PART 4 -

“I can’t believe Danny’s this childish” Jake laughed as he helped Alfie pack up the stall.

“What’s he done now?” was Alfie’s automatic reply as he passed a box to Jake.

“Oh he’s made a new friend. Mike” Jake replied, emphasizing the name.

“So?”

Jake paused. “Don’t tell me you don’t remember… ‘Mikey’…. Danny’s childhood imaginary friend”

Alfie stopped what he was doing and stood up straight, giving Jake a look. “Mikey…oh yeah!” he laughed. “You seriously think he’s made up this Mike again?”

“He storms off, and comes back all pleased and telling me about this ‘Mike’. A bit convenient don’t you think? I can’t believe he’s that jealous… does he really think I wouldn’t remember something like that?”

“Have you questioned him about it?”

“He seemed pretty insistent that he met this ‘Mike’ today”

“They can hospitalize people who insist their imaginary friends are real Jake” Alfie smirked.

Jake smirked back. “Look if he wants to play this little game, we might as well let him”

Alfie shook his head and laughed again.

(\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/)

“What have I told you about going through my things Danny!” a 10 year old Jake snapped.

Danny folded his arms, “I didn’t go through your things. Mikey did it”

“Oh right, of course, ‘Mikey’” Jake rolled his eyes. “Well tell ‘Mikey’ if he goes through my stuff again, I’ll break his hands!”

Danny looked alarmed for a moment. “Jake… everyone knows you can’t break a ghost’s hands. You’d just go through him!”

Jake sighed in frustration. “Give it up Danny, Mikey isn’t real!”

Danny shifted on his feet “Yes he is!”

“Stop being such a baby and just admit YOU took my stuff!”

“I DIDN’T!” Danny yelled back and balled his hands up into little fists.

“Forget it, just go play with one of your real friends or something” Jake sighed as he turned and shut the cupboard door.

Danny’s nails dug crescent moons into the flesh of his palms, as he breathed hard out of his nose. “I wanted to hang out with you”

“Alfie’s coming over soon”

“We could all”-

“Me and Alfie are going to play football”

Danny pouted moodily at his brother, “But what about me?”

“I’m sure ‘Mikey’ will keep you company” Jake replied and walked past his brother, ignoring his behavior.

(\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/)

Jake rolled his eyes when his brother stumbled through the dark and there was a thud followed by an “ow”. They’d temporarily ended up in the room with the double bed at their new house, as Nana and Alfie got their own rooms, it went without saying.

Jake reached over and flicked the table lamp on. “What the hell are you doing Dan?”

“Oh, you’re awake” Danny sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his knee.

“I’m trying to sleep. Some people have work tomorrow… What will you do, go drinking with this Mike?” Jake turned the light off smirking.

“Yeah, might do” Danny replied, what was with Alfie and Jake tonight?

(\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/)

“Danny!” Jake groaned as he nudged his brother’s arm away and got up, smacking the alarm off.

“Mm! morning to you too beautiful” Danny groaned and rolled over, pulling the quilt further around him.

“Shut up” Jake rubbed his eyes and headed to the wardrobe. “I had to put up with you sleep talking and moving around all night”

“Oh yeah, say anything interesting?” Danny was slowly falling back to sleep.

“You asked quite frantically where the tea bags were” Jake smirked remembering how he’d laughed at that.

“Tea bags?” Danny furrowed his brows but didn’t open his eyes. “speaking of, and seeing as you’re up, make me a cuppa”

“I’ve got to get ready Dan, stop being lazy”

“I don’t have anything to do or anywhere to go” Danny mumbled beneath the covers.

“Exactly. Make your own” Jake closed the wardrobe doors, “I thought you said you might see that Mike?”

“Mike? Oh yeah” Danny rubbed his eyes, not seeing Jake smirk. “I don’t know if he’ll turn up though”

“Oh well if he’s busy” Jake shrugged, “you can do something useful for once like get a job, get some money in”

“Yeah, yeah” Danny remained in bed.

Jake rolled his eyes, “don’t get into any trouble alright, and don’t break anything”

“Hmm”

What, no retort? No argument? “See ya Danny” Jake called.

“Hmm” Danny curled up a bit more under the covers allowing sleep to take over again.