WHO WE ARE ✸ Sturniolos

IV. Wherever You Are is Home

TW:  Panic attacks, stuck in an elevator.  Stay safe! x

✶

"Matt, hurry up!" Chris exclaimed, giggle echoing the pearly halls of the hotel as he ran and looked back over his shoulder. Matt tripped over his shoes in an attempt to catch up and his brother cackled at him wildly.

"Why don't you slow down?!" Matt called back through teary laughter, hair falling into his eyes. But Chris paid no mind, turning the corner and ducking behind a wall. Matt sighed and paused to catch his breath, stretching his limbs out and walking the rest of the way.

When he rounded the corner, he shrieked when Chris jumped out from his right, clutching his shoulders and roaring in his ears. Matt shoved him away playfully.

"Nick really shouldn't let us go out alone," he mumbled as they reached the elevator. It made a delightful ding! as the doors opened and they stepped inside simultaneously.

"It's Hawaii, dude. Go with the flow."

Matt cringed, nudging his brother's shoulder. "That was corny."

"Shut up," Chris murmured back, leaning to the side to press the button for the Ground Floor.

This was both their first trip to Hawaii and their first trip completely alone. They felt free as the birds, and Matt for one felt pretty strange knowing he could do whatever he wanted in this new tropical place. No parent to, well, parent him. No rigid schedule of sightseeing and family activities. Other than Nick watching over them like a mother hen, Matt and Chris were high as kites with elation.

"Where are we even going?" Matt asked, feeling his face pull up into a grin.

Chris mirrored him, cheeks rosy. "I don't even know! Wherever we want!"

This was like recess, almost: Nick giving them the green light to escape their shared hotel room and let loose. He did, however, warn them that if they didn't come back by 11, he would absolutely be locking the door to their room and forcing them to sleep outside.

"Wanna try—"

The metal walls suddenly shuddered. Squeaking against its cables, the elevator began to shake. The lights flickered. Taken by surprise, Chris stumbled and fell into the wall behind him, arms splaying out to clutch the railing. Matt's head bounced awkwardly against the metal sheet on his right and for a moment he saw stars.

"Chris?" He yelped warily, squinting against the rapidly changing light in the elevator. In flashes he could see Chris' head turn towards him; he raised a hand to show he was alright, but the elevator trembled again and Chris latched onto the railing once more.

Then it stopped. Matt felt his legs go funny.

"I'm okay. Are you?" Chris asked, anxiously looking around for a moment before testing the waters and taking a step towards Matt. Everything seemed fine, as if the shitty tin can they were standing in hadn't just produced an earthquake ten seconds ago.

Matt swallowed, blinking before looking up to Chris. "I'm okay."

"Holy shit!" Chris suddenly cried, pulling his brother towards him by the shoulders and turning Matt's face to the side. "You're bleeding!"

Maybe he shouldn't have made it such a big deal, because truly it was a small cut on the tip of his ear, but Chris was like a shark to blood. Thank God Nick isn't here, he thought, imagining the oldest triplet gagging at the sight.

"Is it bad?" Matt asked. Chris shook his head. "Just a cut, you're all good."

Remembering themselves, the brothers turned towards the elevator doors. The buttons were all dimmed, showing no floor destination. Chris tapped the G button. Nothing. He tried again, and again, and then Matt spared him from letting himself down a third time.