~3 weeks later~

“Are you sure you want this?” Gerard asked Frank.
Frank looked at him with hopeful eyes, not wanting to wait any longer, “Please, just give it to me.”
“Have you resorted to begging, Mr. Iero?” Gerard teased.
“Fuck, Gerard just do it.” Frank begged.
“Fine,” Gerard said and handed him the paper in his hands, “But don't laugh.”

Frank sighed in relief and looked down at the paper. The portrait drawn of him was the epitome of perfect. The intricate shading make the picture look like an actual photograph, the only thing giving it away was the smearing of some of the charcoal.

“If it wasn't me I'd say it was absolutely perfect.” Frank said and laughed.
“Oh, please,” Gerard said, “Because it's you, it's absolutely perfect.”

Frank glanced up at Gerard and felt his face flush with color.

“Shut up,” Frank said embarrassed, “I wish I could draw like you.”
“You have your own talents,” Gerard assured.
Frank shrugged, “I don't know, I think I should start practicing again.”
“Aww, honey, you want to start playing again?” Frank's mom barged in.
“I'm thinking about it,” Frank said and smiled at his mother.
“Wow, you seem to finally be adjusting to Jersey, huh?” his mother said impressed, “I'm so happy to see you're finally starting to come around.”
“I guess,” Frank agreed.
“Someone must really be making you happy,” his mother added, looking at Gerard as she said it.

Frank automatically looked at Gerard without giving it a second thought. Gerard looked at him too, making eye contact instantly. Gerard quickly looked down before looking towards Frank's mother. She smiled at Gerard kindly and walked into the kitchen.

“Who ever it is, tell them I say thanks when you see them next,” she followed.

Gerard smiled and looked down at his nubby fingers, refusing to look at Frank. Frank didn't say anything either, instead he looked at the drawing he had been presented.

“Gerard, are you staying for dinner, hun?” Frank's mom, Linda asked.
Gerard looked at Frank for permission which was granted, “Sure, that would be cool.”
“I'm glad, is Italian okay with you?” she asked, walking around the corner so she didn't have to yell over the wall any longer.
Gerard smiled brightly, “I love Italian food.”
“He's Italian,” Frank explained, “So it's a given.”
His mother laughed and gave Gerard an approving thumbs up, “Awesome! It'll be done in about an hour or so. Frank?”
“Yeah, mom?”
“Can you boys go and get me some linguine and chicken breasts from the store? I'm going to start this sauce.” she asked.
Frank stood up instantly, “Of course.”
“Thanks, hun. Get whatever you was for dessert, too. Gerard's favorite.”
Gerard smiled graciously, “No, that's okay, I'm fine with just dinner.”
“No, I insist. Frank, make sure you get dessert.” she insisted with a smile.
He laughed, “Yes, mom.”

Gerard laughed, too, and followed Frank to the garage where his mother's car was parked. It was a newer Toyota, black in color.
“It's nice,” Gerard commented.
Frank nodded, “Mhm, they bought it when we first moved here. They wanted new everything.”
“What made you guys move?” Gerard curiously asked.
Frank clutched the steering wheel tightly for a second before releasing it, “It's.. uh, a long story.”
Gerard sensed the tension and dropped the subject, “Gotcha. So, what are we supposed to have for dessert?
“Uh, whatever you want,” Frank answered outwardly.
“I guess we can just look around,” Gerard said, “I have no idea though.”

Frank turned the Misfits on the radio. He knew that was another band Gerard liked to listen to, and got pleasure out of knowing that he was going to agree with the music. Gerard bobbed his head to the beat, using his fingers as drum sticks on the dashboard in front of him. Frank nodded his head with the music as well. The chorus of the song came on, and Gerard sang quietly along to it. Frank neglected to say anything out loud for fear that it would embarrass Gerard, but his friend had a beautiful voice unlike any other he's heard before. It definitely didn't match the voice of Glenn Danzig, but it was gorgeous and unique all on it's own. Frank strained his ears to listen to Gerard sing, but eventually Gerard stopped. Frank glanced over towards the passenger who was staring out the window. The reflection of the sun bounced off his eyes and made them more golden then ever before. Frank returned his eyes to the road and continued to drive to the store.

Before long, Frank caught himself looking at Gerard again, this time at a red light. Gerard caught him this time, returning the gaze. They didn't say anything to each other, they just soaked in each others looks. Gerard subtly smiled, which Frank saw, but didn't return. He was memorized by the man next to him. The urge that came over so suddenly only a few weeks before returned to Frank. He wanted to kiss Gerard's lips the way he had done before.

Frank didn't know what the hell his problem was. He wasn't gay. He was attracted to girls, he knew this for a fact. He had never been attracted to any other guy before, but Gerard was seemingly an exception. Gerard was slightly androgynous which made Frank feel more comfortable. At least he wasn't a buff football player who he was so questionably attracted to. Knowing this helped rationalize Frank's thinking. On the other hand, Frank knew that Gerard was just as much of a guy as a quarter back was, which is what made accepting his new crush so hard.

Instead of acting on his impulse, Frank simply reached over and put his hand on Gerard's lap. Gerard looked at his hand, then back up to Frank's eyes. Instead of returning the look, Frank kept his eyes on the road and continued to drive to the store as if nothing was out of the norm.

Gerard didn't know where Frank's intentions were coming from. After their kiss on Frank's bed they didn't say much. Awkward chit chat here and there, and then they went to bed, not cuddling or anything. The morning after wasn't weird at all, though, it was as if nothing had happened. Gerard wanted so badly to ask Frank about it, but he didn't want to mess anything up. He just went along with things and ended up having a really nice, relaxing day with Frank afterward. This, however, was very out of character for Frank. He wasn't emotional or sad, as far as Gerard could tell, today. He had been cheerful all day long. Gerard was usually the one jokingly flirting with Frank, trying to get his point across. Frank would laugh and accept the compliments, but never reciprocate them the way Gerard wished he would. It's so simple, Frank's hand on his leg, but at the same time it's so couple-like. The little things like this is what Gerard appreciates when he is in a relationship, so receiving them from someone who he has such a deep crush on was all too confusing. Gerard wasn't going to make him stop, though, no matter how strange it was. He soaked it in, trying not to visibly smile, but mentally grinning ear to ear. Gerard returned his gaze to the window, though he didn't zone out this time. Before, his thoughts were mingled all together, wondering in and out of his subconscious. This time, his eyes were on the passing trees on the side of the road, but his mind was focused on the warmth of Frank's hand that was passing through his jeans and into his skin.

Frank pulled up to the grocery store a couple of minutes later, pulling into a parking space with one hand. They sat there for a moment without saying anything. Frank didn't want to have to remove his hand from where it was placed. Untold to why, it made Frank feel happy to be touchy with Gerard. He realized he had to remove his hand sooner or later, and filled his lungs with air before opening the car door and taking his hand back.

“Ready?” Frank said and smiled.
Gerard laughed, relieved that it wasn't so awkward anymore, “Yeah, let's go.”