Instant Connection

33

Several days went by and not much had changed within the house. Mike was still taking the pills he got from the dealer in the streets and obsessed with the birds and the number 47, Charlie was flying back-and-forth from California to Florida, Johnny was awaiting further instructions from Carlito, Briggs was trying to figure out a plan to not go to prison, Paige was waiting on Briggs to figure out how they can catch Martun, Jakes was just trying to stay out of everyone's business and Stella was sinking into a deep depression about how the house has changed so much.

The loud blaring alarm had me reaching over and slamming my hand down on the nightstand to shut off the annoying noise, that's when the smell hit me, smoke. I fell out of bed and quickly rushed downstairs, Briggs was just a few feet ahead of me. The entire downstairs is filled with smoke coming out of the oven.

"Chuck, wake up!" Briggs yells.

"Jesus. Oh, shit." she grumbles, as she realizes what happened.

He opens up the oven, fanning the smoke away with a dishcloth.

I grab the broom and start trying to shut off the smoke alarm, but I'm too short due to the extremely high ceilings.

Paige and Johnny descend the stairs.

"Can somebody please turn that thing off? Just–" Paige complains, plugging one ear.

"I'm trying!" I shout, jumping to try to hit the stupid thing.

"What is that smell?" Johnny asks, coming further into the kitchen.

Briggs takes the burnt dish out and drops it into the sink. He turns on the faucet, letting the water cool the ruined food, "It's nothing, it's fine."

"Smoke alarms at the ass crack of dawn is not fine." Jakes says, coming down the stairs and over to me to try and help.

"So it's 6:00 a.m., and you decide to cook..." Paige says.

Johnny grabs a dirty fork and investigates the dish, "Tuna freakin' casserole. Chuck, are you serious?"

Charlie stands up from her spot at the bar, "Guys, I'm tired, and I'm sick of airplane food, so forgive me for wanting a decent breakfast." She leaves the kitchen and heads for the living room, with Paige, Johnny and Briggs behind her.

"Tuna casserole is not breakfast." Jakes tells her, taking the broom from me. He's able to reach the smoke alarm, and after hitting it a couple of times the devices falls of its post and the house is finally silent.

"Thank you." Briggs says.

"Tall-ass ceilings." Jakes complains.

I go over to the couch, where Charlie, Paige and Johnny are laying and create a spot between Paige and Johnny.

"I think you might need to slow down a little." Paige tells her.

Charlie instantly shakes her head, "No, I have to get Germaine. There's no slowing down."

"You know, running yourself ragged and burning the house down in the process is not gonna help you catch him, Chuck." Briggs chimes in.

"Yeah, well..." she mumbles.

"It's not like she meant to almost burn the house down. We were here, it's dealt with." I groan, grabbing one of the blankets and wrapping it around myself.

"Guys, I found it." Mike says, running down the stairs, practically falling into the room.

"Is this about your crazy birds and numbers?" Jakes asks, leaning against the fireplace.

"He's not crazy, Jakes." Charlie defends him.

"The birds and numbers might be though..." I roll my eyes, leaning my head back against the couch.