When Monday morning rolled around I was so tired, I was lucky to have even gotten out of bed. School was going to be over in three months, and I could not wait.

I hadn’t seen Frank, Ray, Bob, or Gerard and Mikey since Saturday, and I was craving another get together.

I don’t know what it had been that made me fall hopelessly in love with Gerard’s brother. He was soft, and awkward, and adorable, and I could only begin to imagine what it would feel like if we actually kissed.

Shoving the thoughts to the back of my mind I had begun to get ready for school. Making lunches, getting dressed, delivering lunches, and then walking to school with my little brother.

As we walked past our building, I realized that soon, I probably wouldn’t be living here anymore. Today I was going to talk to Harley to see if he even wanted to move in with Ray, half of me hoping he would say yes, the other half hoping for an undecided decision.

It’s not that I didn’t want to live with my dad or live in my home anymore. It was the fact that I could possibly have a normal life moving in with this guitar playing mortician. He had so casually and sweetly offered his home to me, that it was finally time I said yes to his offer.

That evening, after I had fed Harley dinner, I had him stay at the table so I could talk to him. Well, it was now or never.

“So Harley, if I told you we could live somewhere else what…what would you say to that?” I asked, tripping over my words.

He stared at me, clearly confused and said, “I think it’d be really cool! Well depending on where we go; but what about dad?”

I really should have thought this out before I sat down with him. I had no idea he was going to mention dad.

“Look Har…Dad’s not well. He hasn’t really been a father figure to you and he’s been drinking ever since mommy and him divorced…I just want to give you a normal life Harley.”

“Oh,” he said, sadness etched into his voice. “Where would we live if we move?”

“Mr. Toro. It seems like he really wants us to stay Harley, and he cares about you and me. I just want to know if you’d want to move.”

This was it. We were either staying here or moving. It was all up to Harley.

“Well I really like Mr. Toro and your other friends are really cool. If he really does care about us and wants us to live with him than why not? I’m happy if you’re happy Lina,” he smiled, showing off his teeth.

“Harley that really means the world to me. I’ll go and call up Ray or go and see him tomorrow and I’ll find out when we can leave. I really appreciate this Har,” I said graciously.

He just grinned a little wider, coming around the table to hug me. For an eight year old he had a pretty big incite on things, and I couldn’t be happier.

*

On Wednesday, Harley went over his friend Mark’s house after school. So where did I go? Over to Gerard’s house.

When I saw Frank the day before, he told me to come on over to see another practice. I happily obliged because I would do absolutely anything to see them all together and playing.

When I arrived in front of his house, his garage door was closed, but not all the way. I didn’t hear any music or singing, so I pulled open the door and headed inside.

The five boys were sitting in a circle on the floor just talking. Mikey noticed me first, looking up and smiling at me.

“Hey Alina, long time no see,” he said, motioning me over to him.

My cheeks heated up a bit and the other guys had noticed my presence.

“See, you can always count on Alina guys. I told you she’d come,” Frank smiled, as I sat down between him and Mikey.

“Great to see you again man,” Bob said.

I smiled, “What can I say? I just couldn’t stay away Bryar.”

We all laughed and I couldn’t have been happier.

As the time went by, we had gotten into deep conversation about ourselves; kind of like twenty-twenty questions. By the time I had to go home, I felt like I had known all of them for years.

When I had tried to get up from my position on the floor I noticed Mikey’s arm resting on my leg.

I stared down at my leg and then up at him, only to catch his gaze. His eyes were a deep brown, but you could see the sparks of hazel around his pupils, almost like it was seeping through the brown. It was amazing.

I snapped myself out of my trance before things got weird, and stood up abruptly, brushing off my jeans.

We all walked to the front of the house, and I pulled Ray over to the side to talk to him.

“Ray, I need to tell you something,” I started, slightly avoiding his gaze and staring at my shoes. I was really nervous.

He lifted my chin up softly, “What is it?”

“I was thinking about what you told me Saturday night, and well…I think I’m going to take you up on that offer.”

He looked at me for a minute before his lips broke out into a grin. “That’s amazing! Harley’s okay with the move and everything?”

“He’s totally fine with it, I spoke to him about it Monday night.”

“That just made my day even better. Whenever you’re ready to move in just let me know.”

I smiled; I should’ve known Ray would be totally ecstatic about this. “Alright so maybe Friday or next Monday?” I asked.

“Sounds like a plan, c’mon,” he said, walking back to the other guys.

“And since Ray did not bring his car, we have to walk home,” Frank was saying. I had just caught the end of his conversation.

“It’s cool, we can just walk the four of you home,” Gerard replied.

We started down the pavement, Gerard and Mikey’s house slowly slipping from my vision. As we walked Mikey’s hand kept brushing up against mine. I was getting redder by the moment. He must be doing this on purpose.

By seven o’clock we reached my apartment. I was the last to be dropped off. We had run a whole bunch of red crossing lights, j-walked half the time, but had to stop because Bob almost got ran over. Yeah, the old dude driving in his Cadillac was not a happy camper.

It was me, Mikey, and Gerard, just standing outside my apartment building. It was a good thing Harley had a set of keys to get into the house, or else he would’ve been waiting outside for who knows how long.

“Thanks for walking me home boys, I appreciate it,” I thanked.

They both shrugged. “Not a problem,” Gerard yawned.

“Is someone tired?” I asked in a baby tone.

He laughed and nodded, getting a chuckle out of me and his brother.

“Well, I guess this is where we depart. I had a really nice time with you guys. I hope next time I see you, I can watch you practice,” I said, thinking back to earlier today. We had just sat around the garage talking.

“I hope so to. The door’s open anytime Alina,” Gerard smiled.

“Thanks. G’night,” I said, kissing both of the brothers on the cheek.

I backed up towards my door smiling at the both of them. Mikey had his hand faintly touching his cheek, and Gerard just laughed, grabbed his brother by his limp arm and dragged him around the corner, hollering a goodnight.

I quickly opened my door and shut it behind me, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

Jogging down the hallway, I raced up the stairs and to my apartment door.

When I got inside, Harley was nowhere to be seen, and all the lights were out. He must’ve gone to bed.

I peered into his room to see him snuggled up under the covers. I kissed his exposed forehead, whispering goodnight before going to my own bedroom.

After changing and attempting to make as little noise as possible while brushing my teeth in the bathroom, I laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling in the pitch black room.

A year ago I would’ve thought it was weird for me to be hanging out with a bunch of twenty year olds, but now that I’m one myself…not much to be weirded out by.

I don’t know how long I stared up at that ceiling, but before I knew it, my eyelids had fluttered closed, engulfing me in much needed sleep.

A loud knock at God knows when in the morning, woke me up in a rush. Who the hell was knocking on my door at like four in the morning? Out of all the time in the day.

I grumbled, heaving myself out of bed and to the front door. I switched on the little lamp on the table by the door, squinting when the light hit my eyes.

When I opened the door, Mikey Way was standing in the doorway. Okay this was weird.

“Mikey?” I asked, rubbing my eyes. “What are you do-“

I hadn’t been able to finish my sentence because his lips crashed onto mine, his hands gripping either side of my face.

My eyes widened at first, but then slowly fluttered closed as I gave in, my arms moving to his neck and his to my waist.

I wasn’t sure how long we kissed. It seemed like an eternity, and I was enjoying every minute of it. I guess the feeling of love I had for him was mutual.

When he pulled away, I slightly whimpered, following his lips as they parted from my own. To this he chuckled, planting a short yet sweet kiss on my lips to satisfy me.

“I’m in love with you,” he said. “I’m sorry I came so late, but it’s been eating me alive all night and I had to come and-“ I put a finger to his lips to shush him; which he did.

“You don’t even have to explain yourself Mikeyway. I’m in love with you too.”

Notes

Well, that was interesting.
Thank you for keeping up with my updates and such. I have the rest of the story pretty much planned out, so it may be shortly coming to an end.
I want to thank each and every one of you for your comments and to subscribing to my fic. It means the world. I love you all.
xoxopoison