Hi, I think I'll do a couple more from season 1 and end that portion of it where Ian visits Mickey in juvie before I start the season 2 stuff. I know this isn't the most popular fic, but I'm enjoying writing it. Reviews are welcome and always helpful. So if there is something you like or don't feel free to let me know.

Part Six: That's What a Crush Is

I can't get Gallagher out of my head. Even worse, I have these sensations inside me whenever he's around, or whenever I think about them. I can't really describe them. They're like fucking warm and shit.

"Iggy," I say casually. He's watching some dumb show on TV about the fucking Civil War and eating a pizza bagel.

"Sup?" Iggy says.

"Never mind," I say. What the fuck was I thinking? I can't ask Iggy. Mandy? No. I probably shouldn't ask a member of my own family. They'd get too suspicious.

As I leave my house the little red head pops into my mind again and my heart does this weird thing where it feels like its being inflated like a balloon. I shake my head to try to get it off my mind, but it doesn't work.

I find myself in front of the Jackson house. You've got to be kidding. It's the nicest house in our neighborhood. It's also the one house everyone avoids. No one has ever attempted to rob it. Not from our neighborhood or any of the others. It's because Shelia Jackson is a kind woman, if not a big aloof and fucking crazy. But she's nice, and she's clean.

What the fuck am I doing? I knock on the door. I have no fucking clue why. Shelia Jackson pokes her head out. She frowns when she sees me. I see my reputation precedes me.

"Mickey," says Shelia, "Frank's not here, he's at the Alibi. I don't know how much he owes you, but you can find him there."

Why the fuck does everyone always assume I'm looking for Frank? Who gives a shit about Frank?

"I'm actually here to talk to you," I say slowly. She hands me a plastic bag to put my shoes in before she lets me in the house. Her house smells like lavender and plastic. It's so clean you could eat off the walls.

"Are you hungry? I can make you some Eggs Benedict."

I nod. She starts cooking. I sit down at her kitchen table. Shelia puts a cup in front of me and fills it with tea. Her Eggs Benedict doesn't take long and she watches me eat. It's the most savory thing I've ever tasted. She smiles when I clean my plate. I have no table manners, and that must really show, but she doesn't seem to mind.

"Now, Mickey, what's on your mind? I'm going to put in some cookies. What kind do you like? Oh it doesn't matter. I'll make different kinds." She begins baking. Does this woman ever stop?

"I have this problem," I begin. "Can I smoke in here?"

"I'd rather you didn't."

Fuck. I'm going to be all twitchy.

"As I was saying, I have this problem."

"What sort of problem, Mickey?" Shelia asks leaning over the counter with a smile on her face.

"I have these sensations inside me. I feel warm and shit when I think about—someone," I almost said his name. My heart inflates again.

"Oh, Mickey, that's not a problem," she says, I watch her set the over timer and come join me at the table. She takes my "U-Up" hand and strokes it. "That's a crush."

"I don't get crushes. Crushes are for pussies and girls."

"Oh no, crushes are for everyone. It sounds to me like this is your first crush. It's normal what you're feeling inside. Everyone has crushes. I've had a few myself."

Why the fuck did I come here? This is so gay.

"How do I get rid of it?"

"It's not an illness, Mickey. You can't just take medicine and have it go away. Crushes will fade over time. That's why they're called crushes."

"How long do they usually last?"

"It depends. You won't be over it in a day. Let me ask you something. Is this crush someone you're not supposed to like?"

She asks a lot of fucking questions.

"Yeah," I answer. I try not to look in her eyes, but she's kind. She's the most motherly person I have ever met.

"And that's why you don't want to feel the way you do."

"Yeah."

"Have you tried telling your crush you like them? Maybe they feel the same way you do."

"No fucking way. No fucking way. That's never going to fucking happen."

"I crossed some sort of line with that one. But you know, Mickey, it might make you feel better if you know if you have a chance with this person. Maybe they like you as much as you like them. It seems to me that you like them a lot."

"What happens if they don't like me back?"

"Then you move on, I guess."

"And if they do like me back?"

"Then you get to be happy together. Oh, Mickey, didn't your mother or father ever talk to you about this stuff before?"

"Nah, my mom's not around and all my dad did was hand me a porno and some lube on my twelfth birthday and told me to figure it out."

"Maybe I should have a talk with Terry."

"No, don't."

She smiles at me. Her oven timer dings. When she gets up to get the cookies out of the oven I bolt. I can't sit in that frilly house any longer. I bump into Lip and Karen on the porch and avoid looking at them. I don't want to look at anyone from the Gallagher family right now.

I put as much distance between the Jackson house and myself as I can. I light up a cigarette as soon as I can and walk back home in just my socks. When I bolted, I forgot to grab my shoes. Fuck. I am not going to that house again.

I always wanted to know what a scene between Mickey and Shelia would be like. I doubt we'll ever see it on the show, but here is something I thought I would try. Sorry if Mickey is a little out of character. I just wanted this to take place. Reviews are welcome. Thank you for reading.