Midge the Neko - Boyxboy -complete- - Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Midge uncurled from the floor and stretched his arms languidly over his head.  The coffee table was strewn with papers, pencils and pastels.  Marley sat on the couch behind him, watching, and his empty milk glass sat next to him on the floor.  He glanced at the clock and stared a moment.  How can it be 9:13 already?  His stomach growled and he placed his hand over it.  Okay okay we will eat.
He opened the refrigerator and peered inside, his eyes instantly falling on the package of bacon.  Yumsticks!  He grabbed it, a block of cheese, and then the large skillet and started it heating.  He arranged as many pieces of bacon as he could possibly fit in the pan, even pressing them up the sides, and put the rest away for tomorrow.
He stood watching the bacon sizzle while he nibbled on the cheese for a few minutes before his eyes wandered back towards his stack of papers.  He had done 3, two of which he would put on Etsy after he had dinner.  The other was a gift for Zac at Christmas, who he knew would appreciate it since he painted and also drew sometimes for work.  It seemed the least he could do after he let him stay for Thanksgiving and then found Marley and brought her home.
He went over to spread out the two he wanted to sell so he could look at them again.  Then he had an idea and rummaged through Scott's desk for the tape and attached them to the walls carefully. Yes, they look very nice.  I like them.
His nose caught the smell of smoke and he ran to the kitchen, grabbing the pan of bacon and tossing it in the sink and turning on the water.  He jumped back when it sputtered and sizzled, smoke and steam billowing into the air.
The smoke alarm blared almost immediately, completely deafening Midge who threw his hands up to cover his ears.  He ran into his room and closed the door, jumping under his covers and putting a pillow over his head to help lessen the onslaught of noise.
A few minutes later he realized that it wasn't going to go off on his own but he remembered that their house alarm had a fire alarm in it as well, so he crawled out of his room and went to the panel, trying to decide how to stop all the lights from flashing.
Scott had shown him what to push to leave the house, and then when he came back inside but he hadn't told him what to do now.  He tried putting in the code and telling it that he was home, but it didn't work.  What does it want?  Make it stop!  He was still pushing random buttons when there was a loud knock on the front door.
"Fire Department!  Open the door."
He panicked, absolutely confused.  He had promised to not open up for anyone he didn't know, but the Fire Department were not normal people, they were here to help.  When they started banging again and threatening to knock down the door, he opened it.
"I am so sorry.  It is fine.  I only burnt my dinner."
"Why didn't you turn off the alarm?" the man asked, reaching over and pressing the silencer.
Midge could barely catch his breath.  The man was HUGE and wearing a ton of equipment and just looked generally scary.  "I do not know how.  I am sorry."
"Do you live here?"
"I... yes but not for very long.  I did not learn the alarm yet."
"Kid, read the damn manual.  We don't have time to be running around every time somebody burns toast, alright?"  He reached over and pushed a few more buttons on the panel.  "Put in your code."
Midge entered it and the alarm finally stopped flashing.  "Thank you.  Yes, I will read it.  I am sorry for the trouble."  He didn't dare breathe until they turned and headed down the hallway.  He closed the door and grabbed Marley from her spot on the couch before jumping into Scott's bed. I am never coming out.  I am never coming out.
He tried to think of happy things, to let his mind go somewhere safe and calm but his usual comforts weren't working.  He cuddled closer to Marley and wondered where she really was and if she was safe and happy.  Maybe she is thinking of me, too.