Family Affairs { Josh Hutcherson/FNAF }

001

"Can you watch Abs for me? I have to go find a new job." Mike asks me as we stand in his kitchen, "Of course." I say, gently grabbing both ends of his tie and tying it up nicely. "Thank you and thank you." He pats his tie, "Of course." I repeat again adding a soft smile. "Good luck finding a job today." I say as he starts towards the door, "I'm gonna need it." He huffs then shuts the door behind him.

I've known Mike all my life, his dad was friends with my Uncle and slowly became my dad's friend but when his mom died and his dad, well, left in a way–so didn't my parents. It was weird how they were so connected, so intune with each other. Only difference was I was an only child and the Schmidts had three children, one of which got kidnapped during our weekend away in Nebraska, Mike hasn't been the same since.

Mike and I used to do everything together. I mean it even felt like we've been to space and traveled to a new world across the river but when he was twelve and Garret got taken, so wasn't a part of Mike–I mean, could you blame him?

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"Cassie, can you make me some bacon?" Abby asks softly as she clutches her markers and paper, "Yes, of course. Have a seat at the table. Would you like some toast and eggs?" "Just toast and bacon." She answers sweetly, setting up her drawing materials on the table. "You got it." "Do you ever miss your mom and dad?" Abby randomly asks, "Uh, yeah," I answer, taken back by the question, "Why do you ask?" "I miss mine sometimes." She sighs, "It's okay to miss them, those feelings are normal. Do you want to talk about anything?" I ask as I plate her food and walk over to her. "No, my friends told me that I shouldn't miss them." She says, looking over at nothing–her friends are all imaginary. "Well, their feelings are just as valid, however, they shouldn't tell you how to feel, don't ever let anyone tell you how to feel, only you could truly know what's going on in that pretty little brain of yours." I say, gently tapping her temple making her giggle. "Eat up." I say, "Are you going to eat?" "I ate before you woke up." I lied, "My friend says you're lying and that you and Mike were-" "Okay, I'll eat something." I cut her off and grabbed a piece of toast, "Happy now friends of Abby?" I speak towards the direction Abby kept looking in.

Sometimes I think these friends are ghosts because Abby always knows what I'm doing. Mike and I just slept together last night, we fell asleep when we were talking. It was innocent. Have Mike and I ever done anything together? Well, yes I mean how could you not when you grew up together, went through puberty together, everything. We're twenty three and twenty five there was no preventing it. I'm attracted to Mike, he's perfect but he seems to look right through me and he totally isn't interested in me. I don't force it, keeping any relationship with him is what's important to me. I don't know what I'd do without him or Abby.

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"How'd the job search go?" I ask as Mike walks into the house, "Shit." He rolls his eyes and loosens his tie. "How was Abs?" He plops down next to me on the couch, "She was good, we colored and she watched a little TV. She's in her room now with her friends." I explain and he throws his head back, "She spends more time talking to air than she does me." "She's a kid, kids have imaginary friends." I try to console and he sighs, "Did you?" "For like a day but we spent too much time outside together for me to have any." "We had fun times didn't we?" He smiles, "The rope swing that crossed the river. The board games on rainy days. It was so fun." I chuckle at the memories. "I miss that time." He says, looking at me softly. "Me too." I smile, locking eye contact which led to a moment of awkward silence and tension, "Uh, Cass, do you want to stay over again tonight?" "Sure." Mike knows I hate being home alone, I hate being alone at night especially. I feel this dreary smog over my house, my room, every where except for when Mike is around, he somehow makes it all feel better. I think he knows that but we don't talk about it, we don't talk about a lot of things anymore.