Strangers In A Dangerous World (Frikey)

Chapter Seven: We're Alone Together

Over the next few days Mikey and I kind of settled into a routine. He would get up early on the couch and wake me up for school. I would get ready, have coffee, and complain while he did the same. Mikey had a beat up car that his brother had given him when he was sixteen. Mikey would drive me to school and then go to work. He would work while I was in school and then get out early and pick me up. He would drop me off at his apartment and then rush back ro work for another few hours. It was during those times that I grew so bored that my homework was actually getting complete. My grades were rising and Mikey even clapped when I brought my letter C report card to his apartment. After Mikey got off work we would eat cereal or he would order us food. During dinnee were discuss our days and laugh a lot, but at night we'd stay up late talking about everything else. Tonight was no exception.

"Come on. You can tell me." I was lying down on the bed with my head propped up with my hand. Mikey was lying down next to me with his arms underneath his head. We had grown quite close over the past couple of days and I have been getting beaten less and less at school. Steven refused to look at me and when he did his eyes were full of guilt and pity. I just kept my distance and hoped he was as stupid as he looked and wouldn't tell anyone. Mikey turned and faced me, propping his head on his hand like me. We were so close and I could feel the heat coming from his body.

"Fine, when I was younger I had always wanted to be in a band. I wanted to play bass guitar." He laughed while my eyes widened. This wasn't nearly as humiliating as he brought it out to be.

"Dude, I know how to play guitar, not bass but electric guitar!" I smiled and Mikey was smiling back. I noticed that he only smiled in front of me. It didn't matter if we were across the room or right next to each other, as long as we were near he smiled, "What made you give it up?"

I regretted the question the minute it came out of my mouth because Mikey frowned and refused to meet my eyes, "When I was seventeen my brother moved out and disappeared off of the face of the Earth. I kind of lost myself. He was my inspiration and I looked up to him. We were really close as children." Mikey sighed sadly, "After that my life kind of went downhill. I didn't have a job or want to do anything. When I was eighteen I graduated from high school. The ink on my diploma hadn't even dried yet before my parents cast me out onto the street with my stuff and my car."

I forced Mikey to meet my eyes and he looked so sad and angry. I wanted to reach out and comfort him, but I didn't know how. His parents sounded like big fucking douche bags but maybe it really helped him out in the end. He lived in a shitty apartment, but he was independent. He worked at McDonalds, but he was making his own money. He couldn't afford to go to college, but he was trying. I felt horrible as I went through my reasoning. I realized that I needed to start planning for my future. I wanted to work and I would use my money to help Mikey out. I'd even work at McDonalds just to see him everyday and see the world through his eyes. I thought this over while Mikey just watched me closely. I blushed and smiled sadly while waiting for him to continue.

"I lived out in my car for two months using my old house key while my parents were at work to crash on their couch and take a shower. During those two months I was hopping from job to job feeling unsatisfied. Finally, I gave up on trying to be happy and just stopped searching. I started saving ridiculous amounts of money just to pay for this apartment. I finally did it after another six months. Now, I'm pretty stable, but I just hate how everything is going for me." Mikey was looking down at the covers and I held back the urge to hug and kiss him to make the sadness disappear.

We stayed silent before I flattened down onto the bed and used the pillow to keep my head propped up, "The bruises from before aren't from some kid at school."

Mikey looked up and his shocked eyes told me that I had just confirmed his worse fear. I had been dropping hints lately about my life and it made me feel better to tell him, but it was only him that I could tell. I didn't feel the same way about Ray and Bob. I had known them longer, but they were from a different world. They had families that were stable and nice. Hell, Bob even had a little sister and he took care of her. Ray and I never had siblings, but Ray's mother loved him. He had it made with his mother and they were really close. I looked at Mikey and realized that the two of us were alone. His brother was somewhere and his parents didn't care, but at least we were alone together.

"My mom is an alcoholic. She drinks until she passes out and brings random guys home. Most of them beat me and do horrible things. I've tried to tell my mom, but she never listens. I've pretty much been alone since I was six years old." I stopped talking and I didn't have the time to register anything before Mikey wrapped me into a light hug. I buried my face into the crook of his neck and I could feel his warm breath on my shoulder. His breath was tickling my throat and an unexpected giggle escaped from my lips. Mikey pulled back and he was smiling, but his eyes still looked disturbed and uneasy.

"Mikey, you can't tell anyone, okay? I don't think I could go through telling anyone else. Actually, you're the only person I've ever told. I trust my friends, but I just don't want them to know." I looked down feeling afraid. I didn't regret telling him, but I felt like I could puke. Mikey moved his free hand slowly across the bed until it held onto mine. I looked up and met his eyes. He was unreadable, but I knew that I could trust him.

He let out a deep sigh that seemed to age him with worry, "I promise not to tell anyone, Frankie. Just promise to tell me anything else when you are ready." He was still holding my hand and I nodded.

"I promise." Mikey turned back and looked at the time before frowning. I climbed over him a little bit to see it and saw that I was going to be tired tomorrow. It was around two in the morning and I had to get up at six. I frowned and wrinkled up my nose, "Well, shit."

Mikey laughed and got up from the bed. He was about to leave when I called out to him feeling nervous, "Wait, Mikey!" He turned around and my mind went blank. What had I been about to say? Shit! Then my mouth caught up with the matter and spoke for me, "You don't have to sleep on the couch anymore. I know that it's really uncomfortable and it hurts your back." I scooted over on the bed to make room and seriously wanted to shoot myself. My face was burning hot and red.

"Oh, uh, I don't know, Frankie. I don't want you to do something that would make you upset." Mikey's face was red and he was looking at his shoes while biting his lip.

I kept scooting over on the bed and my brain finally started working, "Hey, this is your bed. I feel horrible taking it away from you. I don't mind at all. We're friends, right?"

Mikey looked up unsure, but I could tell that he wanted to sleep in his own bed. Every morning he pretends that he's fine, but I could tell that he wasn't, "Yeah, we're friends, well, if you want to be. I don't think it's a good idea, though. There's something I should tell you first."

I rolled my eyes, "Of course I want to be friends! Tell me in the morning, okay?" I jumped up from the bed and pulled Mikey back over to it. I pulled the covers down and pushed him lightly onto the bed where he usually laid when we were talking. I laughed while he kept blushing and moved to the other side of the bed. I cuddled into the pillows and turned my back facing him. I felt him moving around a bit trying to get comfortable before he stopped moving. It wasn't long until Mikey was asleep and snoring softly. I turned my body to face him marginally to see his face. His glasses were on the nightstand next to the bed and his mouth was slightly opened. I put my back up to the wall with my face facing him. My eyes dripped down and I was asleep.

I woke somewhere in the morning between two and six and I became conscious of the fact that Mikey and I were cuddling in our sleep. He had somehow gravitated to the middle of the bed and I was squished up against him with my head resting behind his shoulder and neck. His arm was underneath me and wrapped around my body. My right arm was draped over his chest while my other was curled up between my chest and his side. I wiggled out of his cuddling and escaped into the bathroom. My face was burning hot and I couldn't help but feel the attraction. I sat down on the toilet for the longest time afterwards and could only think of reasons to date him. There was only one reason against it and it was our age. I sighed loudly before the tiredness came over me. I walked lazily back into the room. Mikey had moved back over onto his side of the bed and I had to keep reminding myself of the trouble we'd get into even if it was only a two year difference.

I crawled onto the bed and pressed myself against the wall. I watched Mikey for a little bit and traces his face with my eyes. I memorized all of his features until my eyes felt like heavy sandpaper and I had to close them. If I didn't get any sleep then I would pay for it tomorrow at school. My mind finally shut itself off and let me sleep peacefully.

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Song Of The Moment: Zombie- The Cranberries