Here it is my friends. I know you want to get to the good stuff, but have patience, my message is short. Remember to include a return address if you want me to message you back. Remember, I get ALOT of feedback, so don't be offended if I don't get back to you. Check my tumblr for updates, and post your own questions, and suggestions, the link is on my profile.
Thanks to Zero for the edits, and suggestions.
Chapter 23
Beth was down in the kitchen cooking breakfast when her brother and sisters began coming downstairs with bleary eyes and tired faces. Silverware and plates clanked as the siblings began to grab some food and sat down to eat.
Mike wouldn't look at anyone. He kept thinking about his awful dream last night. He ran a hand across his face and sighed, idly twirling a fork in his breakfast.
Sarah glanced over at Danni, who could only shrug as they both turned back to Mike.
"Everything okay, sweetie?"Β Sarah asked, after a few moments.
Mike glanced up and nodded, forcing a smile. "ΒJust... dreams," he said, hoping they'd assume he meant nightmares again.
Sarah rubbed his shoulders for a few seconds and then lowered her head down, kissing him on the cheek and squeezing him in a hug.
After breakfast, Mike and his sisters quickly got dressed for class and headed out. Mike rode with Emma again, but there was a heavy tension in the air between them.
"Em?" he said suddenly, "Have we ever... talked about my dreams?"
Emma turned and glanced at him curiously. She was wearing a pair of shorts that she knew would show off her goddess-like legs, and a tight, low cut blue shirt. Unusually, her hair hung softly around her shoulders, rather than tied in its usual ponytail.
"Yeah, sometimes. You've not had any for a while though," she said. "At least before the accident, as far as I know. Why do you ask?"
Mike shrugged, wondering how to broach the subject. If he could tell anyone about his disturbing dream, it would be his twin. There wasn't a soul anywhere that he was be closer to.
"I had a different type of nightmare last night. I'm not even sure it can be classified as a bad dream. I just don't want you to think I'm a freak."
"Mike, I love you, no matter what you dream. I won't think you are a freak. We're twins remember, chances are that I've had the same type of dreams."
That made him feel a little better, at least. "It was... dirty," he said, lowering his head.
Emma glanced back over at him, her eyebrows raised. "Nice," she said, grinning. "Those are my favorite kind."
Mike tried to force a smile, but still felt like a freak. "No," he said. "It was... different."
They turned into a parking lot at the university and quickly found a space. Emma put her car in park and turned to face him.
"Okay, how was it different? Did the clown molest you this time?"
Mike chuckled at her, but the action caused pains to shoot through his ribs and chest, and he winced.
"Ouch, no."
He checked his watch. They had to get to class. He reached for his bag and popped open the car door, gingerly lifting the bag to his shoulder. "I'll tell you later."
Emma shrugged, pretending that she wasn't dying to know what his 'dirty' dream had been about. A thought struck her then, and she tried not to panic, quickly grabbing her backpack and jogged after her slow moving brother.
"Hey Mike, lemme see your phone a second," she called.
"Huh? Why?" he asked, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his black cell phone.
"Just lemme see it," she said, yanking it from his hands. She quickly thumbed through his contact list, to Dirty Fuck Slave and changed the name back to Emma before tossing it back to him. "Thanks."
"What was that about?" he asked, but stopped, distracted, when he spotted someone he knew. "No way..." he said, his jaw dropping. "Look," he said, gesturing towards a petite blonde girl walking by herself.
Emma turned, glad that the conversation had turned from his cellphone. She followed his gaze and saw Emily, his ex-girlfriend. "Oh yeah, Emily came to see you in the hospital. I thought we told you that," she said.
Mike called out Emily's name and began to shuffle towards her. "Emily!"
She turned, seeing Mike and smiled immediately. "Michael! Emma!"
She jogged over quickly and gently hugged him, and then Emma. "How are you feeling?" she asked, stepping back and looking him over.
A flood of emotions threatened to bowl him over. High School came back to him, how much time he'd spent with her. She looked a little older, but mostly she was the same old girl he'd known in high school.
"I'm okay, still sore like a motherf..." he said, remembering suddenly how much she would get on to him for swearing in highschool.
She chuckled and smiled at him, "Same old Michael."
"What happened to California?" Mike asked, and was suddenly sorry that he'd done so.
Emily's pretty face fell when the words left his lips. It was clear that she'd been through a lot in her semester out in California.
"Well, it was fine for the first couple of weeks, but a lot happened out there, and back here. I'll tell you all about it sometime. I'm here to stay, though. California didn't work out."
Emma hugged her. "It's good to see you again."
Mike smacked her in the arm. "Why didn't you tell me she came to see me in the hospital?"
Emma began to punch him back but thought better of it. "As soon as you're better, I'm gonna beat the piss outta you again. We kind of had a lot to deal with, Mom and Dad's anniversary, you almost dying."
"It's okay, Michael," Emily said. "I didn't stay long."
Mike thought back then, to the dreams he had in the hospital. He'd smelled her perfume in his dream.
"Do you still wear Obsession Nights?"