Mass Hysteria!

“Fuck you Mikey!”

“No fuck you Gerard!”

“I never want to see your face again!”

“Don’t worry you won’t!”

Gerard grabbed his duffle bag and stormed out of the house slamming the screen door at the same time Mikey went into his room slamming his bedroom door. He flopped on the bed and groaned.

“Michael?”

“Come in Grandma.”

Elena opened the door and walked in. She sat on the bed and petted her younger grandson’s hair.

“It’s going to be okay. One day you boys will see how silly you are being and…”

“No Grandma, not this time. I don’t care if I never see him again.”

“You don’t mean that sweetheart.”

“I do, he’s an ass.”

“Come on, come with me.”

Elena stood up and let Mikey get up. He followed her out of his room and to the garage. They got in her car.

“Where are we going Grandma?”

“When you feel like this only one thing will help.”

“Grandma, I’m not a child anymore.”

“Hush now Michael, you have not been here in years. You and Gerard used to love to come here.”

“Yeah well…that was then.”

“And nothing has changed, you will see.”

They drove till Mikey saw the sign for Rush’s Paws and Purrs. He had to admit it was a little nostalgic. He and Gerard used to come here every day after school and help out till they were both out of elementary school. Then the work got harder. Mikey tried to hang on a little longer, but middle school was hard and Gerard was in high school so studies became a priority. Mikey had missed this though. Elena parked and Mikey got out. He looked at the two sides of the animal and adoption shelter. Elena knew that some people were pure cat lovers or pure dog lovers so she left them in two different buildings. Gerard was allergic to cats so it was easier for him to take care of the dogs. Because of Gerard, Mikey could never have a cat, but in his heart, that was his dream pet. Now he realised he could get one with Gerard out of the house. See, somethings were good. Mikey watched Elena head for her office and he headed for the cats. Above the door in black and white bubble letters was the word Purr with a cat’s tail ending the last R. Mikey always thought it was so cute. He went in and was greeting by several inquisitive meows. He walked to the corral and opened the gate. Immediately he had several cats swarming his legs. Some were sleeping on cat furniture or scratching posts. Others were eating or using the litter box. He saw a little white puff ball on top of one of the towers and picked it up. It mewed softly and began to purr immediately. Mikey sighed. He found a cushion and sat down on it. Other cats came up to him rubbing against his legs, crawling on him, or lightly pawing him. He snuggled into the cushion and sighed. He really did need this. A few hours later Elena found him there asleep, surrounded by most of the cats. She gave a quiet chuckle.

“Oh Michael, see I told you things will be alright and one day you and Gerard will be alright too.”

***Time Stamp: Ten Years Later***

“Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.”

Gerard stood on the other side of Elena’s grave as the priest threw dirt on her coffin. It was the first time he had been back here and it was for his grandmother’s funeral. He saw Mikey on the other side, but didn’t look at him. He just wanted to get this over with. The will reading was tomorrow. Once that was done he would return to California and pick up his life where he left off.

“Gerard, are you staying at the house tonight?”

“I was planning on getting a hotel Ma.”

“Please, for your father and I?”

“Alright.”

“Good, the limo will bring us all there for the after affair.”

Truth was Gerard didn’t want to even go to the after affair. He didn’t want everyone asking about where he was and what he had been up to. He just wanted to go home. He saw his mother talking to Mikey. His brother hadn’t changed much in ten years other than growing taller. He still had his glasses and his weird hair that never sat right. Even his suit didn’t…suit him. He just looked like a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy. Donald motioned for Gerard to head to the limo. He moved toward the car and was bothered to find that he had to sit next to Mikey. When they got in, Donald addressed them.

“I know you two aren’t getting along, but keep it away during the after affair. Many people are heartbroken that she is gone and it isn’t fait to them.”

“Gerard doesn’t give a shit.”

“Fuck you Mikey. I do too!”

“Yeah, well you never even visited her in the hospital!”

“I talked to her on the phone!”

“Bullshit! She would have told me!”

Gerard pulled out his phone and shoved it in Mikey’s face.

“Look fuck face, there’s your proof!”

“BOYS!”

Mikey and Gerard looked over and saw that their mother was crying.

“Fuck, sorry ma.”

“Yeah sorry.”

“Why do you hate each other so much? You used to be best friends!”

Neither Gerard nor Mikey answered. They couldn’t, neither one could remember why they were so angry at each other anymore, but it didn’t matter. This was their life now. No more was said as the limo started up and drove them out of the cemetery.

*

*

*

“And to my daughter I leave…”

Gerard had tuned out of what the lawyer was saying. It had nothing to do with him. He was sipping his coffee and checking his phone. He had four e-mails from his editor and two from one of the artists he was looking at for his cover art. He had to confirm his appointment with the photographer for his jacket photo. So much to do when he got back to Sacramento.

“And finally to my grandsons, Gerard Arthur Way and Michael James Way, I leave my life’s work, my animal shelter.”

“WHAT?!”

Both Mikey and Gerard jumped up at this.

“Wait, she left it to both of us?”

“Yes.”

“How is that possible?”

“Yeah?”

“If you gentlemen will let me continue.”

“Oh there’s more?”

“Yes Sir, please sit down.”

Both Gerard and Mikey sat.

“As I was saying…to my grandsons, Gerard Arthur Way and Michael James Way, I leave my life’s work, my animal shelter. Rush’s Paws and Purrs has meant everything to me as I know it did to you both at one point. Because of this, my last request is that you both run the shelter together. You may not sell it, but after five years if you still do not get along, one of you may sell your half to the other."

The lawyer stopped reading and put the will down.

“Wait…so let me get this straight. I have to work with Mikey for the next five years in order to be able to sell my half of the shelter?”

“That is correct Mr. Way.”

“What happens if I won’t do it?”

“It gets foreclosed by the bank.”

“WHAT?!”

“How can they do that?”

“It is too much to take on for just one of you and the place does not make enough for more people to be hired.”

“So either I agree or…”

Gerard slumped in his chair. He was trapped. He could be an ass and just go back home, but this place was his grandmother’s life and passion.

“Five years?”

“Five years.”

“Fine, I’ll do it.”

“You’ll what?”

Mikey whipped his head around, looking at his estranged brother.

“I’m not that fucking heartless Mikey.”

“I never said you were!”

“If that is all…”

The lawyer held out a contract for Mikey and Gerard to sign. Mikey signed first and then Gerard begrudgingly did.

“All business has been conducted folks.”

The lawyer shook everyone’s hand and then stood and left.

“If it helps Gerard, you can stay at Elena’s house. The market isn’t very good right now so we couldn’t sell it.”

“It will save me the trouble of finding an apartment here, thanks Ma.”

“What about your place in California son?”

“I can sublet it while I am here. I’ll just move my stuff into storage.”

“You are being very responsible and understanding about this Gerard. Elena would have been proud.”

Gerard hugged his mom cause it was the right thing to do. He then looked at Mikey.

“Can I see the place?”

“Yeah, we can go now.

*

*

*

The car ride was silent. The radio was playing soft classical music and Gerard recognised the station as the one that Elena used to listen to. He wondered if she was in Mikey’s car a lot. They pulled up to the place and parked in the spot that was designated for Mikey. On the driver’s side was the space that Elena would use. On Gerard’s side there was one of those Cube style cars.

“Oh, Ray is here.”

“Ray?”

“Yes, he takes care of the smaller animals like rabbits and rodents.”

“When did Grandma get those?”

Gerard jumped a bit when he heard himself call her that. Mikey gave a small smile.

“There are children that are allergic to both dogs and cats so she wanted an alternative. Ray has been in charge of them for the last five years.”

“Was he at the funeral?”

“No…he went to the wake, but he offered to come here and take care of the animals while I went.”

As if on cue a tall man with short curly hair came out of the Paws side waving. Mikey got out and greeted him. Gerard got out too and stood looking around.

“Ray this is Gerard, Gerard this is Ray.”

The two men shook hands.

“Nice to finally meet you. Elena spoke highly of you. I have one of your books.”

“Oh, which one?”

“Summertime Destroyer.”

Gerard looked impressed.

“Usually people say Ghosts in the End or The Parade Disappears.”

“Oh I did read those and they were good too, but something about Summertime. It’s like it gives you a form of hope.”

Mikey looked back and forth between his estranged brother and Ray.

“What the fuck are you guys talking about?”

Now Ray looked at Mikey and quirked an eyebrow up.

“Your brother’s novels.”

“Novels? You write?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Don’t be so modest!”

Ray clapped Gerard on the shoulder smiling brightly at him.

“Two of your books were on the best sellers list and one is still there!”

“Yeah, The Parade Disappears is still popular after five years, but I worry people don’t really get it you know?”

Mikey was shocked. Is that what Gerard did after he left home? Why hadn’t Elena told him. He recalled seeing her reading a few books at her desk when business was slow, but he never paid attention to the titles. So Gerard was a famous author and Mikey…

“Come on let’s get going...”

Mikey was pissed as he stormed off. He put everything he wanted to do on hold to help his grandmother. How ironic that his brother managed to do the one thing he wanted to do. He still had his writing on a USB on his key chain. The untitled sci fi horror that he had been writing since high school. Ray and Gerard followed slowly, still talking. Mikey stopped between the two buildings.

“Alright let’s get this over with. Paws is here, I assume it is where you will work.”

“You know I can’t go into Purrs.”

“Why what’s wrong?”

Ray looked at Mikey with a concerned look on his face. Mikey smirked.

“Gerard is allergic to cats.”

“Oh, man that sucks. Mikey has the sweetest cat named Bunny.”

“Bunny?”

Gerard smirked as Mikey brooded.

“Fuck you Gerard.”

Ray didn’t know what to make of it. He knew from Elena that the two brother’s didn’t get along, but they seemed like they could be civil…right? Ray cleared his throat and kept explaining.

“In between the two main buildings is where the Pocket Pets are kept.”

“Pocket Pets?”

“Elena wanted another P alliteration.”

With that Mikey left and headed towards Purrs. Ray watched him go and turned to Gerard. “So I guess I can show you Elena’s office.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

As Gerard and Ray walked off, Ray suddenly wondered if his life was about to become a real life version of Dogs Vs Cats.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how’s you?

So we're starting yet another new fic...hope you like it.

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