You're The Only Hope For Me

“YES!” Clara shrieked as she burst through the door, startling Frank and Gerard who were sitting on the bed together.
“FINALLY!” Hazel ran through after Clara and slammed the door behind her, then snatched at the piece of paper Clara was waving around.
Frank and Gerard exchanged a look which could have meant anything before Gerard spoke, “What’s going on guys?”
Hazel and Clara exchanged their own look and couldn’t stop the smiled spreading across their faces when they made eye contact.
“Woah people!” Frank exclaimed as Gerard laughed, “That look though! This’d better be good if it’s having you look like, I don’t even know what, Jeff the Killer maybe?”
The girls burst out laughing and Gerard snorted.
“Anyway, out with it!” Frank commanded and Clara took a breath.
“You’re free to go now.” She said simply as Hazel nodded furiously behind her.
“Honestly?” Frank asked, wide-eyed.
“Yep!” Hazel said happily, “As of 2 hours ago you are officially allowed to return to your home and live there!”
Frank’s features broke into a grin, he sat silent for a moment then without warning jumped on Gerard and wrapped his arms around him tightly.
“YES!” He screamed and Gerard jumped out of his skin as Hazel and Clara laughed again.
“Frank?” Gerard’s muffled voice came, barely audible from beneath Frank’s arms.
“Yes?” Frank answered loudly.
“Would you please get the fuck off of me?” Gerard said and Frank immediately released him.
“Can we pack? Then we can leave?” Frank’s eyes darted between the three of them.
“Sure!” Clara laughed and made her way to the nearest box, the rest followed and began tidying up the makeshift “living” room.
Within an hour they were all sorted, and checking out at the hospital reception. Frank had been checked over by a doctor, who had said his bones had healed and he had made a full recovery, although should take it easy for a few weeks to allow the bones to fully strengthen.
The journey in Clara’s car was a good one, Gerard drove and Clara sat in the front with him operating the CD player. Hazel and Frank sat in the back, singing along to various songs of Clara’s choice as Clara and Gerard screamed them from the front. Frank motioned to Hazel not say anything as he recorded Gerard and Clara’s “screamo”, Hazel’s stomach was hurting from silent laughter. When it seemed things couldn’t get any wilder Gerard started tooting the horn along to the music and startling all the people on the pavement, Clara snapped the occasional picture and when they arrived at Frank’s house it seemed like only five minutes ago they’d still been in the hospital room.
As they approached the front door Frank suddenly stopped dead still.
“What’s up?” Hazel asked, rubbing his arm.
“My dogs.” Frank said vaguely, “I haven’t been able to feed them.”
Hazel bit her lip, she’d been so wrapped up in Frank’s injuries and recovery she’d completely forgotten about the dogs. However, Gerard stepped in and saved the day.
“Don’t worry, I’ve been looking after them mate.”
“How did you get in?” Frank asked, his eyes drifting to Gerard.
“The spare key under the loose slab under the doormat,” Gerard laughed, “I know you well enough to guess where you’d hide a key!”
Frank burst out laughing and hugged Gerard, “Thank you so much, I fucking love you Gee!”
They then continued through the door, greeted the dogs and made their way to the living room. All of them collapsed onto sofas whilst Clara slipped out, returning a minute later with two bags of food and a few bottles of fizzy juice.
“Nothing like an old-school party for the occasion!” She laughed and Frank cheered.
“Wow, you guys get better and better!” Frank exclaimed, “Who came up with all this?”
“It was Clara’s idea,” Gerard replied, “We then bought the stuff and decided to make it a surprise for both of you!”
Frank stood up and kissed Clara on the cheek, “Thank you so much, both of you, all of you,” he then looked around at Hazel and Gerard, “Thank you so much for everything.”
“You’re welcome!” Clara spoke on behalf of the three of them, “We’re just glad you’re out that hospital!”
“Oh so am I,” Frank replied with a shiver, “I hate hospitals!”
Hazel laughed as Frank sat down next to her, his old grin back on his face. The food was then opened, the stereo played loudly and the next few hours flew by, it was great!
Hazel couldn’t believe this was actually happening. So much had happened in the past few months, less than a year ago she’d set out to travel having no idea what would happen. She’d not expected anything, but if she had she would never have even dreamed things would turn out like this. But she was glad of it, she now had some amazing friends and wouldn’t trade them for the world. It was because of this that four hours later she was still smiling.
After they calmed down a little, they turned the music volume down and talked about the future, and what it meant for them.
Hazel hadn’t thought about it at all until but Clara brought up an interesting idea, “I think I’m gonna finish my college course then try to find another job, instead of working in that hospital I mean.”
“What kind of career?” Gerard asked as he put his arm around her shoulders.
“Still one in medicine,” Clara replied, shooting a quick smile at him, “But more than just being a receptionist and general supervisor, maybe I could give trainees work experience opportunities within hospitals or something. I’d probably like that because I wouldn’t have the pressure of making decisions effecting a person life but it’d be beneficial to those wanting to become doctors, I’d still teach them the skills and all.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Frank nodded, “How much longer have you got at college?”
“Another year after this,” Clara said, “Two if I choose to stay for that long.”
“College seems like a good idea.” Hazel spoke up, “I think I’ll consider that as an alternative to uni.”
“Why not find a uni?” Gerard asked her.
“When I left school I planned to take a gap year until I decided what I wanted to study, but things have changed a lot in the past year and I’ve become a different person with a different mind-set living a different life, and college seems like a good idea to that person as that person doesn’t really want to do university anymore.” Hazel responded and Clara laughed a bit.
“That sounds great, go for it!” Frank encouraged and Hazel smiled.
“You could probably find a course at the same one as me if you wanted, I could bring you some leaflets and course outlines?” Clara asked her.
“Yeah,” Hazel nodded, “I’d appreciate that thanks.”
“You’ll be keeping your job, I hope?” Frank looked at Gerard.
“Of course!” Gerard laughed, “It’s going well! Pay is high, business is booming, comics are selling and I am loving it!”
“I’m glad!” Frank laughed.
“Will you just do the same, Frank?” Clara piped up, “Keep doing what you’re doing or have you got additional plans?”
“The music? Yeah, I enjoy it and I’m getting on fine, so I don’t see why not to be honest. Although,” He paused slightly and smiled sort of shyly, “I also plan on asking Hazel to marry me at some point in the future.”
“WHEN?!” Gerard shrieked in a way that Hazel didn’t think he would be capable of, all of them jumped at it and Clara burst out laughing, followed by Hazel.
“I’m not sure,” Frank blushed, “I’ll wait for things to settle down and get back as they were, then I’ll decide on a timescale.”
Hazel kissed his cheek and Clara ‘awww’ed, succeeding in making Hazel blush, but not nearly as much as Frank.
Gerard then turned the music up slightly louder and they all became less serious; making a right mess, eating way too much sugar and just generally enjoying themselves.
A few hours later Hazel and Frank were sitting on an armchair together, his arm was around her and they were watching Gerard.
“May I have this dance?” He asked Clara, offering her his hand.
Clara blushed and accepted his hand, Gerard helped her up as she replied, “Of course.”
The two of them waltzed around and after a moment Hazel spoke, “You’re right, he is the best friend anyone could ever ask for.”
Frank laughed, “Of course he is, he’s honestly so genuine and never fails to make me cry.”
“It wasn’t his fault.” Hazel replied, “I was angry at him but it didn’t last long, especially when he realised what was going on and tried to jump in front of a car himself.”
“That doesn’t surprise me to be honest,” Frank murmured, “But no, you’re right, I don’t blame him at all.”
There was silence as they watched Gerard and Clara spinning then Hazel asked what had been on her mind for a few hours, “What did he say to you weeks ago? The thing you mentioned yesterday?”
“Oh that?” Frank laughed, sounding strangely choked all of a sudden, “He told me that if I woke up he’d stop drinking.”
“Oh.” Hazel was silent after that.
“He’s just, I don’t even know,” Frank’s voice wavered and cracked slightly, “I just love him so much.”
They lapsed into silence for a minute, Hazel could see how much Gerard meant to Frank and felt that their friendship should be protected at all costs.
“See what you said earlier?” Hazel’s heart was beating fast, she’d been debating with herself whether or not to ask this question but had decided just to go for it, “Did you seriously mean it?”
“Every word,” Frank whispered, “Not right now, but at some point, I promise.”
Hazel rested her head on his shoulder with a smile, “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Frank breathed back whilst Gerard held Clara’s hand as she curtsied, both of them giggling softly.

Notes

So here it is... the last chapter! THIS IS IT MY FRIENDS THIS IS THE END!
This was my first fic so I know it's not the best, but I hope you've enjoyed it! Feedback would be appreciated, I'd love to know your overall opinions c:
I will be doing a sequel so just stay suscribed and I'll post a chapter with the link here as soon as I've written chapter one and posted it, I've got a few ideas but if there's anything you'd like to share with me (charachters/plot/setting/requests to co-author maybe?/or just anything tbh) just comment or send me a message!
Anyways, thank you so so so much for sticking with me for this, I love you all so much and I do really hope you enjoyed it, check out my other fics if you like(insert all that shameless self-promotion shit here and all xD) but no, seriously thank you so much.<3 xxx