To Build a Home

The Speech Competition

"Harvey, I...can't....breathe!" Mike gasped, his fingers scrabbling at the scarf that Harvey had just wrapped snugly around his neck. Okay, so maybe he was being a little overdramatic but he really didn't see why Harvey was trying to make him wear two scarves simultaneously. All they were doing was walking out to the car and then he was going to walk into school after they drove there. But Harvey had made him put on his heavy jacket zipped completely up, hat, gloves, and a scarf. And then he had tried to add on a second scarf for added warmth but it was currently cutting off Mike's air supply.

He managed to loosen the scarf and tossed it at Harvey in frustration, resisting the strong urge to stamp his foot on the kitchen floor. "I'm not wearing two scarves out in public, Harvey. You're being ridiculous."

Harvey picked up the scarf and moved forward casually as though to subtly try and put it back around Mike's neck—as if Mike wouldn't have noticed?

"Stop," Mike said firmly, backing up. "This is becoming a reccurring pattern; you trying to smother me and cover me in outerwear! It ends here!" He exclaimed in exasperation. Harvey put the scarf down reluctantly.

"Thanks," Mike said before fanning himself. "Jesus, it's hot in here. Can we go?"

"You're hot? Maybe your fever's come back," Harvey said, his hand reflexively coming up to feel Mike's forehead. Mike ducked away quickly and held his hands up in front of him to ward off Harvey's advance.

"Harveeeey," he groaned in frustration. He appreciated Harvey's concern for his health but this was getting a bit ridiculous. "Maybe I'm hot because it's 70 degrees in this apartment and I'm wearing a down jacket, gloves, a hat, and a scarf! Come on, let's go. I don't have a fever, I don't feel sick anymore, and I'm dying to get back out into the real world, even if it's only to school. I've been in this apartment for 6 straight days. I'm going to go insane if I stay here for five more minutes!"

With that Mike grabbed his backpack, marched over to the elevator, and pressed the down button with a dramatic flourish.

"Alright, fine," Harvey called. "But if your lung infection comes back and you get yourself landed in the hospital don't expect me to sit beside your unconscious body in the hospital."

This was such a preposterous lie after all that Harvey had done for Mike the past few days that Mike found himself simultaneously tempted to laugh raucously and bang his head on the glass elevator wall. He settled for a slightly hysterical giggle, the prospect of his impending return to the real world making him feel slightly giddy.

Harvey just rolled his eyes and sighed as they walked out to the car.

Mike cleared his throat slightly nervously. "Uh...Harvey?" he asked shyly. "My debate team is going to the state competition next Friday and it's at a nearby school. I've been chosen to give a big speech...would you, um...that is, do you want— will you come?" He waited with bated breath for Harvey's response.

Harvey looked like he was reviewing his mental calendar. "Sure," he said after a moment. Mike let out a sigh of relief.

"Really? You'll really come? You promise?" Mike asked excitedly.

"Yes, I promise. Because I know if I don't then I'll have to deal with Donna riding my ass about it," Harvey grumbled. "But you do know that I'm just coming to your speech, right? I'm not buying you a car or taking you to Disneyworld. So simmer down a little over there— it's too early for so much unbridled joy."

Mike couldn't help but beam anyway. "Thanks, Harvey! This is going to be better than Disneyworld— not that I would know, I've never been. I've never really been anywhere actually— but if I could pick one place to go to I think it'd be Washington D.C. I want to see all the museums and—"