Day 6 - Cliché Teen Movie (aka Gallavich meets A Cinderella Story)
words: 4020
**
“Mickey, honey, I’m desperate,” Eleanor said, skating around him where he was refilling napkin canisters, arms filled with dirty dishes. “Can you cover that back booth for me?”
“Sure,” Mickey nodded as she skated away, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose when he looked at the corner booth recognizing exactly who was sitting there. He pulled his notepad and pen from the god-awful pink apron he had to wear and headed to the table.
Regretting it instantly when he hears Byron speaking.
“Why do I have a feeling I won’t be able to get a Zone meal around here?” He said, voice obnoxiously pitched.
“I already ate,” The girl next to him spoke, Madison, he thinks her name is.
“Laxatives don’t count as a food group, Madison,” one of the boys on the opposite side of the table chuckled and Mickey rolled his eyes
“Shut up, David,” Madison sneered and unfortunately Mickey had reached their table.
“Well, look who it is, the dirtiest white boy in America, Milkovich,” Byron grinned, turning his attention to Mickey who tried his absolute hardest not to roll his eyes.
Blue eyes met green for a second, the only person at the table who hadn’t spoken but looked away. “What can I get you?” He asked, fixing them with the most half-assed smile he could muster.
“Hm,” Byron started, looking down at the menu, “What can I get here that has no sugar, no carbs, and is fat-free?”
“Water,” Mickey answered simply, biting back his grin when Ian laughed from his spot next to Byron.
“Water? Feisty,” David laughed.
“Was that supposed to be a joke?” Madison asked, and Byron looked less than impressed if his glare at Mickey told him anything.
“Well, it was funny,” Ian muttered and Mickey tried not to get distracted by how pretty his smile was.
“I’ll have a Vos,” Byron cut in.
“Excuse me?” Mickey asked, annoyed when Byron laughed.
“It’s bottled water,” The red-head on the outside of the table spoke, using a tone as if she was talking to a child. “From Norway.”
“She’s the worst,” Byron muttered under his breath, sharing a look with the girl, Madison.
“Sorry, we only have water from the tap,” Mickey retorted, using the same tone, they could take their Norway water and shove it up their asses.
“Oh, well then, I’ll have an iced tea,” Byron answered, perking up. Mickey raised his eyebrows in an okay, whatever way before jotting down the drink.
“Make that two, and, uh, you know, I’m still waiting on the breakfast burrito, diner boy,” David added, this time Mickey did roll his eyes as he turned away from the table, biting the inside of his cheek at the round of laughs behind him.
He glanced over at the table as he filled the glasses, wondering what they were talking about. Not that he really cared. But, you know, Ian’s hot, and maybe Mickey likes to look at him with his stupid red hair and freckly skin.
He sees Byron and the two girls get up just as he’s heading over, David and the other boy following closely. “Later, Milkovich,” he smirks as he passes and Mickey wants to throw the tea in his stupid face.
He ends up face to face with Ian, having to look up to properly meet his green eyes. He holds up a bill for the drink but Mickey shakes his head.
“Don’t worry about it, man,” He shakes his head, before skating around him and heading to the bar.
“You know those kids remind me of why I used to fight in school,” Sheila said, tossing a towel over her shoulder and taking the drinks from him. He chuckled, not because he didn’t believe her, she was South Side just like him, it’s just that imagining Sheila in a fight was very amusing to him.
“Have no fear! Zorro is here!” Mickey looked towards the door, laughing when his eyes landed on Austin at the front of the store dressed in a black hat and cape. Prancing over happily when his eyes landed on Mickey who had moved to wipe down the spot a customer had been sitting in. “Aaaand he’s got the keys to his dad's Mercedes. Wait, you’re not going to the dance dressed like a bus boy are you?”
“I’m not going, Austin,” Mickey said, ducking under the counter.
“What? Wait, what do you mean, you’re not going?” Austin asked, putting his hands up and taking a step back when he went to follow Mickey but Sheila shooed him away. “Okay, okay, sorry. What about…what about cyberdude?”
“Cyberdude?” Sheila asked and Mickey could have stabbed Austin with the nearest fork if he wasn’t his best friend. “Is he talking about the boy who had been sending you those love notes?”
“They’re not love notes, Sheils. They’re emails,” Mickey shook his head.
“Mickey, if a man is taking his time to write down his feelings for you then they’re love notes,” Sheila said, a huge grin spreading across her face, matching the dopey looking one on Austin’s face.
“And he wants to meet her tonight at the dance,” Austin added in a sing-song voice,making Sheila gasp.
“What are you still doing here?” She asked, grabbing Mickey to stop him from the cleaning he was doing.
“Uh, I’m obeying orders,” Mickey answered pointedly.
“Mickey, babe, this is your true love,” Austin replied, leaning over the counter.
“Well, true love is going to have to wait—”
“Oh, please, save all that drama for the soap operas. You are going to that dance,” Sheila demanded in that motherly way that she tends to do.
“I can’t go. If Terry found out he would kill me. Literally. Then bring me back to clean up the mess,” Mickey argued, shaking his head, wiping the counter even though it really wasn’t dirty.
“If he wants to hurt you, he’s gonna have to go through me,” Sheila said. “Mickey, your mom did not leave this earth wanting you to be unhappy. It’s time for you to find your own happiness, starting with this dance.”
“Yeah, Mickey. You’re always studying and you're always working,” Manny said from his spot by the grill. “You need to take some time for yourself.”
“Yeah! Why don’t you go out, get your groove on,” Eleanor added, dancing and making Mickey laugh.
“You know what, you guys are right, I never do anything for myself,” Mickey said, looking around at the few people he actually considered his family.
“No you don’t,” They all agreed.
“And I deserve to have some fun. I’m gonna go to that dance and meet the guy of my dreams,” Mickey said, smiling as he tossed the rag on the counter.
“Yes!” They all cheered but Mickey frowned.
“What is it?” Sheila asked.
“I don’t have a costume,” He said, of course he didn’t. Fuck.
“But you will,” Sheila grinned, grabbing Mickey’s wrist and pulling him out of the diner, Austin following closely behind them. “Come on this way,” She giggled, the three of them jogging down the sidewalk. Down a stretch that had shops on either side of the road but Mickey wasn’t sure where they were going.
“Vernon, Mickey needs a costume,” Sheila called through the door they stopped in front of where a man had just flipped the closed sign.
“No, no, Sheila. I’m closed,” The man shook his head.
“Oh, come on, I’ll give you free breakfast for a week,” She offered, and the man seemed to consider this.
“Make it a month,” He said, unlocking the door.
“Deal,” Sheila grinned, pulling Mickey into the store. “Everyone start looking around, there's got to be something here.”
“I like this one,” Austin mumbled from somewhere behind Mickey.
“Put it in the dressing room!” Sheila called, carrying an arm full of costumes toward the back of the store. Mickey chuckled to himself and kept looking, only to be pulled away from the rack. “Uh-uh. Come one you gotta start trying these on!” Sheila insisted, grabbing Mickey once again and pulling him towards the dressing room, pushing him in and sliding the curtain shut.
He grabbed the first costume he could find, not really paying attention to it as he stripped down to just a tank top and boxers. Once he put it on he sighed with an eye roll, a bullfighter costume, really? Complete with a pink cape. He pushed the curtain open Sheila and Austin stopped to look at him.
“Olé,” The store owner grinned.
“No way,” Sheila shook her head, Mickey rolled his eyes and headed right back to the dressing room.
The next costume was as awful as the first and when he walked out the first thing he saw was Austin standing there with a headband that was supposed to look like a knife going through his head.
“Hey!” He giggled happily, “Ya killin’ me!”
Mickey took off the wig that went with the costume and chunked it at his friend, turning around before he could watch it hit him in the face.
“Absolutely not,” Mickey cringed, throwing the full body pig costume to the side, not even attempting to try it on.
“Who the hell picked this out?” Mickey grumbled, walking out of the dressing room holding up a hula girl outfit still on the hanger.
“Aloha,” Austin grinned, wiggling his eyebrows and Mickey just about ripped off the coconut bra and threw it at him. Sheila gave Vernon a pointed look and he put his hands up in defense.
“Okay, okay. I got something,” He said, backing away from the counter.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Mickey glared at the mirror as he walked out, a fucking priest costume. As soon as the curtain opened he sneezed and caused his eyes to narrow even more.
“Bless you,” The other three said in unison.
“Fuck off,” Mickey rolled his eyes turning round once again, “Useless.”
“Sheila this is hopeless,” Mickey called out behind the curtain, metal parts to a knight costume clanking around. Yeah, he wasn’t putting that on.
“Mickey, come on dear, I think I know just what you should wear,” Sheila called as Mickey finished putting his shoes back on. “Thanks Vernon!” Sheila called as they left the store and hurried back to Sheila’s car, Austin getting into the car his dad let him borrow.
“You wait here, we’ll be right back,” Sheila called as she and Mickey rushed inside. “I’ll be right back,” She smiled, rushing off to another part of the house.
He walked around the living room, looked at the picture on the walls and ended up at a table that was set up for what seemed to be a jewelry making station. He picked up one of the pieces and hummed.
“Sheils, you sure do have a knack for taking something simple and making it beautiful,” Mickey called out, not even sure where the woman was but assuming she could hear him.
“Oh, you ain’t seen nothing yet,” Sheila giggled, walking into the room with a large white suit bag, laying it out on the coffee table and patting the couch for Mickey to sit next to her.
“I made this suit for my son,” Sheila spoke after a moment, her voice soft, emotional, “He passed away when he was 17. Not many people know about it, we didn’t talk about it much. But this is the suit he was going to wear to his prom,” She explained, as she unzipped the suit. Mickey's eyes were instantly drawn to the sparkly, white suit jacket.
“Oh, Sheila,” Mickey breathed, “It’s beautiful but I can’t wear that.”
“Yes you can,” Sheila insisted. “And you will. That suit has been hanging in the back of my closet for ages just waiting for someone to wear it. It deserves a night out!”
Mickey chuckled, looking between Sheila and the suit, nodding his head.
“Yes?” She asked, a smile pulling at her lips.
“Yes!” Mickey laughed out when Sheila turned to pull him into a hug.
“It’s gonna look so good on you!”
**
The dance hall was already packed by the time Mickey and Austin arrived. He stole Austin’s cape in the car, feeling ridiculous in the sparkly suit, maybe it was too much.
“Mickey, would you take the cape off already!” Austin said, pulling him into the door of the dance. “You look amazing, okay?”
“Look, I’m freaking out, man,” Mickey said, following Austin, ducking down as if that was going to do anything.
“Well, listen, it’s going to be okay, alright? Now, hurry up. It’s almost 11:00—”
“Austin, wait,” Mickey said, grabbing at the cuff of his friend's shirt. “Remember, I have to be back at the diner by 12:00, okay?”
“Uh. Uh, okay. Give me your phone,” He said, holding his hand out to take the offered phone. “I'm going to set the alarm for a quarter to 12:00.”
“Okay,” Mickey nodded, taking the phone back.
“Now give me the cape,” Austin said, rolling his eyes when Mickey hesitated. “Come on, Mick, give me the cape.”
Mickey repented, pulling the cape off and watching the jacket glitter under the multi-colored lights just as the song changed to Best Day of My Life. Austin headed down the stairs first, Mickey's eyes scanning the crowd from the top of the stairs.
Just as he was about to head down a bright light shined right at him through the white mask on his face. Fuck. Of course a spotlight would be put on him, half the crowd turning to look at him as he descended the stairs. Trying to focus on the lyrics of the song rather than the nauseous feeling in this stomach at having so much attention on him at once.
“Wow,” Austin breathed as Mickey reached the bottom of the stairs. “Told you you looked amazing,” He teased, leading Mickey into the crowd.
“It’s almost time,” Mickey said nervously, wiping his sweaty palms on his slacks.
“Don’t worry, okay? Any guy would be completely insane to not like you,” Austin promised, reaching out to squeeze Mickey biceps. “I’m gonna go stand right over there okay? You got this!”
Mickey nodded, smiling as his friend walked away, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. He looked up at the shiny disco ball before looking around the crowd and waited.
“Hi,” a voice behind him spoke, Mickey tensed, he recognized that voice. How could he not recognize it? He turned around slowly, blue eyes meeting green once again.
“Ian Gallagher?” Mickey asked, his voice twisting with confusion. Fuck. No this can’t be his guy. He’s hot but there’s no way—right?
“Uh, yeah. I guess my costume doesn’t do a very good job hiding who I am,” He joked and shit there was that smile again.
“No, I—I know exactly who you are,” Mickey answered, looking him up and down. “I’m sorry. This was a really big mistake. I’ve gotta go.”
“Wait. Wait!” Ian called when Mickey turned away. Grabbing his arm to stop him. “It’s not a mistake.”
“Don’t you know who I am?” Mickey asked, narrowing his eyes at the boy in front of him. Green eyes searching blue intently.
“Of course I do!” Ian insisted, nodding his head. “You’re Aleksander M. You’re the guy I’ve been waiting to meet. I know exactly who you are. But, uh, what’s your name?”
“What about your boyfriend, hm?” Mickey asked, raising his eyebrows in question.
“It’s over,” Ian said, that fucking smile stretching across his lips once again. Gesturing for Mickey to follow him towards the punch table. “So, I guess you were expecting some guy who hangs out at Starbucks and writes poetry?”
“Something like that,” Mickey shrugged. “Come on, man, you’re Ian Gallagher. Captain of the football team and student body president…and closet poet? You can’t be both guys.”
“I’m not,” Ian shook his head, eyes going all soft.
“Well then, who are you?” Mickey asked, tilting his head to the side. He looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking.
“On September 7th I wrote to you: “I live in a world full of people pretending to be something they’re not, but when I talk to you—”
“I’m exactly the guy I want to be,” Mickey finished for him. He had remembered that conversation word for word because he had felt the exact same way. Ian smiled again.
“Give me a chance to be that guy,” He asked, “Mind joining me for a stroll outside?”
“If you want to be voted homecoming prince you better stay inside and be seen, you know?” Mickey said, smiling when Ian groaned and shook his head.
“I really don’t care about becoming homecoming prince,” Ian confessed. Mickey sighed before nodding and gesturing for Ian to lead the way. He grabbed Mickey's hand and he just about melted at the way Ian’s hand practically engulfed his own, leading him to the outside door where there were various arches filled with flowers and lights. It seemed quite magical.
“So Aleksander, would you tell me who you are if I guess it right?” Ian asked, clasping his hands behind his back as they walked.
“Mm. Maybe,” Mickey hummed.
“Maybe?” Ian asked and Mickey nodded, “Well, how about we play 20 questions?”
“How about 10?” Mickey offered.
“I’ll take what I can get,” Ian grinned, “Okay, first question, do you actually go to South Side High?”
“Of course,” Mickey answered, laughing at the question.
“I’m just checking! You never know with the internet,” He said and Mickey nodded because yeah, okay.
“Okay, next question, were you disappointed when you found out who I was?” Ian asked, surprising Mickey with the hint of vulnerability in his voice. “Be honest.”
“Surprisingly, no,” Mickey shook his head, because he wasn’t disappointed.
“Did you vote for me for student body president?” He asked and Mickey laughed out loud that time nodding.
“Surprisingly, yes.”
“Really? Hm. Okay, I’ve got it, given the choice would you choose Steven Seagal or Van Damme?” Ian asked, his green eyes lighting up.
“Steven Segal all the way,” Mickey answered as it was the most obvious answer.
“Really?” Ian asked, slightly shocked but amused.
“Yeah, man, fuck Van Damme,” Mickey laughed. “Why does that matter?”
“What? I like my men to have good taste in action movies,” He answered, looking Mickey up and down. “And besides you just eliminated about 50% of the guys in our class.”
“Is that so?” Mickey asked, raising an eyebrow at the red headed boy.
“Mhmm,” He nodded, and Mickey smiled looking down. Ian stopped walking, reaching out to touch Mickey's waist and he thought he would melt at touch, stopping and looking up at Ian.
Ian looked at him for a moment, intense, vulnerable. Mickey wanted to look away but he didn’t. “You’d think I would remember those eyes,” He breathed, still staring intently. “They’re so beautiful.”
Fuck. He was blushing. Mickey felt the heat spreading across his face. Ian couldn’t keep talking to him like that. In that tone. With that look.
“Um, next question,” Mickey said, hoping for a little distraction from dropping to his knees right there and—he shook his head and continued walking. Not bothering to make sure Ian was followed. He just knew he was.
“Do you have any siblings?” He asked after a moment.
“A few. Two brothers, a sister and two step brothers,” Mickey answered, swallowing thickly at the mention of his siblings.
“Wow, big family,” Ian commented, “They go here?”
“No, uh, well, my step brothers do. But uh, my sister and brothers died in a car accident, mom, too.”
Ian stopped again and Mickey stopped with him willingly. “I’m really sorry to hear that. Do you live with your dad?”
“Unfortunately,” Mickey muttered but before Ian could comment he continued. “Yeah, with him, his new wife and her two sons.”
Mickey started walking again he didn’t want anymore I’m sorry’s he’d had enough through the years.
“Wow,” Mickey breathed as the arches opened up to a courtyard with a gazebo in the middle, lights and flowers all around.
“If I asked you to dance, does that count as a question?” Ian asked, and Mickey laughed with a head shake.
“There’s no music,” He answered as they stepped into the gazebo.
“So?” Ian asked, offering his hand to Mickey which he took, letting him lead his smaller hand to his shoulder. Resting one hand on the middle of his back, the other holding his hand.
Mickey was vaguely aware of the sound of crickets chirping and frogs ribbiting. The sound of a band setting up off to the side. Green eyes watched him intently as they began to way and he smelled so good.
Mickey looked over at the same time as Ian when the sound of a guitar started and they both laughed when the guy nodded at them. Looks like they had music after all. The sound of a violin started and Mickey recognized the song but could quite put a name to it, hardly able to think at all with Ian being this close to him. Look at him that way. Spinning him around and pulling him back in like they were in some cliché teen movie.
He pulled Mickey close, bringing a hand up as if to lift the mask he wore but Mickey looked away. Ian pulled his hands away apologetically before offering a hand to dance again which Mickey decided to take, letting Ian spin him around again before pulling him in close.
Mickey laughed as Ian dipped him downward suddenly catching him off guard, their eyes meeting and he brought him back up slowly and god, did Mickey want to kiss him. Their faces were so close.
“All out of questions?” Mickey asked to distract himself from doing exactly that.
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” Ian asked, beautiful green orbs watching him.
“I’ll let you know,” Mickey answered, biting his lip.
“But I’ve seen you before? Met you?” Ian asked, the hand on his waist squeezing slightly.
“Yes,” Mickey nodded softly.
“Man,” Ian breathed, shaking his head, “How could I have seen you before and not know who you are now?”
“Maybe you were looking but you weren’t really seeing,” Mickey offered, squeezing his hand that was resting on Ian’s shoulder. “Mm. You’ve got one more question left.”
“Okay,” Ian nodded, turning away to pluck a rose from the vines wrapped around the gazebo and offering it to Mickey. He took it and lifted it to his face, smelling the sweet floral scent. “Do you, Aleksander M., feel like you made the right choice meeting me here tonight?”
“I do,” He answered, smiling up at Ian. “And do you, Ian Gallagher, ever want to see me again after tonight?”
Ian took in a deep breath, “Well, I don’t know. I’d have to think about that.”
Mickey laughed, rolling his eyes. “Absolutely, I do,” He said, voice soft, sweet.
He lifted his hands again, reaching for the mask, this time Mickey didn’t pull away. He’d just let him do it. Let it be over with. And if he didn’t like what he saw then whatever—
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Mickey jumped at the sudden noise, practically jumping away from Ian.
“Fuck,” He breathed, “Not now.”
“What? Is everything okay?” Ian asked, green eyes concerned.
“I’m sorry, I’ve gotta go,” Mickey apologized.
“What? Do you have a curfew or something?” Ian asked with a slight chuckle.
“Uh, or something,” Mickey answered with a shrug. “I’m sorry, but thank you. This has been the most amazing night.”
“Wait, where are you going?” Ian asked, reaching for Mickey when he turned away.
“I’m late,” Mickey answered, turning back for a moment.
“For what?” Ian asked, Mickey looked him up at him for a moment.
“Reality,” He said before running off to find Austin, not looking back for Ian.
He couldn’t.
Hopefully Ian meant it when he said he wanted to see Mickey again. Maybe reality would grant him that.
He would just have to wait and see.
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