Mickey spends the rest of the day with Ian.
They eat grilled cheese (Ian's a surprisingly decent cook) and watch some stupid action movie that Ian likes, and Mickey's in far too deep for his liking.
He learns a lot about Ian, too. He's incredibly friendly, for one, and he's always lived in Chicago. He has a family, a fuckload of siblings, but they don't speak much. He likes Jean Claude Van Damme, and Led Zeppelin, and he used to want to join the army. Sometimes he still does. He's twenty-one, and he's been dancing at the club since he was seventeen. Every piece of information goes into a little box in Mickey's heart called 'Ian'. He just likes him more after learning about him.
He doesn't ask about Ian's use of drugs, or how much he drinks. He doesn't want to ruin the perfect picture he's painted in his head.
He tells Ian a little about himself, too: he's always lived in Chicago, too. He doesn't have a family besides his nutjob sister, who lives with him. He's definitely not friendly. He's twenty-three, and he's only been a bouncer for eight months. He likes Black Sabbath, he failed out of high school, and he's got a thing for redheads. The last one makes Ian's face light up with a laugh that goes straight to the box in Mickey's heart.
When nine pm rolls around, Mickey realizes he's been here literally all day long. Ian doesn't seem to mind, as he's swaying his hips to the radio while cooking the both of them dinner.
"I usually don't cook," Ian tells him, pauses his dancing to look up, "But since I've got a guest I thought it'd be nice."
Mickey rolls his eyes so far back it hurts. Ian goes right back to dancing. "You're the weirdest person I've ever met," he tells Ian, who laughs that pretty laugh again, and throws some pasta in a boiling pot.
His phone buzzes, and Mickey grabs it.
[4:49] Mandy: are u still with ian its been like four hours
[5:30] Mandy: asshole dont ignore me for your new bf
[8:26] Mandy: mick i s2g u better not be dead or something txt me back
[9:04] Mandy: where tf are u
He can't help but roll his eyes again.
[9:05] Mickey: calm the fuck down. i'm with Ian.
[9:05] Mandy: ;)
He ignores her message in favor of joining Ian in the kitchen.
Sitting up on the counter, he watches Ian cook for a bit.
"You know what you're doing?" He asks, and Ian shrugs.
"What should I put on it?" He asks, and Mickey shrugs this time, taking a glance to Ian's cabinets.
"What do you have?"
"Umm.. nothing?"
Mickey scoffs, but it sounds more like a chuckle.
"Nothing it is."
Ian practically beams. Mickey swears he'd kill to see that smile all the time. It turns Ian into an angel- it's got to be the prettiest thing he's ever seen.
Mickey realizes he's staring a couple moments after Ian does. He knows Ian realizes first because his smile slowly turns into a smirk.
"You like what you see?" Ian asks, and Mickey's face turns red. He doesn't do the whole flirting thing, and the look on Ian's face is far too flirty for him.
He sputters for a minute, before settling on, "Shut up and cook."
Ian laughs out loud, grabbing a strainer (who has a strainer but not pasta sauce?) and pouring the pasta into it over the sink. He grabs two paper plates from the cabinet, and slides pasta onto it for both of them, passing Mickey a plate. He then hops up on the counter beside Mickey, and hands him a fork.
"Enjoy," he grins, "Sorry I don't have any sauce."
Mickey snorts, and takes a bite. "That's alright," he answers, "You gotta have dinner with us sometime, we got everything."
He realizes what he's said when Ian looks at him like he just offered him the moon. "Yeah, definitely," he responds, "Your sister sounds cool, anyways."
Mickey rolls his eyes, keeps eating. "She's not cool," he replies, and Ian laughs.
They eat, and another hour or so passes before Mickey decides he ought to leave. He doesn't want to- he likes Ian's company, perhaps a bit too much. It's weird for him, since he doesn't like a lot of people (besides Mandy) and he finds himself wanting to spend more and more time with Ian. Problem is, Ian's impossible to read. He's so friendly that Mickey isn't even sure if he's like this with everyone, or if something's actually going on between them.
"See you at work?" Ian asks, as he heads out the door.
Mickey nods, "Yeah, working day after tomorrow. You need a ride, you got my number, yeah?"
Ian grins at him, walks Mickey out to the shithole of a lobby. "Yeah," he nods, "Thanks."
With that, Mickey's off. His drive home is short, but his mind is running faster than his car. He likes Ian, and it's freaking him out just a little. Or a lot. He isn't supposed to like people, and people aren't supposed to like him. That's how it's always been.
When he gets home, Mandy is waiting for him on the couch again. He flops down beside her, and steals half her poptart. His phone buzzes, and he pulls it out to check it, ignoring the prying eyes of his sister.
[10:46] Unknown: thx for coming. i swear i'll have pasta sauce next time.
He smiles at his phone, and Mandy shoves his shoulder. He ignores her to save Ian's contact as 'Red', and to text him back quickly.
[10:46] Mickey: no problem, Red, liked hanging out with you
[10:47] Red: awww. i knew bringing my phone back was just an excuse
[10:48] Mickey: shut the fuck up, i wasn't planning to stay that long
[10:49] Red: i drew u in with my charm
[10:49] Mickey: nah, it was the grilled cheese
[10:50] Red: sure it wasn't my sauceless pasta?
[10:51] Mickey: that too.
[10:53] Mickey: night
[10:53] Red: sleeping so early?
[10:54] Mickey: this is a normal time to sleep. not my fault you never sleep.
[10:55] Red: who needs sleep?
[11:00] Red: night mickey, see you at work