Snapshots

A dull ache.

A sharp pain.

A throbbing burn.

Then black.

Frank woke up drenched in sweat, sore all over. His head pounded with what felt like the biggest fucking hangover. He let out a groan, rubbing his sore neck, feeling something crusty peel away from his skin.

He glanced down at his hand, seeing red flakes through his blurry vision, swallowing hard. “Dried blood?” he choked out, scooting out of bed, letting his feet hit the cold floor.
What time was it? Fuck, it was bright.

What felt like a migraine crept up as a small throbbing in the back of Frank's skull. Another groan, and he shuffled to the bathroom, letting his feet drag behind him. The three dogs poured out once he opened the door, running around the apartment happily. Frank had forgotten about them.What else did he forget...?

Frank blinked, staring at himself in the mirror, trying to focus. He clumsily stretched to grab a small bottle of aspirin. Downing them with water, and he returned his gaze to his reflection, his tired eyes making it seem as if his own reflection was fading. He rubbed them again with his sweaty palms, deciding then that maybe a shower would help.

He was feeling particularly colder than usual, turning the shower's knobs on an unbelievably hot setting that Frank hardly ever used. He shucked himself of his clothes, tossed a towel onto the toilet to grab later, and slid in.

The water ran over him, steaming up the entire glass shower door and mirror already. He sighed, wetting his hair before scrubbing body soap into his hair as well as his entire body, scrubbing his skin with a washcloth. His skin was smoother, still feeling cool despite the heat of the water. He bumped up the heat a bit more, and rinsed, not bothered by the scalding hot water.

After rinsing off all the sticky sweat, he stepped out, grabbing his towel and drying off slowly. His headache dulled a bit, and the sleep was washed out of his eyes. Frank tossed his dirty clothes in the hamper before walking back into his bedroom, shutting a bright ass window on his way back with a towel wrapped around his waist.

He opened his closet, jumping back when the pale kid yawning and stretching sitting on a box of his clothes.

That's what he forgot.

“G-Gee! Jesus Christ! You fucking scared me!” He grabbed his chest to emphasize his startled heart rate.

“Mnsk.” The dark haired boy smacked his lips together, “Sorry, I have a thing for sleeping in small places.”

Frank caught his breath before snagging a t-shirt and pair of shorts from under him, causing Gee to slip on the way out.

Frank snorted and left the room for a minute to change, tossing his towel back into the bathroom for it to dry before returning to see Gee flopping on Frank's bed.

“Ugh, what time is it...?” He said from the mattress. “I feel so fucking good.”

Frank checked his phone, which was almost dead. “...nine in the morning.” He groaned, rubbing his eyes again.

Gee nodded from his spot and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before smiling up at Frank, who just stared right back at him. “...It's too late for me to go back home.” He glanced out the door, scrunching up his nose at the light leaking into the apartment. “Can you close the blinds and curtains?”

Frank turned his head slightly to see what he was looking at, not liking the light either. He quickly moved to change it, closing the curtains all around the apartment until it was lit with the sun's dim glow.

“What do you mean it's too late for you to go home?” He asked as he returned to his spot on his bed.

“Oh,” Gee blinked, “My parents, uh...work nightshifts and lock the door while they sleep. I have to wait till night.”

Frank only nodded, figuring it was best not to bring up his comment from last night about him leaving early in the morning, and checked his phone for any new messages. One from Mikey, but he didn't bother checking it.

Gee sighed happily, moving out from the bedroom and moving to the couch in the living room. The dogs were quickly ushered back into the bathroom once done with a quick potty break outside, and Frank joined him afterwards.

“....Mn, I feel like shit.” Frank grumbled, looking at Gee who was happily humming, staring at the tv.

“If you're feeling better later, can we do that photoshoot of me?” Gee beamed.

“I thought you traded that in for a place to crash last night.”

“I know, but I feel really pretty today, and I'm willing to pay you.”

Frank raised a brow at the sign of that. “How much?”

Gee pressed his lips together without looking away from the screen, “A kiss from your's truly?” He offered with a small smirk.

“Hah, I think I'll pass...” Frank quickly replied after very little hesitation. It caught him off guard. “..You're uh...gay?”

Gee shrugged, “I don't really know, ya know? Just kinda...lonely.”

I can see why, Frank thought of saying, shaking the idea off in fear of hurting his feelings. “I guess I can relate. I'm pansexual.”

“Oh? What's that?” Gee perked up at the sound of an unfamiliar word.

“It's where, uh...” Frank hesitated, struggling to find the right way to word it. “I crush on people emotionally more than physically. Like, uh, I don't really care if someone is super ugly, a boy, girl, or anything in between. I just like the emotional connection.”

Gee nodded, understanding. “I think I like that more than being confused. I think I'm pandasexual too.”

“Pansexual.” Frank corrected, Gee just nodded and quickly muttered the word as an confirmation of the way to say it.

“So you don't care if I kiss you?” Gee asked innocently, Frank passing a glance at him.

“I mean....Yes--- but no. Uh...”

Just when Frank was about to decide and answer, the doorbell rang thankfully, erasing the awkward atmostphere. Frank excused himself, hopping off the couch quickly to answer the door. He checked through the peephole, seeing Mikey's distorted face on the other side.

“Mikey...” Frank hummed to himself, looking back behind him to see that Gee had disappeared from the couch. He sighed and unlocked the door for him, letting it swing open.

“Hey, Frankie! What's up! I tried texting you” Mikey said casually.

Fuck, the light was bright. Frank quickly pulled him in and shut the door.

“Damn, it's dark in here.” Mikey noted, looking around.

“I know. Migraine.” Frank sighed, rubbing his temples.

“Sucks shit, man.” He gave off a half-sympatheic shrug. “Hey, so, me and Ray were thinking we could--”

“Dude,” Frank interrupted, “Not with this fuckin' migraine. It feels like my head's gonna just split in half any second.” That made a short chuckle erupt from Mikey.

“Aw, alright. Text me later then?”

“Yeah yeah.” Frank said, giving a wave of dismissal.

Mikey frowned at his gesture, but looked around, taking a step further into the apartment. “Is your mom home?” He asked, turning back to face Frank.

“Uh, should be asleep? Why?”

“Huh, no reason. I just thought I heard you talking to someone.” He shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he went back to looking around.

“I was...but he seemed to disappear.” Frank sighed, running a hand through his hair. “The kid's a weirdo.”

“Huh? You had a friend sleep over or something?” Mikey squinted, “Did y'all drink last night or something? Is that what the headache is from?”

“No, we didn't, it's a migraine, and I hardly consider the guy a friend. He just kinda...shows up and goes when he wants.” Frank shrugged, letting his fingers tap against the wall. The fact that Gee said he got his stuff from one of his friend's houses slipped past him. Mikey might've known Gee, but Frank didn't want to bother asking.

“Do I know him?” Mikey asked, interest peaking.

“Doubt it. Like I said, total weirdo. I don't really think he has any friends...I kinda think I'm his first.”

“Oh.” Mikey smiled and walked back to the door, patting Frank on the back. “That's good of you, man. We should all hang out together sometime if he ain't too weird.”

“Heh, alright. Sure.” He nudged Mikey towards the door, who quickly got the hint.

“Text ya soon, man.” He said, opening the door quickly and slipping out. His footsteps could be heard going down the stairs.

Frank relocked the front door and turned around to face Gee, eyes watery.

“...You...think I'm a weirdo?” He asked, bottom lip slightly quivering. Frank could feel his heart literally sink.

“Oh....oh shit-- you heard that...” Frank looked at the floor, to avoid anything but his eyes.
“I thought we were friends, Frank.” Gee frowned, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

“...And yeah, just so you know, you were my first friend.” He emphasized on the word, were, and slipped past him towards the door.

“Gee-- no! I didn't mean it!” Frank said, trying to grab his wrist. Gee just pulled away sadly, opening the door and shutting it quickly behind him.

Frank immediately reopened the door to stop him, but it seemed that Gee had disappeared into the blazing, bright, morning sun.

“Fuck...” Frank groaned, slamming the door shut again as he retreated back inside.

He lost another potential friend, he thought as he released the dogs from the bathroom and trudged into his room. Gee was a wonderful candidate, despite his oddities, but it seems that Frank let him slip through his fingers by forgetting that Gee was human too.

He fell face first onto his bed, shoving his pillow around his head to block out light and the throbbing in his head.

The look in Gee's eyes came to mind...his bright hazel eyes, drained of happiness with the realization that Frank was just another shitty guy. God, that fucked Frank up, and it sure as hell wasn't going to help his migraine.

He forced out all outside noise, and drifted to sleep, hoping he could find and make up to Gee when he found him again in once awake. Dreams overcame him, but all it was was the repeating phrase:

“You think I'm a weirdo?”

Notes