*Two Weeks Later*
Mikey’s POV:

It had been two weeks since my confrontation with Charles, and honestly I did feel better. I would still have nightmares but I was able to tell Detective Johnson some more details about Hannah, the most important detail being the name of the man that who might have her, James. Detective Johnson came to ask me questions every day that first week, he asked me the same questions over and over again, and I tried to answer them to the best of my ability. Finally he was satisfied with my answers and said that if he needed anything else he’d give the institution a call.

Frank and I were currently playing chess and Frank was winning, like always. “I give up! I don’t even know why I play with you anymore.”

Frank smiled, “Well I need someone to move the other pieces; it gets tedious to do it myself.”

I shook my head, “Oh I know, I’m glad I could be of service.”

Frank cleared his throat and asked, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something?”

I moved my chess piece and looked up at him, “And what would that be?”

“When we went and saw Charles, you let Gerard touch you, and then you held my hand and you hugged me. It’s great progress Mikey, but I have to ask, why the sudden change?” Frank moved his queen so that it took my bishop.

I took a deep breath, “Well, as for Gerard, I knew I was breaking him. He wanted to comfort me, so I let him. I was freaking out but I need to start trusting people again, and I know Gerard would never do anything to hurt me. As for you,” I moved my knight to overtake his pawn, “Well you make me feel…Safe. Every time I’m around you things don’t seem so bad.” I felt heat rise in my cheeks, I’ve never told anyone that, let alone someone I barely knew personally. Frank hardly ever talked about himself, hell I didn’t even know if he had any siblings.

I waited for Frank to respond but he just stared at the board. I suddenly felt embarrassed, I got up out of my seat and walked off, I heard Frank call my name but I didn’t turn around. I heard him run up to me and he called my name again, “Mikey! Mikey, I’m sorry…I should’ve handled that differently.”

I shook my head, not believing that I had said, “I get it Frank. You’re just here as an intern. This place is a stepping stone so you. I’m sorry if I complicated things.”

Frank sped up so that he could get in front of me, I stopped and Frank ran his hand through his hair nervously, “You’re a great person Mikey, you’re more than great.” He paused, biting his lip, “Fuck…I’m not good at this…I-I care for you a lot. I want to always make you feel safe and I feel that my feelings towards you have surpassed what I’m supposed to feel. I just can’t help it, I knew you were someone special the first time I saw you.”

Now it was my turn to be speechless. Frank anxiously scratched the back of his neck,
waiting for me to say something. “N-nobody has ever said something like that to me before.” I stated I didn’t know what to say.

I saw a blush creep its way onto Frank’s cheeks, “Well it’s all true Mikey. I’m terrified that when my internship is over that I won’t be able to see you anymore. A-and I don’t want that to happen.”

“I don’t want that to happen either, you are helping me get better Frank, now that you’re in my life I never want you to leave.” I admitted, before I had met Frank I never thought that I would find someone who I want to spend time with, someone who I care for a lot.

Frank smiled, “Well I guess we’ll just have to figure something out. I won’t leave you okay?”

I laughed, “Okay.”

Later that night I laid in bed thinking about what Frank and I had said. I knew one thing for sure, I was falling in love with Frank Iero and it terrified me. How was someone like him going to love someone like me? He was smart, good-looking, and kind. I didn’t even finish high school, and I’m broken; Charles made sure of that.

“No wonder you never dated anyone.” Charles sneered at me, landing another kick to my side. “You’re an ugly, good for nothing, nobody.” He kneeled down in front of me grabbing my chin in between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to look at him. “I’ve saved society by keeping you down here; you can’t screw up anybody else’s life. It’s your fault your mom left me, she wanted you gone, and she knew that you’d never amount to anything. You can’t do anything right.” He let go of my chin and slapped me hard, I felt my lip split open.

“I-I’m sorry.” I whispered.

Charles was right. I can’t do anything right, isn’t that why I am here? I couldn’t even live right. Gerard didn’t even want me living with him anymore, mom never even offered for me to live with her, maybe this is where I belong. Maybe I was meant to be alone, maybe I wasn’t ever meant to find love.

Notes

Two chapters in one day! Thanks so much for the comments!! The story is about to get exciting...things are definitely about to change for Mikey and Frank!