The Kids From Yesterday

14: Cloud Angels

"Gee! Gee! Lookie!" Mikey squealed happily. It was the last weekend before summer break and the boys were entertaining themselves with arts and crafts supplies while their mom went to get groceries. Gerard looked up to see Mikey working on a popsicle stick house, made with multicoloured popsicle sticks. Gerard smiled at Mikey from across the table.

"It looks really nice, Mikes," he replied honestly. Mikey quietly snuck out of his chair, while Gerard returned his full attention to his drawing, and sneakily stood behind Gerard, trying to see what he was drawing.

"What's that?" He asked. Gerard quickly pulled the drawing into his lap and out of Mikey's sight with a terrible blush on his face.

"I-it's nothing. Just, make little people to live in your house," Gerard suggested, trying to get Mikey to drop it. Mikey gave Gerard that 'are you kidding me?' look.

"I saw Frankie. You drawed him. Can I please see?" He begged. Gerard's eyes were starting to water and he looked away, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"It's really nothing, Mikey," he insisted, his voice heavy. Mikey gasped and quickly attached himself to Gerard's side.

"Gee Gee are you crying? Did Frankie hurt your feelings? I will so tell a grownup on him. Did he call you mean names?" Mikey asked all at once giving Gerard no room to answer any of his questions. A tear eventually managed to get past his eyes and trickled down his cheek.

"He didn't do anything, Mikey," he eventually sighed, making Mikey sigh as well, but in relief.

"Then why are you crying? Did I hurt you?" Mikey asked, loosening his grip around Gerard and sitting back to look at him.

"No, Mikey. I'm inside hurt is all," he whispered, sniffling afterwards. Mikey wiped Gerard's face with his sleeve. Gerard smiled at his little brother and sniffled once more.

"On TV they always ask if you wanna talk about it, so do ya?" Mikey asked, trying to be as helpful as possible. Gerard shook his head and looked down at his lap.

"Not really. I don't think you could help me, Mikey," he said quietly. Mikey kissed his cheek and grabbed his hand, trying to pull him out of the chair.

"C'mon. I know a safe place," Mikey said with a happy smile, getting a weaker one from Gerard in return.

He led his brother up the stairs and into his room. He smiled at Gee, climbing onto his bed and motioning for Gerard to do the same. Gerard quirked an eyebrow and sniffled.

"Mikey what are you-"

"I said I was taking you somewhere safe. Just trust me," Mikey sighed, holding his hand out to his brother.

Gerard sighed and grabbed Mikey's hand, climbing onto his bed. Mikey smiled at him and grabbed the end of his big blanket, giggling as he pulled it over their heads. Gerard's hair started standing up and got all staticky from it, making Mikey giggle and Gee chuckle a little. Mikey cleared his throat, on to the important business at hand; Gerard was crying.

"Now, you're probably wondering why I brought you here. It's 'cause this is a safe place to say why you're crying. The boogeyman can't hear you under here, trust me," Mikey explained. Gerard really was amazed at how intelligent Mikey actually was for his age. He bit his lip and pulled his knees to his chest, hugging them tightly.

"I don't know," Gerard whispered. Mikey rested his hand on Gee's arm.

"It's okay. I pinky promise I won't tell mommy, even if you said bad words," Mikey said, raising his pinky up to his brother. Gerard sighed and locked pinkies with Mikey.