"Frankie, my dream is to rob one bank in every state. Do you think we could do that?"
We're driving. Gerard seems to want to drive just for something to do. It's been two days now since that night and neither of us have brought it up.
I laugh. "I don't know."
"Really though, wouldn't that be cool?" I laugh again. "You'd make record books. The cops wouldn't even try to get you you'd be so respected." God damn. "We gotta get our game on though, it's been what? Like four days now since we robbed that bank in New Jersey.... I think another heist is in order."
"Why?" I ask, though I kinda want to do it again too. "We haven't even spent any of the last money."
"Ugh! Frankie this isn't about the money! Now we gotta think of some really cool stuff to do or we'll be just another bank robber."
"It's adorable the way you say just another bank robber." he laughs.
"Really though...." he says thoughtfully. "Oh! We could be like a Gay Bonnie&Clyde!" he looks at once again with the wonder of the world in his eyes. I can't help but giggle.
"Gerard, I'm not gay." I giggle again.
"Well I am and maybe if you pretend long enough you'll turn gay too."
"You're gay?" I try to act surprised. He shoots me a are-you-fucking-kidding-me look.
"Well I don't think you can just turn gay." I add.
"There's a first for everything." Gerard points out. I sigh, but laugh too.
"So what was your life like before Vietnam?" I finally build up the courage to ask.
"You mean like when I was a kid?" I nod.
"Well I was in all the highest classes, fuck I was taking freshman courses in 6th grade. I had a mother, and a, well you've met my father, and a grandmother, and a... brother." He says with hesitation. "I had planned on going to Princeton, but my grandmother had died just after I graduated. We were very close you see. So I stalled. I gave myself the semester off. That's all it took for me to be drafted. One semester." I nod. God, what if I had been drafted?
"I couldn't handle war." He chuckles.
"No one can, Frankie."
"So how old are you?" I don't even know.
"Twenty-three."
"And how long did it take you to snap?" I repeat what Gerard asked his father that first night.
"Four years." he informs me. "I was drafted in January '67. I was discharged in November of '67, and I was left to my own devices for four years." I do not ask him why he was discharged. And I do not ask him about his brother. He looks over to me. He looks worried.
"My brother Mikey was in 'Nam too." he finally breaks the ice. "He, uh, was killed after I was discharged." He spits. I nod. "You already know that though." I nod.
"I'm sorry." I mumble.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have unloaded that on you."
"I'm a big boy now Gerard, I can handle it." he laughs.
"Besides, we're Partners In Crime now, we have to get to know each other a little bit." Gerard smiles at me.
"About that! I was thinking maybe we cou----"

Notes

Guys I'm sorry it took so long and it's really short but I thought I had to write something.
School just started and all, so you know how it is. And I thought this was a good place to leave off. Some much needed dialogue. I'll try to write as soon as I can. Thank you for reading, and feed back please, good or bad! :)