Frank woke up to loud banging on his bedroom door, before he could even answer his mother already came barging in with a steaming mug of coffee in one hand and a cupcake with one lonely lit candle in the middle, singing a very off key version of happy birthday.
"Ah my baby boy, 17" she cooed while roughly kissing his cheeks after she put the coffee and cupcake down.
He groaned in reply, he'd gone to sleep well before midnight and had quietly wished to somehow sleep through his birthday.
He thanked his mother and sat upright, thanking himself that he went to sleep in a shirt and boxers the night before.
The coffee was just on the verge of too hot but his body needed the caffeine, his mom chatted on about how she was going to cook his favourite meal for him and that it was totally alright to ask his friends over to stay too.
After a minute or two she glanced at the alarm clock on his nightstand where the glowing red numbers showed that it was already 7:15 which meant that his mother was going to be late for work if she didn't leave right away.
She planted a kiss on her son's head and muttered something about time flying by before leaving for her morning shift.

He sighed when he heard the front door shut and let himself fall back in his pillows again, in a few minutes he'd have to get up, maybe shower and put on his clothes.
Click in some fangs, since it was Halloween after all and his school had the tradition of letting their students dress up for the occasion.
Usually Halloween was his favourite day of the year, that it was his birthday too just added to the usual fun.
This year it was different though, after what happened on prom night two weeks earlier he hadn't spoken to Gerard at all.
It was the longest they'd gone without any form of contact and the worst thing was that it wasn't even from his side.
The first few days he'd tried to get a hold of Gerard by calling him, texting him and even going home with Mikey after school.
Gerard however didn't answer his phone or text back and for some reason had to leave whenever Frank dropped by.
Today wouldn't be any different, his friends would wish him a happy birthday and Gerard would just stand on the side, putting extra effort to avoid any eye contact.

He made his way to the bathroom, took a piss and stripped down to turn on the water for a quick shower.
When he got out he dried himself off and wrapped his towel around his waist, he looked in the mirror.
He examined his face, he didn't look any different from yesterday, the only difference being that he was 17 now.
He wasn't able to grow a beard yet, apart from the few awkward hairs that took ages to grow back when he shaved them off, he still liked to watch cartoons on saturday morning and though he'd never admit it, he loved it when his mom coddled him with things like badly sung birthday songs and cupcakes.
He was still the same Frank he was yesterday, annoying and maybe a little bit miserable, with the same dark circles around his eyes that had been there for about two weeks now.
He ran a hand through his damp hair, his sides were starting to grow out a little and his bangs fell slack over his eyes.

He went back to his room, put on his underwear and school uniform and clicked in the fangs that he still had from last year's Halloween.
His backpack was already packed and after slipping on his shoes and jacket he went down to grab some breakfast for along the way and waited outside for Bob to pick him up.
He couldn't even make his way through his first cigarette of the day when he already heard a car coming around the corner, blasting happy birthday from it's stereo while violently honking.
"Damn it Bob you're gonna wake up the whole fucking neighbourhood" he laughed, his friend's surprise greeting made his mood a little better.
He opened the door and sat down, his cigarette still between his fingers "hey birthday boy, open that window and pass me one"
Frank grabbed the pack he kept in his blazer pocket, plucked a cigarette out and slipped it between Bob's lips, he even lit it for him.
"So what are the plans for tonight" Bob asked, fixating his eyes on the road, Frank shrugged "nah, my mom's gonna cook and she told me to ask you guys over but I don't have anything planned really" he said just now noticing the slight lisp his fangs gave him.
Reminded of his own "costume" he looked at Bob "hey weren't we supposed to go to school, like y'know, dressed up.
"Yeah it's in the back" Bob, Frank threw his cigarette bud out of the window and turned around in his seat.
In the back lay a long, red piece of cloth and two fake bullet belts "ehm Bob? Frank muttered, not sure what his costume was supposed to be.
"Rambob" Bob explained while he drove up to the school's parkinglot.
"Rambob?" Frank asked, sitting back in his seat.
Bob sighed "yeah Rambob, Rambo, Bob, Rambob".
Frank made a sound of approval, he couldn't really make any comments on the simplicity of the costume considering he only had two fake teeth in, which he'd already used on Halloween last year.

Apart from the few congratulations he received, hugs from Ray and Mikey, no one had mentioned his birthday, and a special person in particular failed to acknowledge it.
Mikey noticed Frank's face drop a little more each passing hour, how he'd look around in the hallway and even walk up to class with Ray in order to catch a glance at Gerard, who'd turn his head away when he noticed Frank in the doorway.
He didn't say anything all day, Gerard had told him what happened on prom night, he hadn't told Gerard that Frank never went to homecoming though, at first he thought that Frank just skipped off with the girl for a quick and dirty once over like he usually did.

At the end of the day Mikey promised Gerard that he'd be ready to go home in 10 minutes before running back into the hallway to Frank's locker.
He found his friend looking tired and done for "hey Frankie, what time do you want me at your place?" he asked, not immediately going for what he actually came to ask.
Frank closed the door to his locker and clicked the lock shut, he leaned back against the cold metal and shrugged "I don't know, around 6:30, 7 maybe?".
Mikey nodded "alright yeah, well why don't you wanna be with Gerard, since y'know you guys are head over heels for eachother and you kinda broke his heart by doing what you did on homecoming night, which you by the way didn't even attend so what was up with that 'cause Gee thinks you banged that girl which I know you didn't because she was dancing with Tony from the hockey team all night" he said in one breath.

Frank was first astonished by the great amount of words Mikey managed to spill out in such a short period of time and secondly taken aback by how to the point his questions were.
"After I went to see him, and y'know what happened, I actually got to school but stayed in my car because I was thinking about how I wanna be with him, I'm falling for that asshole faster than I want to but I can't be with him" Frank said, he was tired, he wanted a cigarette and maybe some pizza.
And Gerard, he really wanted Gerard.
Mikey cocked and eyebrow "Hmm and for what reason are you unable to, y'know be a thing with Gerard".

Frank thought for a second, looked at Mikey, one of his best friends and decided to spill his guts, even if it meant that his friend would probably think he was a loser "I'm just gonna end up screwing everything up, I'll fuck up the whole group and y'know him and Ray are graduating in a few months and he'll totally forget about me in college and I'm just a fuck-up who's not going anywhere in life while you guys are gonna do great things and-"
His spill of words was muffled by Mikey pulling him in a thight hug.
"Listen to me Frank, you are one of the most important people in my life, one of my best friends, if not family, you're not any more of a fuck up than the rest of us and you're not gonna ruin things by giving in to something that'll make you happy. You deserve to be happy, you just need to stop being an insecure little shit because we all love you and we'll never, ever fucking leave you behind, y'hear me?" Mikey pulled away so he could see Frank nod with tears in the corners of his eyes.
"But he won't even speak to me, I've tried Mikey I really have and he wouldn't even look at me today, I miss him so bad, fuck I screwed up" Frank sniffled.
Mikey hugged him again "hey you're not supposed to be sad on your birthday, it's gonna be alright, why don't you go home and nap for a few hours, you could use some rest, I bet Bob is already on his way to drag your butt to his car'" he spoke calmly, putting a faint smile on Frank's face.
They walked to the school's exit together and Bob, still wearing his 'Rambob' gear, was already waiting for them infront of the building, honking furiously.

After saying goodbye to both his friends, he jogged to the parking lot where Gerard was leaning against their mother's car with an almost burned up cigarette between his fingers.
When he noticed Mikey he threw it on the asphalt and quickly stomped on it, the ride home was quiet, Gerard didn't ask Mikey why he took more than 10 minutes to come out.
He thought it was odd though when Mikey ran up to his room the moment they came home and why he stayed there for two hours.
Gerard was just about to click play on a porn vid when his door flew open, he rammed his laptop shut and shoved it away.
Mikey just raised an eyebrow "dude I saw, but anyway that's not why I'm here" he explained.
"Whatcha'here for then" Gerard mumbled around his fingers as he bit his nails.
Mikey slapped his hand away and sat down next to him "you know what day it is right" he asked "and don't say Halloween or October 31st because I'll give you the greatest wedgie in the history of wedgies".
Gerard huffed "yes I know it's Frank's birthday but what does that matter to me", Mikey rolled his eyes "well it should mean a lot because he means a lot to all of us, including you and you didn't even wish him a happy birthday".

Gerard wouldn't admit it out loud but it was shitty of him to not wish Frank a happy birthday, or to answer his numerous texts or calls "yeah but you know what h-".
"Yes I know what happened, but I also know something you don't know and after I told you that you're gonna get your ass dressed in some nice clothes and join me to Frank's place" Mikey interrupted him.
"I'm not going Mikey, he made it clear he doesn't want me and until I get over him I can't hang out with him" Gerard defended.
"He wants you, and before you say anything, he didn't even go to the dance he sat in his car thinking out how he's scared of fucking everything up and screwing up the group, he's scared of us leaving him behind when everyone's going to college because he's convinced he'll stay behind on his own and that you'll forget him, he thinks he's a f-" Mikey couldn't finish his sentence because this time it was Gerard interrupting him "I could never forget him" he whispered.
"Well I know that but he doesn't, so hey wow wild idea but maybe you should join me to his place, not only because I need someone to drive because you'll probably make his day" Mikey said.
Gerard chewed on the inside of his lip, contemplating the idea "you're sure he wants to be with me" he asked.

Mikey nodded and glanced at the door "so y'know if we leave now..".
"Yeah awesome, right uhm, I'm just gonna" Gerard got up and searched through his closet for something that would be more appropriate to wear to a party than ratty sweatpants.
Mikey leaned back on the bed while his brother changed his clothes and loudly sang "Gerard and Frankie sitting in a tree k.i.s.s.i.n.g.".
Gerard threw his brother an annoyed look "god when did you turn in such an annoying fucktard" he groaned.
Mikey bounced "ah come on, y'know you adore me" Gerard rolled his eyes and pulled him up from his bed "c'mon let's go".
"Hmm look who's eager all of the sudden" Mikey muttered.
"What did you say" Gerard asked over his shoulder.
Mikey threw his hands up "nothing, nothing at all" he said with his most innocent smile.

They said their parents goodbye and got into their mother's car like they'd done earlier today, this time the drive was filled with Mikey going on and on about some show he'd started watching a few days earlier.
Gerard knew that he only did it to calm Gerard's nerves since they were swerving through his body.
In a little over 15 minutes they drove up to Frank's street, Bob's car was already in the driveway, leaving just enough space for them to park.
Mikey allowed Gerard a minute to compose himself before he started poking his sides to get him to leave the car.
Once they had locked the doors they walked up to Frank's porch, where Mikey rang the bell.
Gerard smoothed out his shirt and silently prayed that Frank wouldn't be the one to open the door but was once again faced with the fact that luck was hardly ever on his side when it was the birthday boy himself standing in the doorway with his eyes wide in shock.
In a swift moment Mikey somehow managed to get inside, push Frank out and locking the door quickly.

Gerard looked at Frank and decided to be the first to say something "listen, Mikey told me, and I just want you to know that you're amazing and that eventhough I've tried fighting it I can't help falling for you and just y'know, don't be scared please, because-.
Frank cut him off by planting his lips firmly against his, softly cupping his face with his hands, Gerard's breath hitched by the surprise of it but he immediately reached out to run his fingers up Frank's side and pull him closer.
Too soon Frank pulled away, only to keep his forehead against Gerard's "I'm not scared anymore, I wanna be with you if you'll have me" he whispered.
Gerard replied with a soft kiss and a muttered "always" slightly cringing at the cliché of the moment but quickly ignoring it because of the silly perfection of it all.

Their moment was interrupted though when they heard loud wolf whisteling and applauding, they turned their heads to see Mikey, Ray and Bob's heads sticking out of the window, cheering them on.
They looked at eachother and to their friends again and simultaneously flipped them off "hey do you mind" Gerard asked sarcastically.
"Do you two know how long we've been waiting for this" Ray said, Bob and Mikey nodding their heads in agreement.
Frank laughed "I don't give a fuck, get your asses inside before I snap that window shut with you three dickweeds still under it, besides it's my birthday and my house so I get to call the shots".
At that three of them popped back in, shutting the window but not before muttering some soft curses at Frank, who couldn't care less but instead grabbed his boyfriend's hand.
"Wanna come in, Bob and Ray bought me a bottle of booze for my birthday and my mom is pretending she didn't notice but she totally did" he grinned.
"I'd love to, but y'know you should totally kiss me first" Gerard said, biting his lip to surpress a smile.
He didn't need to tell Frank twice because their lips were already pressed together again, warm and sweet.

The door opened behind them and they broke away to be met with a smug looking Mikey "y'know I figured that you guys wanted to come in at some point, and y'know since I locked the door".
Gerard just rolled his eyes and walked passed his brother with his hand still holding onto Frank's.
Frank turned around to Mikey who was closed the door and was only a step behind him and mouthed a silent thank you to his friend.
Mikey just smiled, knowing that he made one of his best friends and his brother happy tonight made him happy as well.
In the livingroom they were met with Ray and Bob who had already poured the first shots, the three of them sat down next to them around the coffee table.
"Alright, happy or you love doves but please, please, please don't go overboard on the PDA" Bob said as he handed Frank and Gerard one of the shot glasses.

Mikey grabbed the one Ray handed him and on his count of three they each downed their liquour, slamming down the tiny glasses.
While Bob was already busy pouring them a new one Frank felt his heart jump and a whole bunch of butterflies fluttering in his stomach when Gerard whispered 'happy birthday Frankie' in his ear and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek.
They both laughed as Ray mocked Mikey's failed attempt at Joker make-up, who on his turn defended himself by saying that it wasn't his fault that his mom only had pink lipstick.
Earlier today Frank hadn't mentioned it earlier because he didn't really get the costume but now that it was revealed to be a poor redention of The Joker, Mikey had looked kinda hilarious.
"What did you wear, I saw you in school but you didn't look like you were wearing a costume" Frank said.
Gerard huffed jokingly "I totally wore a Batman mask during first period".
Mikey play punched him "yeah and then he didn't wear it for the rest of the day eventhough I walked around with mine most of the day looking like an idiot".
They continued to argue who's costume was the worst, Bob passionately defending Rambob, Mikey telling Ray that his lion costume wasn't fair because he only drew some whiskers on and Ray on his turn mentioning that Frank only clicked some fangs in and that Gerard didn't even really wear his costume.

He didn't say it out loud but Frank was pretty sure that this was his favourite birthday ever.