I Drew You Once in Art Class

One Hundred Three

Mikey Way was growing on Pete Wentz.

It was this week, for some reason, maybe because Pete had been over so much, that he'd started to appreciate Mikey's company.

Pete still hadn't told Mikey what happened with Patrick.

He hadn't told him what Patrick's friends had texted him, the things they'd said to him.

He felt like they were true.

So he blocked them out.

It was easier to do when he was distracted by Mikey, when he could lay down with his head on the torso of the boy who liked him and smile at the feeling of his hair entwined around Mikey's fingers.

Once out of sight by everyone, of course.

He really was starting to like him back, though, he thought.

They sat on the Way's couch, under a cozy blanket. Frank and Gerard were on the floor in front of him, and the moms were in comfy armchairs facing the TV. They passed between them a bowl of popcorn.

They were watching Christmas Vacation, which was apparently a family tradition in the Way household. Frank's mom hadn't intended to stay this late, but the time had slipped away. Pete looked at Mikey, examining the boy with the sharp jaw and dumb glasses, trying to calculate exactly what his feelings were. Mikey, noticing the gaze in his direction, turned back to Pete and smiled.

He felt a hand grab his own under the soft quilt, and he leaned against Mikey's shoulder, praying to God his mom wouldn't notice.

She did. Naturally.

Mikey forced himself to look anywhere but at her, and instead turned his attention to Chevy Chase electrocuting a cat on the screen. Romantic.

~~

When the movie ended, Linda stretched her arms and checked the time on her phone. "Woo, I better get home. Thank you so much for having me over; we really have to get together soon."

"Anytime!" said Donna, sounding like she genuinely meant it.

"Frank, I'm picking you up a little early tomorrow, we gotta go to Granny and Grandpa's, remember?"

Gerard smirked and pointed at Frank, giggling. "Granny."

"Shut up!"

Donna rolled her eyes and laughed. "You two go to bed. Mikey, I gotta talk to you for a sec, babe. Pete, why don't you head on upstairs."

The four boys looked at each other, all with the same thought.

Well. He's fucked.

Frank and Gerard scrambled up the stairs, clearly going to go eavesdrop at the top of them. Pete followed.

They all sat on the top stair, out of sight from Donna and Mikey. They heard Linda's car drive away, and that's when Mikey began speaking.

"Am I in trouble?"

"Of course not. I just wanna talk to you. C'mere, sit down."

The sound of bodies sinking into the couch could be heard from the hallway, and the three boys strained to make out what she was saying.

"Are you and Pete... more than friends?"

And then Mikey started to cry.

Gerard looked at Frank, and jerked his head in the direction of his room, signaling that they should leave. Frank stood up to follow Gerard. He beckoned to Pete, but he shook his head, staying firmly planted at the top of the stairs.

Frank shrugged and followed Gerard into his room, shutting the door behind them.

"I wasn't supposed to tell anyone."

"Honey, you can always tell me anything!"

"Not this. He's not... his family doesn't know. And I'm not... I don't know what I am, and that's... that's... it just... it was supposed to stay a secret," he got out through gasping sobs. The sound of Donna rubbing his back could be heard.

"It's okay, love. I'm not gonna tell a single soul, okay? And you're absolutely not in trouble. I do wish you had told me, though. I'm your mom! I just want to be involved in your life, kiddo."

Mikey leaned against her, sniffing.

"Now go upstairs. He's probably wondering what happened to you."

Mikey shuffled off the couch and headed toward the stairs. Pete scrambled up and ran into Mikey's room, throwing himself on the bed, looking like he had been innocently scrolling on his phone. Mikey had wiped the tears from his face and took a seat beside Pete before laying down and facing him. Pete laid down as well, and the two turned on their sides, looking at each other.

"She's not gonna tell anyone. She promised."

"Good. My dad would shit himself. Are you okay?"

"Yeah. She was nice about it."

"That's good." Pete leaned in and lightly kissed him on the nose and Mikey blushed, a smile stretching across his tear-stained face.

Yeah, Mikey was definitely growing on him.