He looked into her eyes and could see the mutual attraction. He liked her and she liked him back, that much was clear. They spent the whole day together, first at the zoo looking at her favorite animals. Frank bought her a stuffed elephant since they were her most beloved animal, and then they continued on their date. Afterward, to her favorite burger joint where they split a milkshake like in the old movies and indulged in a cheeseburger. Everything was perfect, the day was nice and hot, the Oregon rain had subdued and Frank couldn't be happier.

“Fuck!” Frank exclaimed as he woke up from his dream... nightmare. “Fuck me.” he said to himself quietly. He shook his head violently to escape his past that often haunts his dreams. That's in the past, he always reminds himself. “Why the hell do I do this to myself?”

- - -

“Hey, you ready, stud?” Aurora asked Frank, “This is gonna be so great! You look awesome by the way, your hair cut is totally fantastic, thanks to moi!”
Frank walked in front of his full length mirror. His new hair cut was pretty much just a trim, but the sides of his head were short, not quite shaved but shorter than the front of his hair, where his fringe hung in his face. He wore a tight band shirt that was local to his previous town of Portland, with his trademark black skinny jeans and old red Converse.

He blushed slightly at the compliment, “I guess I'm ready now. Are you sure we should do this?” “Absolutely! You MUST get of this house, and I think this will be the best way to do it.” Aurora answered.

The music was pouring out of the speakers, the band was loud, fast, and energetic. Naturally Frank started tapping his foot; he knows a good band when he hears one. He closed his eyes and started to bob his head to the drum beat, enjoying every second of the music filling his ears. He smelled in the aroma of alcohol from the bar behind him, and the cigarettes from the pool tables close by. Though he was too young to drink, most of the local shows were done in a small bar in the middle of town. A couple people from school was at the show, some of the artsy kids Frank examined in the lunch room were there. A girl with bright lavender hair looked in his direction and smiled. He looked away from her acknowledgment, avoiding too much interaction between other people.

“Ooo, Frankie, she's.. you!” Rora said into Frank's ear.
“What!?” Frank yelled back.
Aurora got closer this time, “I said she's feeling you.. go talk to her!”
“No I'm good,” Frank yelled back.
“Oh Christ's sake, come on!” she said and grabbed her cousin's hand. She pulled him closer to the girl who had been smiling at him and she introduced herself.

“Hey! I'm Aurora, this is my cousin Frank!” she shouted at the girl so she could hear her, “What's up with this band?”
“Oh! Hey, I'm Ali, this is actually my friend's band!” she said proudly, “They're good, right? They don't have a name yet, they're pretty new.”
“Hell yeah, they're great.” Frank perked up, which Aurora noticed and smiled.
“My cousin here is kind of a recluse lately. He just moved to Jersey, so he's new to the Belleville's music scene.”
“Oh, really? Where are you from, Frank, you said?” she said and smiled, flashing her perfect white teeth.
Frank started picking at his nails, anxious about having a conversation. He hadn't had a real conversation with someone in a while, for the fear that he'd become too attached again and that he'd get hurt.
“We're from Oregon,” Aurora answered for him, “I'm just visiting though.”
“Yeah, right, Oregon, sorry.” Frank muttered out.
“Well, that's cool.” Ali said and smiled, “Frank, do you go to Belleville High?” He just nodded. “I think I saw you before.”
“What?” Frank asked. With the music being so loud, he can hardly hear himself think, let alone a normal conversation. Ali got close to his ear. Frank could feel the warmth of her breath on the nape of his neck which sent shivers down his spine.
“I think I've seen you at school,” she repeated as she grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer so that it was easier to talk. He pulled his hand away abruptly at the sudden contact, but it didn't seem to phase her. Suddenly, past her shoulder Frank noticed someone who caught his eye. He saw the same dark, shabby haired boy from school. He narrowed in on him with his eyes, observing what he did. He stood in the back by himself bobbing his head to the music, tapping his foot to the beat, much like Frank had previously done himself moments before. Ali noticed Frank's attention was averted.
“That's the other way.” Ali said and laughed, “Strange, huh?”
“What?”
She laughed again, “That's the other Way. He's the bassist's brother. He's pretty quiet, but he's cool enough. He doesn't talk much, though. Kind of like you.” she laughed again and hit Frank's shoulder jokingly. “Ever meet Mikey Way?”
“Who's Mikey Way?” he asked, and once more she giggled, “That's my friend! He's in the band, he's the bassist. He's got like.. magic fingers or something. I actually have a crush on him, but don't tell him.” She said and winked. Frank cracked a smile and nodded reassuringly before glancing back over to where the other boy once stood be he was no longer there.

Frank enjoyed the rest of the night getting lost in the harmonies and tracks that the band continued to play. Ali and Aurora continued to talk and got pretty close throughout the night. Frank just let the music consume him. He watched as the guitarist moved his fingers along the strings, letting the vibrations flow out of his instrument in a skillful manner. He appreciated the talent the guitarist had. Frank used to enjoy playing guitar, and considered himself to be pretty good at it until he decided to quit right before his little “accident” with the pills. Since then he hasn't touched his once precious guitar, Pansy.

Later that night, Aurora dragged Frank to a house party the band and Ali were throwing. He agreed to have a few drinks. Sprite and raspberry vodka was the drink of the night, and before Frank had known it he was wasted. He was small framed and somewhat of a light weight as it was, especially since he hadn't drank in a while. Drink after drink was consumed, and everyone was laughing. Ali had started dancing on the table as a chicken, and the guys in particular seemed to find it hilarious. Frank was having a blast, he was joking around and being social. The guys in the band started to really like him, they loved his sense of humor, as well as his taste in music.

Eventually, Frank could feel the overwhelming sickness devour his senses. His mouth started to salivate and his stomach felt like it was in his throat. “Where's the bathroom!?” He croaked out but there was no answer. He looked around and everyone was passed out, some in their own pile of puke. “Where's the bath-” he repeated.
“Upstairs, I'll take you.” an unfamiliar voice answered as he felt someone help him up. Frank's head started to pound immediately, and his feet just didn't agree with him. His mind was sober, but he body was still very much so drunk. They stumbled upstairs into a bathroom where someone was drunkenly sleeping in the bath tub. As soon as Frank saw the toilet, he started to vomit. The contents flew up his throat and into the bowl, his throat scorching with every dry heave. He realized he hadn't eaten much that day, and it was becoming harder to throw up any waste. Stomach acid replaced the food, which just burned the back of his throat even more.

“You okay man?” the voice said as Frank felt a pressure on his back. The keeper of the voice rubbed his back carefully, “Do you need a towel for your head or some water? Let's get you some water,” he said. Frank didn't catch the face as the guy walked out of the bathroom. A few dry heaves later he felt the cold water bottle on his arm, “Here you go.”

Frank looked up from the toilet a second time to see the face he'd noticed at school and at the show. He couldn't remember his name from the art class, but he knew it was the same guy.
“Thank you,” he unintentionally whispered, still looking at the guy. “Thanks.”
“No problem, you alright?” he asked with a smile. His face was kind of chubby, and his long dark hair that usually hid his face was pulled behind his ears. Frank saw his face for the first time as he bent down and came closer. His smile was inviting, his teeth smaller than most but nonetheless straight. He smelled of alcohol, but seemed sober enough.
Frank nodded his head and rested it on his forearm that found it's place on the now flushed toilet.
“What's your name, kid?” he asked.
“Frank,” he answered.
“I'm Gerard, you're in my art class, right?”
Frank suddenly remembered the awkward eye contact they had shared and instantly blushed. Thankfully Gerard couldn't see his face. Frank hated showing emotion. He learned that being too emotional just gets you in trouble, or hurt, at the end of the day.
“Uh, yeah, mhm.” Frank murmured.
Gerard nodded though Frank couldn't see him, “That's cool. Welcome to shitty Belleville.” he said and laughed.
“How do you know I'm new?”
“Ali introduced you to me earlier, but I won't get offended that you don't remember. I'm sure I met the vodka instead of the real Frank,” he said and laughed, “Did you get any on you?”

Frank didn't remember meeting Gerard. He remembered a lot of things throughout the night. He remembered that a couple of the band members streaked and ran in the pool in the backyard, Mikey chugged an entire carton of orange juice and nearly upchucked, as well as Aurora wearing Ali's bra on her head impersonating Princess Leia. However, he most definitely didn't remember being introduced to Gerard.

“Um, no, I don't think so.” he said with a slight grin.
Gerard laughed, “Cheer up kid, it happens to the best of us. Drink some water, and you should be alright,” he said and walked away. Frank sat there on the bathroom floor and sipped the cold water, begging that his stomach would agree with it.