"I'm gonna fucking kill him" Gerard said as he paced through the bunk area "who the fuck does he think he is".
Mikey who was sitting in Frank's bunk followed his brother with his eyes, left, right and back again "I appreciate it but one, you're incapable of killing anything bigger than an ant and two, this is between him and me, I'm a grown man I can take care of myself".
Suddenly Gerard stopped took a few steps back and sat down on the floor, resting his head against Mikey's thigh "I know, but I just can't stand seeing you hurt, you're still my kid brother and watching you like this makes me wanna punch walls and douchebags like Pete" he softly said while Mikey ran his fingers through his brother's hair.
"Just being here for me is enough" Mikey replied and he sat down on the ground next to Gerard.
Gerard smiled at his brother and threw an arm around him to pull him closer to himself "you're gonna get through this, I love you" he said.
Mikey settled in his brother's half-embrace, right now it felt like when they were kids again, when being in love only lasted for a day or two and heartbreak was solved by ice-cream or a cuddle from their mom "love you too" he whispered back.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, eventhough the bus floor was hard and the carpet smelled like feet it was comfortable for both of them.
It had been a while since the two of them had a moment like this together, after all the drama with Pete and Frank over the past few weeks neither of them really had the time to be the other's brother.
Gerard was the first to break the silence by softly nudging Mikey "hey, you're still going to the party tonight right? 'Cause if you don't feel like it we could just stay in and watch some movies or play some xbox or talk or-".
"I'm going" Mikey cut him off, as much as he appreciated his brother's offer after today's events all he needed was to get completely smashed and maybe even hook up with a stranger, what did it matter at this point.
"Oh but-" Gerard was again cut off by Mikey "I know Pete's gonna be there, I don't care Gee" he lied.

"Good afternoon gorgeous Way brothers are the two of you ready to party your asses off tonight" Frank said as he barged through the curtain and perched down on the ground infront of Mikey and Gerard "hey what's wrong" he said when he noticed that Mikey's smile wasn't as warm as it usually was.
"Nothing" Mikey said trying to sound more convincing than he looked, Gerard squeezed his hand.
Frank wasn't having it and sat down next to Mikey's other side "dude, I know you, I know when you're smiling and I know when you fake it, so spill the beans." he stopped talking when something dawned on him "fuck I completely forgot, how did things go with Pete, did you guys work it out?".
Frank was looking at Mikey so he didn't see Gerard franctically shaking his head trying to get Frank to notice and to tell him without words that he shouldn't go there.
But it was already too late and Mikey already started talking, explaining to Frank that the person he loved so badly betrayed him for the sake of his own heart and fear of his own feelings, trying to sooth some of the pain Gerard rubbed circled on Mikey's back, a gesture that always calmed him.

Frank listened carefully to everything Mikey had to say, every pained word that showed just how little he understood Pete's reasons for not being together and how he chose to push Mikey away.
When he was finally done Frank flung his arms around Mikey and pulled him in a thight embrace "I know you don't want to hear it, but it's better this way. You guys love eachother but now is not the time, you're too good for him right now Mikey, you're gonna do alright without him." Frank's words were muffled but Mikey heard them loud and clear.
They stung but he knew that they were true, it was all a case of bad timing, if all of this had happened a year from now it might've been different.

At one point Mikey managed to pull loose from Frank's embrace and he got up "thanks guys, but we really should get ready for that party" Gerard and Frank looked up at Mikey and then at eachother before they got up too.
"I'm ready" Gerard said after raking his fingers through his greasy hair.
"Fuck no, you're gonna take a shower and dress up a little, I want everyone at that party to be jealous of me" Frank said as he playfully shoved Gerard towards the bathroom.
Gerard rolled his eyes "I'm not showering, I'm clean" he said defiantly before lifting up one arm so he could smell armpit to underline his statement.
His face grimaced when his nose wasn't even near his pit yet and without arguing any further he turned around and walked into the bathroom.

Frank and Mikey laughed and Frank excused himself so Mikey could have some minutes by himself to get dressed and ready.
He crouched down to pull his suitcase from under Gerard's bunk and popped it open.
Most of his clothes, t-shirts and the rare tanktop were rancid with stage-sweat and in no state of being able to be worn in public without fending off every person in a 3 mile radius.
After digging around he pulled out two things: a black button up that was probably his brother's but luckily not worn by him recently since it still smelled like detergent, and Pete's white denim jacket.
Right now his life felt like a cliché rom-com and according to those he would get his guy back in the end, he knew that wouldn't happen but wearing his jacket would atleast make him notice him and he needed that.
He took his t-shirt off, buttoned the new one up and shrugged on the jacket, even after spending weeks in Mikey's luggage it still smelled like Pete.
-
"For fuck's sake I'm not fucking wearing these hideous pieces of shit, I wanna hook up tonight man" Bob said desperately, holding up a pair of baby-puke green Crocs.
Ray smirked "yes you are, and these too" he said as he handed Bob a pair of purple, tick whool socks.
Bob stared at them in horror, then at his feet, then at Ray and finally back at the Crocs and socks "fuck you, you fucking sadistic asshole" he whispered.
"Sorry what did you sa?" Ray asked with an evil grin on his face, Bob smiled his fakest, widest smile back and barely moved his lips to tell Ray that he said nothing, nothing at all.
Ray looked satisfied as Bob finally put on the socks and Crocs, which of course looked ridiculous under his khaki boardshorts.

Bob crossed his arms over his chest "you look great Casanova" Ray said while patting the drummer's shoulder, who shrugged the hand off.
"Well if I'm not spending the evening charming a lovely lady I might just get so fucking shitfaced that I'll have you drag me to wherever the fuck we're sleeping and/or puke all over you" Bob said defiantly.
Ray stood up "whatever, atleast I'm not the one wearing purple socks with Crocs" he remarked and got up to the fridge to grab a beer for himself but put it back again and walked back to the couch "sorry I completely forgot: could you grab me a beer please".
Bob looked close to being furious "you already had the fucking beer in your hand, grab it yourself" he bit.
Ray shrugged "if you can't keep up with the consequences you shouldn't make bets man".
"You son of a-" Bob murmured a whole sting of curses as he got up and walked to the fridge to grab a beer for Ray and himself.
This was going to be a long night.
-
Frank was happy when Cortez called him, sure he would've loved to join Gerard in the shower, but this way he could prepare for something special before anyone else got here.
"Thanks for helping out Frankie" Cortez said as him and Frank were slowly moving a keg into the living room of the mansion, he still had no idea who's place it was but he sure was thankful for his or her hospitality.
"Ah fuck man that's heavy" he said when they finally dropped the keg somewhere in one of the corner's of the large room, he looked at his watch, if everyone was driving on schedule the first people should get here in about an hour.
"Yeah well it was the last one, I'm gonna check the set-up for the DJ table out back" Cortez said and he walked into the hallway that probably lead to the garden at some point, Frank didn't really check out the house in between setting up his surprise for Gerard and helping Cortez.
He looked around the room, Cortez, a few other volunteers and him got here early to spike the place up a bit and of course to bring in all the booze everyone had pitched in for.

One of those volunteers was Pete, who he'd managed to avoid for the last hour and a half that they'd been here.
That was of course until now.
"How's Mikey?" was the only thing he asked.
Frank turned away and tried to look like he was busy fixing something on the keg "I don't know, you tell me." he said.
Pete turned Frank around "please Frank don't be like this, it's for the better he deserves someone better than me".
This was all Frank could take and he balled his fists "listen asshole, you're right Mikey deserves someone better and if you got your head out of your sorry ass for a second you could actually try and be that person. Stop being a fucking coward because right now I'm not even sure if he wants to be friends with you."

He was buzzing with anger, it wasn't even a full day ago when he was still broken hearted over Gerard, the wounds were being repaired but he still knew what Mikey was going through and he didn't wish that hurt upon his enemies, let alone his best friend.
"I know." Pete said with a gloomy voice, his hands shoved in the pockets of his hoodie.
Frank was angry with Pete, but there was also a side of him that felt sorry for the guy, of all people Frank knew how much Pete liked Mikey, for how long he had.
He sighed "look man, now might not be the right time for the two of you but what you share is fucking real and feeling that for someone else doesn't happen too often, don't let him be the one that got away" he didn't wait for a reply but instead went outside and sat down on the porch.
He put in his earbuds, set his iPod on shuffle and lit up a cigarette as he waited for the rest of his band to arrive.

Pete had looked terrible, it was very visible that he'd spent a good amount of time crying by the way his eyes were red rimmed and his cheeks were all blotchy.
It made him proud that his boyfriend had enough guts to surpass his fears but at the same time he felt an overwhelming sense of guilt that him and Gerard wouldn't have to deal with the strain of distance.
The two of them would be happy, would be able to spend each night in eachother's arms, kiss, touch and feel echother.
If Pete hadn't chickened out it would be months of "I miss you"'s through the phone.
But still, if it were this way for him and Gerard he would've atleast tried to make it work, and he knew that Mikey would've done the same if Pete had given him that chance.

It was one of the few disadventages this life brought them, distance from loved ones, friends, family and lovers.
He remembered when he got back in town after their first tour to find his now ex-girlfriend standing infront of his parent's house to tell him that she had met somebody else and that the two of them weren't going to work.
Back then he didn't understand it, but after a few years of spending months at a time away from his hometown he noticed that him and some people in his life just grew apart for the simple reason of living different lives with new people and interests.
At one point he came home and realized that he had no idea what to talk about with some who he used to consider his closest friends.
Of course he'd met many new friends along the way but there was just something about people fading into mere memories after being there for a big part of your life.

The setting sun had made the sky look orange and the occasional cloud an odd shade of pink, it was a beautiful evening and in the distance he could hear Cortez fucking around with the DJ set.
Apart from the drama the past few weeks had been more than amazing, he felt lucky to have so many people appreciate music, art that he helped to create.
He was actually happy, he had the best job in the world and he got to do it with his best friends and his boyfriend.
He looked up when he heard voices and down the path he saw Ray, Mikey, Bob and Gerard walk up with some other people behind them.
Gerard noticed Frank on the porch and smiled at him.
He jumped up, ran to his boyfriend and wrapped his arms around his neck before pressing a big kiss on his lips.
"Wow, what was that for sugar?" Gerard said when he pulled away and wrapped his arms around Frank's waist.
Frank smiled back at him "thank you for making my dreams come true" he whispered.
They were both going in for another kiss but got pulled apart by an annoyed looking Bob "come on loverboys, no eating eachother's face off before I'm drunk".
Gerard sighed and grabbed Frank's hand as the five of them walked in, Ray and Mikey busy talking and Bob sulking and muttering angry words about couples being gross and Crocs being ugly plastic pieces of shit.