“Whoa, hold up, you telling me that Superman is better than Batman?” I laughed as we walked towards the English block.
“Totally, the colours are so much better and he’s just awesome!” Mikey chuckled as we slid into our seats on opposite sides of the classroom. I stuck my tongue out at him before loosening my tie.
“Right, todays lesson is finishing the projects you began last week. You can used this room or the library, but be warned, I will be keeping an eye on you all.” Ms Tomas said as me and Mikey stumbled to our feet and ran towards the door.

“We need more mufti days.” I said as my blazer pocket got caught on the door handle.
“Just because none of the blazers are short enough for you.” Mikey sniggered.
“Shut the fuck up.” I chuckled as I dropped into a chair at our normal table.
“How far have you got on the mixtape?” Mikey asked as he pulled out his exercise book and a pen.
“I got a couple songs sorted. I’m gonna finish it when I get home. You got your brothers address for me?”
“I’ll Facebook it to ya later. I can’t remember off the top of my head.”
“Boys!” Hissed the librarian as she walked past our table.
“I can’t wait till lunch.” I whimpered as my stomach rumbled, Mikey fighting to hold in his laughter as I imitated a dying whale.

---

My mum was sat at the dinner table when I walked in, her head in her hands. “Mum?” I asked as I slid my school bag to the floor. “Mum, what’s wrong?”
“The doctors called. They said you need more tests. Apparently they still have no idea what’s wrong.”
“It’s fine mum, it doesn’t matter. I’ll go for the tests, there’s no need to worry.”
“But there is Frankie, it’s been far too long since you had your first tests. You’re just not getting better and I can’t cope much longer.” My mum whispered as she gazed at me.
“Mum, I can cope with the tests. I’ll have as many as it takes to work out what’s wrong. I don’t care how long it takes, trust me.”
“What if its…” She began, her voice shaking, tears leaking out of the corner of her eyes.
“If it is cancer, we can deal with it mum. I promise.” I interrupted, throwing my arms around her shoulders as she cried.

“It’s can’t be cancer Frankie, I can’t lose you like that.” Mum sobbed into my shoulders.
“I promise you won’t lose me mum, not now, not ever.” I muttered, releasing my grip on her shoulders and taking a step back. “I’ve got school work to do, I’ll be back down soon mum.”
“Okay, I’ll call you for dinner.” She sniffed. I nodded and turned from the room, hesitating before spinning around and facing her again.
“How much does a flight to Germany cost?” I blurted before I thought.
“Uh, it depends, why?” She quizzed.
“Me and Mikey were thinking of taking a holiday at halloween.” I replied.
“I can have a look, but I’m not promising anything.” She smiled.
“Thanks.” I grinned before running up the stairs.

My phone buzzed against my thigh, a small scream leaving my lips as I fought to get it out of my skinnies. “Frank, oh my god you have got to hear this!” Mikey squealed as soon as I picked up.
“What have I got to hear?” I sighed.
“Someone has a crush on you!” He almost yelled in excitement.
“Oh.” I replied as I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling.
“You don’t sound bothered.” Mikey muttered.
“Not really. It’s probably a chick and that would just suck dick even more than I do.” I chuckled as I rolled onto my side, groaning as I my chest tightened. “Look, Mikes, I gotta go, my chest’s really hurting and I’ve gotta post that mixtape, I’ll chat later?”
“Sure.” Mikey agreed. “Don’t wear yourself out okay?”
“Kay.” I muttered before I hung up and tried to stretch out, groaning at the pain in my side.

Once I was sure it was gone, I climbed to my feet and shrugged into my jacket, my left hand reaching for the envelope, my right reaching for my keys. Mum looked at me as I opened the front door, her eyebrow raised at the envelope in my hand. “The mixtape.” I explained before I left the house, tugging the door closed behind me.

My feet led me quickly down the street to the post box, the bright red standing out against the darkening sky. I slid the envelope into the hole and waited for the thud to say it had landed before turning to walk away, stabbing pains piercing my lungs.

I took a deep breath and sat on the kerb, my head resting on my knees as I grabbed out my phone, dialling the first number I came to. “Frank? Thought you were going out?” Mikey’s voice rang out.
“Am. Out.” I panted.
“What’s wrong? Where are you Frank?”
“Post. Box. Down…” I gasped. “Down. Cherry...Tree. Avenue.” I wheezed out, gritting my teeth together.
“I’m on my way, try to stay calm Frank.” Mikey squeaked as he grabbed his keys, the distinct rattling reaching my ears through the phone.
“Hurts.” I groaned as I tried to even my breathing.
“It’s okay Frankie, stay calm, I’m on my way, I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.” Mikey soothed. “Now, I have to hang up, but only so I can get there quicker. Promise me you’ll be okay?”
“Can’t.” I dropped my phone onto the tarmac and curled up in a ball, my hand searching my pockets for my inhaler.

“Frankie, look at me.” Called Mikey, his voice so distant, even though he was knelt next to me. I rolled my eyes to face him, my body numb from both the pain and the cold. “Come on, we have to get you home.” He muttered more to himself than anyone else.

---

I groaned as I opened my eyes, bright lights shooting into my brain. “Urghhh.” I moaned, catching Mikey’s attention.
“You’re awake!” He sighed, relief flooding his voice.
“Hurts.” I muttered, my mouth dry.
“I know Frank, you’ll have to lay still. I’ll go get the doctor.”
“Doctor?” I asked, trying to sit upright.
“Yeah, you wouldn’t breathe, we had to bring you to the hospital.” Mikey explained, reaching for my hand when I started to cry. “It’s okay, they’re gonna let you go soon, I can feel it.”
“Get me out of here.” I whispered, my chest clenching as I sucked in a deep breath.
“I can’t, not yet.” Mikey muttered, his hand squeezing mine softly. “Sorry.” He sighed as I closed my eyes, wincing against the pain in my chest.

---

“Thank fuck.” I muttered as Mikey helped me out of the car and towards my house, waiting for my mum to open the door.
“Frank, I have to go.” He sighed.
“Please don’t, mum’ll let you stay.” I whispered as I looked at her, pleading silently.
“If it’s okay with you Mrs Iero.” Mikey said.
“Of course it is Mikey. You’re always welcome here.” My mum smiled as she ushered us inside. “I’m going to order some pizza for dinner, you go ahead and play your games or watch tv or something, I’ll call you when it’s here.”
“Thanks.” Me and Mikey both said at the same time.

“You mind if I skype Gerard quick?” Mikey asked as I lay down on my bed, toeing my shoes off.
“Go ahead.” I said, my throat still scratchy.

I lay back on my bed, my legs tucked up to my chest, my eyes closed as I focused on my breathing, in and out, slow and deep. Mikey was talking in the background, his voice too distant for me to focus on, the replies even further away.

A cough burst forwards from my lungs, Mikey’s head whipping around to focus on me as I tried to catch my breath, Gerard asking if I was okay. “I’m fine.” I wheezed as I curled up even smaller, my chin pressed against my chest. My eyes got heavier and heavier and my breathing slower and slower, fighting a losing battle against sleep.

---

“Hi Doctor Fieldman.” I sighed as I dropped into the chair.
“Hello Frank. Hows the chest doing?” He asked as he opened my file.
“Sore. Hurts when I breathe, just the normal shit to be honest.” I replied.
“Have you stopped smoking?”
“Well, I haven’t had one since the other day if that’s what you mean, but I’m too busy in hospital because I can’t fucking breathe to worry about smoking a fucking cigarette.” I ranted.
“Calm down Frank, getting angry isn’t going to help your situation.” Dr Fieldman reprimanded.
“No, but it might help you fucking doctors get to the bottom of what’s wrong!” I yelled as I climbed to my feet, my hand shooting to my side.
“Are you alright?” The doctor asked, his eyes filled with worry.

I shook my head from side to side, biting my tongue as something in my side popped. “Frank, sit down and breathe deeply, I’m going to call for some more help, okay?” I nodded, hunching over in the chair as I fought to catch my breath.

“Mum.” I sobbed as she walked in the door, panic on her face.
“Frank, it’s okay. They want to take you back to the hospital. Doctor Fieldman can push up the tests, he can get them done this afternoon.” Mum explained as she knelt down in front of me.
“I want to go to Germany.” I whispered through gritted teeth.
“Why honey?” She asked.
“Me and Mikey want a holiday, just the two of us, away from everyone else.” I explained.
“Do you like like him?” My mum asked.

I shook my head. “Just good friends.” I groaned, my head darting up as a paramedic walked into the room.
“Frank Iero?” He asked.
“Yeah?” I groaned.
“Can you walk?” I sighed before shaking my head. “Okay, I have a wheelchair here, we’re gonna take you up to the hospital okay?”
“Yeah.”

---

I lay on the cold table, the hospital gown not keeping me very warm as I waited for the doctors to come back so they could start the MRI scan. Mum had disappeared with them, worry etched in her face as the explained something, technological terms preventing me from understanding.

Boredom started to take over, my heart beat growing lazy as I stared at the ceiling tiles, counting the cracked polystyrene to keep myself awake. It worked a treat, my eyes growing heavy, the thudding of the door against the wall startling me, my arms flailing around in the air as I sat bolt upright.

“What the hell?” I snapped as Mikey barged into the room.
“They don’t need to do it!” He squealed as he tried to catch his breathe.
“Do what?”
“The test, you can go home, apparently they have an idea, so they’re going to use the blood they took when you were asleep to see if they were right.” He explained.
“Fine, hand me my trousers.” I muttered as I hung my legs over the end of the table.

---

Mikey dropped onto my bed, his eyes wide as I lit a cigarette, hanging out my window to blow the smoke away. “You’re really gonna smoke after all that?” He asked.
“Yes. I’m stressed and I want a fag, feel free to take it off me.” I replied angrily as I glared at him.
“It’s cool, smoke it.” He backtracked, knowing I would bite his hand if he tried to take my cigarette away.

I fiddled with my buckle, dropping my jeans and pulling on my pajama bottoms while Mikey was in the bathroom, his hair messed up when he came back in. “You sleeping in my bed again?” I asked, one eyebrow raised, chuckling softly when Mikey’s face went red.
“We can’t Frank!” Mikey sighed.
“What? You don’t want some fun?” I laughed as I tugged my shirt over my head, wincing as my fingers grazed my ribs.
“That was one time!” He protested.
“Yup, and I don’t even wanna know what you were dreaming about.” I snickered.
“I didn’t mean to!”
“Didn’t mean to what? Give me a hand job or give me a hickey?”
“Either of them.” He whispered, his cheeks red.

“Hey!” He yelled as he realised what I was saying. “You could have stopped me!”
“Yeah, but I was horny and too lazy to sort it myself, plus you weren’t that bad for a straight guy.” I laughed.
“I could uh…” Mikey went silent, his cheeks red.
“You could what Mikey? Spit it out.” I chuckled as I climbed under the covers, pulling him down with me. “Stay that side, and keep your hands to yourself.” I ordered as I curled up on my side.
“Can I hug you?” He asked.
“Why?”
“We always used to do it, I miss it.”
“Sure.” I sighed as I closed my eyes, taking a deep breathe as I prepared to sleep.

Notes

Heya Guys!!!

I am back from Spain!!

Sorry this one is short, but I have school tomorrow and uh, can I ask a favour...... can someone like, volunteer to talk to me, I need to get something off my chest....

~Toxic Rebel~