“Anything yet?”

“No, not yet.”

“Jesus Christ, the school’s internet connection is so slow!”

Ike and Georgie were sitting very close to each other, but that was mainly because they had to use the same computer. Georgie tried to pretend he didn’t even notice. All of their classmates were continuing merrily on their journey through books and glossaries, or just chatting about last night’s happenings. Everyone who had a computer was basically stuck on Google.

“God,” Georgie spun around in his chair so that he was facing in the opposite direction of the computer screen.

Ike took the opportunity to glance at the boy. He looked cute when he was like this; uninterested and slightly irritable. He also hadn’t shown any sort of coldness towards Ike so far during the class, which was a good sign to say the least.

Ike smiled, “Well we do have a half an hour left.”

“Yeah,” Georgie began to turn in his chair again, “By then we’ll at least have our results up. Maybe.”

He stopped as he faced Ike, realising that Ike was facing him as well. Their faces were deathly close. The feel of Ike’s breath across his face caused his cheeks to grow red. Ike smiled deeply to himself. He liked this closeness. Scratch that, he loved it.

But much to his disappointment, Georgie turned away again.

“Let’s just… let’s just think of one to do ourselves. We’re getting nowhere doing this.”

“Yeah.”

“So… any ideas?”

Ike paused for a moment thinking. Georgie watched, waiting for him to say something. The silence was becoming deadly.

“I’ve got it!” Ike exclaimed proudly, “The Juniper Tree!”

Georgie’s eyes lit up, “It’s perfect.”

Ike smiled brightly, pleased to have gained Georgie’s approval. He resisted asking for a pat on the head, however, realising that that would result in getting a slap across the face instead.

“So we’re set, then.”

“Yeah… so what now?”

Ike laughed, “Now we find a picture of Mr McLaughlin on the school website and put a Hitler moustache on him.”

Georgie held back a laugh but he couldn’t quite control the grin that was creeping onto his face.

‘Hmm… who knew the golden boy had it in him?’


It was lunchtime now and the cafeteria was packed full. The line for food stretched all the way out the doors and down the hallway and despite the large amount who were waiting, there didn’t seem to be an empty seat in the whole room. Even where Georgie sat. Of course the people who shared the table with him were no more than loners and freaks. At least that was what other people knew them as.

“Georgie.”

Georgie’s head popped up from his brown paper bag. It was Ike. He gestured for Georgie to follow him and began to make his way out the back double doors with his tray of food in hand. Georgie looked around him before picking up his bag and following.

They sat next to each other on the ground around the back of the school. None of the other students ever seemed to think of going outside when the lunchroom was crowded, so they were alone.

“We need to start analysing the story next.”

“Don’t we do that in class?”

“Miss McNulty wants us to do everything ourselves,” there was a short pause before Ike continued, “I think we should listen to a recording of it first and jot down points and thoughts that come to mind throughout it. Then we compare what we get and talk about it. For the following day we should go over it again only by the text and make more thorough notes.”

“You’ve thought this all out, haven’t you?” Georgie stated bluntly as he picked through his lunch.

Ike laughed, “Well not the part where we actually go about finding an audio file of the story.”

Georgie didn’t respond. Ike sighed to himself; there was that coldness again.

“Well in any case… how about we do it at my house?”

“Huh?” Georgie’s attention was now hooked onto that last query.

“You can come to my house after school so we can use my computer and make the notes together. I think it’s important so we can compare notes straight after without having the time to review it. And that means we can have all of our notes finished for the next day.”

“I uh…”

“Is that ok?” Ike tilted his head to the side.

“Um well… ye-yeah,” Georgie stopped.

‘You were supposed to say no, you idiot! Why did you say yes?! What in God’s name have I gotten myself into?’

Ike smiled, “Great.”

Georgie said nothing, still yelling at himself for screwing up. Ike didn’t seem to notice, however.

“It’s a date then.”

Georgie’s eyes widened, ‘It’s a what?’

His cheeks grew red at the thought. He shook it off. How ridiculous. He knew what Ike meant. It was just… well, he didn’t know what it was. So it was nothing.


The Broflovski’s home was warm as Ike and Georgie had first entered it from the freezing cold. Georgie looked around; it was cosy. Your everyday, typical family home. He didn’t like it.

Ike called out, “Mom, I’m home!”

“Hello bubbe, I’m in the kitchen,” she answered.

Ike smiled at Georgie, “Come on. We’ll get a snack first before we start work.”

Georgie reluctantly followed as Ike led him into the kitchen. They were suddenly presented with the sweet smell of home cooking.

“I’ve brought a friend,” Ike beamed as he stepped past the doorframe, “We have to work on a school project together.”

“Oh that’s-” Sheila turned around from the oven and her eyes stopped on Georgie, “Oh my.”

Ike didn’t seem to notice, “Could we grab a little snack to help us think?”

“Well dinner’s almost ready, bubbe. Is your little friend going to join us?”

“I don’t think-”

“He’d love to,” Ike jumped in, flashing Georgie a smile.

“Alright, I’ll call you boys when it’s ready.”

“Ok, thanks mom.”

Sheila returned to hustling and bustling over the hot stove before her and Ike grabbed Georgie’s arm, dragging him up the stairs behind him.

“You might as well,” Ike added as he made his way to his room, “We’ll be working away for a while.”

Georgie stood sheepishly in Ike’s bedroom, watching the boy close the door behind him and take a seat on the computer chair. He switched on a couple of switches, pressed a few buttons and waited as the computer came on and began to load. He glanced over to the idle boy.

“You can sit down you know,” he smiled, gesturing towards his bed.

Georgie hesitated before deciding that he might as well and sat lightly down onto the soft mattress. He looked around cautiously. Ike had a simple bedroom full of shelves and bookcases, all loaded with books. Georgie shifted uncomfortably on the bed.

Ike turned to him and smiled sympathetically, “Why don’t you get ready to take some notes? I’ll try to find the right website.”

Georgie gave him an unsure look.

“And make yourself comfortable, it’s going to be a long night.”

‘It sure is…’


Ike and Georgie sat next to each other at the table, eating the delicious meal that Sheila had just laid before them. She then proceeded to take her seat at the top of the table. Across from Ike and Georgie sat Kyle and his boyfriend Stan.

Kyle seemed strangely interested in Ike’s guest, nudging Stan from time to time and whispering in his ear. Georgie didn’t seem to notice and nor did Ike, who was making sure to avoid an awkward silence by continuing to talk to his mother.

“Where’s dad?”

“He’s working late today. He has a very important court case to take care of, bubbe.”

“Still?” Kyle chimed in, “He’s been working on that for ages.”

“What is it even about?” Stan asked.

“Don’t know,” Kyle shrugged.

“He’s not allowed to talk about the court’s proceedings with anyone outside of the court,” Ike informed them.

Georgie was quiet. He refused to say a thing, not that he wanted to or was planning to. He made sure to keep his eyes locked onto his plate as he picked away at his food. There was no way he was even going to do so much as look at Ike. He saw him enough at school and this extra time together was just too much.

His prayers to some invisible force were answered and it wasn’t long before they were back in Ike’s bedroom. This time, Ike sat on the bed next to him. Dangerously close, Georgie couldn’t help but notice. They worked through the few hours and the time flew in, much to Georgie’s relief.

“What do you think we’re going to have to present when this is all over anyway?” Ike asked once they had finished writing for the night.

“Well she did say anything creative. Individually.”

Ike smiled, “So what did you have in mind?”

“A painting, perhaps…” Georgie thought about it for a moment, “of the boy kneeling beneath the tree.”

“I could write a poem about it. Do you think that would do?”

“Well technically anything would.”

Ike laughed, “Well do you think I’d do a good job of it?”

“I think so, yeah.”

Georgie paused. This getting along thing was kind of working out. That was a problem.

“It’s… it’s getting late,” he finally said, glancing round for a clock.

He found one on Ike’s desk. It was 9:30 pm.

‘Holy shit, it is late.’

“Oh, do you have to go now?” Ike frowned as he watched Georgie sit up and begin to gather his things.

“Umm yeah. My parents will be wondering where I am soon. Besides I still have some homework to get doing for tomorrow.”

“Alright, well I’ll walk you to the door.”

Ike proceeded to lead Georgie out of the room and back down the stairs to the front door. As he opened it, a freezing blast of air came gushing in. The trees outside where being battered and blown all over the place and snow fell down rough upon the ground.

Ike looked at Georgie concerned, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to walk home alone in that.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“No really, Georgie. You shouldn’t-”

“It’s fine.”

“Fine,” Ike grabbed a thick coat off of the coat hanger beside them, “I’m going with you.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Georgie rolled his eyes and started to walk out the door.

Ike didn’t grab him and pull him back, but stepped out with him. He caught up with the stubborn boy.

“I can carry your bag for you if you like,” he almost shouted against the strong wind.

Georgie merely ignored him. Ike took the hint, but he still wasn’t going to leave Georgie to make his way home on a night like this. As they began to approach Georgie’s house, he turned to him.

“What now, genius?”

Ike did nothing but flash him a sweet smile and picked up his pace. Georgie followed. Eventually, they came to his front porch. Georgie stood before the door, ready to retreat back into the warmth after giving Ike his goodbyes. However, they weren’t as traditional as you would have imagined.

“Good going, now you’re the one who has to walk home alone in that.”

Ike merely gazed up at the boy. He knew he was generally this moody, but he expected a little bit of mutual gratitude.

“You’re a fucking moron.”

Ike frowned. That really wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He sighed and turned around, taking a few steps on his way back home.

“Thanks, idiot.”

Ike stopped and turned back to Georgie, who was able to churn his faint smile back into a straight, sturdy line. Ike could tell by the look in his eyes, however, that he was smiling on the inside.

“You’re welcome,” Ike smiled back brightly at him.

The two stared at each other in silence for a moment, somewhat contently. They had completely forgotten that they were standing in the bitter cold, even Georgie who was but a door away from comfort.

“Well I uh… better get going,” Ike began, his eyes still locked on the beautiful boy facing him.

“Yeah… well take care.”

Ike smiled deeply and nodded, turning and making his way back onto the walkway and back home. A smile snuck onto Georgie’s face, but he knew it was safe because Ike wouldn’t be able to see, and he watched him walk away into the night.