Gregg didn't have an easy life, as one would assume because of his behavior. Since he was always the one that was easily excitable, constantly on the move, and pretty much had the attention span of a gnat, it was easy to write him off as a childish delinquent, always getting into trouble along with his partner in crime, Mae Borowski, and one would assume he didn't get hurt much or cared as much.
That assumption was false.
Gregg did hurt, he did understand situations when it's neither here nor there for a joke or laugh; it was just his way of coping with an painfully awkward problem. He knows this is a problem, it's what turns everyone away from him (except Mae). He knew his parents didn't want to take care of him, so they decided to send him to his uncle's and let him be his problem; maybe they had hoped for some miracle and that Gregg would calm down and actually be normal for once. Maybe they had hoped that spending time around his uncle, helping him with whatever would actually make Gregg an responsible child, or something. Or maybe they were embarrassed to have a kid they couldn't control. Whatever the case may have been, it didn't work. If anything, that situation got worst, and maybe it was then, at only 8 years old, Gregg had gotten a wake up call. That he wasn't normal, that his behavior wasn't normal. It didn't quite sober him up - and why would it? An 8 year old is suppose to have fun, not learn life lessons - but it did make him a bit self-aware. For a while, Gregg struggled. He struggled with wanting to be normal, controlling his impulses of wanting to destroy stuff, and just have fun, no matter the consequences. He struggled with wanting to fit in, trying to pay attention, and not let his emotions get too high in which he has no control over. For a while, Gregg thought he was doing the right thing.
Then he met Mae again, and it all went to shit.
For Gregg, to meet somebody who pretty much was kin was like a godsend. Mae didn't judge, didn't scrutinize, didn't try to reprimand him for his actions. In fact, Mae was practically his partner when it came to crimes, and it's awesome because now he didn't feel so alone anymore. He wasn't alienated for doing something that otherwise would've been offensive, and in fact, seems to be encourage to keep doing what he was doing. Likewise with the situation of being normal, for a while, it was okay. Gregg accepted that there's another person who was just like him, in a way, and that person became one of his closest friends years down the road later. He liked it.
But he also didn't like it.
It became quite clear that nobody would take him seriously when he's acting like a goofball all the damn time. He doesn't mean to, but he has urges that needs to be scratched, and, even if he'd ignored them, the urge would only come back stronger, more dangerous. He feels like if he doesn't get rid of the itch soon, he'll explode or something, but he knows that he can't continue to live like this. He has to do something in order make life a bit more bearable, if only for a moment. Mae is cool, and she helps with the urge, but this isn't what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He knows it could all disappear, and he'll be on his own again, and have to deal with being alone, and he wasn't exact sure if he could handle that again - that rejection. He needs to change.
He just wasn't sure where to go when it's time for him to grow up.
They were in middle school when they drifted apart. Well, no; drifting would imply that Gregg and Mae didn't keep in touch anymore, but that wasn't the case at all. It was more like, they met two different people who pretty much became their go-to when they, themselves, couldn't hang out. Mae had a friend named Beatrice, or Bea, as Mae likes to call her. Gregg didn't know her very well, but it was clear she did not like him. At least, she tolerated him, but she wouldn't call him her friend since the two were world's apart. And that's fine with Gregg, he's use to be looking down on at this point, so it's not like Bea would be saying something Gregg didn't already know.
Gregg, on the other hand, met Angus while in the middle of their class, and, well, he was smitten.
Angus was a quiet, shy, awkward guy, spending most of his time alone and having his head in the books. Gregg thought he was adorable, questioning that weird feeling inside his gut, but didn't pay that much attention to it. He liked Angus, and he wanted to be his friend, so becoming his friend he shall do - in the typical Gregg fashion whenever he had an impulse.
The introduction didn't go over so well, having Angus shrink away from, staring at him as if he'd lost his mind. It kind of made Gregg nervous, but it was worth when Angus didn't try to move away and actually spoke quietly to him, nervous and blushing. At the time, Gregg had the strangest urge to pinch his cheek, but didn't actually do it. It wouldn't do him good if he were to scare his first friend since forever away. Since the start of class, however, Gregg had talked and talked and it was nice for someone other than Mae to listen to him, and occasionally get an input that didn't involve smashing shit or breaking windows. Angus was intelligent, like Bea, but it didn't come off as 'I know better than you' like it would whenever Bea and Gregg got to talking. In fact, it seemed the more they talked, the happier they got, and Gregg's stomach was doing all sorts of loops, and he was just so happy, he couldn't stop smiling.
It was also when he realized for the first time ever, he didn't feel the need to break anything.
Later, Gregg had told Mae all about him, and she had suggest that they - the four of them - should hang out sometime. The words sparked something in Gregg, and then he was waving his arms, yelling, with Mae laughing and joining in the yell, and for one moment, all was right in the world.
It was before they went to high school that Gregg found out he was attracted to guys.
It made sense, seeing how he's been hanging around Mae for so long, and not once thought of her in a sexual or romantic way. He suppose it could be because Mae was basically sister-in-arms to him, but there's enough romantic movies out there in the world for him to know that the idea wasn't entirely impossible. Still, with how they are around each other, one would think 'yeah, perfect soulmate right here!'
That was not the case.
Gregg had thought it was just Mae, and he would eventually get a girlfriend or something when the time calls for it; but any attractive girl they saw, walked passed, or even acknowledge at one point never crossed his mind. Instead, he found himself eyeing up guys, quietly remarking how good they look, and often found himself getting excited at the prospect of a guy walking towards their group, probably to date Mae or Bea.
For a minute, Gregg had been horrified. He wasn't suppose to like guys! He was suppose to like girls! He was suppose to like how cute they are, their little giggles, and if lucky, maybe get some flashes down below the neck! How could this happen? Why was he so fucked up?!
Breaking down and crying, Gregg didn't know what to do. He wasn't sure who he can turn to, not without the fear of abandonment. If he told Mae, would they still be friends? If he told Angus, would he even want to be around him anymore? Bea...could he talk her? Didn't she hate his guts or something? Even if she didn't, how could Gregg gather any courage to talk to her when it's obvious they rarely spoke? He wasn't sure, but...he doubt he could do this on his own. Against his wishes, against his thoughts and his insecurities, Gregg decided to talk to Angus. He knows Angus was at least a bit more mature than Mae, so maybe the kid wouldn't fly off the handle when he told him about his discovery.
You can imagine his surprise when Angus told him it's okay - because he had known he, himself, liked guys too. The confession was a bit embarrassing, if Angus had to admit, but it had gotten the point across for Gregg.
It's okay, you're not alone. I'm with you.
Gregg broke down into tears again.
Finding out you like guys when you're the same sex is hard. Finding out that you have a crush on your best friend of the same sex is even harder.
Gregg had finally figure out what that feeling in his stomach was after all those times in middle school. He had talked to Mae about it, seeing how she had been in a relationship before, and it turns out that the feeling he gets is pretty much telling him he has a crush. And of course, the only person that's making him feel this way had to be Angus.
Fuck.
Gregg's scared. He knows the type of person he is, and even though Angus has accepted him, would he want Gregg as a lover? Angus is smart, kind, cool, and has a head on his shoulders. He and Mae are pretty much the ones fucking up their lives with dumb shit, and while Mae may or may not be aware of it, said dumb shit cannot go on forever. It has to stop at some point. Gregg's trying really hard, but the impulses are still there, and he feels like he's about to fall apart. He wants Angus, but knows he cannot have him, and he's frustrated so when the time comes, he ask Mae if they could go to a party that's being thrown out to the woods. She agrees, of course she does, and before long, the four were there, standing by the fire, enjoying life and having a buzz.
Gregg doesn't know how much he had to drink, but he knows things were getting fuzzy, and he can't walk straight. He's happy, for whatever reason, and there's this cute guy checking him out. Gregg's feeling brave, and before he knew it, the two spent some time away from the others and began making out. He's buzz, and he's feeling good, and for once, he's happy.
He doesn't think twice about Angus.
He doesn't get to see Angus for about two days, and when he does, Angus is even more introverted than he had been back in middle school. He looks like hell, he's rarely speaking, and doesn't meet Gregg's eyes. For a moment, Gregg thinks he's done something wrong, and when he reaches out, Angus flinches back and keeps his head down lower. There's a funny feeling in his gut, but unlike the other times, this isn't pleasant. Gregg isn't happy, and he doesn't feel like he could take on the world anymore. The guy he'd met at the party approaches him, and Angus all but runs out of the room, leaving him confused and sad.
Later, he and Mae gets to talking, and she's not exactly sure what's Angus' deal is either. Bea, on the other hand, looks angry, and he wanted to know why, but he's too scared to ask. Throughout the day, all his mind could focus on is Angus, Angus, Angus. The teen's hurting, and Gregg has a feeling that kissing another person right in front of him has something to do with it, but he couldn't be certain. If it does, Gregg feels guilty, on top of the golden question - why is Angus upset about that? Angus...Angus doesn't like him, right? It's a crazy thought that someone like Angus could like someone like Gregg. He's conflicted, and he wants to cry again, but he refuses and decides to focus on something different - like, smashing up old cars or stealing something. It helps, and Gregg likes it, so he keeps doing it until he can't anymore.
While out and about, Gregg can hear sniffling, and when he looked around, he spotted Angus on the ground, glasses broke, and a bruise on his face. Shock, heartbroken, and fury filled Gregg's mind as he ran to help Angus up, asking him if he's alright and if he needed to go to the hospital. Angus only shakes his head, muttering in low voice of his, and then ask about his glasses. Gregg tells them they are broke, and he hears a sharp intake, watching the emotions roll in his eyes, before he nodded. He gently pries his arm away from Gregg, and tells him that he's going home, and sorry for the trouble. Gregg watches him stumble a bit before feeling the urge to protect come over him, and decides to help him get him. They fuss a bit before Angus tells him he can't go home without his glasses, which Gregg reminds him that they are broke, but Angus insist, so Gregg picks them up from the ground, and hands them to him. Silence fell upon them, and as they stared at each other, Gregg's suddenly determined to get answers. He wants to know why Angus didn't show up for school for two days, and why they don't talk anymore. He wants to know what he did that offended him so, and ask if they are even friends anymore.
Angus, for a moment, doesn't answer, but when he did, it was an answer Gregg never expected from him. The teen kissed him on his cheek, declaring that he has a crush on Gregg for a while now, and the fact that he kissed another had upset him. It was stupid to be, since they weren't together, but Angus really liked Gregg and well, Gregg was kind of his. He didn't want anyone to take him away.
Gregg was stunned, but reality caught up to him, and realized that this was a confession, one he'd longed to hear, and he couldn't let an opportunity go to waste. Gregg kisses him back, telling him that he has a crush on him too, he was just afraid that Angus wouldn't like him - wouldn't like someone like him. Angus tells him he's silly, and that if there's anyone who wouldn't like him for him, it would've been Angus. Angus had feared that he didn't deserve Gregg, that he would want someone who wasn't broken like he was. Gregg had asked what he'd meant, but Angus kept quiet.
He had a feeling he'll find out later.
It hasn't been two weeks since they got together when they ran into some serious trouble.
Not with them, precisely, but with Mae, and what most would deem as an out-of-control temper. She's beating a person with a bat, until there's blood on the grass, and suddenly everyone's scared. Not for themselves, but for Mae, and they suggest that she should see a shrink of some kind; Mr. Hank had been mentioned, but anyone who knows him know that he probably wouldn't help in the slightest. He's too everywhere, and Mae, Mae needs help. At least, Gregg thinks so. Gregg needs help too, so he's not really in the position to be telling anyone anything.
In the meantime, his boyfriend seems to be a shell of his former self. He's too quiet, he doesn't respond to any questions Gregg ask, and maybe it's just him, but Angus seems to be in pain. He had caught his boyfriend having trouble sitting down, and he's pretty sure he's not the reason why. Gregg had once caught the sight of a swell cheek, but he couldn't be sure, and if asked, Angus just says it's because he's clumsy. Gregg knows it's a lie, and he could feel that feeling of helplessness and sadness and confusion and what did I do wrong? creeping up inside him, choking him, making him gasp for air, and the urge to smash everything comes back, and he fights. He can't keep smashing up whatever or doing crimes, as much as he loves them, whenever he feels like he's doing something wrong. He can't turn his back on Angus when his problems turn up. Angus needs him, just as much as he needs Angus.
So, he ask again, firmly, practically demanding. The change of tone startles the both of them; Gregg was never the one to raise his voice, and at Angus of all people, but he has to. He has to grit his teeth and do it, out of the kindness of his heart, and just how much he cares for him.
Angus stares at him warily, before opening up about his abuse. He claims it's never bad, but his parents had found about him being gay, and well, of course they didn't take it too kindly. They don't know that he has a boyfriend, Gregg, but Angus had decided that it was time to open up his feelings about boys; a mistake, they both knew, and Angus was paying for it.
Gregg's angry, he wants to give his parents a piece of his mind, but he can't because Angus begs him not to. He claims, one of these days, his parents will see the light, and hopefully will stop their behavior. Gregg snaps out that that will only happen if he's either dead or isn't town anymore. They both fell silent, and just looked at each other, an idea forming in their minds.
Let's leave.
The time for graduation, and Mae is the first to go, after everything that has happen. Gregg can't help but be a little envious, that she gets to leave this backwater town, but nevertheless, wishes her good luck and for her to tell him all about her adventures. She laughs and says she will, hugging Angus, fist bumping Gregg, and a smile towards Bea. She's off, and soon, everything's different. The three teens can't leave like Mae can, and they're all stuck together, so, without even realizing it, has made a seldom vow to each of their own - I won't fall behind.
Angus and Gregg decides to move in together; after Gregg decides to one day, visit Angus' family and tell them that he's their son's boyfriend that they haven't known about since high school, which had lead straight to arguments which lead to Angus getting kicked out. It's pretty cool having your boyfriend live with you, you can be as affectionate as you want, not having to worry about someone barging in, unannounced, and it's always nice to ogle at your significant other without being called a creep for it. They sometimes go out to eat, usually pizza, but sometimes they'd rather stay in and eat, Angus cooking dinner almost always, and snuggling up on the couch. Since they're living in an apartment, there is rent that needs to be done, so they decided they're both gonna get jobs - not just for the rent, though.
"Someday, we're gonna get our own place, y'know? We'll leave this crappy town, the bad memories, and we'll start our own adventure. It's going to be great, Angus! I'll have you by my side, and we'll be living free, won't we?" That's what he'd said. That's what the plan was, still is. Angus had nodded and agreed, a smile on his face as he drink his coco. Gregg's excited and happy, and he wants Angus to be too, because he deserve this. He deserves this a lot more than Gregg does, and damn it all, by hell and high water, Gregg's going to make Angus happy.
So, they got jobs. They work their asses off. They're getting paid, no matter how little, and above all, they are doing this together. Maybe that's why Gregg's so excited for this plan to work. With Mae gone, Gregg doesn't have a friend in the world - but he still has Angus, and something inside him tells him that's all he's ever going to need.
A/n: Man, this was a bitch to write :/ But, I saw this Archive and I was like 'yes. Yes. I can finally make fanfics of my favorite OTP - Gregg and Angus! Mae and Bea too, but mostly Gregg and Angus! What joy!' I tried to capture Gregg's personality as much as I possibly can. Sorry if it seems a little OOC :/
