"What the hell!"
Ian shot up with such speed that he felt light headed for a second as he saw Mandy stood at the door. Her eyes were wide but she was frowning at the same time and for a second Ian forgot where he was, forgot what he was doing. Mickey was frozen beside him and it reminded Ian of the time after they'd first slept together when Terry walked into the room, only this time Ian wasn't afraid to move, to breathe even. Quickly he got out of bed and scrambled around for his shirt as Mandy left the room, slamming the door behind her. He looked over at Mickey who had his head in his hands and he could just make out the whispered curses he was muttering under his breath. The almost calm manner in which Mickey was handling the situation freaked Ian out. He found himself wanting Mickey to shout and scream, punch a wall or something, but he didn't.
Ian tripped slightly once he began jogging after Mandy still putting on his shoes. She was at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the house and when she saw him approach her she started walking again, her fists clenched by her side and her skirt swaying with how fast she was moving. Ian couldn't let her go without at least explaining.
"Mandy!" he called after her, jogging so that he could cacth up. "Mandy, wait," he took hold of her arm to stop her and she did stop. She stopped right where she was, yet didn't turn around, like she couldn't bare to look at him. Ian walked infront of her. "Mandy-"
"My brother?" she snapped through gritted teeth, her fist hitting his chest and Ian wouldn't have stumbled slightly if he knew that that was coming, but he didn't.
"Mandy, look will you just come back inside so we can talk about it?" he said quickly but calmly, hoping he'd be able to calm her down just with his voice like he could with Mickey. The way she scoffed and shook her head implied it hadn't worked. "Please," he whispered, practically begged.
Her features softened, but not completely and Ian noticed that her fists were still clenched. "What the fuck is going on? You and my brother? Like... what?" There was confusion in her voice but Ian thought there was something else, too. Sadness maybe. Betrayal?
Ian looked at the ground and opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. No words left his mouth and for a second they stood there in tense silence. He looked at her and noticed he was suddenly breathing heavily. "We... I don't know, we're together, I guess," he said, looking everywhere but at Mandy.
"Shit," she whispered, "Mickey's, like, gay?" She said that even quieter.
Nodding, Ian looked at her and saw the way her face dropped and her eyes seemed to water and he hoped, he really hoped she wasn't going to start crying.
Mandy shook her head and blinked a few times, her expression hardening again. "Why didn't you tell me about the two of you? I mean, how long has this been goin' on?"
This was the part Ian didn't want to talk about; the part he had dreaded thinking about explaining. Whenever he'd think about how one day he and Mickey were going to have to tell Mandy, this was the question he'd pray she'd never ask because he knew she'd be hurt that he had kept this from her for so long. It wasn't just because Mickey was her brother, but because Ian was her best friend and they told each other everything, really. She had been the first person Ian had properly come out too and that meant something to the both of them, even if they never mentioned it. They told each other silly small things about their day or their families or whatever, but they also told each other the big things. He hated that it took her walking in on he and Mickey asleep together for her to find out. "I didn't want to out Mickey, y'know? That wasn't my news to tell," he replied, only answering one of her questions, thinking that'd be enough.
She squinted at him, looking deep into his eyes which really did scare Ian quite a bit. She was a Milkovich after all. "How long?" she said slowly, though he thought she already knew half the answer.
Shoving his hands into Mickey's sweatpant's pockets, he wondered how he could best word it. Saying 'a long time' probably wouldn't cut it, but it wasn't like Ian knew the exact date and time. "Since before Mickey went to juvie," he said, then cleared his throat, "the first time."
One of Mandy's hands ran through her hair and she laughed in what sounded like disbelief. "Oh my God," she whispered to herself. "So what, the two of you have been fucking and playing boyfriends this whole time and didn't think to tell me?" Her voice was rising and she took a step back away from him. "Let me guess: I'm the only one who doesn't know, right? Have you had fun laughing at me behind my back at how fucking dumb I am?" Ian had never seen her like this. She looked so hurt and angry and definitely betrayed. "Fuck you," she said softly, her voice breaking. She pushed him out of her way then began to walk down the street.
"Mandy! Where are you going?" Ian shouted after her.
Not stopping once, she carried on walking. "I can't fucking do this right now!" she shouted back without turning around.
Ian stood there staring at her as she walked away and crossed the street and out of sight. Rubbing his face, he growled out a sigh. "Shit," he whispered as he began to walk back to the house, breathing hard trying to calm his thumping heart. Mickey was sat on the edge of the couch when he walked back inside and Ian didn't recognise his expression, he had never seen it before and it unnerved him. "Mickey, sh-"
"Get out," Mickey snapped, his voice low and threatening and Ian met his stare with confidence because no, he wasn't going to get out. He wasn't going to leave, not like this.