Deadline≫hemmings a.u

3.7

"Do you have...any sevens?"

I scanned my hand, peering over the top of the cards at Sid as I crossed my ankles on top of the armrest at the opposite end of the couch I was laying on. "Go Fish."

"Dang," Sid muttered, leaning forward in his chair to swipe yet another card from the stock. "Your turn."

I glanced at my cards again, opening my mouth to respond just as the door to our hotel room unlocked and opened, letting a now blonde-haired and a rather irritated looking Michael in. His light green eyes swept across the room, going to Sid first, and then me. "Where is he?"

I rolled my eyes and let out a small huff, blowing away the strands of hair that had stuck to my forehead. It wasn't quite summer yet, but the weather was still hot enough here in San Diego, California. The boys even swapped out their skinny jeans for shorts. Even so, we couldn't even totally escape the heat from the confines of our hotel room even though it was night since the air conditioner was broken. 

"He?" I screwed my mouth to the side and dropped my hands in my lap, still taking care to keep my hand hidden from Sid. "Gee, Michael, I'm not sure who 'he' is. Do you mean Sid? Why, he's right there."

Michael scowled at me, shutting the door behind him. "You know who I'm talking about, Mel."

"You can't be mad at him forever." I sighed, raising my cards to my face again. "I think he's showering. He'll be done soon."

After what happened a few days ago with Aileen and Ro, Michael was furious with Luke. I'd seen the two get upset with each other countless times before, but I had never seen Michael so mad. It started with Michael angrily yelling at Luke about not telling us when he ran into Sid in Florida and then yelling at Luke for letting him plan that raid with Aileen, Ro, and Sid, knowing full well that Sid would realize that Luke was lying back in Florida when he saw me still here and--no offense to Sid--that Sid wouldn't be able to keep that a secret from Aileen and Ro. And what added to the differences that set this time apart from all the others was that Luke took it. As much as I would've liked to defend Luke or have him defend himself, Michael had undeniable points.

"Of course he's showering," he grumbled, taking a seat in the chair next to Sid and kicking off his sandals. "It's not like we don't have more important things to do."

"Like what?" I looked back over at Michael with my eyebrows raised, suddenly interested.

"And like hell I can," Michael continued his grumbling, ignoring my last question. "Luke fucked up big time, he should have told us about running into you in Florida," he fumed, directing that last part to Sid, who only gave a half-hearted shrug before sending me a look that made it obvious he didn't like an angry Michael any more than I did.

But I was still curious about what "important things" Michael and Luke had to do. "What did you mean--"

"My question is, how are you not pissed at him?" Michael turned back to me. "He almost got you killed."

I winced a little at that last bit, the almost truth of it a little too real for my comfort. "But he didn't. He saved my life."

"It's only right considering he's the one who put it in danger in the first place." he said sharply, folding his arms.

"Don't be so dramatic," I said softly, knowing full well Michael was right. I tried changing the subject. "So what are you and Luke supposed to--"

"Dramatic?" Michael's tone was incredulous. "I'm being dramatic? Yeah, Mel, I'm being dramatic, that's why you've got bruises everywhere and that gash on your head."