"Oh cmon, it couldn't of been that bad?" Strawberry hummed beside me, rubbing my fingers over my eyes  I dropped my head slightly to look at her. 

"All he wanted to do was talk about himself and touch my butt" I informed pulling my milkshake closer to me to take a drink.


"How old was Joan of Arc when she died?  and how again?" my younger brother Emerson quizzed peaking through his head of thick raven curls.


"Pretty sure she was nineteen?" I questioned more so then answered.


"And she was burned alive, also fun fact, on of her chargers was cross-dressing because while she was in jail she wore male clothing to detour being raped" strawberry added matter o factly taking a bite of her sundae.


"Seriously?" Emerson questioned looking from me to  Berry in disbelief.


"Don't look at me Squirt. I scrimped by in History. I'm like 80% sure Mr.Pistachio passed me just so he didn't have to have me for two semesters" I advised

"His name was Mr.Horatio not Pistachio"  Strawberry reminded rolling her eyes "No wonder he wanted you out so bad" she added shaking her head.


"Eh Tomato Potato" I shrugged slurping a drink of my milkshake.

Both Emerson and Strawberry let out a small chuckle. Since I dropped out of college this had sitting at Mames Diner on Wednesday nights had become a tradition, and not just because Mame was Strawberrys grandmother and we got free drinks and food. It was way for both of us to check in on Emerson, He'd never been much a talker, but While I was away Strawberry noticed him becoming more recluse... depressed even and it was the reason I came home. 

Sure... Our father was around but he had never really been present in our lives, rather to drunk or to involved in his inventions to pay us much mind... as for our older sister Quinn... after our mother passed she went down a bad path... hang out with the wrong crowd, doing drugs getting wasted all the time...  This year would be three years drug-free, after I had came home and given her the ultimatum of being in mine and  Emersons lives or being disowned and living on the streets. Much like our father, she was still a heavy drinker... but she was trying.

Strawberry and I had been friends since pre-K we the two of us had gone through so much together,  from the loss of her parents to the loss of my mother and all the trials and tribulations of dreaded high school, we had always been there for each other. She may not have been blood but she was just as much my family as Emerson and Quinn were.

"You're still coming over for the night right Mikie?" Berry quizzed tucking her wavy honey locks behind her ear.


"Uhm.." I paused looking over at Emerson for a moment.


"Yes, she is. I'll be fine Micah. Even if dad and Quinn don't come home, not like it's the first time I've spent the night alone" Emerson reminded.


"You have Mame's house number right?" I quizzed.


"Yes, and if for some reason no one answers their phones or Mames I call Adam"  He assured with a half-grin.


"I know you're mocking me, but I'm also so proud"  I smirked reaching to playfully pinch his cheek,  Emerson swiped my hand away.


"Don't even think about it. I may be almost nine years younger then you but I'm also six inches taller and growing" He reminded his pitch-black orbs glaring me down.


"Your watch out I could be a psychopath glare down doesn't work on me squirt" I  teased ruffling his hair, causing him to once again swat at me.


"I'm not some little kid anymore, I'm sixteen" He noted 


"You've been sixteen for a week, you are still but a child" I reminded


"I am not I'm adult, I can drive now" He defended.


"Dude... you took out yours and your neighbours' mailbox the first time you got behind the wheel" Strawberry added with a smirk.


"Canada day, two years ago." He asserted matching her smirk with narrowed eyes. Strawberry bit her lower lip with a slight nod before pursing her lips.

"touche"  she admitted remembering the incident.



A small chuckle escaped Emerson and I as we both recalled the incident at the cabin.  The three of us spent the next couple hours enjoying our treats and doing our best to help Emerson with his  Homework. When we had all finally finished up Strawberry and I dropped Emerson off at home before heading to her place.

With my arm slung around Strawberrys shoulder, we strolled into her house, the scent of freshly baked goodies filled the air. The two of us made our way straight to the kitchen were Mame had a spread of various baked goods laid out, most for the diner but a few special batches for herself.  Propping ourselves on a couple of the stools by the island counter Berry and I indulged in some of the goods.

Reaching for one of the mint Nanaimo bars  It was snatched from my finger before I had a chance to bring it to my lips. Looking over my shoulder I watched a familiar head of short golden locks walked towards the fridge, I narrowed my eyes at back of his head. Physalis looked back over his shoulder a smirk forming on his lips.  I glared at him one he returned with a wink as he took of a swig of milk straight from the jug.   Physalis was Strawberrys older brother, The two of us had always had a love-hate relationship. We were at each other throats one minute and cuddling on the couch the next.


I watched as the familiar wooden cane reached out from behind the fridge bidding  Sal on the head with a thud,  dropping one had from the jug of milk he gripped what I'm sure was a growing bump on his head. Strawberry and I both broke out into a fit of giggles, watching as Mame slowly made her away around the fridge door glaring at her grandson.


"I didn't raise no animal boy. Get a cup" She warned point at him with a cane. " And you two better not be eating my special goodies" She added eyeing us up.


"We aren't Mame promise" Strawberry informed.


"Not after last time..." I mumbled avoiding eye contact remember when back in senior year we snuck some pot brownies from her and ended up sick for the rest of prom night.

"In that case, Micah hows the family?" She quizzed walking around the island counter.



"Same as usual, Dads working nonstop on some super-secret project he won't talk about. Quinns  still doing good with N.A  and Emerson's grade are doing better than ever, still not very social... but still better" I notified with a half-smile 

"Your sister still with that... oh what was his name... that Tattoo fella that always smells like cinnamon" She questioned 


"Campbell?... I have no idea... they might be taking a break again but who knows with them they break up every other day I swear" I half grumbled shaking my hair.


"Also it's not cinnamon... its fireball Mame" Berry added, Mame looked over me with a mixture of curious surprise and concern.


Pursing my lips I nodded at her, Fireball really was the reason he smelt like cinnamon. He drank it like it was water... sometimes I swore when he sweats it wasn't water but fireball instead. Campbell and Quinn had been on and off for years, the two claimed it was an open relationship, but all of knew that in the end, they'd always go back to each other.   He may of been an alcoholic and had a tendency to be reckless but he had a good heart. Over the years he'd become like family, wether dad liked it or not... his younger brother Lennox however... not so much.



"So... you two having a sexy pillow fight tonight... and by you two I mean you Micah?" Sal teased hanging his lean muscular body over our shoulders.

"Not even in your dreams Cheesesteak" I growled.  Sal fake gasped holding a hand over his chest.

"Breaking my heart baby girl" He pouted pulling away.


"Get a girlfriend" Berry insisted pushing him away as she pulled us to our feet.


"needs a life first" Mame jabbed teasingly from  her seat at the table


Both Strawberry and I paused for a minute to take in the look of shocked betrayal on Physalis' face. His mouth hung open as he stared at the seventy-year-old woman who had raised him. I clutched my hand over my mouth to stifle my giggles, while Strawberry letting out a somewhat snorted chuckle at her grandmother's taunt at her older brother. Sal instantly turned his attention to us glaring us down. A giggle escaped my lips as Berry and I dashed from the stairs to head to her room.