Sing

Chapter 5: Roots

Gerard sighed, running his fingers through his greasy hair. He could pull it off, but it was still greasy as hell. Mikey's somehow still looked fine, and so did Ray and Grace's.

I didn't want to know what my hair looked like.

I reached up and took a lock of it. I could feel the oil. Oh, what I would give for a hot shower right now.

I put my legs out just as a cold breeze started up. We all shivered. Ray and Grace sat close together, him keeping her warm.

Why the fuck was it so fucking cold in New fucking Jersey?! FUCK!

"Okay," Gerard said. "I can't fucking do this. It's too goddamn cold. What even is the temperature out here? Does anyone know?"

We all looked around at each other. No one knew.

"Well come here!" I rolled my eyes. He was pretty cool, except when he was cranky.

Mikey and I moved in on either side of Gerard, who put his arms around the both of us. Ray and Grace came close to us, trying to help circulate heat.

I was worried about sleep.

"Who's taking the first watch tonight?" I asked. No one volunteered.

"Can we do it in pairs tonight?" Mikey asked. "I think that since we're on a roof, it'd be easier."

We all nodded, mumbling agreements. "I guess it'll be you and Gerard, then?" Ray asked. Mikey shrugged. "I can do whatever," he said. Gerard smirked. "Well, I'm not taking the first watch, that's for sure," he said.

"And what makes you think I am?" I asked. Gerard rolled his eyes. "The fact that I'm with Mikey and not you."

I felt like I'd been slapped in the face.

Who did he think he was?

I was fucking perfect! He would be lucky to stay up with me.

That little bitch.

I scoffed at him. "Whatever," I said, turning my head away from him.

"Listen, why don't you two take the second watch together?" Mikey suggested. He and Ray were the peacemakers.

"Us?" Gerard said, throwing a thumb in my direction. "Taking watch together? Really?" I rolled my eyes. He was really starting to piss me off now.

"Oh, why don't you just shut up?" Mikey groaned. "We're fighting for our lives here, Gerard. You're only like this because we haven't had coffee in months."

Gerard didn't say anything. "Now go to sleep," Mikey said. "We'll wake you up, okay? Goodnight."

Mikey and Ray moved over to the edge of the roof. They sat back to back, leaning against each other. Gerard walked to the other end of the roof to lay down. I stayed where I was.

"If I know my brother, he's going to talk," he said. "You might want to come over here if you actually want to sleep."

I considered it, then decided that he seemed like he was being nice enough to tolerate and moved over.

"Look, I'm sorry about being such a dick," he said. "I just don't like the situation we're in, you know?"

"Yeah," I said quietly. "I get that. It is pretty shitty, isn't it?" Gerard sighed and rolled over to look at me. "Yeah," he said. "It sure is. And on top of that, it's cold as a motherfucker."

I laughed. "That's true, too," I said. "Go to Mikey and ask him for his bandanas if you want," he said. "They aren't as thin as they look."

"'They?'" I asked. "He has more?" Gerard nodded. "Just two."

I stood up and walked over to Mikey. He jumped, and Ray laughed. Mikey reached around and grabbed his side. Ray jumped and gave Mikey a mock dirty look. Mikey grinned and looked up at me.

"Um, Gerard said to get your bandanas from you?" I said awkwardly. "Oh!" Mikey reached into his pockets and pulled out his yellow one and a red and black one.

"Here you go!" he said, handing them to me. I thanked him, and Ray leaned back, pressing Mikey down. Mikey bit his lip and smiled, trying to push against Ray.

It was pretty... strange.

I was getting some weird vibe off of that whole endeavor.

I started back over to Gerard, then spotted Grace's hair poking out from behind a broken radiator. She was practically vibrating from the cold.

"Grace?" I said. "Why are you sleeping over here? Come over with me and Gerard, it's a lot warmer." She nodded and slowly got to her feet.

I put an arm over her shoulders and held her close. She laid down in between me and Gerard. I watched her until I was sure she was asleep.

"Gerard?" I whispered. He grunted at me. "Is... Is Mikey gay?"

"Why?" he asked. "Well..." I said. "It's just that..."

"Please tell me you aren't crushing on my little brother," Gerard mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"No!" I said. "I just... I think there's something going on with him and Ray."

Gerard groaned. "That slut," he muttered. "Yeah, Mikey's gay. But if he's all over Ray, we're going to have to split."

"Wait, what?" I asked. "Split? Why?"

"Because this can't function if there's a big romance novel going on behind the scenes," Gerard said. "Especially not if we have a kid to watch, too."

I sighed. I knew he was right.

But Ray and Mikey?

They were kind of cute over there.

You know, cuddling in the moonl-

Shit.