Bright Lights That Cast A Shadow

I woke up before Frank the next morning feeling very nervous and self conscious. I couldn't help but worry that he might regret last night or that he might not have had such a good time and faked it. The worry had me digging my nails into my skin, a bad habit that I often tried to break free of.
Frank smiled in his sleep and snuggled into me more, conforming my body to his. The gesture, even if made while sleeping, helped sooth some of my nerves. I found myself absently playing with his soft hair, waiting for him to wake up.
It wasn't long until I heard a groan and felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around my torso. I looked down and was met by a pair of beautiful hazel eyes. He gave me a sleepy smile before straining his neck to give me a quick peck on the lips before nuzzling back into my chest.
"Morning babe," He mumbled into my chest. I smiled and leaned down to kiss his head. We sat like that for awhile, just sitting and cuddling before he groaned and sat up. "What time is it?" I glanced over at the clock that sat on his dresser.
"9:34," I answered. He jumped off the bed suddenly, still naked from the night before and frantically began pulling on articles of clothing. I frowned and got up, pulling on my own clothes, suddenly feeling very exposed. I really need to get poker face lessons from Mikey because Frank saw the hurt confused look on my face immediately.
"Gee," He finished pulling on his hoodie and walked over to me, looping his arms around my neck and kissing me. He pulled away giggling. "I have work today remember? I have to be at the studio by ten and well..." He gestured to the clock on the dresser.
"Oh!" I would've blushed but I was running low on blood. Once again he noticed. I swear I couldn't do anything without him noticing.
"There's some blood packets in the fridge. I know you prefer O negative, but all I could get this time was AB positive." Frank's friend had been letting him take blood packets ever since he got the first one for our date. I'm not sure how he set up the no questions asked, but I just went with it. It meant that I didn't have to hunt anymore, and that made me feel relieved beyond belief.
"Yeah that's fine." I mean it's not like I had the option before either. I get what I get and I don't throw a fit that involves ripping throats out. "Who is your friend anyway?" He sighed and looked at the floor.
"It's Jamia," He told me nervously playing with his fingers.
"Okay." He looked up at me, mild surprise clear on his face, like he wasn't expecting me to be okay with it.
"You mean you're good with the fact I'm like still communicating with my ex?" I shrugged.
"You already told me before we were dating that you never really like her like that. And also if you need reminding, you're gay. And unless she has a-"
"Okay okay stop!" He yelled with a laugh, clamping his hand over my mouth. "Some things should never be said!" I laughed with him until he saw the time. "Oh hey I gotta go. I'll see you tonight!" He kissed me goodbye and I gave him a hug.
"Bye Frankie!" I waved goodbye to him as I watched him disappear out the door. I really needed to get a job of my own. Muttering to myself I set off about the apartment to find something to occupy myself with.
~~~
I had been cleaning up for a couple of hours, and by now I felt exhausted. I flopped down on the couch, closing my eyes and letting my head fall back onto the couch. I stayed like that for a minute before groaning. I was really bored.
I grabbed the remote off of the coffee table and began flipping through channels, trying and failing to find something good on. Spiderman was playing and it caught my eye, reminding me of all the comics I had packed into boxes somewhere.
Yes, I still hadn't fully unpacked my stuff. Partially because of all the Lindsey drama, but also because, let's admit it, I Gerard Way am lazy.
Thinking about my comics made me want to go find them and read them. It had been forever since I had read a Doom Patrol comic, and I knew for a fact that I had some packed away. With this fact in mind I set off to go find the right box.
It didn't take as long as I had expected. I had actually thought ahead and labelled each box with what it was containing. Unfortunately I found the box with COMICS scribbled on the side, stacked precariously on top of some others in a closet, just out of reach.
I jumped up, trying to knock the box down, or at least move it so that I could reach it. I jumped a couple of times, and missed. The final time though I managed to scoot it over enough so that I could pull it down.
I tripped suddenly over my shoelace and went tumbling into the boxes, knocking down the comics and three or four more boxes. One of the boxes popped open, spilling its contents across the floor. I groaned and began to untangle myself from the mess I had created. I looked mournfully into the closet. Now I would have to stack them all back up. I brushed it off for now, and turned to clean up the spilled box. I recognized Frank's handwriting on the box, spelling out PHOTO ALBUMS.
I shuffled forward and grabbed a couple, shoving them back into the box. I came across the one from when me and James were together. I found myself sitting down and pulling the book into my arms. I flipped through it slowly, watching my life with James pass by.
I stopped wistfully at the picture of our first kiss. James had told me to smile for the camera and then had turned and kissed me while snapping the picture. I laughed at my face in the picture, eyes wide with surprise and cheeks flushing red. The next one was better, taken after the initial surprise wore away and I had kissed back.
What the hell? A couple in the background had caught my attention. The pictures had been taken at a local bar, and in the background you could see another couple making out. No surprise there, I mean it was a bar. The surprising fact was that it was Lindsey making out with some other guy. I knew for a fact that this picture was taken after our first date. To be sure though I flipped it on it's back to find the date.
And that's when several puzzle pieces fell into place, and I dropped the picture in horror.
Frank was in danger, and I had to get to him as soon as possible.

Notes

So yeah. Don't really have anything to say tonight...