Always

I watched them play for about two hours. In that two hours I finished the bottle Gerard gave me. I was quite intoxicated from it. When they stopped, I stood up to my feet and applauded them. I felt all my blood rush to my head. I stumbled back to the sofa before catching myself to stand back up.

“That was fucking unbelievable!” I shouted, running over to each one of them and hugging them. “God, I don’t know what I would do without you guys. Your music is heaven to my ears.”

“Oh, shush,” Mikey giggled.

“No really! I’m serious,” I shouted. “You guys are going to be so great on Saturday.”

“You’re drunk,” Frank said, crossing his arms.

“Drunk or not, I loved it.” I squinted my eyes, glaring at Frank.

“If you were not drunk, you would remember that we are performing at a house party on Friday night as well,” Frank said.

“If you were drunk, you wouldn't be an asshole.”

After their practice set, we hung out for a while on the sofa debating their set for Saturday night. Gerard broke out another bottle and we passed it around so we could all get equally drunk despite the fact that I was more intoxicated than all the guys.

“Well, it’s almost ten, guys,” Gerard interrupted. “It’s time for you guys to head home. You know Mikey has an early bedtime.”

Mikey pouted and walked out of the room. Bob and Ray left immediately after saying their goodbyes. Frank began to walk out and turned around as a signal of me to follow.

We were outside in the driveway when Frank turned around with a pitiful look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, stroking his cheek.

“If you have rules that I can’t touch your hair, face, or even kiss you even public, then you can’t do this to me,” he said, grabbing my hand that rested on his cheek. He held my hand even closer to his cheek and caressed it.

I released my hand. “I’m sorry, Frank. I just feel comfortable doing so hence I do. I don’t mean anything about it.”

Frank pulled me into a hug and rubbed his hands up and down my spine.

“Danielle,” he whispered, “we have to be more careful with our emotions.”

I stepped back. “Our emotions,” I repeated, crossly.

Frank shook his head and walked away. I stood there with my arms crossed against my chest. I turned around to see Gerard standing in the driveway. I felt tears roll from my eyes. Gerard ran up to me and held onto me.

I breathed heavily. “I can do this. I can be friend with benefits with Frank because I don’t have feelings for him,” I declared, almost as if I was trying to convince myself. “I can do this. I just want him to stop getting pissed at me for no reason.”

Gerard ran his fingers through my hair. “Danny,” he spoke, “you can. You just need practice.”
I lifted my head up and to meet Gerard’s eyes. He placed his lips upon mine.

Notes

Whatttt? Didn't see that coming, did you?

-christy-