I was his hiking partner. Sam didn't like outdoor stuff, but Mike and I did. We always hiked together. We rock climbed and rode horses. We rode his motorcycle. I was his partner in crime. Maybe if I had been here with him? Maybe he would still be with us. Maybe I could have prevented this.
On I ran. I ran through town and ended up on the boardwalk. The sun was setting, and I started running on the beach. I made vague recollections that people were beginning to set up bon fires. I ran on until the beach ended at a rocky cliffside with a corded off cave. I stopped to catch my breath and sat on a big rock to watch the sun set behind the ocean. I sat with my knees drawn up under my chin, my arms around my knees. Tears poured down my cheeks as all of the what-ifs and maybes clouded my mind. Poison continued to play in my ears. Something to Believe In was playing when I was tapped on the shoulder.
I had been so entrapped into my own thoughts that I was startled and almost toppled off the rock. I didn't hit the rocks or sand under me. The person that had tapped my shoulder had fast reflexes and had grabbed me up. I was in their arms, and they had a concerned look on their face. I pulled my headphones down and paused my Walkman. It was twilight and I could just make out his features. He had long thick blonde hair. He looked like a wannabe rock star. He set me down and I put a little space between us.
"You good?" he asked, "We thought something was wrong. You were crying."
"Oh." I started and wiped my eyes, "Oh, I was in my own world. Thank you."
"Need a life back to town?" he asked and gestured to three other's and motorcycles.
I noticed that they were waiting on the stairs that led down to the cordoned off cave. I bit my lip as I realized that it would be too dark for me to run back up the beach and get home. I nodded and took the hand he offered me.
"I'm Paul by the way." He said as he led me over to the stairs.
"I'm Calliope. Call me Callie." I said and followed him over to the other three men waiting.
I should be scared. I should've declined his offer. But I didn't feel like I was in danger. When my feet touched the stairs, I still did not feel anything menacing coming off any of them. My head was telling me to be weary, but my instincts were quiet. Paul introduced us all to each other. I nodded and followed them up the stairs. I made a mental note of who was who. It also occurred to me that I had seen them the very night I came into town. We had pulled up next to each other at the stop light near the boardwalk.
"Where do you need to go?" David asked me and I said the address for Grandpa's.
"Old Man Hughes." Dwayne said as they all started their engines, "Are you Mike's little sister?"
I gasped, "You knew my brother?"
"Yeah, Mike was dating our sister, Star. Lucy is dating our father." Marko chimed in.
"Mike had mentioned Star to me before he passed." I murmured.
"Yeah, he and Star and our youngest brother were all together when they died." David's voice was morose.
"I... I'm sorry. No one told me." I spoke, I was confused that no one had mentioned that to me.
"It's ok. The wake is tonight at 7. We'll take you." Paul said and gripped my knee when I slid behind him.
I laid my head his back as we took off. I thought the whole ride. Why had no one told me that Mike hadn't been alone? That other's had perished with him. In fact, all I had been told was that it had been a hiking accident. Nothing else. It wasn't too long before they slowed, and I saw that we were in the driveway of the house. I invited them in to wait as I got cleaned up.
They accepted. I came in the house just as Sam and two young men came down the stairs. I looked behind me to let the guys in and shut the door. When I turned back around Sam and the two boys were gone. I shrugged and told them they could wait in the kitchen, or the living room and I would be quick.