You're Beautiful, To Me

I went straight home after school today and locked myself away in my room. After I'd been home about an hour and a half I dialed Gerard's number and waited for an answer.
My hands were slightly clammy and my heart was beating faster than usual, I couldn't explain this as the phone rang for the third time. Someone picked up after the fifth ring, judging by the voice it was female and probably his mum.
"Hello?"
"Hi," I started, my breathing ragged, "Can I speak to Gerard please?"
"Yeah sure," the voice replied, then shouted, "MIKEY?! Where's Gerard?"
I waited patiently as a muffled yell was heard from somewhere in Gerard's house. "What? In the bathroom? Ever since school ended? Nah, it's fine I'll fetch him."
I continued to wait, trying to breathe quietly and failing to. I nearly jumped when I heard the voice on the other end of the phone again.
"Gerard? You in there? Someone's on the phone for you."
I heard a voice shout something indistinguishable in reply and I smiled as I realised it was Gerard. A few moments later I heard the click of a lock and he spoke to me.
"Hello?" He said without any feeling.
"Hey!" I replied cheerfully.
"Oh, hey Frank." He said, sounding slightly miffed.
"What's up like?" I asked, immediately picking up on his tone.
"Nothing." Was the short answer.
"Well how come you're sounding like you've just heard the worst news you could possibly hear then?" I asked.
"No I'm honestly fine." Gerard spoke in the same monotone.
"No, you're honestly not." I replied, uncomfortably aware of how tactless I was being.
"Look Frank, I don't wanna talk about it!" Gerard burst out, making me feel slightly ashamed.
"I-" I began but he cut me off.
"I'm sorry, I-, just give me a moment," he was silent for a second except from a quiet gasp I heard, "I'm back now, it's all good."
"Good good!" I said lightly, unsure what else I could say.
"So... what did you phone me for?" He asked pleasantly, making me smile.
"To talk to you." I replied and I swear I could hear the smile, even visualise it as it spread across his face. The mental image made me giggle accidentally and my face turned red with embarrassment.
"Aww Frank, that was the cutest thing ever! Do it again?" Gerard requested, almost shyly.
My already red cheeks turned crimson and I successfully re-enacted the noise, Gerard made 'awww' sounds in the other end of the line.
"I might be cute, but I'll never be as cute as you were today when you were teaching me how to draw. That face you make is just the loveliest thing I've ever seen!" I teased and Gerard made a sigh-like noise, "Oh my fuck, that was damn adorable Gee!"
"Gee?" He questioned seriously.
"Yeah, sorry I didn't mean it." I replied awkwardly.
"No no, it's cute," Gerard assured me, making me smile even more, "I like it."
We continued talking like this for over an hour, I was probably running up my parents phone bill but I didn't care. It would just be another envelope that was left unopened, shoved into a drawer by my father’s dirty hands.
We finally stopped when my mum knocked gently on my door, almost fearfully.
"It's tea time, Frank," she whispered, "Could you come down soon, please?"
I heard her move lightly away, her battered frame moving carefully down the stairs and waited until he was out of earshot before I interrupted Gerard's stream of chatter.
"Look, I'm sorry Gerard, but I've got to go now." I said, "I wish we could talk longer but I can't."
"Aww, okay then." He sighed, "I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, yeah." I made to put down the phone but the sound of his voice stopped me.
"Frank?"
"Yeah?" I breathed back.
"Thanks for calling me." He sounded so shy and fragile in that moment that I wanted nothing less than to hug him tightly and protect him from whatever dangers were potentially going to threaten him.
"You're welcome." I smiled and I heard him giggle softly before the line went dead.
I unlocked my door and practically skipped down the stairs, a grin plastered across my face.
"What's gotten into you to make you so happy?" My mum half laughed as I hugged her.
"Nothing really," I replied happily, "Things just may be starting to work out for me!"
"I'm glad." She smiled as she dished out the servings of pasta into two ceramic plates.
The food was delicious, as always, and after I'd eaten I kissed my mum's cheek before bounding back up the stairs to my room. I picked up Pansy, my guitar, from her stand in the corner and sat strumming on my bed as I hummed melody lines along with my playing.
The time seemed to fly by and when it was almost eleven I slipped into my bed.
Just before I drifted off to sleep I found myself smiling, perhaps things would work out with me and Gerard after all.

Notes

Hello! Sorry for the short chapter, also I'm going away for a week so I'll be unable to post anything, so again, sorry. Feedback is much appreciated, as always! c: