I Drew You Once in Art Class

Eighty-Three

"Motherfucker!"

The pixeled little Mario fell to his death after one of the little brown monsters had butted into him.

"Haha, I win. Luigi always wins."

Gerard hissed. "That was my last round. I don't think I can stand to lose anymore."

Gerard left Mikey's room and went to his own. When he walked in, he heard a buzz. He identified the noise as his phone, still in his pants pocket from last night, Do Not Disturb having shut off on a timer. He had four notifications.

The Notifications:

- Bert: Hey man ru okay? I saw u leave last night

- Bert: Hello?

- Bert: Are you mad at me?

-Bert: oh just checked ur voicemail. U okay?

Gerard opened the texts.

Gerard: No, I'm not mad. Sorry. Me and Frank got in a fight and I just wanted to go home. Nothing you did.

Bert: yeah i got that. Are u alright? Wanna talk about it

Gerard: Yeah, actually. Meet at bar?

Bert: ok

An hour or so later, Gerard's red little car pulled up to the building from last night, looking different, duller than it did at night. He went inside and sat at the counter. Bert showed up a minute later.

"Hey, dude. You alright?

Gerard nodded. "Yeah, just- I don't know. I feel like I've screwed everything up with him. 'Cause he's right, you know, I guess I do sort of act a little differently around you. Old habits die hard."

"Okay, but he also, like, wasn't the friendliest. He seemed kind of jealous, honestly. I don't know why, though."

"I guess 'cause you and I used to go out?"

"Probably. Listen, dude. I've always seen you as older than you are. You act like it. Compared to you, he does seem like a kid. He was totally overthinking it and acting all jealous... he should be the one to apologize to you."

"You think so?"

"Totally. Like, you guys are good together. I want you to work it out. But you shouldn't apologize for shit you didn't do."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"I'm always right."

They looked at each other and laughed, both knowing that that was anything but true.