Give Me A Label (I'll Make Confetti)

Chapter 31: I Don't Care

Mycroft wasn't at school Tuesday; he had some debate-type thing at St Mary's and had already driven over there. So Greg was alone as he got off his bike and headed for the smokers' corner.

Dimmock was there, though, having got a detention Friday for swearing in class after Dylan slapped him.

'What's with the face?' Dimmock asked.

Greg groaned as he sat next to him on the cold concrete, helmet sitting beside him. 'Mum caught me and Mycroft snogging.'

Dimmock nearly dropped his cigarette and hissed as he burnt his thumb. He sucked on the digit and mumbled, 'Wha?'

'Mm,' Greg nodded. 'Mycroft and his mum came 'round for tea yesterday arvo. We were in my room, snogging, and Mum walked in. We were on the bed and everything so we couldn't deny what we were doing.'

'Jesus,' Dimmock said, rubbing his red skin. 'What'd Maggie do?'

'Teased us for a bit before lettin' Mycroft go,' Greg said. 'Then asked if me and Mycroft were being careful.' Dimmock giggled and Greg scowled at him. 'It ain't funny,' he growled, lighting a cigarette and puffing back on the stick. 'Fuckin' mortifying.'

'It is funny,' Dimmock laughed. 'Sorry, sorry, not funny,' he said when Greg glared at him. 'So she's not gonna tell Mummy Holmes?'

'Nah, I asked her actually, she said it was none of Mrs Holmes' business. I think she knows that Mycroft hasn't come out,' Greg said, 'and my mum would never push anyone outta the closet.'

'Good woman, your mum,' Dimmock said.

'Oh, yeah, absolutely fucking amazing,' Greg huffed, 'when she doesn't invite your shag over for dinner.'

Dimmock raised his eyebrows as he turned to look at his best friend. 'What?'

'Mum invited Mycroft over for dinner,' Greg said. 'I think she wants to make sure I haven't tricked Mycroft into shaggin' me.'

Dimmock couldn't hold back his giggles and Greg continued to glare at him as they both smoked.

'Sorry, sorry,' Dimmock said as he cleared his throat and got control of himself. 'So, Mycroft Holmes comin' over for dinner, huh?'

'Mm,' Greg nodded.

'But your mum knows you're not dating, right?'

Greg paused as he thought over his mother's words; If you don't like Mycroft, then why haven't you slept with him and moved on already?

'Greg?'

'Um... yeah, she knows,' Greg nodded, choosing to keep Maggie's words to himself; Dimmock teased him enough as it was. 'I just... I dunno, I guess she just wants to make sure we're both consenting adults and all that rubbish.'

'Well, that's what mums do,' Dimmock said. 'Well, cool mums. Fuck knows what my mum'd say if she was alive.'

Dimmock's mum had died two years ago, which was one of the reasons Dimmock was always welcome over at Greg's place; Maggie liked to keep an eye on him and make sure Ryan Dimmock was taking care of his son.

'I'm sure she'd be fine,' Greg said. 'Just 'cause you're dad's a bastard doesn't mean she'd be.'

Dimmock just nodded and puffed on his cigarette.

'Maggie's never met any of your shags, has she?' Dimmock asked after a few minutes of silence.

'Besides you? No,' Greg shook his head. 'It'll be... interesting.'

'Take pictures.'

'Fuck you,' Greg muttered, Dimmock chuckling.

{oOo}