Rich and George: The Power Couple

Rich's POV: (Unwanted) Guest

About three weeks later, George came over again. We had watched a movie the night before, and I still couldn't get over how cute he was when I quoted some of the lines. By then I had gotten a lot closer with his friends, especially James, who came over after school a lot when Sidney was being annoying with Maximillian at his house.

The house was eerily quiet, and dark because of the blinds. Usually, Sundays were family days that involved loud games and lots of gossip, but that wasn't the case today. I crept to the sink with a glass, but stopped when I saw a silhouette standing by the sink. I guess they heard me in the kitchen, so they turned around to see me and turned on the light. I couldn't believe who it was.

"Rich?" Josh asked, almost as surprised as I was.

"Oh, hey," I replied, a little nervous. I hadn't talked to Josh in two years, and he didn't tell anyone he was coming home. "Sorry, I can go back up if you--"

"Rich." I didn't reply. He looked like a mess, with a short low ponytail and an oversized billabong t-shirt. "Dude, I can't believe how old you look." I couldn't think of what to say. Josh walked up to me slowly, looking uneasy as he put his hand on my shoulder. "Are you gonna hug me, or what?" Surprised, I put my arms around him, and he did the same.

"Look, I know it wasn't easy living with me all those years, but I wanted to come back and talk to Dad and Pop about some stuff." Josh and I were on the couch downstairs, and he had just poured two glasses of water for the both of us.

"College hasn't been going well, has it?"

He shook his head. "Nah, I'm failing practically everything." Josh gave me a serious look, which was something I never thought he'd do. "You're doing well in school, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good, that's great." We sat in silence awkwardly for a moment until he spoke again. "So what's happening with your friend Henry? Is he being nice to you?" I shook my head. "Rich, you have to do something about that. If you don't want to have him doing this, you should--"

"It's okay, Josh. Really. I actually made some new friends at school this year." His eyes lit up.

"That's awesome, dude! You've always needed better friends, I could tell by the way Dad and Pop talked to you about school." I gave a confused smile. "So, do you have a girlfriend yet?"

"Oh, um about that--"

"Don't tell me. She's upstairs right now, and you guys are gonna talk to each other all day long until you have to go back to school."

"Uh... yeah. Sure." I don't know why I didn't tell Josh I was gay in that moment. I was probably a little intimidated.

"What's her name? What does she look like?"

"She's, um... she's--"

"Rich?" I looked at the staircase and saw George standing there, wearing his glasses and carrying his cell phone. Josh looked at me, wide-eyed.

"Hey, sorry. I just went to get some water, I didn't realize Josh would be home."

"You didn't mention the fact that your girlfriend had such masculine features, Rich," Josh quipped, turning to George. "What's your name?"

"I'm George, and apparently I'm a girl now." He slowly walked down the stairs to sit with me on the couch. "Are you Rich's brother?"

Josh didn't say anything for a moment. I was getting nervous, thinking that the two of them would start fighting or something. I'm not sure why. Finally, Josh asked, "Do you love him?"

"I'm sorry, we should go back upstai--"

"Do you love him?" Josh repeated.

George looked at me, giving me his innocent smile. "More than he could ever know," he replied, putting his arm around me. I blushed.

"Then that's all I need. Welcome to the family." Josh reached out to shake George's hand, but I interrupted him.

"Why do you suddenly care about all this?" I demanded. "You haven't been home since you moved out, and before then you didn't have the slightest care in the world for my well-being."

"Of course I cared, I'm your brother. I know I didn't show it, but I truly cared."

"Then why didn't you do anything about it?"

"I should go upstairs," George interjected, walking away from us. "I'll be in your room when you need me."

"George--"

"It's fine, Rich. I'll be upstairs." He walked away, and I could feel my heart sink. I glared at Josh, who simply looked at me with a very neutral expression.

"What the hell? Are you trying to make George hate me or something?"

"He loves you, I can't change that."

"Well then why are you here?"

"I told you, I need to talk to Dad and Pop." I sighed angrily, and his expression warmed. "Look, I'm sorry for not being there for you growing up. But now I'm back, and I'm gonna try, okay?"

"Josh, I'm not five. I don't need you to patronize me."

"Rich--"

"I'm going upstairs. Don't bother following me, I have to talk to my boyfriend." I stormed away from Josh, but froze when he said something that haunts me to this day.

"I'm gonna tell Henry about you." I sat down on the couch, my heart racing. I knew Josh was full of it, and he proved me right. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Stay here and talk to me like an adult."

"You're one to talk, you druggie," I shot back. He glared angrily at me.

"What is wrong with you? You never used to fight back, and now you're just some pompous dick who's all mouth."

"I never liked you."

"So I've heard. Do you think I care?"

"You did about thirty seconds ago."

"Listen, prick." Josh stood up and balled his fists. I flinched. "I beat you up when we were kids, I can do it again."

"Josh, I'm sorry, I--"

"Save it. I'm going to call Henry right now, so I suggest you go upstairs to your boyfriend and shut the hell up."

He didn't have to tell me twice.

Before I walked into my room, I went into the closet by the bathroom to call Dad. I hoped that nobody would hear as I dialed the number. He answered after a few rings. "Hey, Richie! Everything okay?"

"Josh is here." I tried not to cry. "He said a bunch of stuff about how he would tell Henry about George and beat me up."

"Oh my God, kiddo, I'm so sorry. I'll be home in a few minutes, okay?"

"He was even being all buddy-buddy with George."

Dad was silent for a moment on the other line. I started sniffling, and I could tell he heard. "Don't be upset, bud. Pop and I are coming home to talk to him, just stay in your room with George for a while, okay?"

I sighed. "Okay."

"Love you kiddo. See you when we get home."

"Love you too."

Click.