Mandy had spent a lot of time with Ian the next couple of weeks. She came over for dinner often, bonded with his siblings and even helped Lip cook dinner once in a while. Ian had to explain to Lip and Fiona that Mandy and he were only best friends and she was helping him with his 'image.'

Mandy wasn't necessarily a part of the 'popular' crowd, but she had a few friends in that group who she hung out with once in a while. And when she did, so did Ian. They became joined at the hip and everyone thought that they were the cutest couple in school. That always made them laugh.

They were hanging out on the Milkovich couch one night. Ian had an arm around Mandy and she was cuddled into his side, watching some documentary on TV about wild animals. Mickey walked through the front door, letting out a loud burp and stopped in his tracks once he saw his sister and new 'boyfriend' on the couch.

"So what are you two like dating now?" Mickey asked, a little too annoyed at the sight.

"None of your goddamn business, asshole." Mandy didn't even look up at her brother, but Ian's eyes shifted to the TV to look at Mickey. A smile appeared on his lips and Mickey rolled his eyes.

"Just don't fucking do it on the couch. People sit there." He mumbled and slammed the door to his bedroom door.

After about ten minutes, Ian got up. "Hey, I gotta ask Mick a question."

"About what?" Mandy raised an eyebrow.

"Bio. He's my lab partner and he hasn't done his part of our project."

"Good luck getting him do to it." She laughed. "Want something to eat?" Ian nodded then made his way into Mickey's room. He didn't even bother to knock, he just walked in like he lived there.

The Thug was laying on his bed, flipping through his math text book with a pencil in between his teeth. He looked up at Ian and raised both his eyebrows before spitting out the pencil. "The fuck are you doing, Gallagher?"

He looked around the room once again, taking it in before making his way over to Mickey's bed. He decided not to sit on it. He sat on the floor instead, looking at what Mickey was working on. "Need help?" he offered.

"No I don't need your fucking – can I help you with something? Why are you in here? Jesus." Mickey muttered as he looked down into his textbook.

"I wanted to ask you something." Ian looked up at him.

Mickey didn't respond.

"There is a party this weekend. Wanna come with me and Mandy? I think my brother Lip might be coming too."

"Why would I come to a stupid fucking high school party?"

"Every time I see you, you're either doing nothing or something illegal. Just offering." He shrugged and hugged his legs into his chest.

"No." Mickey responded.

"Oh, com'on. It will be fun. You can drink the free booze, smoke the free weed, get fucked up and It will be fun. I promise."

"That doesn't sound like fun, Gallagher."

"Do you even have any friends?' Ian picked up Mickey's pencil and grabbed the notebook he was writing in and wrote his phone number at the top of the page. "Call me if you change your mind." Ian got up and started walking towards the door.

"Why are you dating Mandy?" He finally spoke in a not-so-annoyed voice.

The redhead looked back. "She didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"We're pretending to date. She's like…protecting me."

"What for?" Mickey looked more interested in the topic.

"I'm gay." Ian thumbed his bottom lip waiting for any kind of reaction from Mickey but got nothing.

"Get out of my room, faggot." Mickey muttered finally. Ian rolled his eyes and left Mickey's room.

Where the fuck are you? Lip and I have been at this party for like an hour and you're still not here. HURRY UP! – Ian

"Where is she?" Lip asked a little annoyed. They decided to distance themselves from the crowd of drunk teenagers and sit outside sharing a joint.

"No fuckin' clue." Ian inhaled the smoke to his lungs and exhaled slowly, allowing the smoke to roll off his tongue. "Just texted her."

Fuckin' Mickey took forever to find something to wear. Everything he owns has fucking holes in it. Why the hell did you even invite him!? On our way. Be there in 5-Mandy

Ian smiled at the text. Mostly about the part where Mickey was finding something to wear. He was happy that he decided to come. "They are on the way." He nodded.

"Do you think Mandy is into me?" Lip asked suddenly.

"Why? Trying to get it in with my girlfriend?" Ian asked with an amused smile on his face.

"Shut up, yeah. She's hot. Super chill."

"I'll ask later. Probably. I see her checking you out. And she always wants to be around you."

Lip's expression changed and he was suddenly a lot happier. Forgetting that they were an hour late. He sipped on his beer and sighed.

"What's Mickey like?"

Ian shrugged trying to think of the perfect words to describe him. "Hostile. Angry. Ummm, rude and mean." Ian nodded.

"….So why did you invite him?"

"He doesn't have any friends, Lip. I don't know, he' Mandy's brother. I wanted to do something nice I guess. "

"He doesn't have friends for a reason, idiot."

"Yeah, well." Ian shrugged and stood up once he saw Mandy, followed by a very grumpy looking Mickey. He walked up to her and picked her up to hug her. He could feel Mickey's eyes rolling at them. She saw people from the party staring so she quickly kissed his lips and he kissed her back before putting her down.

"Nice of you to finally join us." Ian beamed at the two Milkovich's.

"Yeah, well asshat over here doesn't know how to dress himself. He refused to let me help him so it took forever."

Mickey flipped her off and Ian chuckled. "Hey Mick."

"Mickey. Don't call me Mick." He grumbled.

Lip stood up and side-hugged Mandy and she looked up at him like he was some sort of God. "Hi, I'm Lip." He introduced himself to Mickey.

"What the fuck sort of name is Lip?"

"Phillip is my real name. But everyone just calls me Lip."

"That's stupid." Mickey snapped back at him and looked at Ian. "Where is this free booze and weed you promised me?"

"Right this way." Ian nodded towards the house. Mickey followed him into the kitchen. He started to pour Mickey's drink for him but Mickey snatched the cup.

"I can pour my own fuckin' drink."

"Alright. Just trying to help."

"Aye! Ian!" a football player yelled from across the kitchen.

"Hey Cam. How's it going?" He gave Cam a bro hug.

"Not too bad, not too bad." He grinned then wrinkled his nose when he saw Mickey. "Why is he here?" He asked confused.

"I invited him." Ian grinned at Mickey. "Figured we needed some kind of body guard protection around here if things got out of hand." He knocked his shoulder with Mickey's but the dark haired boy just rolled his eyes and walked back outside to Mandy and Lip.

Cam looked back at Ian with a raised eyebrow and chuckled. "Seriously, why did you invite him?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that? He's my friend – I think. My girlfriends brother. He wasn't doing anything so I invited him. Not a big deal. Now drink your beer, get fucked up and don't worry about it." Ian nodded and Cam just raised his glass to the ginger before downing his drink. "Atta boy."

He walked back outside to meet with the rest of his group but only found Mickey sitting on a chair by himself. Ian walked over to him. "Where's Mandy and Lip?"

"I think your brother stole your girlfriend."

"Ah, that's okay. He's into her."

"Right." Mickey pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in between his teeth before lighting it. He barely made eye contact with Ian, but Ian kept his eyes locked on Mickey. Like he was trying to figure something out or memorizing every line on Mickey's face. "The fuck you staring at?" Mickey finally snapped, taking the cigarette out from his mouth, exhaling the smoke out of his nose.

Ian chuckled and tried to take the cigarette from Mickey but the Thug just shooed his hand away. "Nothing, man. Just…trying to figure you out." Ian explained and grabbed the box of cigarettes and lit his own. Obviously Mickey wasn't going to be sharing his own.

"Well can you not? You're pissing me off." Mickey mumbled.

"What is your favorite color?" Ian asked.

"My favorite-what?"

"Color."

"Fuck." Mickey rolled his eyes. "Green. Now shut up."

"Favorite animal?"

"Why are you quizzing me? Jesus, do you ever shut up?"

"I want to get to know you. Now tell me what your favorite animal is!" Ian started to move closer to Mickey, seeing as he was a little less tense.

"Fuckin…dogs. Not the yappy kinds though. Bull dogs. Or the labs. I guess." He glided his tongue along is bottom lip and rolled his eyes. "Now will you shut up?"

"One last question. Promise."

Mickey stayed quiet.

"Why did you come tonight?"

"I was bored." Mickey replied, cigarette in his mouth.

"Bullshit. Why did you come tonight, really?"

"Gotta protect Mands from your 10 foot ass."

"You know we're not really together, I already told you I'm gay."

Mickey stayed quiet after that not replying or sassing Ian with his statement. He knew the truth and could really care less about what they were doing during their spare time. He is a Milkovich and he's gotta protect his annoying little sister.

"Mickey?" Ian finally broke the long comfortable silence that fell between them.

"Fuck. What?" He asked, rolling his eyes and looking at Ian.

"Wanna play beer pong?"

"No."

"Wanna go see what's there to eat?"

"No."

"Wanna get out of here and maybe get really high somewhere and just not be around all this?"

"….." Mickey bit down on his bottom lip and stood up, staring to walk towards the exit. He looked back at Ian with raised eyebrows. "Are you coming or not?" he snapped.