Meddlesome Brothers
Part 1: The Crush
Iggy Milkovich saw that look, the dopey, gooey-eyed gross look on his younger brother's face. This look always seemed to show up when Mandy would talk about, at great lengths, about a certain freckle faced Gallagher.
He never failed to notice the way Mickey became suddenly clumsy when Ian stayed for dinner. Dinner at the Milkovich house was usually pizza in front of the TV watching some lame ass movie. Mickey had been seated on the couch before the Gallagher kid had sat down. Iggy watched Mickey hold his breath when Ian plopped down between him and Mandy.
Iggy watched Mickey more than he watched the movie. It wasn't a boring movie by any means. Mandy had rented 21 Jump Street. But they had seen it before. Iggy was watching Mickey. Ian's knee touched Mickey and that caused a chain reaction from Mickey: First, surprise. Mickey's breath caught in his throat. Second, Mickey turned his head slightly to stare at the red head. Third, Ian almost caught Mickey staring. Fourth, Mickey looked back at the TV, his face turning a deep shade of pink. Fifth, Mickey's pizza landed in Ian's lap. Six, Mickey's beer spilled on Ian and himself.
"You're such a dumb ass," Mandy exclaimed. She disappeared into the kitchen to get some towels. She began to wipe Ian down. Iggy watched as Mickey's eyes shot up his forehead when their sister was practically groping Ian's groin as she wiped up pizza and beer from his jeans.
"Do one of you ass-heads want to loan Ian some jeans?" Mandy asked, "Iggy, you and Ian are about the same size."
Iggy rolled his eyes but didn't move. Mandy stormed off again. She threw a pair of jeans at Ian.
"Hey," Iggy said.
"They're the nice ones I stole for you at the mall that you never wore."
Iggy shrugged, but it was Mickey who wore a scowl. He was covered in pizza toppings and he was sticky from the beer soaking through his jeans. But when Ian dropped his trousers in the living room, Iggy assumed Mickey was experiencing another symptom entirely.
It was official. Mickey had a crush. More importantly, Mickey was gay. Iggy didn't care about that. He had always suspected it, but now he was more than certain. He just wished Mickey wouldn't hide it from him. But in there neighborhood and especially their own home it was probably best if they didn't speak of it or if Mickey didn't act on it.
"Is that better?" Mandy asked when Ian sat back down.
But Mickey was stuck. He could not stand up without risking exposing what Iggy assumed was a rising problem, so he sat there in his wet pants. Iggy hoped the problem would dissolve when Ian went home. But Ian didn't go home.
After the movie was over and Iggy turned the lights back on Ian's head had somehow drooped onto Mickey's shoulder. Mickey was sitting perfectly still, and his breathing was labored. Iggy knew it wasn't because he was trying hard not to wake the kid.
"What are we supposed to do with him?" asked Iggy, scratching his head.
"Wake him the fuck up and send him the fuck home," said Terry who came in wearing nothing but his boxers and getting another beer from the fridge.
"Can't he sleep on the couch?" Mandy asked.
"Nah. Your Uncle Ray will be rolling in sometime after the Alibi closes. I promised him the couch. Wake him up."
Mickey moved slightly. This brought Ian out of his slumber. He sat up slowly and put his hand right down on Mickey's crotch, but noticed, turned red and pulled his hand away suddenly.
"I should get home," Ian said.
"I'll walk you," Mandy said.
"Go with them," Terry told Iggy and Mickey smacking them in the back of their heads in turn. "Your sister shouldn't be walking home by herself at night."
But Mickey kept his distance. He didn't hover. Iggy figured that might be a good thing. As they walked Ian home, Mickey avoided looking at anything but the ground. He didn't want to be obvious, except to Iggy he was.
"Fiona's going to kill me," Ian said.
Fiona and Lip were sitting on the step of the Gallagher porch both smoking and waiting for Ian. Lip embraced Ian in a tight hug before scowling at the trio of Milkoviches. Lip rubbed Ian's head and lead him into the house.
"Thanks for walking him home. I was worried about him," said Fiona offering the trio a few dollars for the deed. Mandy turned her down. "Want a beer or cigarettes at least. I was about to send Steve and Lip after him."
"What the fuck are you trying to give money away for?" asked Frank who came sauntering in spewing off some diatribe about holding on to money. He snatched the few dollar bills from Fiona's hand and went inside. Mickey and Mandy doubly flipped him off behind his back.
"Well anyway, thanks," said Fiona again. She nodded at each of them before waving politely and going inside her home.
"I'd fuck Fiona so hard she would cum sunshine," Iggy said.
"She wouldn't let you within fifteen yards of her pussy," Mickey said lighting another cigarette.
"You don't know. Once she's had a taste of Iggy she'd never eat anything else," Iggy said.
"You're so gross," said Mandy, speeding up to walk in front of them.