Out There

*GERARD*

I got home around six in the evening after work, I couldn’t bring myself to come home to Mikey and Aeida. I knew I had to apologise to her for acting so childish- but my opinion remained unchanged. I didn’t want her and Mikey being as close at they were. I knew it was selfish but I couldn’t change what I felt. When I walked into the lounge, I expected to see Aeida and Mikey watching a movie or talking- but no. There was no Aeida, and there was no Mikey.

I walked up to Mikey’s room and gently knocked on the door. I heard a grunt of acknowledgement as I barged the door open. I wasn’t completely thinking at that moment, I just needed to see Aeida. I needed to be the adult in this situation, because I was the adult in this situation.

I looked around the room and located Mikey lying on his bed, staring at his phone but no sign of Aeida. “Hey.” I mumbled to my brother. He tore his eyes away from his phone for just a second.

“Hey.” he replied. He stared at me expectantly for a moment before turning back to his phone.

“Dinner for three tonight?” I asked trying to be subtle about my anxious voice.

“Aeida hasn’t come back yet. She was going to pick her shit up from her mums and then get a ride back from Frank but she hasn’t… she hasn’t even called or texted to tell me she’s okay.” He sighed. So that’s why he was staring at his phone like that.

“She was getting a ride back from Frank?” I repeated. Why hadn’t she told me that when we talked? If I wasn’t anxious before, I was now. Was she with Frank? Had her mum gone crazy? Guilt suddenly plagued me. I definitely should have gone with her.

“Yeah.” he muttered. Dropping his phone onto his chest and staring that the ceiling. “Have you tried calling her?” I asked cautiously. Mikey stayed silent as the answer processed in my head.

“Did you guys have a falling out?” I sighed, making my way over to him and sitting on the edge of his bed. He rolled over onto his side and groaned. “She’s totally ditching me for Frank. I can feel it.” I knew the feeling.

“Don’t you think you’re over reacting a bit?” I teased, gently pushing his arm. I could sense we still had tension and I was pushing it- but we were alright. “Piss off, the least she could do is call me.” he whined.

“You’re not her boyfriend.” I stated. He was getting over-protective and that began to annoy me. I didn’t like her hanging out with Frank either, but I did have some trust in her.

Mikey looked over at me with a malicious glare, and his phone lit up. From my point of view, I could make out the called ID as Aeida. Mikey instantly picked up the phone and pressed it to his ear.

“Hey.” He spoke exasperatedly. “Oh. That’s good, I guess… did you see Frank?...Alright… Yeah I was worried because I hadn’t heard from you...Okay, tell your mother I said hi.” he spoke softly, staring intently and the floor. He then hung up.

“She’s staying with her mum.” he sighed as he layed back down on his bed. I knew that was a lie. I felt it in my gut and I knew things between Aeida and her mother weren’t good, Aeida wasn’t stupid enough to just stay there. Which meant she was with Frank. I bit my lip as I nodded and headed for the door.

What if she wasn’t lying and she was in danger with her mother? What if she was lying and Frank had forced her to not come here? Oh God, what if she told Frank about our ‘experiences’ together? All these thoughts struck panic within me and I started biting my nails. It was a nervous habit- but hey it was better than going back to drugs, right?

In sat down on my bed, deep in thought when I felt my phone vibrate against my leg. My chest jolted as I reached to check it. It was just a text. So Mikey got a call and I got a text?

‘not coming home tonight. im okay dont worry, ill see you tomorrow.’ It read. I shook my head and decided to call her, just to make sure she was okay. But mainly to see if she was with Frank. She hadn’t specified if she was actually staying with her mum to me- which made me suspicious. After a couple of rings, she picked up.

“Hello?” she answered softly down the reciever.
“Hey, it’s Gerard.” I spoke awkwardly. I shook my head at myself- of course she knew it was me. She had texted me.
“Yeah, is everything okay?” she sounded worried, like I wouldn’t call her if it weren’t an emergency.
“Yeah. Mikey said you were staying with your mother.” I stated, not particularly asking.
“Did he?” she prompted, her voice rising a little.
“Mhm. Is everything okay with you?” I asked.
“Yes.” she mumbled.
“Are you really with your mother?” I questioned, trying to disguised my panicked voice with a calm and apathetic tone.
“Uh, no. Frank offered me to stay at his and… I didn’t think Mikey would be okay with it so I… he doesn’t know about things with my mum so I…” she stuttered.
“So you lied to him? Okay, I see and understand he’s overprotective of you but did you ever consider why? Maybe he’s right. Maybe you should stay away from Frank.” I growled.
“Sorry that I felt bad for taking advantage of staying with you guys so much.” she shot back.

I exhaled and tried to regain my composure to try and have a proper conversation with Aeida without something extreme and dramatic happening. “You know we don’t mind. We like having you here. I would have thought you knew that since I keep kissing you and Mikey’s got a schoolboy crush.” I laughed lightly, trying to lift the mood.

Aeida chuckled a bit and I heard a cough from her end. I assumed that was Frank. “Did you get everything you needed?” I asked.

“Yeah, I think so. Just clothes and school stuff.” she sighed.

“Oh, cool. Well- we can still buy you more stuff as you need it.” I added. “So you’re alright?”

She hesitated before she answered, which made me nervous- like everything else she did. “Yeah. My mum came home and saw me, but nothing happened. Frank got there in time, god bless…” she spoke. It upset me that I wasn’t the one to be there ‘right on time’- I felt like I should be.

“She saw you?” I repeated. “Yeah, she just yelled at me and stuff. Nothing bad.” she chuckled. “Look, I gotta go- Frank’s mother is making dinner. I’ll call you later tonight and we can talk.” she added.

“Alright, goodnight. I...yeah, uh- have fun.” I sulked.

“Goodnight.” she spoke, with an amused twist to her voice. The line then went dead.

***

*AEIDA*
Frank’s mother was unbelievably nice. She didn’t even ask why I was over- she just accepted it. I walked into the house and she greeted me with a hug, and asked if I was staying for dinner. Frank had already told her my name, and apparently how good I was in school. She teased Frank about having me around more often so I would ‘rub off’ on him which caused Ray- a friend of the family, and Frank to chuckle a bit. Perverts.

Ray was nice too, he was really into music. He told me that’s how Frank and he had met, because there was a pretty big age gap there. I nearly told him if anyone knew anything about age gaps- it was me because of Gerard.

After dinner we were hanging around in Frank’s room. I was doing homework- and I guess Frank was watching me. What was it with boys and watching girls do homework? At least Frank didn’t bother me about it.

“So what are you planning on doing after school?” Frank mused.
“I want to be a writer, an author. Or a marine biologist. I don’t know.” I replied, propping myself up on one elbow as I was sprawled out across his cigarette stained floor. “What do you want to do?”

“Ray and I talk about starting a band and becoming like… world famous.” he chuckled, tousling his hair with his hand. “But I’ll probably just end up in some nine to five job.”

I shook my head at him. “Why don’t you do music then? We could’ve had one class in common.”

“I do. I’m in another class.” he explained. “In all honesty I don’t even go to school much. I don’t like it and I don’t see the point.” he muttered, picking at the dust balls on the carpet.

“You and I have two very different perspectives.” I noted, scribbling down an answer for biology homework.

“I think you and I have two very different worlds.” he retorted, winking. He sat up and put his hands in his lap. “See you’re probably going to go on and be some world-renowned author, right? While I’m gonna be out of work and living with my mother for the rest of my life.”

“First of all, Frank.” I poked my lip with the end of my pen. “You’re mother is awesome. Second, I’m definitely going to be ‘world-renowned’ and you’re going to be amazing.”


***

After I finished my homework and assignments, I helped Frank with his then we started having a pretty deep conversation.

“But like… if Batman versed Superman, it’s obvious Superman would win. He’s superhuman, Batman is just like… super rich.” Frank spoke, staring at the ceiling laying on his bed.

“I know right. I like Batman a lot, he’s totally awesome. I don’t like Superman though, he’s totally unrealistic and overrated.” I spoke as I was propped up against his bed, staring at the posters of half-naked women on his wall.

“He’s like a big dumb super baby.” Frank added, waving his hand around. I chuckled at that and nodded.

“Who’s a big dumb super baby?” Ray chimed in as he stuck his head through the gap between the door and the door frame.

“You.” Frank laughed as he chucked a pillow at Ray.

“Isn’t that something…” Ray shook his head- including his afro as he ducked out of the doorway again.

I definitely liked hanging out with these guys.


**GERARD**

It was getting very late and Aeida hadn’t called. I tried not to be upset but I knew that she had gotten distracted by the younger-and-more-energetic-than-me Frank to remember to call. It got me down, and I tried to fight the urge of going out and buying a case of beer and opening up another pack of cigarettes.


Even though I didn’t want to talk ‘relationship’ things with Aeida yet, I still wanted to talk to her. I needed to know she wasn’t out kissing Frank and bullshit like that.


I groaned at the thought of her being with anyone else. I wasn’t usually the jealous type, but then again I haven’t had that many people to be jealous of recently.


I stared at my phone for a few seconds before I decided to impulsively call her. It nearly went to voice mail before she picked up, and she sounded exhausted.


“Gerard?” she asked, her voice breathy.
“Hey. You said you’d call but it’s nearly 1AM and you didn’t.” I stated grumpily.
“Yeah, it’s nearly 1AM and we both have school tomorrow.” she whispered.
“That’s why coffee was invented. Anyway I think we need to talk.” I said into the reciever.
“At 1AM? Christ.” she sighed. “What is it?”
“Did you have a nice night?” I asked cautiously, trying not to sound accusing.
“Yeah, it was good. Is that all?” she yawned.
“No. What did you guys do?”
“Is this all you’re calling for, Gerard? To be an overprotective father?”
“I was thinking more of an overprotective part time boyfriend, part time English teacher.” I chuckled darkly.
“We talked and hung out and all that friend-jazz.” I could hear her smile as she spoke. “And boyfriend?” She asked.


“Well, I guess that’s what I called to talk about.” I stated.
“You called me up at 1AM to talk relationships.” she sighed. I didn’t reply in hopes she’d take that as a ‘yes.’ “Well, I don’t know what’s going on between us either.” she added.


“Well, I’d like to make some agreement or something where… how do I say this…” I trailed off, racking my brain for the right words. I felt like a lousy English teacher right then.


“You want me to stay away from Frank and Mikey.” she finished my sentence for me. She had read my mind. I just didn’t want to say it like that.


“No, just not- like. Kissing or hooking up with them.” I paused. “I want you to know that you’re mine.”


I know that was possessive- but it was the only way I could phrase it. ‘I want you to be mine.’ was too much like asking her to be my girlfriend, and I didn’t want that. Technical terms never really would work out- especially with her being my student. I liked things better unlabelled anyway. If that even makes sense.


“Is there some possessive kink I should know about or…” she asked. Only she could make me blush like I did. My face was burning. “I’m going to take your silence as a yes.” she added.


“Glad to know you’re okay with it.” I smiled.


“I’m not going to stop being friends with Mikey. I’ve known him way longer than I’ve known you, so that’d be completely unfair. Bros before hoes, y’know.” she chuckled.


“Well seeing as Mikey is my brother I guess that makes you the hoe.” I snapped cheekily.


“Excuse me princess. I’m not the one who randomly kisses people.” she laughed. “Seriously though, I’m going to keep hanging out with Frank and being friends with Mikey. If you have a problem with me having friends then…” she trailed off.


“I’m fine with you having friends obviously. But really, do they all have to be boys?” I groaned.


“No, I have Jessica.” she shot back.


“Fine, okay. I’m not going to control your life but you get why I’m worried. You met Frank literally one day ago and you’re sleeping at his house. You can understand, right?” I asked anxiously.


She sighed loudly before actually replying. “Yeah I get it.” Was all she said.


“I’ll let you go to sleep now, if you’re tired.” I offered. I still wanted to talk to her though- but she was right. We both had to be up early.


“Okay. Goodnight, Gerard.” she yawned.
“Goodnight.” I said as I hung up the phone.

Notes