As Michelle and Shelby approached the campfire, Michelle noticed with a bit of distress that Mike wasn't present there.
"He's out looking for you," Tom told her, a surly tone in his voice as he slammed down another beer. "What the fuck is up with you, huh?"
Tom worried her when he was like this. He had a very ugly side that came out when he drank. Michelle could almost feel the implications of violence rolling off of him in waves of invisible energy.
"Tom, calm down," Shelby said quietly, laying one of her hands upon his chest. "Michelle drank some of the water a few hours ago, and she's feeling the effects." Tom's posture immediately changed from one of aggression to one of sympathy. Michelle took a moment to think of how odd it was that Shelby could calm him with just a few simple words.
Tom was a big guy-around six feet four inches, and rippled with muscle. There were few people that Michelle knew who were more imposing than he was. He was rather known for his callous remarks and his heroic consumption of booze and drugs, which had cost him a scholarship at Penn State. All in all, he was a "man's man".
Shelby, on the other hand, barely topped five feet tall, and weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet. She was a petite blond, delicate in many ways, both physical and mental. She loved the sappy movies that Tom hated, and had a bit of an affinity for anything "cute and adorable", be it a puppy or kitten, or even a baby hamster. Yet somehow she could quell his rage with little more than a phrase or a gentle touch. Truly, it seemed to Michelle, that they were made for each other.
Michelle's analytic reverie was cut short, however, by the next words from Tom's mouth. "So how much longer does she have?" he asked, sounding rather unconcerned.
"WHAT???" yelped Michelle, panic causing her heart to race. "What do you mean, 'how much longer does she have'???"
"Calm down, Michelle. Everything's going to be fine, "shelby said, reassuringly.
"Calm down? Calm DOWN? I've only got hours left to live, and you're telling me to calm down??"
"Michelle...cool it, okay?" Shelby said, sounding irked. "You're not going to die, alright?"
"But..but.." sputtered Michelle.
"Look, let me explain. I promise you'll understand everything when I'm through."