What's My Age Again

Ryan:

"Do I smell coffee?"

I can never get tired of watching Brendon wake up. He's so cute as he sleeps. The little crinkles between his eyes and the way the corners of his mouth tug upwards as he has a good dream are beautiful, and he's equally as cute when he wakes up. His sleepy groans are adorable and the way his hair sticks up in all directions makes my heart melt.

It's a shame that we never get to stay together for a night. My parents would kill me if they knew I'm dating a college guy (who is therefore legally able to buy alcohol). I have a hard enough time as it is convincing them I'm just seeing my friends when I arrive home so late in the evening and go out so early in the morning.

"Hey babe," I say softly as I perch on the edge of the bed, careful not to crush his legs. "I made you breakfast."

"God, I love you!" He cries gratefully, and my heart clenches. I know he says things like that that in a thankful way, like... 'thank you so much, I love you for doing this for me', but it still hurts that he only says it as a joke. I know it's ridiculous - we've only just been dating for a couple of months: 4 months and 17 days to be exact (not that I keep a record of our relationship or anything... I'm just really good at maths...). We've never actually seriously said the word 'love' before, but it doesn't stop my heart from skipping a beat. I giggle like a high-school girl (or, y'know, boy.) and pat his leg affectionately.

"Just lie back down. I'll bring it to you. It's not too much, just... coffee, eggs and waffles." I admit, and he grins.

"Perfection itself." He gets comfortable on the bed and pats the sheets at his side. "Come here, Babe."

And of course I comply willingly.
---

When I finally get up to leave, after saying goodbye to Brendon, I pass by Mikey and his older brother Gerard sitting on the couch and talking animatedly. Well, Mikey appears to be doing most of the talking whilst Gerard just sits there and nods occasionally. Even though I've met Gerard multiple times and we have spoken as well, he still didn't seem to recognise me when I walked through the doors.

"Bye Mikey, bye Gee!" I call out as I pass them. Immediately the conversation stops and I turn to see Mikey glaring at me.

"Bye, Robert!" Gerard calls out and I roll my eyes.

"You two are cute." Mikey says stonily. "It's sickening."

I shrug and smile and and walk out of the door. I could swear that as I left I heard Gerard say, "Who was that again?"

***

"So they've been dating for months and I didn't know? How on earth did that happen?" Gerard asks as we walk, side by side, on our way to the 'best ice cream parlour in the country'.

"Gerard, we've been through this before. You do know Ryan, you've met him many times before, you are just clueless and stupid. Seriously, I could totally start making out with a pedestrian by your side and you wouldn't even notice."

"True..." he says slowly. "Except for one thing."

"What's that?" I reply curiously.

"No one would want to kiss you."

I punch his arm - not particularly lightly - and pick up my pace in the hopes of escaping him.

After about twenty minutes later we finally arrive at the place where 'dreams come true', to quote Gerard.

"This is it Mikey," he sighs contentedly. "This is the Holy Grail of ice cream."

"Shut up and buy your ice cream, you addict. I'm going to check out this record store across the street first."

***

I'm finishing cleaning the counter when the bell above the door jingles, signifying a customer walking in. I prepare myself to give the 'corporative speech' welcome when I see who it is, and of course it's no other than my red headed beauty, a.k.a Gerard Fucking Way.

"Hello!" I chirp, hurrying round the counter to greet him. "I'm a thief, and I'm here to steal your heart!"

Seriously brain? I think to myself. That sounds the best you can do?

But to my delight he giggles, and that, of course, is my cue to keep going.

"When I first saw you I looked for a signature, because every masterpiece has one." I tell him with a cheesy, sit eating grin on my face. He has to have gotten the hint by now.

His face is a puzzle, somewhere between embarrassment and confusion, and I'm starting to get more and more confident. I really am about to ask for him his number, straight out just like that, when suddenly a pair of arms appeared around his waist and a blonde haired stranger rests his chin on Gerard's left shoulder. All I can do is stand there whilst I feel my face slowly turning red. Anger and jealousy are the only two senses I can acknowledge right now. Who the fuck is this guy, and what is he doing with my future husband and father of my children?

"Gee!" He shouts. "You are the best best person in the whole world and I love you!" Mr. Fake Blonde says - because really, he's kidding no one with that hair colour - when Gerard turns to face him.

"How much?" He said flatly, already fishing his wallet out of his pocket to look for money.

Mr. Fake Blonde puts a hand on his chest as though he's offended and I stifle a cry of indignation. "Why would you assume that I'm asking for money?

"Mikey, the only time you hug me and treat me decently is when you want money so. How much?"

So this is Mikey? Mikey as in the phone guy Mikey?

"Okay fine. Just a couple of, like, 50 bucks? Maybe?"

"Are you crazy?!" Gerard exclaims. "No way am I giving you a hundred dollars."

"Come on Gee!" Mikey whines irritatingly. "You're a rich bastard anyway. You know you'll just spend that money on ice cream when I could put it to good use and buy a freaking awesome record! Just lend me some money!"

"It's funny that you think insulting me is a way to get me to do what you want. Besides, I'm not rich at all. Brendon hasn't paid me the rent for like, three months! I really should start looking for a new roommate..."

He trails off and I'm not ashamed to admit that that makes me a teeny, tiny, little bit excited. Only a little...

"You know how difficult it's to find someone worthy to live with you. You can't live on your own!" Mikey objects and I just want to tell him to shut up. I officially hate the dude for ruining my chances of living with Gerard.

"Gee thanks Mikes, but I'm not that hopeless you know?"

"You can't remember a simple task like turning off the oven." He argues, placing his hands on his hips and tilting his head to the side like he's thinking really hard. Asshole.

"Oh, and let's not forget the day you lit a candle under your desk and started a fire. Please never forget that day. So, back to the original question, lend me some cash?"

Gerard grumbles as he hands over three twenty dollar notes and Mikey grumbles when he sees it's not a surprise much as he originally wanted, but he takes it anyway and the next leaves the store.

"Sorry about that." Gerard smiles sheepishly and turns back to me. "He can be a little annoying sometimes. And, um...about the whole starting a fire thing... I totally didn't do that."

He chuckles nervously and I can tell he totally did do that, but I totally don't mind. His forgetfulness just makes him more adorable, and he's pretty fucking adorable at the moment anyway.

"That's fine. Friends can be annoying sometimes." I say, nodding knowingly.

"Oh he's not exactly a friend. He's my younger brother."

I try and fail to hide my happiness at this new revelation - Mikey really is no competition and that in itself just makes my day - but I'm no that's too worried. Gerard's completely oblivious as it is; I don't think he'll notice.

"Oh, that makes sense." I nod, unsure of what else to say. "So what can I do you for?"

"Double coffee ice cream?" He asks, grinning a little as I return the expression. Dude's got guts.

"Coming right up." I wink at him, and I'm only slightly upset that he doesn't get flustered. Oh well. There will be plenty of times to make him blush in the near future. I'm sure.

Notes

Yay, another chapter! (Yay! Yay?)
Enjoy! <3