liar ー petekey [2017 bandfiction award winner]

SIX

"So," Mikey says, looking around his old room. "I missed you."

"No shit," Gerard rolls his eyes. "I'm still surprised by the fact that you fell for your boss, Mikey. You're not really the kind of person that would fall for someone like Pete."

Mikey says nothing and instead gestures for Gerard to sit on the bed.

"What? Did I say something?" Gerard says, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

Mikey shuts the door. "Okay, Gee, I have to tell you this, but only you, I swear to God, okay? You can't tell anyone. Not even Pete. Especially not Pete. Okay?"

Gerard furrows his eyebrows, but nods. "Yeah, okay...?"

"It's a green card marriage." Mikey starts, and Gerard opens his mouth to speak. "But I really am in love with him. It's a lie, Gee."

"So he's not in love with you?"

"No."

"But you're in love with him?"

"Yeah." Mikey feels an aching in his chest when he says this, like it's reopening an old wound. "I guess I told you guys I hated him because I was trying to convince myself that I really did hate him. It got to a point where I tried to quit, but he convinced me not to."

Gerard sits at Mikey's old desk, spinning around in the chair. "But..."

Mikey groans, falling back onto the bed. "I don't know! He's just perfect, but not really! He gets things done, and he's really cute! If he's in a good mood, he's really sweet, and if not, he's kind of just a robot. He's like everyone I've ever liked, minus the bad qualities, yet double the good ones. I hate it."

"Is he the guy you told me about that one time?"

"Ryan? No, no, he's my coworker. We had a thing. He's married to a girl named Keltie or something now. They're really sweet."

"A green card marriage? What, is he from Canada?" Gerard sits on the bed next to Mikey. 

"Yeah, actually. We're gonna get a divorce in a few months and I'll get a promotion. I'm gonna be an editor."

"So you have to spend a week here with your horrible dad and the man you love, along with your totally rad brother?"

"More like totally lame brother," Mikey says.

"Rude. Anyways, what are you gonna do about Dad? Doesn't he think you're straight?"

"Yeah, but Mom and Grandma know I'm bi. When do you think he'll be home?"

"Soon. He'll probably wait until everyone's asleep, though. He'll wake you up, get you out of bed, and then yell at you."

"Yeah." 

The two sit in comfortable silence after that. "What should I do about Pete?"

"If you think you should go for him. He really does seem like he likes you, even if you can't see it. And I knew that kiss was a bit off the second he tensed up. I don't think you noticed, but he tensed and seemed dazed after you guys kissed."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Gerard says, lying down beside Mikey. "I could, like, stalk one of his profiles online or some shit for you-"

"No."

"Are you sure? Because I really think he might be hiding something on an Instagram story."

"Out of bounds," Mikey rolls onto his side. "I always hated this fucking bed. Too uncomfortable."

Mikey hears a door downstairs open and close.

"That would be Dad," Mikey sighs. "I should see him now instead of later." 

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

When Mikey gets downstairs, he hears his father asking, "Who's this?"

Before Pete has a chance to speak, Mikey cuts in. 

"Dad, meet my fiancé, Pete. Pete, this is my dad, Donald."

Hell decides to silently break loose.

Mikey's dad's face turns red as he plasters a fake smile on his face and shakes Pete's hand. "Good to meet you, Pete. Take care of my boy." He pulls away from Pete. "Son, can I speak with you? Alone?"

Mikey nods and follows Donald to the kitchen, where he knows that Donald knows everyone can hear him.

"So you're a homosexual?" Donald growls quietly.

Mikey expects this, and already has an answer planned. He glares at Donald. "Yes, I am into men. I'm bisexual." 

"There's only two! Gay or straight! And if you're gay, then you're going to hell!"

Mikey rolls his eyes, "Don't worry, you'll be there, too."

"I didn't raise you like this! I always taught you right from wrong! You went to Catholic school!"

"Have you heard of something called the First Amendment? It constitutes freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition."

"So you're a homosexual and an atheist?"

"No, Dad. Just because I don't necessarily believe in most of what the Bible says doesn't mean I'm an atheist. I'm agnostic. It basically means I don't really care."

"This is why I didn't want you to go to New York! They change you!" Donald shakes his head, "Michael, you've strayed away from us. Come back! We can get you a nice lady and put you in Bible studies and fix whatever they've made you think."

"Dad, I'm thinking for myself."

"No, you're thinking how and what they want you to think. Why did you ever leave us?"

"You, Dad, you're the reason I left. You're melodramatic and have a short temper, and most of all, you're a hypocrite."

"How am I a hypocrite?" Donald grips the counter, his knuckles starting to turn white.

"You tell us to think before we act, Dad. I've never seen you stop, assess the situation, and react accordingly. You're a hypocrite. Now, I'm going to go enjoy my evening with my family and soon-to-be husband.

Donald doesn't say a word, instead busying himself with making a cup of coffee. Mikey turns to walk out, but before he steps out of the doorway, Donald speaks, "You're not my son."

"I'm always biologically yours!" Mikey calls with a sarcastic smile on his face as he turns back into the living room to see everyone, including Gerard, staring at him, and all of them have equally amused grins.