I woke up the next morning, seemingly unharmed.
That is, until I moved.
I attempted to swing my legs over the bed, sending a searing pain up them both. It wasn't an injury kind of pain, more like soreness. But really bad. What the hell happened last night? I grunted and shuffled my torso over to line up with my legs. Bad idea. Yet again, pain running throughout my entire body. Okay, one more try. I sat up, my back popping repeatedly, sending-- guess what?-- even more pain! I flopped back onto my bed. I heard a giggle come from the doorway. I turned my aching neck as far as I could to see Jamia standing in the doorway. She was wearing a black and pink polka dot dress, her hair curled, seemingly dressed up for something. "Why are you all dolled up?" I croaked.
"I'm going on a date."
"With who, exactly?"
"This guy I met. Name's Andy. Lots of tattoos. Pretty cool." Was it the same guy that I met a few days ago? My thoughts went from this to the fact my body was in intense pain.
"Jamia, could you please get me some aspirin and a mirror?" She complied, surprisingly, and shuffled into my bathroom. She returned a minute later with a bottle of Advil and a hand mirror. She held the bottle to my mouth and shook it, a few tablets falling into my mouth. I swallowed them dry, immediately regretting it. The taste lingered in my mouth.
"You're not at all mad I'm going on a date?" She asked me. I lightly shook my head no.
"Date whoever you want, I don't care." I must admit, despite her always being a shitty sister, I loved her. Loving her meant letting her do what she wanted with her life without discriminating. "Can... Can I see myself?" I asked, looking to the hand mirror she brought. She nodded and slowly brought it to my face.

My face was covered in scratches. My nostrils were caked in dried blood, and my busted lip left blood on my teeth. The skin surrounding my right eye was swollen and a weird mix of blue and purple and sickly yellow. I winced a bit at my appearance, the movement sending pain throughout my neck and back. "Muscle relaxers in cabinet," I croaked to her. She nodded and ran off to get them, returning seconds later with a bottle of the pills. She gave me one and I gulped it down, instantly feeling the effects. My tense and sore muscles relaxed. I decided to try and sit up once more. Shockingly, I succeeded with minimal pain. I turned to Jamia, who had a look of... an emotion I couldn't quite I identify on her face.
Wait, was that...
Pity?
She noticed I was looking at her and her expression went back to her resting bitch face she usually wears. She cleared her throat. "I should be going." Her eyes met mine for a split second before she walked off.

I sighed. Just then, my phone went off. I grabbed it and checked the screen

New Message from Gerard:
Good morning <3 wanna do anything today?

I sighed. I would love to, but:

1. I'll probably pass out soon from those relaxers
2. I looked like I got in a bar fight
3. I'd probably be in intense pain when I wake up from the nap the relaxers bring me.

New message to Gerard:
Ugh, I'd love to, but I'm so tiredddd

He replied almost immediately.

New Message from Gerard:
Yeah, me too. Last night was just amazing. Love you, Frankie.

My eyelids began to feel heavy as I typed my last reply before succumbing to the effects of the pills.

New Message to Gerard:
I love you too, Gee. So fucking much.

---

I woke up what seemed to be a few hours later. From my window, I could see the sun was now high in the sky. I assumed it was 1-ish. I sat up in my bed, surprised I wasn't in severe pain. I grabbed my phone from under my pillow. I had several messages from Gerard, most saying he was lonely and wanted to spend time with me. It brought a smile to my face. The last one was him complaining I was ignoring him. I decided to reply.

New Message to Gerard:
Calm down, I was taking a nap

New Message from Gerard:
Why didn't you tell meeeeee?

New Message to Gerard:
Sorry, I just kinda passed out.

New Message from Gerard:
Question, what's your address? Just wondering :o

I grabbed a slip of paper that had my address on it (still don't know it by heart) and typed it out for him. He didn't reply this time. I sighed and put my phone back under my pillow. My stomach suddenly growled. Well, I haven't eaten in quite a while. I forced myself up onto my feet. My legs ached, but it wasn't unbearable. I shuffled downstairs. I didn't see my mom anywhere. I made a bowl of cereal and sat on the couch. Just then, I heard some shuffling behind me. I turned around to see mom. "Afternoon, honey," she told me, smiling. I hated the days after we got in fights, she was always trying to be sweet and suck up to me. I knew what was coming. It happens almost every time. "I'm sorry about last night." I wanted to punch her in the face for whatever she had done, but I had to stay calm.
"It's alright, mom." I took a spoonful of my Fruity Pebbles into my mouth. Just then, someone knocked on the front door. I was about to get up to get it when Mom beat me to the punch, opening the door before I could even get on my feet. I looked over to see my raven-haired beauty standing in the doorway.
"Hi, I'm here to see Fr--" He looked past Mom to see me, sitting at the table. I covered my face immediately, hoping he hadn't seen all the marks on my face. But, he gasped, and I heard him whisper something like, "what happened?" to my mom. I peeked out from between my fingers. Instead of answering, she tried to shut the door, but Gerard stuck his foot in. "Frank, what happened?" he asked, walking over to me. He touched my cheek, and I involuntarily flinched.
"Gerard, why are you here?" I asked him.
"What happened?"
"Gerard, go home, please." I swatted his hand away. Mom must be pissed that he just barged in here, and I didn't want him to see me like this. I didn't exactly want to explain to him my mother verbally, emotionally, and sometimes physically abused me. I looked past him and at Mom, who was obviously mad. I got up from my seat and pushed past him to Mom. "Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't know he was coming over."
She sighed. "It's fine, really." She crossed her arms and walked off to her room.
"Frankie, who did that to you?" Gerard asked again, his voice cracking. I turned around to see he was on the brink of tears. I was about to ask him to go when he pulled me into a hug.
"Gerard, why are you--"
"I can't let anyone hurt you, Frankie," he croaked, and tightened his grip on me.
"Gerard..." He pulled away and looked me straight in the eyes.
"Who did this to you?" he asked me again.
"We can't discuss it here," I told him. "Let's go to yours."

Notes

FILLER BECAUSE I WANTED TO UPDATE BEFORE I WENT TO SLEEEEP

xo