Gifted
“THE ONLY BITCHES YOU PULL DIE AFTER HEARING YOUR LAME ASS BURNS” “FUCK ‘EM UP MICHEAL!” Yelled Micheal and Celine from the newly installed gaming setup in the basement. After much arguing, discussing, and deciding, a gaming area was added to the basement because according to Agent Sterling, “They needed to feel more like regular kids.”
She looked very much like she regretted that decision and Briggs looked like he was about to commit a homicide if he wasn’t in the FBI and taking care of us. Judd was unfazed.
Suddenly, there was a series of knocks at the door. Lia went up to get it, jumping off the couch. She looked through the peephole and yelled to everyone in the house, "It's just Cassie and Dean. Never mind. "And she walked away sulkily instead of opening the door.
A few confused knocks later and Judd got up to open it. “Welcome back, you two. How was your trip?” He asked as soon as they walked in. “It was great! Thanks for asking, Judd.” Cassie answered with a smile. She was holding a white carnation. It was beautiful.
Celine and Micheal came out of the basement. “You’re back! You guys missed all the fun.” Celine started trying to tell Cassie all that she missed when Sloane walked out of hallway to throw away an apple core.
“Cassie! "She shouted, launching herself at her best friend. “No! Damnit, Sloane! They need to take showers and wash their clothes and-” Agent Sterling scolded but eventually gave up. “Oh, whatever. "Sloane squeezed Dean and Cassie into a bone-crushing hug. “I spent” Sloane started “504 hours, 47 minutes, and 56 seconds without you guys and it's the worst.” She looked at Cassie and Dean. “That’s too long. I never want to do that again.” And then she burst into tears.
Cassie looked over to Celine, as Sloane and her had gotten closer after the months. Celine mouthed *First period; Late bloomer* Ooooohhhhh. That explained it.
After Sloane calmed down, her, Cassie, Celine, and Lia (who hadn't even bothered to say “hi”) sat down and started talking about their time apart.
Dean, in the meantime, said hi to everyone else in the room. “Redding. Can I talk to you for a second?” Micheal stopped him from joining the girls in their talking. “Why.” Dean asked, narrowing his eyes. “I need to tell you something. Alone.” Micheal had grabbed his arm. “No.”
“But whyyy”
“I. Don’t. Want to.”
“Ugh. Fine. I guess I’ll never tell you ever.”
“Fine by me.”
“Can’t threaten you with a good time I see” Micheal murmured. Now it was time to pull out his ace. “I know you and Cassie broke up during your vacation.” Now Dean was surprised. Who’s the clever one now, profiler? Well, he supposed it was still Dean but for the moment it was Micheal. “Ok, you got me. It was a mutual decision. How did you know?” Well, since Micheal had Lia hooked up to an earpiece, he could tell that breaking up was not a mutual decision. But he had known that they had broken up. “You were farther away from her than you usually are. And, no eye contact with her at all. Also, you two were slightly awkward, like when you first decided to like each other. Why'd ya break up, Redding?”
Was Dean a little pinker than before? The lighting was bad, so Micheal couldn’t tell. “Well... We...Uh...We just didn’t seem to work out.” Dean was definitely red now. He had noticed that Micheal’s hand was still on his arm and jerked it away. “Why do you even want to know, Townsend?” Micheal stared at him. “I want to know a lot of things, Dean. And I intend to find out.” And then Micheal left Dean in doorway, contemplating his life choices.
♥ ♥ ♥
Micheal returned to the girls smiling. Cassie was confused, with a hint of worry, and jealousy? Lia was trying not to laugh, Sloane hadn't even noticed his absence. Celine was staring at Sloane in a mixture of interest and passion. Ew.
“Oh Sloane! I almost forgot.” Cassie pulled a white carnation from somewhere. “Here, I found it in the rainforest. I thought you would like to study it? "She handed it to Sloane. “White carnations have been cultivated for over 2000 years. It was a special association with purity, hope, and good luck.” She chirped, not taking her eyes off the flower. “Thank you, Cassie.” She whispered.
“Do you want me to pot it or something?” Offered Micheal for his post on the couch. She gave the ok, still whispering.
Micheal took the carnation from the girl and got a vase from the kitchen. He put the flower inside and walked back out to the living room. “I’m gonna put it in your room, ok?” He told Sloane.
Well, it was cute, Micheal would admit.
The moment was sort of ruined when a coughing sound came from Sloane in the other room. Micheal rushed over there, and almost crashed into Dean.
Right in time to see Sloane cough up white carnation petals.