Fake Your Death

I sit on the couch and stare intently at my cell phone that I’ve placed on the table. Today was the day my Geebear is supposed to come home. I’m incredibly anxious to see him, all of us are. We were supposed to leave for tour in a few weeks and there was still work to be done. I get tired of waiting and start pacing the room. He’ll be home soon. He’ll call. I check my watch. Only eleven o’clock. It’s a long drive, and there’s almost no cell reception out there. Stop worrying Frank! I slow my quick breathing and stop pacing to compose myself. I feel at peace, in the silence of the room, but almost dive onto the table when my phone finally rings. I fumble with it in my shaking hands as I attempt to answer it.

“Hello?” I answer with.

“Hey Frank.” Mikey’s voice comes through the phone, disappointing me. “I wanted to take all the guys out tonight for Gerard. Interested?”

“Absolutely. So, are you with him now?” I ask, twirling a strand of my hair around my index finger.

“I was expecting that.” He chuckles. “I’m going to pick him up now. I’ll have him call you though.” I hear him jingle his keys, and close the car door. I refrain from groaning.

“Sounds good. Bye Mikes.” I finish before hanging up. I drop my phone onto the couch and slump down next to it. I’m exhausted from not being able to sleep the night before. I hadn’t been sleeping well since Gerard left. Before, we would hang out a lot, so we’d end up spending the night together. Those were the nights that both of us slept like newborn babies. Without him, my dreams were haunted with wretched nightmares, scaring me enough to not even want to sleep. I stare at the ceiling and study the small, faint stain on the white paint. My body starts to relax as my mind wanders off and my eyes droop shut.

When I reopen them, it’s because I fall off the couch and smack my head on the floor. I push myself off the carpet and rub the sleep from my eyes. How long had I been asleep? I pick up my phone which is also on the floor and find the time is 4:07. I slowly stand up and shove my phone into my back pocket as I stride into the kitchen for coffee. I sit and watch it flow from the machine until the steady stream turns to a trickle and pour myself a cup. I take a long, slow sip and sit down at the table. I reluctantly, tiredly stand up and walk to the bathroom the relieve myself. I’m only unzipping my pants when my phone rings from my back pocket.

“Hello?” I answer sleepily. I hold the phone between my cheek and shoulder to continue what I was doing.

“Hi Frankie,” Gerard’s soothing voice replies. “What’s up?”

“Taking a piss. You?” I laugh back.

“Yup, that’s my Frankie. I just got out of the shower. So Mikey told me he had a surprise for me tonight. Would you happen to know anything about it?” He asks mischievously.

“I do and I’m not telling you.” I tease. “You’ll find out later. So how have you been?” He’s silent.

“Okay I guess. I’m happy to be back home. By the way, would you want to do something tomorrow night? Like watch a ton of movies like we used to?”

“I’d like that. I miss hanging out together.”

“Alright, then I’ll see you tonight. Bye Frankie.”

“Bye Gee.” I hang up the phone and shove it back into my pocket. I slurp down the rest of my coffee and take a shower. I want to look good for tonight, to show Gerard I care about him. I really care about him. I scrub the dirt from my skin and long hair and step out a few moments later. I flipped through everything in my dresser and closet with a towel wrapped around my waist. I wanted to look good, but not like I spent hours getting ready. God, I feel like a girl getting ready for a date.

I finally settle on a plain black button down shirt and a pair of ripped jeans, with my dog tags hanging over the top. Just looking at the tags made me smile, knowing that Gerard wore the same ones. I hadn’t taken mine off except to shower. I roll my sleeves up to my elbows and snatch my keys off the countertop on my way out the door. I drive to the restaurant Mikey had told me to meet them at and happened to arrive the same time as Ray.

“Hey Fro,” I call as I step out of my car. He waves in reply and waits by the door for me to join him.

“Table for four under Michael Way?” Ray asks at the podium where the host had a smile plastered across his face. He picks up a stack of menus and leads us a circular table in the back of the dimly lit restaurant. He lights the few candles on the table and leaves. Ray and I make small talk for a few minutes before we hear Mikey’s voice.
“There they are!” He says, pointing at us. Gerard is trailing behind him. He’s wearing something similar to me, but he had his sleeves pulled down. They each take their seats, Gerard taking the seat on my right.

“It’s so good to see you guys again!” He says. He’s timid and closed, not his usual self, but I can tell he was trying to act like himself. We all agree before the waitress comes to take our order. We talk and laugh and eat for a while, just like old times, like no one went anywhere.

“I’ll be right back. I need to pee.” Gerard stands and turns toward the restroom. A minute passes before I stand and head in the same direction. When I enter the bathroom, Gerard is drying his hands. His back is turned to me, but I catch something on his arm. I don’t see much before he spins around on his heel and jumps when he sees me.

“Do you have something on your arm?” I ask abruptly, taking a step toward him.

“No, there’s nothing on my arm. What do you mean?” He stammers, tugging at the hem of the sleeves. His face floods with panic.

“Okay, I was just wondering.” I step aside to let him exit, and he does. I know he’s hiding something, but I guess I just won’t know what it is until tomorrow.

Notes