"What the fuck is that fag doing here?" Gerard sneers. White-hot rage shoots through me, and I stand, spinning around to look at Mikey. "What the hell, Mikey?! GERARD is your brother? Why didn't you tell me?" I yell angrily.
"Yeah, Mikey, why didn't you tell the fag?" Gerard laughs, and I stride up to him. Before I know what I'm even doing, I've hit him, hard. Right across the face.
"Shut, UP! This is between me and Mikey. Fuck off!" I shriek. Gerard looks shocked. His eyes widen in surprise, and he disappears. I'm pretty sure I'm more surprised than he his. Why didn't he beat me up? Was it because Mikey was there?

I shake the thought from my mind, and look at Mikey again. "That bastard has been beating me and hurting me, and HE is the reason why I did that, today! He has ALWAYS been the reason, and you just sat there, knowing perfectly well that he was doing it, and you didn't even think for one second to tell me that he's your BROTHER?" I shout. I'm pretty sure the whole street can hear me, but I don't care.
"I'm sorry..." Mikey whispers.

"'Sorry' isn't good enough!" I scream, and run out the door. Gerard is sitting next to it, a hand on his face where I hit him, listening to my every word. He stands up quickly, and reaches for my arm as I run past.
"Let go of me!" I say harshly, and push him away. He still just looks shocked as he slides back down the wall.

I run from the house, tears streaming down my cheeks.

I arrive at my own home ten minutes later, still in absolute hysterics. I slam the front door behind me, and take the stairs two at a time, up to my room. I sit behind the door, and sob, rocking back and forth with my knees drawn up to my chest. There's a knock at my door. I take a deep breath and wipe my eyes before opening it.
My mom is standing there furiously
"Why were you home so late, you piece of shit?" She screams, pulling me out of my room.
"I had detention..." I say softly.
"That isn't good enough!" She yells, striking me across the face. It hurts ten times more than it normally would, with the bruise that's already there.
"I'm sorry!" I cry, and push her away from me. Before she can react, I've run, down the stairs, and out the door.

I run as fast as I can. If she follows me, I'm done for. I make my way to Ray's house, and knock on the door. He opens it, and sees me. I leapt into his arms, and cry.
"Frank, Frankie, what's wrong?" He says sympathetically, wrapping an arm around me, and leading me to his room. "Mikey!" I manage to choke out. His brow furrows.
"What about Mikey?" He asks softly.

My mouth opens and I'm pouring out everything. The abuse at home, and from Gerard, the cutting, the locker. How Mikey found me, and we went to his house, and the kiss, and Gerard. How my mom hit me, and I came here. Ray sat and listened, rubbing my back the whole time. He listened, like a friend should. When I was done, the tears had stopped, but I was still so broken inside.

"Frankie, you need to talk to Mikey about this. You've gotta find out why he didn't tell you about Gerard, and figure out your feelings toward each other. It'll all be fine, you guys just need to talk." He says soothingly.
"Okay, Ray." I murmur. "Can I stay here for the night? I don't want to go home."

He smiles and says I can. We find me some blankets and a pillow, and I crash on the couch after dinner. My mind is spinning, and it takes hours for me to actually get to sleep.