“Molly baby, can I copy your homework?” I asked pleasantly as we sat in my living room, working on our homework.

                “Nicky baby, can you read my sign language?” She pleasantly flipped me off and I pouted.

                “You are not a nice person,” I grumbled, turning my attention back to this stupid, difficult homework.

                “Neither are you. Don’t grab me like that!” She smirked as I pouted deeper.

                “Sorry I was protecting myself!” I cried.

                “And you looked like a badass doing it,” Molly confirmed with a nod. Her smirk got wider and she grabbed my remote, turning on the TV and going to Netflix. “I’m done with homework. Let’s watch a movie.”

                Molly began to scroll through my recently watched movies. She raised an eyebrow at me and sighed hopelessly.

                “Nick, you have the biggest fag swag. Eating Out, Eating Out: Sloppy Seconds, Eating Out: Drama Camp, The Breed, and Hybrid? You’re too flamboyant. I can’t handle you,” she groaned.

                “What? I get bored sometimes,” I said defensively.

                “That’s what your hand is for Nick! And that’s what Nolan was for!”

                “Oh believe me; I know,” I said with a seductive wink.

                “Nicholas, we already had this talk! Stop being slutty!”

                Molly giggled as I groaned and shook my head. “Mom!” I whined, glaring at her as she poked her head into the room and smiled.

                “Sorry honey. I’m just protecting you!” she said before disappearing again.

                “I’m adopted. I have to be adopted,” I said and beat my head against the couch miserably.

                Molly wrapped her arms around me and giggled again. I sighed as she clicked on Misery to watch. Molly could act so innocent sometimes. But I knew the truth. I saw the horns. This girl ruled Hell and she enjoyed it. But she was my best friend, and I did love her. Even if she tried to get me killed by hot guys.

                We watched the movie together until my mom called us for dinner. We shifted to the dining room and sat down together.

                My mom scooped homemade Mac-N-Cheese onto our plates before sitting down and smiling pleasantly. She passed us milk and we began to eat.

                “Where’s dad?” I asked curiously.

                “Daddy’s working late tonight Nick. Are you staying over Molly?”

                Molly shrugged at mom. “I don’t know Mrs. Bradley. I might. By the way, I’ve been keeping a good eye on your son and making sure he’s not being slutty!”

                I shot Molly a death glare. “I am not a slut!” I whined. “And you’re trying to get me killed! So hush.”

                “Nick, it’s okay honey. The first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one,” mom said, giving me a sympathetic look.

                “I don’t have a pro- Oh, what’s the point?” I sighed miserably. “Lovely weather we’re having. Dinner is delicious.”

                “Look at you, trying to change the subject. Nicky, I think you need professional help. You have serious problems,” mom said with a deep frown.

                Yea. I’m the one with problems. Crazy lady…

                “Okay mom. Go hire me a therapist,” I mumbled, my thoughts snapping to Phil. Did he have problems? He seemed so childlike, but then he would snap to this furious teenager.

                “Hey Molly, do you know anything about Phil? Other than the fact that he wants to kill me,” I asked her.

                “Another boy? Nick! You’re going to get STDs!” mom cried. “Bad Nicky!” She smacked me upside the head and I whined and scooted away from her.

                “Mom! I’m not dating Phil! He just wants to kill me!” I whined.

                “Oh! Well, I’m okay with that. As long as you’re not getting STDs,” she said and giggled, ruffling my hair affectionately. Oh my lanta.

                Molly giggled before shaking her head. “No, I don’t really know anything about Phil. I guess I could ask Angel, but there’s no point. We’re just using him to toughen you up Nicky,” she said and also ruffled my hair.

                I miserably tried to fix my hair with my hands and gave up when I realized that it was going to be impossible. I thoughtfully scooped my food into my mouth, wondering just what the hell was up with Phillip Brooks.

                Molly ended up spending the night at my house. We finished our homework and took turns showering before crawling under my covers.

                “Goodnight Nick,” Molly mumbled, squeezing her eyes shut and quickly falling asleep.

                I stared at her and laughed lightly. Asleep, you would never believe just how evil Molly was. She looked so innocent.

                I snaked my arm around her and pulled her close to my body before letting my own eyes fall shut. Pushing away my thoughts of Phil, I let myself fall asleep.

                                                                                                ***

                “But keep those cameras rolling just in case I don’t look this good forever!”

                Molly shut my alarm off and we sat up together, rubbing the sleep out of our eyes. We crawled out of my bed and I threw a shirt at Molly.

                “Just wear the same jeans you wore yesterday. No one will notice,” I said before digging around for something to wear.

                Molly changed as I grabbed some shorts and a T-shirt. I changed as well and put on flip flops before heading out to the kitchen. We had some toast and got ready before heading outside to catch the bus.

                “Nick, you spend so much time on your hair. I feel like you should just get a buzz cut so that you don’t have to worry about it anymore,” Molly said, rolling her eyes at me as we entered the main lobby.

                “I happen to like my hair,” I said defensively.

                “You are such a girl,” Molly said, shaking her head.

                She grabbed my hand and pulled me along towards the hallway. “To my locker! I need to get my math folder,” she said pleasantly.

                I let Molly pull me along, trying to wake up a little. I was so exhausted. I really needed to learn how to go to bed earlier.

                Something made contact with my shoulder and I stumbled to the side, accidentally dragging Molly with me. I managed to catch my balance and looked up in confusion.

                Phil glared and raised an eyebrow at me. “You told me you were gay. That doesn’t look very gay to me. Did you lie to me, kid?” he growled, nodding at mine and Molly’s hands.

                I stared at our hands for a second before hastily releasing Molly’s. “No! God, I would never date Molly,” I said in disgust.

                “Hey!” she whined.

                I ignored her and glanced at Phil to see if he was still angry, or calm. He still looked angry, and I realized I was probably going to get hit.

                “Be tough,” Molly hissed so that only I could hear her.

                “And don’t call me kid!” I snapped as Phil moved to step towards me. He stopped and gave me that look of childlike curiosity again. I gulped and tried to muster up any toughness I had in me.

                “My name is Nick,” I said confidently. “Don’t call me kid.”

                “Oh. Sorry. I forgot. You’re not really memorable, I guess,” he said with a shrug.

                I pouted. “I am too,” I whined.

                He eyed me curiously and shrugged again. “Maybe not. I’m really forgetful. I’m not good with names, just faces. What’s your name again?”

                I felt the need to face palm myself but resisted it, knowing Phil would probably take care of it for me. “Nick,” I repeated. “My name is Nick.” How was I supposed to act tough around Phil when he went into little-kid mode?

                “Nick,” he said slowly, a look of concentration on his face. He nodded to himself. “I’ll remember. I think.”

                “You, ah, you better,” I said, trying to sound tough again and failing. I just sounded confused. And I was. What the hell was up with Phil?

                Phil glared at me. “Yea, I’ll remember you. So watch out Nick.”

                I groaned a little. “Seriously?” I whined.

                Phil’s arm shot out and he grabbed a handful of my shirt, pulling me up close to his face. “You whine too much. You’re annoying,” he growled.

                Tough, Nick. Pretend to be tough, or die.

                “How many times do I have to tell you not to grab me?” I snapped, shoving him off of me.

                And there it was again. Phillip Brooks’s childlike curiosity. How much longer was I going to have to put up with this?

                “Sorry,” he said, sounding confused. “I have to get to class.” He glared and shoved me before storming off down the hallway.

                I stared after him before turning to Molly and shaking my head in confusion. “What the hell is wrong with that kid?” I asked.

                Molly shrugged helplessly, also looking a little confused. “I don’t know. Just keep acting tough Nicky. It’s confusing the hell out of him. Jeez, he’s weirder than I thought,” she said.

                I sighed. “But he is oh so sexy,” I said, grinning a little. “I don’t mind when he grabs me. Except when, you know, he looks like he’s going to kill me. Then it freaks me out a little bit. But other than that, I’m perfectly fine with it.”

                Molly pat me on the back and gave me a bright smile. “Atta boy Nicky! Find the positive in everything. Now, let’s get to class.”

                I slung my arm around Molly’s shoulders and sighed, slightly happy that Phil wasn’t done with me, but mostly terrified. Pushing it out of my mind for the time being, Molly and I made our way to her locker before heading off to first period.