Peter felt someone touch his arm. He panicked and swung at whoever was coming after him. He jolted awake. 'It's just a dream. Calm down.'
He sat up on the couch where he had fallen asleep. "Micky! Are you alright?!"
Micky lay on the floor, holding his nose. "Damn, I hit you, didn't I?" Micky gave a slight nod. He was trying to keep the blood from getting on his shirt.
Peter ran to the kitchen and grabbed a towel. "Here. Use this to keep your shirt clean. Pinch your nose and tilt your head back." Peter helped Micky to the couch. "I'll get some ice."
Micky leaned back, doing as Peter instructed. Peter put some ice in a towel. "Here. Put this on your eye. You've already got a shiner. I'm really sorry, man."
Micky waved his hand, telling Peter it was fine.
"Do you need anything?"
Micky made a writing motion. Peter ran to the kitchen to get the paper and pencil Micky had used earlier. He handed them to Micky, who began writing. I was going to ask you if you wanted to go to a movie tonight?
Peter didn't know what to say. He was losing his grip! Why was he feeling sorry for hitting a fake Micky?! Zero was trying to trick him. Well, it wasn't going to work! "No, I don't want to. I want to stay alone."
But you've been alone all day.
"I don't care. I have to stay away from you guys. It makes the game easier."
Micky scrunched his face in confusion. What game?
"Never mind. Just, leave me alone." Peter ran to his room and slammed the door.
~M~
He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Someone was knocking on the Pad door. Why wasn't Micky answering it?
Peter finally forced himself to get up and see who it was. Micky was still on the couch, sound asleep. His nose had stopped bleeding, but he definitely had a black eye. Another knock reminded Peter of what he came out here for. He opened the door. "What?"
"Peter? You're back!"
Peter looked at their landlord in confusion. "Yes, I'm back, Mr. Babbitt."
Suddenly Peter was wrapped in a bear hug. "I'm so glad you're not hurt! Maybe now things will get back to normal around here. I mean, after all, the boys keep paying the rent on time. You and I both know that's not normal!"
Peter struggled out of Mr. Babbitt's grasp. "Wait, you want us to not pay rent on time?"
"Of course not, boy! I'm just saying that ever since you were kidnapped, the other boys have changed. No more music, no more parties, no more waking me up in the middle of the night when they come in from a date. They only focused on finding you. Then after the accident, things really changed. The chatter-box doesn't say a word. The lover-boy can't get a girl with his face like that. And wool-hat can't even open a door on his own. Don't blame the poor guy for going grey already."
Peter had been trying to close the door on Babbitt, but now he stopped. Was Mike going grey? He hadn't been around him long enough to notice.
Mr. Babbitt continued talking. "But you're back now! Maybe the boys won't have to be as stressed now. They're going to work themselves into early graves if they don't watch it."
"Hey, Mr. Babbitt."
"Michael! How are you, son? Let me get the door for you!"
"The door's already open, Mr. Babbitt."
"Oh, so it is! Well, I'll be going now. I just came over to tell you boys I'll be out of town this weekend, so if you need anything?"
Mike smiled. "We'll be fine. Thanks."
Babbitt grinned, slapping Mike on the back and giving Peter a handshake. Peter closed the door. "Now I'm fully convinced that this is the game. Babbitt'd never be nice to us."
Mike chuckled. "After you, well, were gone, we told Babbitt that you'd been kidnapped. He couldn't believe that kidnappers would come in his building! He was so appalled that he searched far and wide for you, just to give the kidnappers a piece of his mind. Then, when the, accident happened, Babbitt was the one who found us. I think he was really scared. Anyway, after we came home from the hospital, Babbitt came over everyday to see if there was something he could do to help us out. We didn't believe it at first. I guess he does have a heart, after all." Mike took a few steps then stopped. "What the heck happened?!"
"It was an accident, Mike! Micky was trying to wake me up, and, I panicked, and I hit him. I didn't mean to!"
Mike picked up the wet towel from where it had fallen on the floor. "You sure can pack a punch, Shotgun!" Mike saw the crestfallen look on Peter's face. "Hey, I know it was an accident. You'd never hit Micky for real."
"But none of this is real! I keep getting confused! I feel bad for hitting him, but I can't feel bad! It just makes the game harder!"
Mike moved so he was directly in front of Peter. "Look at me, man. I don't know what you've been through. I can't even imagine it. But you are home now. This is real. Micky's real. Davy's real. I'm real. You're real. The game is over. We got you back."
Peter felt a hand on each of his shoulders. Davy stood on one side of him, and Micky on the other.
"We're best mates, Peter. We're never letting you go again."
Micky nodded in agreement with Davy.
Peter ground his teeth to fight the tears. "I want to believe you guys, I really do. But I feel him. Zero, I mean. As long as I can feel him, I know it's only a game."
