Another Way | Adopted by Gerard Way (Book Three)

4

The table set out on the deck outside was just big enough to fit sixteen people, which happened to be the exact amount of people that were at the barbecue.

Harley wasn't expecting everyone else would already be there as she emerged from the woods with Frank and Gerard on her heels, but as she panned her eyes over them as she approached the house she was pleasantly surprised. A wide smile grew on her face and her heart began pounding excitedly. She'd missed the people who hadn't yet noticed her as they stood around, talking with each other amiably.

Mikey was the first to realize the trio were headed their way. It had turned out that Frank had drawn the short straw and was chosen to go get Gerard and Harley from the woods after Lindsey informed everyone that that's where they were, but Mikey was secretly disappointed he hadn't been assigned the task; he couldn't wait to see Harley and wrap that kid in a hug, maybe mess up her hair playfully like he knew she couldn't stand. "Harley!" he exclaimed.

"Uncle Mikey!" Harley shouted back, her walk turning to a run at full speed towards him.

"Why weren't you that excited to see me?" Frank asked, faking hurt.

"Because you fucking pushed me and laughed about it!"

"Dude, you pushed her?" Mikey asked as he reluctantly let go of Harley. He knew he needed to let her have a turn at hugging everyone else, though; Ray had been waiting with his arms opened wide.

"Frank, you pushed her?" Jamia echoed, looking at his husband incredulously.

"Well now you're making it seem like I'm an asshole. She's exaggerating, though, I nudged her."

"Is that why there's dirt and shit in her hair? Cause you 'nudged' her?" Ray asked, pulling a leaf out of the end of the Harley's hair.

"She put it there herself," he defended quickly, shrugging it off.

"Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if I did somehow," Harley said solemnly, looking at the big leaf Ray let flutter to the ground at their feet as she wondered how she hadn't even noticed it was there. She took her hat off and shook her hair out, running her fingers through it to get any remaining dirt and pine needles to fall out.

"Yeah, she gets into lots of trouble," Gerard chimed in jokingly, "so a leaf in her hair is the least of our worries."

"Yeah, like one time when I was eight I brought a toad into the house and it was in a bucket in my room for three days before my moms found out. I even gave it food and water and I let it hop around my room if it wanted exercise," she explained and smiled sheepishly, "and I named it Balthasar."

"I did that once," a voice spoke up from behind Frank.

"See, Miles gets it!" Harley exclaimed, pointing at him, genuinely glad he seemed to be the only person there who wasn't looking at her like she'd spontaneously grown a second head.

"You did what?" Frank and Jamia asked, somehow in unison, turning to their son.

"Nothing," he spit out quickly. Too quickly not to be suspicious and by the look on his face, he knew it, but he still attempted to defend himself, "I didn't do anything."

"You know what? I don't even want to know," Frank said, running his fingers through his hair. "As long as there isn't a toad in the house as we speak."

"There isn't," Miles assured him.

"But the bucket with the rocks and dirt is still hiding under his bed," Lily chimed in.

"Yeah, I bet there's worms in there too," Cherry added.

"I'm pretty sure there aren't fucking worms under my bed, Cherry!" Miles scowled, crossing his arms. "How do you guys know what's under my bed anyway?"