It took a bit longer than initially planned, but finally Gabriel Woods was returning ho- to his siblings, he couldn’t call that place Michael gotten home just yet, too soon, partly because he was missing them greatly and partly because any sane human being can only handle Kevin the Roommate Party Boy for so long before attempting murder (he is still a good friend at the end).
Michael had at one point sent the address and directions to Gabriel when he decides to arrive, so now, Gabriel was meticulously following the instructions.
‘Maybe I should have called ahead…’ Gabriel ponders about that as he waits for the lights to change, though he knows if he had called and told a day, he would have chickened out and not arrived. This had been more spur of the moment, but it was his decision, ‘Then again, I could have called them and talked with them again…fuck, I’m a coward…’
He finally got to the apartment building, now needing to steel himself to climb up and finally reunite with his siblings, ‘At least one at a time, Maggie should still be at school at this time…’
As he came to the door, he knocked thrice and waited. Not a minute later, someone comes to the door, unlocking it and, swinging open, reveals a women he had never seen before, but there is something familiar about her, “Yes?”
Gabriel blanched and started babbling, “Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to disturb you, I must’ve-”
The woman blinked in surprise before recognition hit, “Gabriel? Oh my goodness it’s been so long!”
“Wha…do we know each other?” Confusion was palpable.
She sheepishly rubbed her neck, “Well, I was once your neighbor, James Stone? My name is now Janice, though.”
“James…”
“Who’s at the door?” Michael’s voice drifted from inside, coming closer until he saw, “Gabriel! You’re finally here! Man, we have so much to catch up now!”
Now Gabriel was lost completely, “Wait, what is going on?”