"So how did you do on the test Davy?"

Mikey didn't even need to hear words. He saw David's expression. David had gone from and A- student to barely a C since their brother had gone missing. Mikey just made hot chocolate with a little peppermint and then sat with his brother as they watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas and wondered if Gee was watching it too.

*

*

*

"Yes! TV while we eat!"

"Dude the Grinch is on!"

"The movie?"

"No man the cartoon!"

Brendon pumped his fist in the air and Ryan did a little dance. Frank laughed. He loved his strays so much. He watched as Bert handed out food to everything. A Caesar chicken wrap for Ryan, Italian combo with hot peppers for Brendon, veggie spiniach wrap for Frank, Meat ball hero for Bert and their newest stray was handed a chicken salad sandwich, extra mayo.

"So Gee, do you like the Grinch?"

Gee's eyes clouded with sadness...he nodded as he unwrapped his lunch.
He remembered watching the Grinch with his brothers last year...he guessed he wouldn't be doing that again.

"Wait Ry, Gee is sad. Maybe we should watch something else instead."

"No no..."

Gee said quick, but quiet.

"I-it's ok...w-we can w-watch it if y-you w-want."

The boys looked at Frank for direction.

"How about we have story time instead?"

Gee looked at him in confusion.

"S-story time?"

"Yeah, we did this when Lindsey came along too."

"Who gets to go first?"

"Bert should cos he's been here the longest!"

Brendon and Ryan scooted closer to the table and made room for Gee to move up.

"Alright, where should I start?"

"Start from Utah!"

"Alright, so...Hi, my name is Bert and I'm a Gay Stray of Frankie's."

Gee's eyes went wide...it sounded like an AA meeting he'd seen in a movie they showed at school last year...kind of.

"Hi Bert!"

Everyone shouted out at once. Bert smiled shyly.

"So, I've been one of Frank's strays for...six years. It started when I was not quite 18. My mormon parents caught me with my boyfriend...okay fine we were doing acid in a kiddie pool at three am, but details..."

Gee realised that maybe this wasn't really like that movie after all.

"...so I ended up running away with him to the Big Apple, but a week in, after we met a new dealer, I caught him fucking him instead of paying for drugs properly. Well that was a deal breaker for me, but I forgot that it was the dealer's run down apartment building so I go kicked out and they took all my shit."

Gee was sat with his eyes and mouth wide open, his sandwich halfway to his mouth.

"Anyway, I wandered the street for bit, then I started to whore myself out and it was alright for a bit, but then it got bad in the winter time and that's around the time I met Frankie."

Gee dropped his sandwich...luckily it landed on the table.

"Y-you did...that?"

"Well he didn't fuck me, if that's what you are thinking."

"Bert! He's a minor for fuck sake!"

"Oh, I'll bet he's had a boyfriend already, haven't you Gee? Anyway..."

Frank noticed that Gee looked away. Perhaps he wasn't as innocent as Frank thought he was.

"...and after we ate at the diner, he insisted in paying me for the night, but did nothing with me. He brought me to his apartment and we slept in separate beds. The next morning he pulled some Pretty Woman shit on me and offered to pay me for the week. He wouldn't let me have any drugs and actually convinced me to detox."

Gee blinked rapidly...this was so much to take in, and he had the feeling that story time wasn't going to get any tamer with Brendon and Ryan telling each of theirs next.

"You were there longer than a week Bert."

"I know! I never left!"

Frank turned to Gee.

"See Gee?...each one of these boys was on the street like you. I helped them out in various ways and got them back on their feet. Now they are all clean..."

"And sober! "

Brendon beamed and Ryan hit him.

"You aren't supposed to be proud to be an alcoholic at 17 stupid."

"Hey! Don't tell my story, I want to do it!"

"Y-you d-drank?"

Gee stuttered out quietly.

"Yeah, I was a fucking lush. I would give back alley blow jobs to grown men to get them to buy me cheap vodka. One day I propositioned Frankie. He said no of course, but he came back with juice instead. I was a moron and mixed it with the cheap alcohol I had. Then one time a guy wanted more than a blow job. I said no and he hit me over the head with the bottle. Frankie was coming to bring me more juice and stopped the guy. He brought me to his and Bert's apartment and dried me out. It was rough going, but I got through it."

"It s-sounds rough."

Gee whispered, placing a small pale hand on Brendon's arm and smiling sympathetically at him.

"B-but y-you're OK now?"

"Oh yes and I have not had a drop even though I am nearly old enough to drink now."

Brendon beamed with pride.

Gee smiled, withdrawing his hand to pick his sandwich back up.

"Ryan was a little bit different though."

"Yeah, his addiction was not completely illegal."

Both Brendon and Bert nodded.

Gee tilted his head as he looked at the taller boy curiously. He swallowed his bite of sandwich before asking.

"W-what d-does that m-mean?"

Ryan finished chewing the small bite of his sandwich. Out of all of them he looked like he had barely eaten anything at all.

"I was kind of addicted to not eating?"

Gee looked down, shuffling uncomfortably in his seat...he had never been addicted as such, but he had gone long periods without really eating when his dad had first started being nasty about his weight. He put the rest of his sandwich down on its wrapper on the table, and picked up a juice box to sip.

"I was bad. When Frankie found me on the street I was like 85 lbs."

Gee swallowed his mouthful of apple juice, still looking down. He didn't weigh much more than that, but he was that bit shorter.

Ryan took another small bite.

"What was crazy was I was not homeless."

Gee looked up slowly.

"B-but..."

He didn't get it.

"I got kicked out cos I was too fat."

Gee screwed his face up in confusion.

"But y-you're not."

"Ryan's family are professional models."

Brendon took a huge bite of his Italian combo.

"He has like four sister and...six brothers?"

Ryan took a sip of his green tea.

"Yeah, plus with my parents being pros, it was really hard. I am the middle child, like literally of the eleven of us."

Gee's eyes widened.

"E-eleven?...wow."

"Yeah, so you would think when you fuck up and eat a mini snickers, it would be easy to hide, but nope, my brothers rat me out. I had to go on a strict diet, I had to take diet pills, I had a rigorous exercise regime."

"Th-that's s-stupid...y-you're so th-thin."

Gee said, his frown growing deeper...how could parents treat their son like that...oh wait, he remembered...his dad practically had.

"Yeah, I know that now thanks to Frankie and the other strays, but it was a battle for them."

"We couldn't let Ry go to the bathroom by himself. We had to search him for diuretics all the time."

Gee felt sick...these guys had been through so much...what if they thought he was a fraud? Just looking for attention?
He hung his head, hiding in his hair as he finished his juice.

"Okay, so now it's your turn Gee."

Brendon finished the last of his sandwich.

"Fuck Brendon, you inhaled that shit!"

"Yeah, and I'm still hungry."

"You can have the other half of mine then."

"Ryan..."

Frank looked at the young man.

"What, I'm really full. Look, I finished the half and I drank my green tea!"

"No bathroom without Brendon."

"Yeah, I know."

Gee looked up slightly through his hair. He chewed nervously on his lip as everyone turned to look at him expectantly.
What if it wasn't enough? What if they threw him out? What if they sent him home?
His hands were shaking so he put the empty juice box down and wrapped his arms around himself.

"My...my d-dad..."

He stammered quietly.

"He c-caught m-me..."

His breathing hitched as he started to recall that day with Ray...the day his life fell apart.

Everyone leaned in expectantly.

A tear slipped from Gee's eye, but his hair was still over his face for the most part, so he let it go. He swallowed heavily before continuing.

"...with m-my...boyf-friend."

He sniffed.

"Were you fucking?"

"Blowing him?"

"Maybe they were fucking each other."

"Guys, stop."

Frank could see that Gee was really upset.

Gee pulled his feet up onto the edge of the seat and wrapped his arms around his knees, his face buried in his arms.

"K-kissing."

He mumbled out.

"KISSING?!"

Everyone exclaimed at once making Gee jump and shake more.

"Alright, that's enough!"

Frank stepped over and picked up the frightened boy.

"Everyone go take a walk...now!"

The young men got up with no question and left the store. Frank carried Gee to the sofa and laid him down gently, with his lap as the pillow.

"Kitten, come on Kitten, talk to me."

He carded his fingers softly through his hair.

Gee trembled.

"We...we'd o-only b-been going out a sh-short t-t-time..."

Tears started to fall harder.

"It...it was h-homec-coming. He...he g-gave m-me his c-class ring..."

He sobbed, fingers gripping onto the leg of Frank's jeans.

"He d-drove m-me home and k-kissed m-me...but d-d-d-dad s-saw and w-went n-nuts."

Gee broke down, unable to get his shaky words out.

"Oh Kitten. He kicked you out because of that?"

Gee shook his head, tears and snot smearing on Frank's jeans.

"N-no...he...he p-punched R-Ray, th-then d-dragged me ins-side and b-b-beat m-me."

Frank was internally raging. How could anyone hurt a sweet kid like Gee.

"It didn't stop did it?"

"N-no...David and M-Mikey came h-home a-and t-tried to st-stop him so h-he s-sent th-them away t-to m-m-militar-ry sch-ool...He t-told m-mum that th-they b-beat m-me."

"So you had no one to protect you, did you?"

Frank watched the boy shake his head. He swallowed hard before he asked the next question. He really didn't want the answer though.

"Did he...hurt you in...other ways?"

Gee looked up through wet and red eyes.

"He h-hit and k-kicked a-and f-forced m-me..."

He choked at how he'd had to stop seeing Ray...and anyone else who might help him.

Frank closed his eyes and tilted his head up. The last thing he wanted to hear was this poor creature had been raped. Still he had to know.

"Go on Kitten, tell me."

Gee sniffed.

"He f-forced m-me to n-not s-s-see Ray or any-one at sc-school."

"And...anything else?"

"He s-said I'm f-fat..."

Gee whimpered.

"A f-fat, ugly f-f-faggot."

"So he never...touched you?"

Gee tilted his head slightly.

"He h-hit m-me..."

He thought he'd already said that.

"The...the d-day b-before David a-and M-Mikey were s-sup-posed t-to come h-home f-for our b-birthd-day...d-d-dad b-b-b-beat m-me unc-conscious..."

He sobbed desperately, his lip trembling as his fingers gripped tighter to Frank's leg.

"I w-woke up and i-it w-was dark...s-so I p-packed and l-left."

"How long before Bert and I found you were you on the street?"

"D-don't know...I l-lost t-track..."

Gee thought for a moment.

"I r-ran away on A-April n-ninth."

"Eight months Kitten."

Frank took a breath before asking the next question.

"How long were you...turning tricks?"

Gee tilted his head, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked up at Frank.

"Tricks?...w-what's th-that?"

"You know...when you...for money?"

Gee pushed himself upright, turning his body toward Frank, his confusion causing his tears to stop.

"When I...?"

"Well, I mean when we found you..."

Frank was sweating now. What if he insulted the boy? What if he decided to leave. He back peddled.

"Bathroom."

Frank stood up and ran to the bathroom. He cursed at himself in the mirror.

"Stupid ass."

Gee looked at the bathroom door in confusion. Did he say something wrong? Why did Frank run off like that?...Did he hate him now?

Gee sobbed and pulled his knees back up to his chest...did he really just mess this up? Was he about to be kicked out?

He looked through his fresh tears toward the door to the shop...maybe he should just go now, before they threw him out.

This was stupid. Frank's a grown ass man and he was hiding from a little boy in his own fucking bathroom.

Gee shakily got off the sofa and walked toward the shop, when suddenly a tall girl with shoulder length dyed black hair, piercings and tattoos, and a large pair of jet black shades on top of her head stepped into the room.
Gee fell back with a startled squeak, his eyes wide.

"Hey!...woah honey...it's ok...I'm Lynz..."

She smiled, but didn't move closer, seeing how frightened the boy obviously was.

"You one of Frankie's strays?"

Gee was shaking too much to answer...he looked toward the bathroom quickly, then back. He wanted Frank to come back.

Frank heard another voice, but the store was closed and the door was locked...unless the guys forgot to close it. Frank tore out of the bathroom and ran smack into Gee at the door. They both flailed and he caught them before they fell.

"You okay Kitten?"

Gee sobbed and buried himself into Frank's chest.

"I didn't mean to scare him..."

Lindsey said from the doorway to the shop as she unwound a long black and grey striped scarf from around her neck, and threw it onto the nearest chair.

"Kitty dropped me off early cos she got an interview."

Her coat joined the scarf.

"Gee, this is my other stray. This is Lindsey or Lynz for short."

Gee peeped out through his hair. Lindsey smiled and twiddled her fingers at him. Gee swallowed then smiled nervously back.

"Lindsey was at the apartment last. In fact you have her room."

Gee looked at the older girl again.

"Y-you ddid?"

"Lindsey was on the street turning tricks when I picked her up too."

Gee still didn't understand what Frank meant, but he decided to act like he did until he worked it out.

"O-oh."

"Yeah, and Lindsey was only a year older than you."

Gee nodded like he got it.

"Aww...you're only a baby..."

Lindsey cooed as she stepped toward Gee, who clung a little tighter to Frank.

"You shouldn't of had to do that."

Gee didn't know how to answer, as nothing they were saying was helping him to figure what they were talking about. He just shrugged slightly.

"Hey Lynz, I'm gonna take Gee home. Can you handle it? The boys will be back soon."

"Sure thing Frankie..."

Lindsey chirped.

"You not got clients today?...I thought you had an all day slot with Randy booked."

She tilted her head, and almost missed how Gee shrunk further into Frank's side, his face disappearing behind a curtain of hair.

"Yeah, well Randy is a fucking pedophile so he can get his ink somewhere else."

Lindsey's eyebrows vanished into her fringe.

"Uh...o-k...you care to explain that one to me so I know why I'm kicking him in the balls next time I run into him at Walmart?"

"Another time sweetie."

Lindsey shook her head with a bemused look on her face.

"I'll hold you to that..."

She said with a smile after a moment, then turned her dark brown eyes to the younger boy.

"Well it was nice to meet you Gee..."

She said sweetly, ducking her head a little to meet his eyes through his hair.

"See you again soon?"

Gee swallowed and looked up at Frank for direction.

"I'm sure he will be back tomorrow. Good luck on your close tonight."

Lindsey smiled at Gee then winked at Frank.

"Thanks Frankie...I'm sure I'll be ok, but I'll call if I run into any problems."

Frank nodded and then headed for the back stairs. He saw that Gee was having trouble walking so he scooped him up and carried him to the apartment at the top of the store.

Gee wrapped his arms around Frank's neck, clinging on tight and burying his face into Frank's shoulder. He shook slightly and yawned...this was proving to be a tiring day.

"Nap time Kitten?"

Gee nodded into Frank's neck.

"C-can I h-have a drink f-first?...p-please?"

"Sure Kitten. What would you like?"

"Milk?"

"Sure."

Frank carried Gee to his room.

"Want any flavour? Strawberry or chocolate in it?"

"I l-like p-pink m-milk."

Gee whispered softly, his cheeks turning a warm colour.

"Strawberry it is then."

Frank laid Gee down on the bed. He took his hoodie and hung it up.

"You rest and I will go make the milk."

Gee nodded sleepily.

"O-ok Frankie."

He yawned.

Frank left the room getting the feeling he was not going to have to make the milk, but he did anyway. Sure enough when he returned, Gee was sound asleep curled up like a kitten. Frank chuckled and tucked the boy in.

"Good night kitten."

Notes

Hi there chipmunks...how's you?

Story time was fun, huh?

Until next time...PLEASE COMMENT, and peace out babies!
<3