He's Not Dead He Only Looks That Way

People start to show up around nine, and by nine thirty, the entire street is lined with cars, Mikey’s run off with his own group of friends, and already drugs are being passed around by a number of partygoers. Frank had thought that his mom was being overdramatic, but he finds her rules handy when it comes to not putting his drink down.
Gerard nudges Frank and nods towards a group of pretty girls huddled by the TV. “That’s Michelle and her friends.”
“And?” Frank questions.
“They’re such bitches!” Gerard whispers.
“Well, a lot of people are. Get used to it,” Frank reasons. “Why are you so bothered by it?”
Gerard’s quiet, and Frank realizes,
“Are they mean to you?”
“Shut up,” Gerard growls, taking a swig of his beer. “Look, it’s no big deal, it’s just-” Frank begins.
“I said shut up!” Gerard shouts, crumpling his cup and causing the contents of it to splash onto the floor.
“Gerard? Come over here!” Michelle calls.
Gerard glances over wide eyed, and gives Frank a fearful look.
“You’re fine,” Frank assures. He pushes Gerard towards the cluster of teenage girls, encouraging, “I’ll be right over here, okay?”
“Okay,” Gerard mumbles, setting his mangled cup down on the banister as he heads over.
“Gerard, how are you?” Michelle asks, touching Gerard’s forearm.
Gerard raises and eyebrow, but manages to reply, “I’m good, how are you?”
“Kind of bored,” she admits. She purses her lips and scooches closer to Gerard, offering, “We can get out of here, go to my car?”
“Um…” Gerard murmurs. He peeks over at Frank, who gives him a thumbs up. Gerard grins and turns back to Michelle, agreeing, “Yeah, let’s go.”
She takes Gerard’s hand, and he nearly jumps he’s so startled. He wonders what brought on her dramatic change of heart as they head outside.
Frank smiles to himself, knowing that Gerard is definitely getting laid, and that it wouldn’t have happened without Frank’s reassurance. He takes a sip of his beer and only cringes slightly this time.
“Hey,” a girl’s voice greets.
Frank peers over to see a totally gorgeous girl standing next to him, smiling. He figures that she must’ve branched off from Michelle’s group by her Miss Me shorts, Toms, and floral crop top.
“Hi,” Frank responds, subconsciously taking a large drink of his beer to try to prepare himself for the awkward conversation.
“What’s your name?” the girl asks. “I’m Katie, by the way.”
“Frank,” Frank answers. “Are you from around here?”
Katie nods, adding, “I’m pretty positive I go to your school, actually. You’re the new kid, right? Frank….”
“Iero,” Frank concludes. “Frank Iero.”
“Katie Reynolds,” she counters.
There’s a short silence, and Katie’s eyes flick around the room briefly. Lowering her voice, she asks, “Do you know where a separate room is? All the music and talking and everything are giving me a headache.”
“Um, yeah!” Frank squeaks, becoming nervous. He really hopes that she actually does have a headache and isn’t secretly looking to get them alone together. “We can go into Gerard’s room.”
They start down the basement steps, and as soon as Frank shuts the door, Katie’s lacing her fingers with his. Frank is positive that his hand is super clammy, but she doesn’t seem to mind as she holds on tight.
“So… you know Gerard pretty well?” Katie questions.
“Uh, I haven’t known him long, but I think we’re pretty solid friends,” Frank answers. “Is he gay?” Katie asks. “I’ve heard that from about seven or eight people now.”
Frank’s heart beats a bit faster at the idea of Gerard possibly being attracted to him. He manages to keep his cool as he replies, “I actually don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Katie demands.
“It’s never come up, I guess,” Frank admits.
Once they’re in Gerard’s room, Katie kicks her shoes off, lying on Gerard’s bed. Frank begins to wonder if Gerard would be okay with Frank bringing a girl in here. Considering that she allegedly has a painful headache, Frank finds it acceptable.
She eventually gets bored of lying there and starts to look around, poking through Gerard’s things with mild interest. “Was Gerard fat as a kid?”
Frank’s seen Gerard’s stretch marks only a few times; Gerard usually does a good job of keeping them out of sight, for whatever reason. He has them on his upper arms, and probably on his stomach too, but Frank’s never seen him shirtless, so he can’t exactly vouch for that. “I think so.”
Katie heads back to the bed, and lowers Frank on it as well. She locks eyes with Frank before kissing him gently.
Frank flinches, and he’s completely frozen for the entire kiss. She pulls his shirt off before taking off her own, and all the sudden, there are her boobs like inches away from his own chest. Frank starts to panic when she starts on his zipper, and he interrupts,
“Wait!”
Katie stops immediately, asking, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m, uh, saving myself for marriage!” Frank lies.
“Oh,” Katie responds, somewhat disappointed. She leans on her side, and runs a hand through Frank’s hair, deciding, “Well, that’s okay. I think it’s sweet.”
“Thanks,” Frank says softly.
Katie trails her hand down Frank’s stomach, telling, “You know, you have a sexy body. Has any girl ever told you that?”
Frank shakes his head. “I’ve never been with another girl.”“You’re so sexy,” Katie murmurs. “Thanks,” Frank replies.
Katie sits up, her brows furrowed. “Don’t you think I’m sexy?”
“You’re beautiful,” Frank answers truthfully.
“But am I sexy?” Katie demands.
Frank is sure that to most straight guys, Katie’s a very sexy girl, but to a gay boy like Frank, she’s only beautiful. “Uh….”
“Get out!” Katie barks, covering herself. “Get out, now Frank.”
Frank gathers his things and stumbles out the door, in a daze. He figures that since that was a bust, he’ll try to find Gerard, and heads upstairs to look for him.

Notes

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