Topsy Turvy

Need a Hand?

"And a low note to finish it off," Scanlan muttered to himself, writing the final chords to his newest piece. He began compiling the scattered pages strewn across the bed, but noticed that he was just two pages short. He looked all over the tangled sheets: no wonder he couldn't find anything.

He noticed a corner of a sheet of paper sticking out from behind the headboard.

"Aha!" he exclaimed, reaching down to grab it, but came up just shy. He strained and forced his arm deeper between the crack, but he could still barely graze the pages. He stretched as much as he could, finally snatching the papers he needed. Right before slipping in between the bed and wall. He was stuck up to his hips, legs kicking in the air wildly.

"No, oh no, this is bad!" He squirmed around to see if he could work himself free, but only made himself fall deeper into the crevice. He let out a panicked shriek when he dropped between a few more inches, thoroughly trapped.

Pride be damned, he needed help, and he didn't care who saw him like this, just as long as they got him out. So he started screaming.

"HELP! SOMEONE! HEEEELP I'M STUCK! he wailed from his upside down position, voice slightly muffled by the thick quilt he was yelling into.

He only had to yell for a minute or two before Pike followed the noise to its source.

"Whoa, hey, are you okay?" she asked upon seeing him and rushed to his side.

"PIKE! Oh thank the Gods! I'm saved!" he exclaimed, letting out a sigh of relief. She had to stifle a laugh as she stepped in the room, taking a closer look at Scanlan's predicament.

"How uh, how'd you get stuck like that?" she asked, a few sputtering chuckles slipping out.

"Wha- are you laughing at me?" he asked incredulously.

"I'm sorry, but have you seen yourself?" she justified, leaning against the bed. She looked around the headboard, trying to decide the best way to free her friend.

"Does it look like I have a mirror on hand?" he sassed, growing more annoyed the longer he was stuck. But he would blame it on all the blood rushing to his head, and the claustrophobia didn't help.

Pike smirked, "I could always just leave..."

"NO! Wait!" he screamed, worried his only chance at freedom was about to walk out the door. "Fuck, it's so cramped back here! Just- will you please help? I can't move," he admitted defeat, body going limp. Pike softened as she listened to his plight, smiling and rolling her eyes fondly.

"Yeah, whatever. You owe me," she said, hopping up onto the bed. "So, remind me how you got stuck?"

"Ugh, I was just trying to grab some sheet music I dropped, and I slipped," he explained.

"Maybe next time try reaching under the bed," she teased. Scanlan scoffed.

"Trust me, there won't be a next time, if I can help it. Now are you gonna help me or not?"

"Relax, will you? I'm helping," she brushed him off, tilting her head as she examined his position. "Okay, I think I can get you out."

"Oh great, you're not even sure?"

"Hey, I'm doin' my best here!" she whined playfully, grabbing ahold of his ankles. She pulled on his legs with all her might, but he barely moved an inch.

"Okay, ow, stop stop stop!" he yelled when he felt his legs pop out of socket for a split second. Pike held her hands up, immediately letting go at the first sign of distress.