Give Me A Label (I'll Make Confetti)

Chapter 30: Whataya Want From Me?

Greg stared at the floor as Mycroft opened and closed his mouth, trying to come up with something charming to say and get out of the situation. He drew a blank and merely blinked at Maggie with wide-eyes.

Finally Maggie took pity on him and said, 'Off you go, Mycroft. Greg can text you later.'

'Thank you!' Mycroft gushed and darted from the room, leaving Greg alone with his mum.

A heavy silence descended- a fucking awkward silence. Greg had never been caught snogging anyone by his mum. He always had sex elsewhere; he respected his mum's house and didn't bring random blokes home. Yes, Maggie had been called by the school every now and then because Greg had been found snogging some bloke in an empty classroom, but she'd never actually caught him.

So Greg didn't know what to do, or what was going to happen. He was seventeen, his mum knew he had sex... she wasn't going to yell at him, right? Or was she? Because Mycroft wasn't just a random bloke, he was Mycroft Holmes. He was Greg's friend, someone who Maggie personally knew, he was... well, he was Mycroft.

Greg chewed on his bottom lip and Maggie finally broke the silence.

'So, how long's this been going on?'

'Um... 'bout two months or so,' Greg mumbled.

'I see...' Maggie mused. 'And what happened to hating Mycroft Holmes?'

'Well... he... um...' Greg tried.

Maggie looked down at him as she folded her arms. 'Gregory, you aren't causing trouble for him, are you?'

'What?' Greg spluttered. 'No!'

'Gregory-'

'What, you think I corrupted him or something?' Greg demanded.

Maggie sighed. 'No, honey, I don't. But he's Mycroft Holmes, and you're-'

'A lazy fuck-up?' Greg snapped.

'Don't you swear at me, Gregory Johnathan!' Maggie scowled, making Greg pout and cross his arms. 'All I'm saying is that Mycroft... well, he just doesn't seem your type.'

'Looks can be deceiving,' Greg muttered.

'Okay,' Maggie said, 'so Mycroft's not what he appears to be?' Greg shrugged. 'Greg, come on, I'm really trying to understand this.'

'He's... cool, alright?' Greg got out. 'I... I like spending time with him, he's fun to hang out with, and... um...'

'And...?' Maggie echoed.

'He... um... he's h-hot,' Greg stuttered, blushing when Maggie smiled widely.

'He's hot, is he?' she asked.

Greg grunted, staring hard at the floor.

'And when did Mycroft Holmes stop being annoying and start being hot?' Maggie asked.

'Um... dunno,' Greg mumbled.

Maggie nodded slowly, dark eyes roaming up and down her son. 'So... you two are being careful, yes?'

'Mum!' Greg shouted, eyes widening as they shot up to stare at Maggie.

'You are being safe, right?' Maggie pressed.

'Oh my God, just stop!'

'Greg-'

'No, Mum, no!' Greg shouted, covering his ears with his hands.

'Gregory-'

'So wrong!'

Maggie crossed the distance between them and grabbed Greg's hands, pulling them from his ears. 'Greg,' she said sternly, 'please, I'm trying here. You're seventeen; I can't stop you from sleeping with who you want. But you have to be safe.'