9th September 1998 - Wednesday
Gerard had bigger things to think of, like Mikey's party, rather than Frank knowing about his family's situation. It wasn't even how Frank knew, well he did want to know that too, but Frank didn't even give him a hard time about it, or leave him for being a loser like Gerard thought he would. In fact he even offered to help pay for it along with everyone else. And as much as Gerard would like to give Frank a hard time in earning his trust back, he could feel himself giving in. Just wanting to hold Frank in his arms, hugging him tightly and telling him how he was an idiot but Gerard would forgive him any day.

He sighed a bit and got up, ruffling his bed hair in an attempt to flatten it out a bit. He still had to figure out how to let everyone know they were headed to his house today without Mikey suspecting, and that was going to be hard considering Mikey had super psychic powers or something.

He was still trying to figure all this out when he realised he had already made his way downstairs and finished breakfast. He shrugged to himself and got the rest of his things ready, walking out of the door a few minutes later, without Mikey because he had once again gone to school earlier. Whatever, it just gave him a chance to figure out what the fuck he was going to do about Mikey's birthday party, and somehow thoughts of Frank had been added into the mix too.

---

Frank had laughed so hard when Gerard had arrived at school, panicking because he had no idea how to let everybody know about the party without Mikey being suspicious. It didn't really help his giggle fit when Gerard had looked at him with a face similar to a lost puppy's, but he eventually calmed down enough to explain how easy it would be.

"Dude," Frank said, letting out one last giggle. "It's easy, you distract Mikey by talking to him about whatever whilst I tell everyone to turn up at your house after school."

"Yeah what about Patrick, Frank? The dude might be a junior but he's always hanging around Mikey."

"Huh, didn't you say that he was meant to hang out with Pete after school?" Gerard nodded at that. "Well before you speak to Mikey just tell Patrck that Pete wanted to talk to him about today."

"Oh, yeah that makes sense. How are you so calm during an emergency?"

Frank laughed out loud. "Gerard it's hardly an emergency."

"Whatever Frank," Gerard scoffed. "Let's just go to class."

Frank giggled at him and he saw that Gerard couldn't hide the smile that formed onto his face.

---

"Okay it's going to be fine." Gerard told himself as the bell rang for lunch. "Mikey won't suspect a thing."

"Dude are you talking to yourself?" Frank asked, eyebrow raised and a mocking expression on his face.

"Err, no?" Gerard replied, feeling as uncertain as he sounded.

Frank huffed out a laugh."C'mon Gee it's going to be totally fine."

Gerard froze, the nickname that he had heard so many times recently, just not by that voice, bringing back a load of memories that just seemed to crash down on him. He smiled a bit, reminding himself that yeah, him and Frank were totally friends again, and that he didn't have to hold those childhood memories back.

"Ok Frankie, whatever you say." And if Gerard hadn't skipped ahead to distract Mikey, he would've totally seen the small, but pleased smile that formed onto Frank's face. Or him looking down and blushing.

"Yo Mikes hold up." Gerard shouted as he saw his brother down the hallway, almost at the caffeteria.

"Hey Gee," His brother greeted. "What's up?"

Gerard decided he'd get Patrick out of the way immediately. "Not much Mikes, oh and Patrick, Pete says he wants to speak to you about going over to his house later on today, he's probably in the cafeteria."

Patrick nodded shyly and made his way towards the caffetria.

"So Mikes," Gerard said and oh fuck, now he had no idea what he would say to his brother. "Um," Then an idea sprung to mind. "Why do you keep coming to school so early dude?"

Mikey looked slightly alarmed. Well as much as he could through his poker face. "I told you, I meet up with a friend of mine because it's the only time I can see them since they're in none of my classes."

Mikey was starting to walk away so Gerard, in a moment of panic decided he might aswell do what he did next.

"Mikey I need to tell you something just, can we go somewhere more in private?"

Mikey raised an eyebrow but nodded. Gerard mimicked his nod, and gestured for Mikey to follow him.

They were in the smoker's alley, because first thing at lunch there weren't any people there, and it was also secluded.

"Mikey I-I'm," He sighed, he couldn't believe he was doing this because of Mikey's birthday party, but hey it was the perfect opportunity, and if he didn't do it he'd just keep putting it off. "I'm gay." He stated simply.

"You think I didn't know?" Mikey said looking disbeliefing, and actually looking like it, not just a hint of it through his poker face.

"Well I, wait what? You knew?" Gerard asked.

"Dude, you'd drool all over Han Solo every time we watch Star Wars." Mike said.

"But-But, he's Harrison Ford." Gerard argued.

"Is this how you expected me to believe your not gay? Because that would've been a really shitty plan." Mikey stated amusedly.

"Whatever." Gerard scoffed. "Let's go to lunch." He figured Frank should be done by now.

"Hey," Mikey stopped him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You know I don't care if you're gay or not right? You're still my big brother and I still love you the same."

Gerard smiled and nodded a bit. It wasn't that he was scared that Mikey wouldn't accept him, he just had no idea how to tell him. Thank motherfucking Frank for helping him with that.

As he made his way into the caffeteria, he caught Frank's eye, who nodded at him. The plan was on.

---

"So," Bob started. "We all pitch in ten dollars give him a birthday present and that's it?"

"Well no dufus." Frank replied. "Well I mean yes but you also have to brainstorm ideas for decorations and stuff."

"And stuff." Bob mimicked. "But I don't even know him that well. Help me out here Gerard."

"Well that is a fair point." Gerard said. "The two people who know him best in this room are me and Patrick, and even Patrick doesn't know him that well."

Patrck nodded in agreement.

"Well you could just tell us what he likes." Pete suggested with a shrug

"Uh like comic books, not as much as I do but yeah. Lord of The Rings, Star Wars, for some reason unicorns. He likes straightening his hair I guess."

"That makes two of us my friend." Pete said in response to the last statement.

Bob chuckled. "Hey we could get him the extended version of Star Wars boxset."

Gerard's eyes lit up. "Yeah I mean that would be great, Mikey's wanted that forever but we dont have enough money for it."

"This is as much as a present for you as it is for him isn't fucker?" Frank said playfully.
Gerard just blushed.

"Are you sure we can't get him a dildo at least as a joke?" Gabe asked.

"No, shut the fuck up Gabe we are so done with this conversation." Andy replied as Ryan, Brendon, Pete and Frank were giggling furiously, Bob rolling his eyes, and Gerard scrunching up his face in disgust.

"Ok can we get him unicorn decorations?" Pete asked, managing to keep a straight face.

"What the fuck is up with you people." He heard Bob mumble.

"Yeah that would be pretty hillarious." Gerard replied.

"Ok so that's settled." Frank said. "We all pitch in ten dollars for the pizzas and decorations, ten dollars for the present, and tomorrow we're all skipping the two last periods for shopping and decorating, and we're skipping Friday because not one of us will be able to get up, I can assure you."

"I don't know about skipping guys." Patrick said.

"Oh c'mon dude." Pete said. "It's for your best friend, it's gonna be totally worth it."

"Fine okay, Jesus Christ you guys."

"If you make me buy the unicorn decorations I swear to you guys I will kill every last one of you." Bob grumbled.

"No worries." Brendon said. "Me and Ryan can buy the decorations whilst you guys go buy him his present."

"Ooh, can I go with you?" Pete asked.

Bob rolled his eyes whilst Gabe, Andy, Frank and Gerard laughed.

"Sure," Brendon replied. "As long as you don't plan on stealing my man whilst I'm picking out the stuff."

"Don't worry," Pete replied. "It's not him I'm after."

"Okay this has gotten way out of hand." Bob said.

"How is this way out of hand I thought the whole reason we came here was for an orgy." Gabe replied.

"Ok, seriously. Way out of hand." Bob repeated. "Look so tomorrow we bring twenty dollars each and we meet at the main entrance two periods before school's out right?"

"Yeah sure." Frank replied.

"Ok then, I'm leaving. See you tomorrow guys." Bob said.

Everyone said their goodbyes to Bob.

"So," Gabe started. "Can we still have that orgy?"

"Shut the fuck up Gabe." Everyone replied in unison.

Notes

I REALLY LIKE WRITING GABE AS A SEX MANIAC OK IT'S ENTERTAINING AND PROBABLY ACCURATE