38. Rising Temperature, original chapter posted 5/27/07

Page 9 of 14

Rising Temperature — Page 9

Transcript

Transcript

*Abbey leans angrily toward Mike.*
Mike: Abbey, I didn’t mean to..
Abbey: She’s been so confused, Michael.. dealing with YEARS of rejection after your **CRUEL, SELF-CENTERED BEHAVIOR!!
*Mike, frightened, holds up his hands to keep Abbey away.*
Mike: Abbey, chill out.. I can’t--

Abbey: AND NOW WHEN SHE NEEDS YOU MOST, YOU DON’T EVEN PRETEND TO LISTEN!!
*Mike shrinks back, terrified.*
Mike: Guh..

*Mike carefully reaches for Abbey, who’s clenching a shaking fist.*
Mike: Abbey.. Seriously, just take a moment--

Abbey: STOP AVOIDING THE DAMN SUBJECT!!
*Abbey bares his teeth and shoves Mike away with both hands, shocking him.*
Mike: Aughh!!

*Abbey shakes with fury. His lowered hand clenches into a fist again.*
Abbey: She cares about YOU more than anyone else. A single kind word would mean so much to her, and yet I’m stuck here watching helplessly, while Daisy spirals out of control..
*Mike, on his hands and knees, tries to catch his breath.*
Mike:

Abbey: And you just PLAY DUMB, even NOW! Are you just afraid to admit you aren’t the sweet and caring guy everyone SAYS you are??
*Mike grits his teeth.*
Mike:

*Abbey angrily aims a punch at Mike, who catches Abbey’s fist in his palm. Mike snarls into Abbey’s shocked face.*
Mike: LEAVE ME ALONE!!

*Mike glares at Abbey, clutching Abbey’s hand in his and keeping it still.*
Mike: What are you blaming ME for?! If Daisy’s so important, why don’t you-
Abbey: I TOLD you! I tried, but--

*Mike smacks Abbey on the arm hard enough to make him wince in pain.*
Mike: STOP MAKING EXCUSES!!
Abbey: I HAVE NO EXCUSES! IT’S YOU SHE NEEDS TO HEAR FROM AND YOU WON’T--

*Mike pushes Abbey back, staggering him.*
Mike: SHUT UP!!
*Abbey’s eyes go wide with fear.*
Abbey: Ughh!
*Mike looks furious.*
Mike: Don’t pin this on me! Do you even know what it’s LIKE having to grow up with someone like Lucy??

*Mike’s teeth are bared in a grimace.*
Mike: _She NEEDS me! And it’s NOTHING else!
*Abbey winces in pain as Mike grips both of his fists.*
Abbey: LET ME GO!!

*Mike gets in Abbey’s face, yelling.*
Mike: You think I wouldn’t cut her off if I could?! You think I WANT this? It’s not easy taking on someone who DEPENDS on you!

Molly: S-stop! Let him go!
*Mike freezes in shock.*
Mike: !

*Molly gets between Abbey and Mike, arms spread protectively. She stares defiantly at Mike.*

*Molly scowls at Mike, tears welling up in her eyes.*
Molly: Don’t hurt Abbey! I don’t want him to go to the hospital!

*Molly starts to tremble.*
Molly: If he does, he might not come back..
*Mike backs up, shocked.*
Mike:

*Mike looks in horror at his hand, still outstretched from when he grabbed Abbey.*
Mike:

*Mike relaxes and puts his hand on the back of his neck as he looks up, ashamed.*

Author commentary

Veronica: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

In the original version of this comic, I made Molly quite frail and weepy, like totally innocent and vulnerable.. but Molly really isn’t like that, personality-wise. Maybe when she was a baby, but the Molly we see later has a lot of confidence so I felt it much more fitting for her to come in angry and defiant (though still crying!)

I also like Mike being all “Uhh, you didn’t see that” (being his claws) rather than his dramatic LOOKING TO THE SIDE in the final panel, he’s just plain embarrassed in this revised version, as he should be!

A preview of the upcoming BCB page.

Reader comments

Comment ID #19563

I think Mike is mostly ashamed because if you look closely in panel 17, you can see just how close Mike was to actually clawing Abbey.

Koren Korca May 10, 2010, 3:17 PM EDT.

Comment ID #137279

Abbey’s very Daisy-empathic, but she’s so focused on Mike, she doesn’t notice. Looking for love, in all the wrong places. Ironic, yes?

Hoheh December 18, 2010, 2:00 AM EST.

Comment ID #153550

Is it just me, or does Mike have a habit of accidentally pointing out peoples’ issues, saying that they’re his, and saying that the person doesn’t understand him.
Maybe not so much a habit as just doing it every now and then.
First Chirpy, now Abbey

Nithros March 27, 2011, 8:53 PM EDT.

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