She sat with her back against the arm of the couch, her legs thrown over Mikey's as they binge watched Buffy on Netflix. It was quiet, they didn't really speak, almost in a trance as they boredly watched Buffy and Angel talk intensely in the dark – rewatching Buffy from the beginning was a bitch, but her and Mikey were dedicated to the cause, spending their last days of summer vegging out and ignoring the duties of real life. Instead, thrusting themselves into the fantasy world of vampires, slayers, witches, and monsters.

They'd much rather spend their time on a couch, watching Whedon-verse or Comic-book adaptations than deal with other people.

It had been about a year and a half since she'd first started hanging out with Gerard, and by proxy, Mikey. A year and a half since she accepted Gerard's invitation to help out with the after-school program. In that year and a half, she'd had another birthday, another school year, and more time than she could count spent with one or two of the Way boys.

Her parents hadn't minded in the slightest that she had begun to spend time with the Way brothers outside of church, they were good boys, the sons of the Minister, her parents trusted them implicitly. It also hadn't hurt that it raised their social standing a bit within the church community, not that her parents ever really cared about that at all. But, now the Addams and the Ways had dinners and barbeques, got together after church on sundays, and picked up each others children when one family couldn't.

Her parents liked Mikey, he was shy and quiet, polite and sincere. They thought he was a good companion for their daughter, even if the boy was two and a quarter years older than her. He waited for her after school, and they walked home together, Gerard driving them when he was free. And once Mikey had gotten his license, he drove them to and fro school everyday.

Her parents liked Mikey, but, it was a little obvious that they liked Gerard even more. She found her mother gushing after the boys had left, about just how nice Gerard was; charming, kind. How he always made eye contact and remembered the slightest of details, proving that he paid close attention when they spoke.

She liked that her mother liked Gerard, but, she wondered how much her mother would like him if she knew what he was really like behind the facade.

She had grown closer to him, not just Mikey. Even with the odd six year age difference between them, she could confidently call Gerard her best friend, outside of his brother. They were her closest friends now, she texted them when she was bored, when she needed help, when she had a question. She ran to them when she needed something, when she was tired and didn't want to walk, when she was sad. She yelled at them when she was frustrated at someone else, made them make her feel better, lounged with them when there was nothing else to do.

She had never been a touchy-feely person, she was an only child and didn't associate with people in that way, but since becoming close with the Way boys, she'd found herself constantly touching them. Whether it be draping her legs across theirs, as she was doing now with Mikey, or leaning into them when they stood, she found herself doing it almost unconsciously.

She was more comfortable doing it with Mikey, maybe because she didn't have feelings for him the same way she had feelings for Gerard. She had given up pretending it was merely a crush brought on by the mere fact that he was kind to her. This was no crush. This was feelings, genuine feelings for the older boy. She was fucked.

Sometimes she found herself leaning into him when he draped his arm across her shoulders in a side-hug. Smoothing a stray piece of hair that had somehow fallen out of his perfect coif. Gripping his broad shoulders a little tightly when he trotted around with her on his back at her insistence.

But, she was never as casually comfortable touching him as she was with Mikey – who she practically laid herself on whenever she felt like it. She punched him in his shoulders, messed up his already disheveled hair, threw her legs on, tackled when he was making fun of her, wiped the tears away when he once broke down and told her of his depression. She was closer to Mikey in a way she wasn't with Gerard. She wondered if it made him jealous, it certainly made her jealous – which admittedly made no sense.

She sighed and sifted slightly, getting a bit more comfortable as they watched on in boredom, their very last day of freedom before returning to school. She was starting the ninth grade tomorrow, she could really care less, but it meant that she was now on the same schedule as Mikey. She hoped they had lunch together, maybe a study hall.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a quick knock at the door, she knew who it was and didn't bother to raise her eyes from the tv screen and just yelled out, “It's open.”

Gerard pushed through the door, closing it behind him and made his way into the living room where he knew his brother and Evie would be. This is where they'd spent the majority of their summer, on a couch – usually at Evie's empty place, sometimes at their house – binge watching bullshit tv shows and movies.

He walked in and they looked up briefly to give him a wave of acknowledgement before returning to the show that had captured their attention. They were watching Buffy, which made him laugh. Mikey slumped down on the left side of the couch, Evie's pale legs thrown over his lap, his arms resting atop them. They both looked tired and bored, but somehow still paying attention to the tv.

He was use to seeing them this way, all lazy and together. There was a small part of him, a very, very small part, that was jealous that his brother was experiencing things with girls that he could not.

It wasn't particularly mandatory that he stay celibate, but it was expected. Especially since he hadn't completed his training.

Even still, most girls didn't want to be with someone so churchy, he gagged at the word. Girls his age wanted to fuck and be fucked, yeah he wanted to fuck too, but that wasn't something he was allowed to do, so he didn't blame the girls for not sticking around. As of right now, the only female action he got was his mother's hugs and Evie's touches – which were far and few in between.

She didn't touch him the same way she did with his brother. Maybe it was out of respect for his position with God, or maybe she was just more comfortable with Mikey, either way it made him a little jealous.

He liked Evie, she was a good kid and a close friend. He spoke with her candidly, the way he'd always had since they started spending time together after school. There had just been something about her that made him comfortable, that made him daring. He had cursed in the house of God, just to see her smile or smirk, to hear that chuckle, to pull some emotion out of her hard eyes. He had been his natural sarcastic and biting self, not at all weary that she'd find it inappropriate or rude. She had been different, and she had been his. Until he introduced Mikey into the picture.

He'd always wanted them to spend time with one another, since the first time she'd sought out his gaze during sermon, to when he'd approached her about coming to their after-school program. He'd always known that she and his brother would get along, it was the eyes, the demeanor, they were just so alike.

He hadn't expected them to hit it off so quickly though, seeing as Mikey had put up a whiney front about not wanting to spend time with babies down at the church during his free time. But, as soon as they'd actually sat together and talked, it was clear that his younger brother was taken with the young girl as he was. They had become fast friends, finding much in common despite the slight age difference between them.

And as the time passed, they had only grown closer, where as he had grown older.

He and Evie were close, there was no doubt about that in anyone's mind. She came to him with things that she didn't tell Mikey, or anyone. She texted him when she couldn't sleep, knowing now that he was a night owl by nature, or when she was pissed at his brother for something stupid. She still smiled at him in that way she had on that first day, with her piercing eyes, and the small upturn of her lips. She didn't smile like that for Mikey, no, his smiles were wide and open. Her smile for Gerard was different, just like their friendship.

There was a part of him that felt weird for being close to a fourteen year old while he was nineteen. He knew that in any normal circumstances he'd be considered Humbert Humbert, and she'd be Lolita. But, it wasn't like that. He was a good boy, a charming Preacher that played by the rules. Besides, it wasn't like that between them, he didn't think of little Evie Addams that way. She was his friend, nothing more.

He had hopes that her and Mikey would eventually end up together, that way she would stay their friend forever. Even with the small part of him that was jealous that his younger brother got to be free when he was stuck playing by his father's rules, he wanted them to be together. He wanted his brother to be happy, he wanted Evie to be happy, and he wanted them all to remain the way they were now; close, friendly, family-like.

Mikey never said anything about liking Evie, Gerard could tell he was a little weirded out by the notion seeing as he was turning seventeen and she was still a baby. But, she was Mikey's best friend outside of Frank, it would just make sense for them to end up together. There was still time.

He pushed his way into the living room, coming to stand in front of the couch, in between Mikey and Evie. He waited patiently for a moment as they continued to watch the tv, until Evie got the hint and lifted her legs up in the air and waited until Gerard sat down before dropping them again.

Gerard let out a small oomph, moving her thighs just slightly. “Watch where you drop those things.”

“Fuck off.” She didn't even look away form the screen.

He smirked. She was spending too much time with them.

They sat like that for a while, watching the next episode and the one after that, not speaking, not moving, not doing anything. He had zoned out, only coming into focus as she felt her move slightly against him, trying to get more comfortable. Her ass was pushed into his thigh, her head resting on the arm of the couch, her hands placed on her stomach as she watched. She was in a pair of shorts and a baggy t-shirt that might've actually belonged to him at some point in his life before being passed down to Mikey, he couldn't be sure though.

She looked older as he looked upon her, he hadn't realized just how much older she was since the first time he'd met her. She wasn't twelve turing thirteen anymore, she wasn't a little girl on the brink of teenagedom. She didn't look like Mikey anymore – all lanky and lean, not fitting into herself yet. She was tall and older, and didn't look like a little girl anymore; it kind of freaked him out a bit.

She felt his staring and turned from the tv to face him, her hard eyes piercing his own with questioning, she raised a brow in a striking impression of him. He let his eyes trace over the pale expanse of her skin, the intensity of her sea green gaze, her full lashes and bored expression, before pushing her face with his hand jokingly and looking back towards the tv.

It was going to be hard to leave her, but he had to.

He wasn't sure how to tell her, how to let her know that he was leaving tomorrow and wouldn't be back for years. She wouldn't take it well, he knew that, but she would've taken it worse if he'd told her any sooner. She would've tried to find a way to fight it, to get him to stay, and knowing him, he would have.

But, this wasn't up for discussion, it was mandatory. He was going. That was that.

“Is anyone else starving?”

Neither Evie or Mikey's eyes rose from the tv screen. “I could be down with food.” Mikey croaked to life from his side of the couch. Gerard wondered if this was how he kept from telling Evie about his impending departure, never pulling his attention away from Buffy.

“What kind?” Evie spoke up.

“I don't care.” He answered, watching as his brother and the girl thought it over. “Pizza?”

“Pizza.” They agreed.

Gerard ordered and once it arrived, they managed to pull themselves away from the couch for a few moments. He felt worried. She wasn't going to take this well, he knew that. The three of them were eating quietly, Spike's loud british voice stealing their attention.

“Evie.”

“Hmm.” She flicked her eyes up to his before looking back at the tv.

“Evie.” The tone in his voice caught her attention and the look in his eyes made her gaze stay this time. “I need to talk to you about something.”

Her brows furrowed, those piercing eyes of hers narrowed a bit in questioning. “About what?” She looked between the two Way boys, Mikey looking both equally guilty and sad, Gerard looking serious and worried. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I'm,” He looked to Mikey for help, who was focusing intently on the scene the tv was playing out and ignoring them. Gerard sighed, looking back at her. “I'm leaving tomorrow.”

“Excuse me?” She questioned. “Leaving where? I thought you were going to see Mike and I off tomorrow?”

“It's sort of the other way around. You're going to be seeing me off tomorrow, before school.” The confusion and anger filling her eyes told him that he had been right in his assumption. “I'm... leaving on a missionary trip for the church.”

He watched as her sea glass eyes hardened over, like stone at his confession. “You're what?” Her voice was loud and angry, he was glad her parents weren't home to hear it. “For how long? Why didn't you tell me sooner than this?”

It was now or never, Gerard prayed for strength as the words left his mouth. “The process normally takes anywhere from one to three years. I know this is – ”

“One to three years. Is this a fucking joke, or something?”

He sighed, “No.”

She jumped to her feet, away from him, but he could still feel the scorching heat of her gaze. “We've been wasting our time doing nothing and you're leaving tomorrow for a hundred fucking years. Are you kidding me?”

“Evie, I'm sorry.” He moved towards her, but she moved away from him, that betrayed, angry look never leaving her face. “I didn't want to tell you sooner because I was afraid that's all you'd think about, that you wouldn't enjoy your summer.”

She turned towards his brother, who was awkwardly pretending like he didn't exist. At least he had the sense to look afraid when she rounded on him. “And you. How long have you known about this?”

Mikey's mouth opened to answer, his scared eyes seeking Gerard out to ask for the right answer. “Evie, it's not Mikey's fault.”

“I'm not talking to you, asshole.” She narrowed her hard eyes at him.

Gerard sighed, “Is this really how you want to spend your last night with me?” It was a low blow, he knew, but an effective one.

The fire was still in her eyes, her mouth set into a thin line, but he knew what her answer would be. “No.” She ground out. “But since you decided telling me now was a good idea, all you're going to get is an angry Evie tonight.”

“I really am sorry, Eve.” She normally hated her name being shortened, but she let Gerard get away with it more often than not. Hearing her name tumble from his lips sent a sadness to her heart. When was the next time she'd hear him say that? “I know you're mad, but, please just realize this is something I just have to do. If I had a choice, it would be to stay here with you two.”

She crossed her arms tight across her chest, “But you do have a choice, don't you.” She countered, her voice like liquid metal. “You've just chosen to do something that you don't want to do so your father will be happy.”

He tried not to let the honesty her words reflected reveal him. He didn't want to go. This wasn't what he wanted to do. But, it was what was expected of him, what his father wanted. So, he would do it – he was doing it. He loved Evie, he truly did, but she couldn't change what was happening and needed to get over it.

“This is happening whether you like it or not. I'm sorry that I waited to tell you, but get over yourself and stop being a brat. We have a few hours left together and I'd rather not spend them fighting like this.”

It was silent in the room for a moment, the sounds of Giles speaking in his clipped british timbre the only thing cutting through the tension in the room. Her hard ocean eyes were intently staring into his, he hadn't seen them this closed off since she was a child, the thought made him feel guilty. The seconds turned to minutes, no one moved or said a word, until she moved towards him, pulled back her arm and landed a punch to his cheek.

She moved away, shaking out her hand, eyes narrowed. He stumbled back, clutching his now aching cheek. She had hit him, actually hit him. Her aim was a bit off, seeing as how he was pretty sure she'd never punched anyone before, but the force had been there. She gave him one last look before storming off upstairs to her bedroom.

Gerard looked to Mikey, who was in shock and confusion over what just occurred. “Maybe you shouldn't have called her a brat?” He tried.

Gerard rolled his eyes and stalked off after her up the stairs. Her door was shut, so he knocked on it gently and called out her name. When he got no reply he tried again and opened the door slowly. She was on her bed, staring up at her ceiling and those tacky stick on stars he'd once helped her rearrange into constellations.

“Evie.”

She didn't move from her spot, she didn't even look up at him. “I can't believe you didn't tell me.”

He sighed, moving into her room and coming to sit at the end of her bed. “I'm sorry.”

“You're leaving. For basically ever. And you didn't even tell me.” She brought her gaze to his, “I thought we were friends.”

“We are friends. That's why I didn't tell you sooner. I knew you would be upset, I knew you'd protest and try and abort the mission, but, I have to go. And if you had begged, I might've tried to find a way out of it, and I can't.” He held her gaze, “I just can't, Evie.”

“I'm so annoyed at you.” She sighed.

“Yeah, well, the feelings kind of mutual seeing as you just punched me.”

She smirked sadly at him, leaning up to inspect his cheek. It wasn't that red, she wasn't even sure it would actually bruise. “Come on, I'll get you some ice, you big baby.”

Evie stood from the bed and he followed suit, once they were both standing and headed for the door, he grabbed her arm and pulled her into a hug. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around his middle and he held her to him with his hands over her shoulders. “I wish I could stay, and I will miss you.”

He felt her sigh, “I know.” She muttered into his chest. “And, I'm sorry for reacting like that.”

“I honestly expected nothing less.”

She sighed, pulling away from him. That sad look lingering in the sea glass of her gaze. “Come on.” She gestured for him to follow her back downstairs. “We've only got four more hours before you have to go home, we've got some serious friend-time to fit in.”

He followed her honey hair, tried to burn the image of her just as she was now into his mind. He never wanted to forget her like this – sassy, spritely and fierce. She was his little warrior girl, the heroine of the comic he'd yet to write, he wanted to remember her forever just as she was now. Because, who knew when the next time he'd see her would be, she might not be the same person by then.

She arched a brow over her shoulder at him and he couldn't help bu smirk at her. Inside, he was dreading being the good son.

Notes