6th September 1999 – Monday
Here Frank was, roughly one year after he and Gerard had become friends again. This would be their last first day at high school, and he couldn't be happier, things were going great.

Well, sort of. He had his best friend back, new friends, old friends, it was his last year at high school, and even Pete and Patrick were now together. The thing that wasn't so great, was how he had fallen in love with Gerard Way.

He really had no idea what about it was so bad. Gerard was the perfect person to love. Dorky, intelligent, sweet, shy, cute and all around lovable. That was probably the problem, he figured. Gerard was the perfect person to love, who would never love him back because Frank wasn't the perfect person to love. Gerard was unreachable, it was a miracle he had accepted Frank back into his life in that fateful night in the basement last year. Frank didn't expect any more from him, much less falling in love with Frank, who had broken his heart into a thousand pieces and then asked for it back.

Frank didn't have the slightest clue when he had fallen for Gerard, and really fallen. Not the stupid crush he had for him when they became friends again and Frank had realized Gerard had become totally hot. Like real love. He supposes it can't have been much after that though. He figures he first realized it when he and Gabe had been at a party and Gabe had pointed out a girl to him and told him she was totally hot.

“Yo Frankie my man, what's up?” Gabe asked him.

“Dude you are way too stoned and way too drunk, also not much. The party's slowing down so I'm probably gonna head home soon.” Frank replied with a shrug.

“Without even pulling? Dude before you go you should totally do that chick over there. The one with the black dress? She's totally hot.” Gabe said, whistling a bit after when she had pulled a pretty feisty move on the makeshift dance floor.

“Nah don't really feel like it, probably gonna go home and watch some movies with Gerard, this party kind of blows anyways.” Frank had replied.

“What is up with you these days Frankie? You barely come around to parties and when you do you try to get out of here them as soon as possible, and not in the good way if you know what I mean.”

And then it hit Frank, he hadn't pulled in forever because he didn't want to, he just wanted to go home and be with Gerard. He was head over heels for him.

His cute pixie nose that Frank wanted to kiss all the time, how he would talk out of the right side of his mouth. His black shabby hair that he never brushed and just barely washed, yet Frank thought was perfect anyways. The little pudge that he had, and how his skin was so perfectly pale, like a fresh canvas, that contrasted beautifully against his hair. His hazel eyes that were so full of life and emotion, whenever Frank would look into them he felt as if he were being sucked in, made of nothing but emotions. His long lashes that were slightly curled, and dark, that with the eyeliner made his eyes seem like an artwork in itself.

He loved all his dorky ways and how they were totally cute, or when he would drool all over Han Solo watching Star Wars and Frank would feel a tiny flicker of hope, when he thought he was being discrete in hiding something but made it even more obvious. When Frank thought about it even further, he could also add the cute noises Gerard made in his sleep, or how he always let Frank shuffle close and steal his warmth whenever they slept over at one or the other's house.

When he thought about it, all he could compare Gerard to was piece of art. And imperfect perfection.Yeah, he was totally in love with Gerard Way.

Frank stifled a sigh at all of this because he was right next to Gerard, and if Gee heard him sigh he would totally ask what was wrong, and even though he made fun of Gee for it, Frank was also a totally shitty liar.

Gerard Way was his blessing and his curse.

---

Gerard started senior year that day. Most people were celebrating the fact that they were almost done with school and will soon have freedom, well that's what they thought anyway. But to Gerard senior just meant almost eighteen and still a virgin. He wasn't really surprised at this, he wasn't exactly the sort of guy that had girls lining up, he was just the shy art loser who only had friends because of some sort of miracle. He figured God must have taken him helping his mom out as a good willed thing or whatever and given him something in return. Whatever, he had better things to think of. Like how he was almost eighteen and still a virgin, and even though Frank had offered countless times to help him out in the area, he had refused. He didn't know why, well actually he did he just tried to lie to himself all the time. He wanted Frank to be the one to take his virginity, not some random girl or guy he met at a party. Also not because he wanted it to be someone special but because he didn't love anyone he'd choose his best friend, no. He was in love with Frank.
His long shoulder length black hair, that was always way more tidy than Gerard's. How his skin was a cross between pale and lightly tanned, with some tattoos here and there, yet Frank swore enthusiastically that one day it would be filled. His big doe hazel eyes, contoured by perfect eyebrows, and his small lips and nose, each with a ring.

His little pot giggle, how he was always full of energy, how he always seemed to rather be with Gerard than at parties. The way his fingers would move so effortlessly across the neck of his guitar, applying a light pressure as Gerard hummed some melody to him, and it always seemed to sooth him. Even when he would attach himself to Gerard and steal all his warmth whenever he slept over.

Now he knew it was stupid, he was already lucky enough for Frank to have even wanted to be friends with him again, hell even considered him his best friend at the moment. He really didn't want to fuck that up and be left alone again. He'd rather have Frank be close to him yet so unreachable rather than no Frank at all.

He looked to the boy to his right, who was lost in thought, and sighed mentally.
Frank Iero was going to be the death of him.

---

Frank dragged his way into school, this year it was going to be different. For one they didn't have as many classes, but he also wouldn't be in as many classes as Gerard. Gerard wanted to go to SVA and Frank wanted to do music. He tried not to think about how they wouldn't see each other during college.

He had grown accustomed to being in classes with Gerard and just generally with him 24/7. He looked to his side to see Gerard looking as mopey as he felt.

“Hey Gee, cheer up, one more year then SVA yeah?” Frank said, trying his best to give him a smile despite his mood. Hell if he couldn't be happy then at least his best friend should be.
Gerard scowled and then smiled. “Don't think you're getting rid of me that easily Frankie.”

And Frank totally knew why his stomach did a little flip. “Besides, I don't know if I'm feeling it. I want to draw comics but if I go to SVA I'll have to draw other stuff that I don't like so much you know? Besides I can just draw comics without doing it for a living.”

Frank opened and closed his mouth, not prepared at all by what Gerard had said. “Gee that's bullshit. I've known you since we were little kids and remember how I met you? Yeah, you were drawing. You've been drawing ever since and I've heard you talk about SVA for a year, and that's only because we weren't on friend terms before that.”

Gerard huffed out a breath. “But that's beside the point. I've been looking at some of the courses and you barely learn anything comic related, I might as well teach myself. Besides I'm going to be in New York all alone and you know how I am with people.”

Frank sighed. “Yeah I do. It would be great to help you out of your shell. But if you're totally sure that's what you want to do then fine, I can't really boss you around. I just want you to be happy dude.”

Gerard smiled a bit. “Thanks Frankie, I want you to be happy too. But I don't really need to go to SVA to be happy.”

Frank smiled back and then sighed as he reached his classroom. “I guess I'll see you later. It totally sucks that we don't have a lot of the same classes.”

Gerard chuckled. “I would have never thought I would agree with you a year ago but here we are. Relax Frankie it's not that many anyway. Whilst I have double art you have double band, everything else we have together. It's fine.”

“Yeah but those are only have like three more classes.” Frank argued.

“How is that a bad thing dude? It just means we can go home sooner and we're together after school because in case you've forgotten, you live next to me.” Gerard said crossing his arms and smirking a bit.

Frank stuck his tongue out at him. “Fine whatever. When did you become such a smart ass?”
Gerard chuckled and ruffled his hair. “See you later Frankie.”

“Hey asshole just because I'm smaller than you doesn't give you the right to do that! I'm still older.” Frank called as Gerard walked away.

“I have the right to do anything I'm your best friend.” Gerard called back, grinning with all his tiny freaky teeth. Frank couldn't help but smile back and shake his head. He did flip him the bird though.

Just before Frank walked in he spotted Mikey and Alicia, waving slightly at the love birds, because it turned out that when he had suggested to Gerard that Mikey had been getting some and that's where he was going after school, it was actually true. He looked at them all huddled up to each other, and sighed a bit, wishing he could do that with Gerard.

He walked into band and couldn't help but be thankful that he only had three periods a day.

---

Gerard drove home with Frank, because Frank's car had broken down beyond repair and he had never bothered to buy a new one. It was just after midday, and although it was weird it was kind of nice having classes end that early. For one it wasn't as tiring, also he didn't have to eat the shitty food the canteen served since he didn't stay for lunch.

Now he wasn't working everyday after school to help his mom, she had gotten a better office job and she was earning more than enough to keep them well fed and be able to give them sweet nothings. Gerard still worked every other day though, he liked to be able to pay for his own stuff, like comics, fuel for his car and art supplies.

He pulled up in front of his door, turning off the engine and swiveling a bit to face Frank. “Your house or mine?” He asked simply.

“Yours, since you don't have work today we could have a marathon.” Frank replied.

Gerard brightened up immediately. “Fuck yeah, we haven't had one in forever. Want to stay the night?”

“Sure, let me just get my stuff.”

Gerard sighed whilst following Frank with his eyes as he made his way into his house. He had no idea what he was going to do about his feelings but he couldn't pretend they weren't there anymore. Part of the reason he didn't want to go to SVA anymore was because he was scared him and Frank would drift apart again. It wasn't because of Frank that he didn't want to go, he had actually been looking at courses and realizing it wasn't really his thing, however the whole Frank situation only helped with his resentment towards going.

He had to tell Frank, it could break them apart again, but Gerard would rather have Frank leaving him and knowing the truth than staying with a him who wasn't him.

---

Frank had been watching movies with Gerard for hours, however he couldn't concentrate. All he could think about was the feelings he had towards the boy, and how they were like a ton of bricks on his shoulders. He had to do something about it, and he actually had a plan. He had to forget Gerard.

Notes

Hey look my fic titles are like Fall Out Boy songs.
Anyway, first chapter, I hope you enjoy

Chapter Title Credit: Decode - Paramore