Mikey is staring at me like I suddenly grew cat ears in the morning. It’s really weird.

“Uh…do I have something on my face?” I ask.

“No.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that?” Maybe I don’t want to be his friend. He’s as bad as his brother!

“I just don’t understand how you can keep denying it,” he’s dodging a straight answer. Great.

“Denying what? You’re freaking me out.”

“Um, Frank, you said Gee’s name about fifty times in your sleep last night.”

I blanch, “You’re lying!”

“Well…maybe exaggerating, but…You did say it a lot. But I bet you’re going to say it was nothing? It only happened because he was so helpful yesterday?”

Hmmm…That probably is what I was going to say, “Yeah? So? How’d you know that?”

“It’s just becoming predictable. Every time something romantic between you and Gerard happens you pawn it off on some other reason. Most people call that denial…Others, rationalization. Either way, it’s not healthy.”

Maybe I’m just rationalizing…People do that when they don’t want to admit something. God, I’m eating my own words. I do that a lot… “Whatever….don’t we have to go to school?” Good one, Frank. Dodging the subject will totally get him off your case.

And now I’m talking to myself. This whole Gerard thing is really messing me up.

Mikey sighs, “Fine. I won’t force you. Anyway, Mom’s upset that you were asleep when she got home. She wants to cook you a hero’s dinner or something like that. So you wanna stay another night?”

“Uh yeah…I’ll have to go home to okay it and get some clothes, though.”

“Great. Now get dressed, we’re gonna be late.”

…

School went smoothly. Jared isn’t as dumb as he looks, because he kept his makeup caked face away from me. Now I’m walking home with Mikey, and it’s a bit awkward. I know he wants to bring up his brother again. I also know that I still don’t want to talk about it.

Luckily, we get to my house quickly. Unfortunately, I regret that as soon as I walk through the door. Mom is standing in the kitchen. Her face is red as a tomato and she does not look happy.

“Franklin Anthony! What’s this I hear about you carrying two unconscious boys down the street?! And why didn’t you come home last night? Don’t tell me you were out fighting and causing trouble!” she grabs her forehead, “Oh, my baby’s turning into a rebel. I always knew it would come to this. The neighbors all told me not to let you dye your hair and get that tattoo, but did I listen?”

“Mom!” I cut her off, “I’m not a rebel. I was just at Mikey’s house. And yes, I did get into a fight, but it was only because Mikey was getting beat up. Okay? Calm down.”

She blinks, “Oh…Is that all? I’m so proud of you, sticking up for your friends. Sorry I overreacted.”

“It’s fine, but can I stay at Mikey’s again tonight? I’ll be good, I promise.”

She smiles, “All right. But I want you home before dinnertime tomorrow, okay?”

“Yupp. Thanks Mom!” I hug her before running up to my room and gathering some clothes.

When we get back to Mikey’s, Gerard is sitting in the kitchen. He clearly just got done eating. There’s still food on his face. He doesn’t even notice it. I don’t think before walking over and wiping it off with my finger. This causes him to blush and I immediately regret it. Why would I do something like that? Friends don’t clean each other’s faces!

“I…uh…hi Gee…You had something on your face,” I laugh, trying to cover up my embarrassment.

He blinks, looking confused, “You just called me Gee.”

His face morphs into a sly smile and I regret ever opening my mouth. Why did I call him Gee? I mean, I definitely don’t feel comfortable enough around him for nicknames…Or maybe I do? We don’t really know much about each other though. I mean, I know he’s gay, likes horror movies, is Mikey’s brother, and will apparently stop at nothing to have me. That’s not much to go off of.

“Well, it’s your name isn’t it?!” I say defensively. No use telling him about my analysis…

“Well, yeah, but I thought you hated me,” he says, sounding pitiful. Poor thing.

“Of course not. I just wish you’d quit hitting on me…And I hardly know anything about you…That’s all.”

He immediately perks up, “Well then let’s go get to know each other!”

He grabs my hand and before I know it we’re down in the basement. I have no idea where Mikey went, but I’m considering him a traitorous scumbag. I bet he knew Gerard was going to kidnap me like this. And he let it happen! Some friend.

“Uh…Gerard, I don’t feel comfortable down here alone with you,” I say in a small attempt to be let go. My heart is pounding inside of my chest, clearly out of fear.

“Awww, we’re back to Gerard? It’s always one step forward two steps back with you, Frankie.”

I cross my arms, “You haven’t earned my friendship yet.”

“All right…tell me something about yourself, and I’ll tell you something about me.”

I sigh. There’s really no use fighting this guy, “Fine…I…play guitar.”

“Really? Sweet. Um…I’m an artist.”

That actually catches my attention. It’s a bit unexpected, but I guess it figures. He’s a hermit in his mom’s basement after all, “Really? Let me see!”

He blushes and shakes his head, “I’m not very good yet. Still finishing art school.”

“Oh…So you’re in college? I just thought you were a stay at home loser.”

“Nope. Though I guess I gave you good reason to thing that,” he laughs, “Anyway, something about you now.”

“Oh, right…I’m a vegetarian.”

He looks super shocked, “I never would have guessed.”

It goes on like that for a really long time. Each of us revealing something more and more shocking to the other each time. It’s really nice, and I discover we actually have a lot in common. I should have expected that base on Mikey, but…Whatever. Eventually I can’t think of anything else to tell him. I wrack my brain and come up empty. So I give him something stupid.

“I ate glue in kindergarten.”

“Everyone does that, Frank. Doesn’t count, come up with something else!”

“Um…I don’t know if I have anything…oh! My mom convinced the school to let me into kindergarten when I was four, since my birthday was just a couple months away.”

He turns white, “Uh…so that makes you…how old?”

“Sixteen. I turn seventeen on Halloween, though.”

he looks upset, “Way to make me feel like a pedophile. I turn twenty-one in April. Did you say your birthday’s on Halloween?”

“Yeah…But you’re not a pedophile. Four years isn’t much difference.” Why am I defending his crush on me, you may ask. Fuck if I know!

He smiles, “We’re gonna have to throw you a kick ass party when it comes. I mean seriously, a birthday on my favorite holiday? I’d kill for that!”

“It’s my favorite holiday, too…But I’ve never had anyone ask to throw me a party before. I always end up either trick or treating alone or having some cake with my mom. She never lets me have both…too much sugar, you know?”

“Then it’s settled. We’re gonna get the best fucking costumes ever to trick or treat, and afterwards we’ll come back here and party till we drop.”

“That’s…really nice of you to offer.”

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re my friend.” He says, and he has a really sincere look in his eyes.

I smile, “Yeah, I guess you are now.”