GERARD'S P.O.V.

I woke up the next morning to the chirping of birds. My legs were quite sore from jumping around yesterday, but that was expected. I smiled, realizing I had just sang with Jimmy fucking Urine! I rubbed my tired eyes and sat up. I was still in my clothes from last night, which were soaked in sweat before I slept, so I thought it might be a good idea to take a shower. I peeled off my clothes and very quickly jumped in the shower.

My thoughts went from last night to the bucket list. The first two things on my list were already crossed off. The two things remaining were to tel Frankie, and to not break his heart. Is it weird to be so infatuated with someone you just met? Because I'm absolutely obsessed with him. With his voice and his face and his personality and everything. Why is it that just when I find out my life will be cut short, I find possibly the love of my life? No, Gerard. He isn't the love of your short life. He's your first love. First loves rarely work out. But, for now, I will treat him like he's my soul mate, because I currently believe he is. But how am I going to break the news to him. "Hey, I'm dying of cancer and just thought you should know"? And how am I going to go about not breaking his heart. I sighed. It's too early for this shit. I turned off the stream of water and wrapped a towel around my waist. I grabbed some clothes and slipped into them. While Frankie was on my mind, why don't I text him?

To: Frankie
Good morning <3 wanna do anything today?

He replied after a minute.

From: Frankie
Ugh, I'd love to, but I'm so tiredddd

To: Frankie
Yeah, me too. Last night was just amazing. Love you, Frankie.

From: Frankie
I love you too, Gee. So fucking much.

His reply brought a smile to my face. Knowing Frank loved me made my heart go aflutter. Just then, my stomach growled. I hadn't eaten a proper meal in about 12 hours, so I decided to go downstairs to get food.
"Don't think I didn't see you guys," Mikey, who was sitting at the kitchen table, muttered. I was confused at first, but realized what he meant and panicked.
"Oh, god, don't tell mom or dad. Please."
He weakly laughed. Probably tired. "Why would I do that?" I shrugged in response. I made myself a bowl of cereal and sat down next to Mikey.
"So, what did you do last night?" he asked me. I looked around to make sure our parents weren't up yet before replying.
"So, you know that bad I really like? Mindless Self Indulgence?"
"Yeah...?"
"So, Lindsey and her... friend, they took us to this bar-slash-concert venue, and I got to perform with the lead singer." I smiled. I still couldn't believe it had actually happened. He broke out into a grin.
"That's fucking awesome." We heard shuffling behind us and I whipped my head around to see mom.
"Morning!" I chimed. She was dressed and ready for work already. She grabbed her purse and ran out the door. Probably late. I finished up my bowl and threw it in the sink as I walked upstairs. I plopped onto my bed and grabbed my phone. I didn't have many friends except Frank, so I decided to text him.

To: Frank
Frankie, I'm so lonely :(

Respond to meeeeeeee

Are you dead

Frankieee

FRANKIEEEE

C'mon!!

Should I file a missing persons report?

I wanna spend time with you

I have one friend other than you and he's probably fucking his boyfriend right now

I wouldn't mind if we did the same ;)

FRANKIE!!!

Why are you ignoring me :(

---

I was sketching out a face of no one in particular. My only hobbies other than singing were drawing, so that's what I occupied all of my time with. I had nothing but the basic face shape drawn out when my phone went off. Frankie!

From: Frank
Calm down, I was taking a nap

To: Frank
Why didn't you tell meeeeee?

From: Frank
Sorry, I just kinda passed out.

I sighed. I wanted to go to his house, but he said he was tired. Maybe if I surprise him? Yeah! The problem is, I don't have his address.

To: Frank
Question, what's your address? Just wondering :o

I knew if I just outright asked him for it, that he would say no, so I lied about my reason for it. It took a few minutes before he replied. Smiling, I tucked my phone into my pocket. I quite liked spending time with Frank. It took my thoughts away from my illness. I thought about my cancer as I walked through the humid summer air to Frank's.
I, honestly, feared the idea of death. What happens when we die? Do we become celestial beings, or do we just rot in our graves for the rest of our afterlife? Are we reborn as someone else? The thoughts sent shivers up my spine. I hated the idea of death. It was quite ironic, since I smoked, but still. I can't believe that in a few months, I won't get to see this sky everyday, or my mom's kind smile, or hear Mikey's breathy chuckle. Oh god, am I crying? I wiped my eyes on my sleeve and looked up to see I was at Frank's. I sighed and walked up to the door. I took a deep breath before knocking. Almost immediately, a middle-aged woman answered the door. "Hi, I'm here to see Fr--" I looked behind her to see Frankie sitting at a table, his face a beaten mess. I gasped as he covered his face with his hands. "What happened?" I asked the woman, who I assumed was his mom. She didn't answer, simply tried to shut the door. But, I shoved my foot in. I walked up to him and put a hand on his cheek. He flinched. "Frank, what happened?"
"Gerard, why are you here?" He asked.
"What happened?" I said again, more assertive this time.
"Gerard, go home, please," he whispered, swatting my hand away. He got up from his seat and walked over to his mom. He said something to her and she crossed her arms and walked off.
"Frankie, who did that to you?" I asked once more. I could feel tears forming in my eyes. Who would do that to him, to my dear Frankie? I pulled him into a hug.
"Gerard, why are you--"
"I can't let anyone hurt you, Frankie," I muttered. I forgot all about my disease as I stood there, gripping my boyfriend. The fact I was going to die was completely irrelevant. All that mattered was someone had dared to touch him.
"Gerard..."
I pulled away and looked him straight in the eyes. "Who did this to you?"
"We can't discuss it here," He told me. "Let's go to yours."

---

The second we got to my house, I ushered him to my room. We sat in my bed, facing eachother. I could see tears were forming in his eyes. "Frank, please tell me."
"... mom," he muttered.
"What...?"
"My... my mom..." he repeated. Suddenly, he began to sob. I took him into my arms again, letting him stain my shirt with his tears. I ran my hands through his hair and kissed his head.

FRANK'S P.O.V.

I was crying for two reasons: 1. I had never told anyone else about my familial situation, and 2. I was afraid once he found out, that he would leave. That's what happened with my other friends when the found out about my self-harm, they left. It would be much worse if he, of all people, left after finding out. He ran his hands through my hair and kissed my head as I cried, trying to be as quiet as possible. I eventually decided it was time to tell him and pulled away. "Gerard, please promise me... you won't leave me after I tell you?" I facepalmed. "God, that sounded selfish, didn't it?"
"Frankie," he pulled my hand away from my face and kissed my forehead. "I would never leave you, no matter what." I smiled, but sighed.
"My mom, she..." I wiped my eyes. "My mom has been abusive for the past few years..."
"Oh my god, Frankie," he replied, shocked. He stared into my eyes as I continued.
"It started when I was 12. My dad left my mom for another woman, and she was just... furious. She started taking it out on me. It started with yelling and insults. It didn't turn physical until a few months ago." I gulped. I didn't want to look into his eyes. Despite what he just told me, I was so afraid he would leave me. But he forced my chin up so I would look into his eyes. He brought his lips to mine. It was a gentle kiss, not passionate like most of our kisses were. He quickly pulled away and looked into my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me, Frank?" he whispered.
"Because... because I thought you would leave me," I honestly replied.
"Why would I?"
"Because that's what happened when my other friends found out that I..." Was this really the right decision? I thought to myself. I had already begun my sentence, no turning back now. I sighed and rolled up my sleeves to show my scars on my wrist. I squeezed my eyes shut, scared of his reaction. I heard a gasp and he gently touched my most recent scar on my wrist.
"A-Are there any more...?"
I slowly nodded and pulled up the hem of my shirt, revealing my hips. He gently touched those too, sending a shiver up my spine. I opened my eyes to see his own were tearing up. "Gerard, I'm sorry I never told you."
"Don't be, just... promise me. That you'll stop. Nothing is worth hurting yourself over, you hear me? Nothing."
I smiled and nodded. I'm just so happy he didn't up and leave.
"Do you want to stay a few days?" he asked.
"I would love to. But I don't know if my mom would get mad when I came back."
"Pleeeease, Frankie?" He looked at me with puppydog eyes. I laughed.
"Fine. Can I get my own clothes, though?"
"If I can come back to your house with you, yes."

GERARD'S P.O.V.

"How... h-how are you today, ma'am?" I asked Frank's mom. I wanted to be polite so she wouldn't hate me, though in reality I felt like screaming at her. What kind of mother abuses her child?
"I'm fine," she replied in an monotone, obviously not willing to talk to me.
"I'm sorr-rry for barging in... earlier."
"It's fine."
Just then, a girl walked through the door, in a polka dot dress and her dark-brown-bordering-black hair curled. "I'm back, mom!" she called before looking up and seeing the woman in question and me sitting on the couch. "Oh, hi," she said to me. "You are...?"
"Um, Fr-Frank's friend, Gerard," I replied, and shook hands.
"Jamia, his sister."
Frank came downstairs, a duffel bag suitcase in tow.
"Where are you going?" Jamia asked.
"Staying the night with Gerard."
"And you need a suitcase for that?" He merely shrugged. He hugged his mom and sister before walking outside with me.
"Can I ask why Jamia doesn't have any bruises or scars?" I said as we walked back to my house.
"She's always been the favored child."
"... oh."
"Hey, Gerard, when we get back to your house, can I take a nap? It's just... it was tiring to even tell you what happened."
"Of course, babe."
"I love you, Gerard," He blurted out.
"I love you too, Frankie." I took his hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. "Forever."

Notes