I was in my foods class, sitting at a table with people I didn't know. I hated it here. I sat on my phone as the people around me talked. The teacher stepped out of the room to print something and I frowned as two boys walked up to me.

"What's wrong with you?" One of them asked.

"Nothin'," I replied.

"Why do you wear dresses?" He asked.

"I like them," I said. "My Mama always gave them to me."

"Are you mentally fucking retarded?" The other asked.

I looked at him in confusion. "What's retarded?"

"You, you're retarded," the first one stated.

From the way they were saying it, it didn't sound like a very nice thing.

"I'm retarded?" I asked. "What's that mean?"

"Retarded fag," the other said.

They snickered as the class ended. I grabbed my bag and hurried to the art room. I sat beside Frank with a scowl.

"What's up?" He asked.

"Why am I retarded?" I asked.

His eyes widened slightly as he looked at me.

"Baby, you're not retarded," he denied. "Why would you think that?"

"People told me I was," I said. "They told me I'm a retarded fag. What's that mean?"

"Who said that?" Frank asked, looking angry.

I whimpered, leaning away from him.

"I-I don't know," I whispered.

Frank sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

"You're not retarded," he denied. "And if you remember who said that then tell me because that's not a good thing."

"What's it mean, though?" I asked.

"Baby, just...just work on your art," he mumbled.

I sighed, looking at all my stuff that Frank must've gotten out for me.

"Is he one of the bad people?" I asked. "Like the ones Mama told me about? The monsters?"

"Yeah, baby, he's one of the monsters," he said.

We kept drawing and I sat quietly.

"So, there's no school tomorrow because of thanksgiving break," Frank said. "Wanna come to my place tomorrow? I mean, since it's thanksgiving you'd have to ask your dad but if it's cool with him I can give you a ride or something."

I smiled and nodded my head.

-+-

"Wear something nice, baby," Frank said. "Bring a bag too if you wanna stay over."

"Why would i bring a bag?" I asked.

"No, a bag with clothes and stuff inside it," he clarified.

"Okay," I said. "Bye bye."

I grabbed my backpack, putting in some pajamas, extra clothes, my stuffies, blankie, and my paci. I changed into a dress with long sleeves because it was starting to get cold out. The cold was weird, I haven't felt the cold like this before.

"Bye, Mikey, bye, dad," I said, giving them both hugs.

"Call us if you need anything," my dad said.

I nodded my head as Mikey grabbed his keys. He drove me over to Frank's house, which wasn't very far, thankfully. I stepped out, waving goodbye as I went to the front door and pressed the button that made a ringing sound. I knew it was called something but I forgot.

"Hi, Gee," Ms. Iero said when she opened the door.

She ushered me in and to the dining room where a lot of people were sitting. Frank stood up, giving me a hug. He was wearing black jeans with a white button up and a black tie.

"Frank, please, tuck in your shirt," a lady said.

When she wasn't looking, Frank stuck his tongue out at her. We sat down and he held my hand under the table.

"We were just about finishing eating dessert, Gee," his mom said. "Would you like a slice of pie or something?"

"No, i'm full," I said.

"No thank you," Frank whispered.

"No thank you," I corrected.

"Good," frank mumbled.

They finished eating and Frank pulled me up into his room. There was something on the ground, made up like a bed.

"What's that?" I asked.

"That's the air mattress my cousin is sleeping on," Frank said.

I sat on it and giggled.

"It's weird," I said.

"Come on, he'll have a fit if anyone touches his stuff," he said.

He grabbed his laptop and we sat on his bed. Frank typed some things in and a movie started playing. The door opened and someone else came in, shutting it behind him. He looked about our age with dark brown hair and brown eyes.

"This is my cousin, Enzo," Frank said. "Enzo, this is Gee."

He grunted at me, laying down on his bed as he texted on his phone. We watched the movie about the green man and the little girl at Christmas. Frank wrapped an arm around my shoulders, kissing the side of my head.

"Hold on, I've gotta use the bathroom," Frank said.

He paused the movie and left the room. I looked over at Enzo curiously and smiled.

"What's Enzo mean?" I asked.

"Fuck off, fag," he muttered.

"I-i don't understand, I'm not a cigarette," I said.

He set his phone aside and sat up.

"No, you're a disgusting faggot," he spat. "You're worth nothing."

"B-but my Mama loves me, she says I'm worth a million stars," I said quietly.

"Well you're not, you're a freak," he said.

"But--"

I was interrupted when he hit me. I cried, holding my cheek as it stung painfully.

"What's going on?" Frank asked as he walked in.

I got up, crying and running into my arms.

"He hit me!" I exclaimed.

He pulled me downstairs as I held my cheek and sobbed. Mrs. Iero looked up at us and her eyes widened.

"Gee, what happened?" She asked.

"Enzo hit him," Frank stated.

"Come here, let me get you some ice," she said.

She went to the kitchen, coming back with a baggy of ice.

"Enzo!" Frank's uncle called.

Enzo came downstairs, looking annoyed.

"Did you hit him?" He asked.

"Yeah," Enzo replied. "I had a right to, he was being a little fag."

"You don't fucking call him that," frank growled.

"Oh I forgot, that's your nickname, Faggot Frank," Enzo said.

"Enzo," Ms. Iero scolded, looking to his parents for help. "We do not say those things in this house. Apologize to them, especially Gee."

Enzo scoffed. "Yeah, I'm never gonna do that."

He stormed off upstairs and I whimpered.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry," Ms. Iero apologized. "Do you want me to drive you home?"

I shook my head, holding onto Frank's hand.

"Alright, well, you can sleep in Frank's room tonight since Enzo will be in there too," she said. "Again, I am so sorry for all of this."

I nodded my head and we went up to Frank's room. We sat on his bed and Frank glared at Enzo.

"I'm sorry," Frankie mumbled, kissing my forehead.

I held the ice against my cheek, giving him a hug with my free arm.

"Gonna get changed?" Frank asked.

I sighed quietly and looked at him.

"I like you in that outfit," I said quietly.

"Yeah? Maybe I'll wear it again," he said. "C'mon, get changed and we can go to sleep."

I grabbed my bag and went to the bathroom. I changed into my light blue nightgown with white stars on it. Frank was changed and waiting for me in his bedroom.

"I'm stuffed and tired," he said, burying his face into the crook of my neck.

I smiled as he turned off the light and we snuggled up in bed.

"How's your cheek, baby boy?" He asked, caressing it softly.

I whimpered and looked in Enzo's direction, where I could see the light of his phone.

"Don't worry, he's got headphones on, he can't hear us," he said.

"It stings an ittle little bit but not much anymore," I said.

Frank chuckled softly. "You're so fucking adorable."

I smiled, giving him a kiss. Frank pulled my body closer, pressing my body down against the mattress. His lips moved with mine, one hand tangling in my hair and the other on my hip. My arms wrapped around him as I kissed back. He pulled away slowly, burying his face into the crook of my neck.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," he mumbled.

I smiled, hugging him tight as I closed my eyes. I couldn't really sleep as I still was thinking about things.

"Is Enzo a monster?" I asked.

"Yeah, he can be," Frank mumbled.

"Are there a lot of monsters?" I asked.

"There's angels too," Frank said.

"But my Mama said the angels were in heaven," I said.

"Yeah, they are, but some of them walk on Earth too," he said. "Some people who are great and do good. Like this man named Martin Luther King Jr., or Abraham Lincoln or even this girl named Susan B. Anthony. You're an angel too, baby."

"I-I'm dead?" I asked nervously.

Frank laughed and shook his head, kissing the tip of my nose.

"You're a living angel," he said. "Someone who is so good and pure and just wants the best for everyone."

"I am?" I asked. "But I didn't do nothing."

"You've never seen anything, you only believe in the good in the world," Frank whispered. "That's what makes you an angel."

"I think you're an angel too," I said.

"Yeah? Why's that?" Frank asked. "Nobody's told me I'm an angel before."

"Because you're always making me feel better and making me happy when I'm sad, that's what makes you an angel," I said.

"Thanks, baby, you're so perfect," he mumbled, kissing my cheek.

I smiled, cuddling up with him and pulling the blanket tighter around us.

"I'm sorry about my family," Frank said quietly. "My cousin's an ass and my aunt and uncle aren't all that much better. The only good ones are my mom and my grandpa. Well, and my younger cousin, but she's still young so she's just cute."

"I don't really know all my family," I said. "My dad said there's people and stuff, like I gots an aunt and some cousins but I haven't met them."

Frank smiled and gave me a soft kiss.

"Well, maybe you'll see them around Christmas," he said.

I felt myself become giddy as I thought about it.

"It's almost christmas!" I exclaimed in a hushed tone.

Frank laughed and wrapped an arm around my waist.

"What do you want from Santa?" I asked.

Frank smiled and kissed my forehead. "I want you to just stay precious."