Common People

I turned on my heels and watched as Gerard ran out of the fire exit, not thinking about being caught anymore. I chased after him, making eye with Mikey and I caught a glimpse of his repulsed glare. I turned away from him quickly and focussed on finding Gerard. I ran out of the fire exit that he had and made my way down the pathway, ending up in the empty smokers alley.

He was leaning against a grey, shabby concrete wall with his face in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He looked up as he heard me approach him, his eyes were lined red and they contradicted against his dusty complexion.

"Where you following me?" He accused with a bitter voice.

I hesitated for a moment and tried to stall for time, adjusting the rucksack on my shoulder and feigning a sudden interest in the floor. "No, well yes, but I-"

"Just leave me alone, yeah?" He hissed, indignantly.

"I just wanted to make sure that you're okay." I explained, trying to calm Gerard down, but I was stopped again as he interrupted me for the second time.

"I'm a big boy, Frank. I don't need you to look after me. So just fuck off, I've said it once already. What part of it don't you understand?" He stood up straight and took a step closer to me this time and I flinched, unaccustomed to his harsh manner.

I put my arms out in front of me defensively. "Gerard, just" I was stopped again, but this time it was by a fist, colliding into my nose with a crunch. Everything went quiet then.

I just stood there as Gerard stepped back and I watched his face fall as he saw what he'd done. And yet, for some reason I was unfazed, even when the drops of blood started falling onto my trainers.
Gerard started to rush around with post-haste, rushing over his words as he fussed over me. "Frank, oh my god, oh my- I'm so sorry. I need to get you to a nurse. What if it's broken oh my god, Frank. I'm sorry I'm-"

"It's fine." I whispered and he stopped in his tracks, looking up at me again.

"No it's not, you're bleeding everywhere." He turned his attention to the blood that was dripping down my chin, pulling a tissue out of his pocket and wiping it.

"I'm fine." I insisted with a stronger voice this time. Gerard sighed and passed me the whole packet of tissues before I sat down on the stone floor, next to where he was standing previously. Gerard did the same.

We sat there quietly as I tried to wipe up the blood on my face. "I'm sorry." He whispered again, staring at his shoes.

"I told you, it doesn't matter." I explained and we fell into silence again. A while later, Gerard spoke up again.

"Frank?"He paused, making sure that I was listening. "I know this might be the wrong time for it, but I'm so sorry. I just- I was worked up and I took it out on you, and I shouldn't have it was wrong."

"Don't worry, seriously. It's cool Gerard." I gave him a reassuring smile and patted his shoulder.

"But- but I punched you!? You're bleeding!" I leant over to hug him tightly and he stopped talking.

I spoke into his shoulder. "You're great and everything, Gerard, but sometimes you just need to shut up."

Notes

I have been so awful with updates recently I'm sorry but now I have a month and a half of break and I'm going to do better I promise. Feedback is awesome, new chapter soon. You know the drill.