Molly P.O.V.

The rest of the week was much less eventful and quietly slid in to the weekend without me dwelling on too many thoughts about Mr Stump. I hadn't mentioned the 'incident' by the lockers to Ray or Pete. They knew I got hassle on a regular basis, and would furiously defend me if they were there at the time, but I was used to brushing it off the best I could and I didn't want them to make a big thing of it. That's also the reason I've never said anything to my dads on the subject either. I could just do without their well-meaning interrogations and attempted interventions.

On Saturday it was Uncle Mikey's birthday, so Pa, Dad and I went over to spend the day with him and his girlfriend, Kristin.
It was sweet and cosy and full of giggles, and Mikey loved my gift of a new Anthrax hoodie and Pa and Dad's Harry Potter and Transformers boxsets.

There's the obligatory mountains of pizzas that are a staple to the Way-Iero diet and we all lounge around, playing games and teasing Dad quite a bit, as he's very easy to tease.

The incredibly sweet Kristin and I chat contentedly while all the men battle each other in an increasingly heated game of Left4Dead.

"AW FUCK, COME ON MAN!" Dad yells in frustration, throwing down his Xbox controller as he's killed yet again.

"I apologise on his behalf, girls," Pa rolls his eyes.

"Um, yeah, sorry. I'm an angry zombie-killed avatar."

---

Later on, Pa unleashes an unrelenting board game marathon and Mikey and I slip out to sit quietly on his balcony. His and Kristin's flat is very swish and, best of all, is right next to the river, the part where all the boats and swans congregate, perfect to relax by on such a warm September afternoon.

"So," he says, swigging from his drink. "Talk to me. How've you been?"

Uncle Mikey is one cool, laid-back dude, as well as being one of those precious few people (like seriously, I could probably count them on one hand) who I'm genuinely open and comfortable with. He's blunt and doesn't waste his words, but I think that's one of my favourite qualities about him. No waffling.

"Yeah. Good, I guess."

"Working hard?"

"Yes. Please feel free to repeat that answer to my dads."

"I might do. How're Ray and Pete?"

"Both good, they send birthday wishes by the way."

He nods with a soft "Cool, thank them from me," and fumbles for a cigarette, lighting it and blowing clouds of smoke out over the water, shimmering in the sunlight.

"Your Pa mentioned that you got on well with a new music teacher?"

"Uh yeah." My cheeks colour slightly. "Mr Stump. He's pretty cool."

"Good. Always so much easier when you get on with your teachers. Anyway. Any boys in the picture? Romantic-interest boys, I mean? Or girls, y'know. If that's more where you're headed? Which would be completely fine, obviously."

My mind momentarily flashes to a face with warm, sea-green eyes and plump, soft-looking lips, but I'm gonna stop where that thought's going right now.

"There's no-one. I'm not really interested in anything like that for the moment. Maybe wait until I've left school."

"Fair enough. Relationships can be hard work. Take a lot of attention too. Even crushes are very distracting. You're a smart girl."

"Heh. Thanks, Uncle Mikes. Besides, if I did bring anyone home I'm sure my dads would subject them to a full-on security assessment and be researching criminal records and stuff..."

Mikey chuckles. "They might be a bit over the top with the protectiveness at times, but it's just 'cause they love you. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, course I do. Just grates a bit, is all."

"But you are a teenager. You're always gonna find parents annoying at your age."

I just roll my eyes and smirk at him for that, and he grins around his cigarette as we settle back once more in to contented silence.

Notes

Fairly short chapter, but eyy, it's got Moikay so.
*cough* Feedback is always awesome :)