Part Nineteen: Pregnant Teens and Drama Queens

I haven't spoken to Mickey in almost a week even though we see each other at work every day. He tries to speak to me, but I ignore him. I'm still mad.

I'm getting ready to get in the pool in the backyard with Debbie and helping her babysit some neighborhood kids to earn some money.

"Why are you so angry?" Debbie asks me as she rubs sun block on my back.

"I don't want to talk about it, Debs," I tell her.

"Did you fight with Mandy?"

"Something like that." She rubs the sun block on my shoulders and down my arms and legs. I am a redhead I burn like a vampire in the sunlight.

"I'm going to do your stomach," Debbie says. She is standing on a chair to be of a height with me. I let her poke my abs with her index finger. She starts to tickle me. I swat at her hands.

"Just rub the lotion in," I tell her.

"Almost done, are you going to break up?"

"What?"

"Are you going to break up with Mandy?"

I hadn't actually thought that far ahead. I was so mad at Mickey for what he said I hadn't considered what I would do after that. Lip arrives at the pool looking frustrated. It was only yesterday Karen showed up, punched him in the face, and announced she was pregnant.

I'm not 100% convinced it's Lip's but he seems to think it is. Debbie finishes covering me from head to toe with sunscreen and I'm ready to get in the pool. It feels good in the water. I help Debbie and some of the kids in.

"CANNONBALL!" Yells Carl. I look around for my brother and spot him on the second floor staircase. He jumps off and lands in the pool. He could have missed and been seriously injured. Carl has had more injuries than the rest of us combined.

"CARL!" Debbie shouts. "Lip, he's going to get hurt. Fiona won't be happy."

"We can blame it on Frank," I suggest. Debbie laughs.

"Ian, can I talk to you for a minute?" Lip says.

I get out of the pool and follow my brother to a spot of out ear shot of Debbie and Carl.

"Do you have any money?"

"Twenty bucks. I gave the rest to Fiona. Why?"

"I just need it for something. I'll tell you about it later."

"Does this have anything to do with Karen Jackson?" I ask getting in Lip's face.

"Why do you hate her?"

"Why don't you? She fucked Frank and you still want her."

"Don't fucking judge me while you're fucking Mickey Milkovich."

I stomp off before I throw a punch. I came outside to swim in the pool with Debbie and Carl and the little kids they babysit. I don't need this. Lip goes inside and I hear the door slam. We haven't been getting a long much lately, mostly because I'm upset over Mickey and he's upset over Karen.

"Why is Mickey Milkovich here?" Carl asks.

"What?" I ask turning my head around. Mickey is walking this way. I get out of the pool.

"Need me to get the bat? I've got your back."

"Thanks, but no."

"Give me the signal if you need backup," says Carl.

"What do you want, Mickey?" I ask him well out of ear shot of Debbie and Carl who I know are watching us even if they can't hear us.

"You're still mad at me?"

"What do you think?"

Mickey is quiet for a moment. I consider going back into the pool.

"Did you listen to that CD I made?" Mickey asks.

"No. I was too angry."

"What do you want from me?"

"You're fucking stupid," I say.

"Say that again and I'm going to kick your fucking ass," Mickey says getting in my face.

"It's funny; you'll only look me in the eyes when you want to beat the shit out of me. Go on, fucking hit me!"

"Why are you so mad at me?"

"Do you even fucking care?"

"Listen to the CD."

"Why?"

"Just fucking listen to it, okay?"

"If I say yes will you leave?"

He doesn't speak or budge. When I turn around Carl is holding the bat in his hand. I pat him on the head.

"Fine, I'll fucking leave. Just listen to it."

I give Mickey the finger. Carl threatens him with the bat. I know Mickey isn't actually scared of Carl but he humors him. Carl thinks he's protecting me. I can't help but admire his efforts.

I go back inside the house to find the stupid CD Mickey made for me. I put it in the stereo in the living room and the first song that plays is a song by N'Sync. What the fuck, Mickey? Is it because I like Justin Timberlake? How did he know? The second song is by Papa Roach. It's called "No Matter What" I sit down on the couch and really listen to it.

I listen to the whole CD once through but go back to track 2 afterwards. That's the song Mickey wanted me to hear, I just know it is. That's why he came over here to make sure I heard it.

"Ian," shouts Debbie from the pool. I shut off the stereo and head back to the pool. I make a splash and Debbie and the little kids laugh at me. I put Debbie on my shoulders so she can wrestle Carl who is sitting on Kev's shoulders. He must have joined them when I was listening to Mickey's CD.

"Come on, Debs, knock him down," I shout.

She pulls Carl off Kev's shoulders and goes down with him. I catch her in an awkward position and we both laugh. Debbie tries to push me under the water.

"I think you should make up with Mandy," says Debbie when I come back up from underwater.

"What?"

"That's why Mickey came over here right? To tell you to make up with Mandy?"

"Yeah, Debs," I tell her.

Why did he give me the CD? Does he like me? What does it mean? Lip would know what it means. He always knows. But he's pissed at me. I guess I could talk to Kev. I need to know what the CD means.