The Night We Met
by Abby Jimenez
Contents
39: Chris
Overview
Mike arrives shattered by Larissa’s breakup and spirals into heavy drinking. Back at the cabin, he drunkenly confronts Larissa and forcibly kisses her after eating macarons containing nuts, triggering her severe allergy. Chris administers epinephrine and then punches Mike. The incident exposes Mike’s dangerous behavior and escalates the rift among friends.
Summary
On a snowmobiling break at a rural bar, Mike tells Chris, Jesse, and Xavier that Larissa broke up with him but refuses details. Ignoring warnings and safety concerns, Mike begins taking shots and becomes increasingly belligerent. The friends spend hours trying to restrain him until the bartender finally cuts him off and ejects them.
They dress Mike for the cold and haul him back to the cabin by snowmobile. Chris heads inside to clear the women out, but Larissa, Heather, Samantha, and Becca are in the hot tub. As arguing erupts, Larissa enters and Mike, devastated, pleads with her. He corners Larissa, ignores her protests, and kisses her while Xavier, Jesse, and Chris try to pull him away.
Larissa suddenly reports tingling lips and asks if Mike ate nuts. Jesse finds half-eaten macarons in Mike’s room. Recognizing the danger, Chris directs the group: Samantha fetches Benadryl while Heather and Becca help Larissa rinse her mouth. Despite the antihistamine, hives and wheezing develop, confirming anaphylaxis.
Chris administers an EpiPen to Larissa’s thigh, stabilizing the immediate reaction. Overcome with anger at the reckless kiss after nut exposure, Chris turns to Mike and punches him, crystallizing the fracture in their friendship and underscoring the escalating consequences of Mike’s drinking and denial.
Who Appears
- ChrisPOV; tries to manage Mike, coordinates Larissa’s emergency care, administers EpiPen, then punches Mike.
- MikeReeling from breakup; gets drunk, forcibly kisses Larissa after eating macarons, triggering her allergy; devastated and out of control.
- LarissaRecently ended relationship with Mike; suffers anaphylaxis after Mike kisses her; receives Benadryl and epinephrine.
- JesseHelps wrangle Mike at the bar and cabin; finds the macaron packaging; assists in restraining Mike.
- XavierWarns against Mike drinking; helps restrain and manage Mike during the confrontation.
- HeatherAssists Larissa by rinsing her mouth and supporting her during the allergic reaction.
- SamanthaLocates Benadryl for Larissa during the emergency.
- BeccaHelps Heather rinse Larissa’s mouth and stands by during the crisis.
- WoofarineDog; snarls and pulls at Mike’s pant leg during the confrontation, adding urgency.