Stars

Chapter 14

Before I (finally) start this chapter, I just want to put a warning here, this chapter will talk about dysphoria. Enjoy the story

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey Pete?" Mikey called out as the four left what must have been the fifteenth store that they had scoured for anything even mildly humorous or 'emo.' Pete nodded, casting a wary eye to Gerard and Frank walking ahead of them. "I- uh, I got you something. It's nothing special and it's kind of stupid but I thought you would like them."

Mikey held out a small, grey, plastic bag, which Pete took from him and promptly opened, revealing a pair of dark blue socks. He took them from the bag and laughed. The socks had stars dotted around them, connected into constellations, the Planets drifting between them.

"You fucking nerd, I love them," he smiled, letting his head fall onto Mikey's chest as he wrapped his arms around him. Mikey let his chin rest on top of Pete's head, and briefly pulling him into a hug before breaking away, pushing his glasses further up his nose.

After only a while, Frank had somehow ended up on Gerard's back, holding on with one hand while carrying a milkshake in the other.

"Onward, steed."

"Don't call me a fucking steed, that's weird as shit, Frankie," Gerard rolled his eyes and smiled. Frank reached down, letting his boyfriend have some of the milkshake he offered and gaining dirty looks from the surrounding shoppers.

Mikey was distracted from his glaring at the judgmental shoppers by a tap on his arm. He looked over to see Pete pointing at his phone. Mikey raised a quizzical eyebrow until Pete rolled his eyes,

"Check your phone."

"Oh, right," Mikey pulled his phone from his front pocket, clearing the random Instagram notifications and YouTube upload alerts, and opened the single text from Pete.

'I just wantef to know what you wanted to call 'us,' if we are a thing or not, like are we boyfreidns or like dating pr a couple or what'

Ignoring the typos, Mikey smiled and looked over at Pete, whose head was turned to face the floor as he bit his lip, fiddling with the edge of his t-shirt. Grinning, Mikey unlocked his phone and replied quickly,

'If you want to, I'd be fine with calling us boyfriends but only if you're ok with it because I don't want to make you uncomfortahle or anything'

Pete opened his phone at the 'ping' of a new message, and smiled up at Mikey after reading it, a rush of happiness and energy flooding through his chest as he rose onto his tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. Mikey let his arm drape over Pete's shoulders as the tattooed boy rested his head on Mikey, and the two walked in a happy silence.

After only a few minutes, a guy who looked around college age, with dirty blond hair and a messy goatee came up and tapped Mikey on the shoulder with a smile,

"Hey, can I just say, you and your girlfriend are real cute together."

Pete looked around hesitantly, a horrid feeling settling in his stomach when he realized there were no girls even close to the two of them.