"You what?!"Mikey screamed at me. I looked around the quiet store then back at him.
"Keep your voice down dude."
"Sorry I just- he was in here earlier today and I've never seen him look so broken up. Now I know why."Mikey sighed. He grabbed at a batman comic on the counter and walked out to put it back in its place.

"Is he that bad?"
"Yeahp. You done fucked up now boy."Mikey said in a texan accent. I snorted at him then groaned and thumped my head down onto the counter.
"What should I do Mikey?"I said to the counter.
"I cant help you there. Its up to Gerard. You better not have screwed up my brother even more you homo."Mikey growled and went back around to the counter. I looked up at him and sighed.
"I hope I havent."I mumbled.

"Mikey! I'm not paying you to talk, I'm paying you to work. If you want to talk to your friend you need to at least be doing something productive."An old man stuck his head round the corner of a door behind a counter.
"Sorry Sir."Mikey sighed. The guy disappeared as Mikey got up and started strolling around the shop. There were two other guys in here coming over some new comic but otherwise the place was empty.

"What a dick."I whispered once we were far from the counter.
"I know. I'm looking for a new job. One closer to the bean at least. Or home."Mikey sighed.
"Mikey..."A thought had just occurred to me.
"Mmm?"Mikey said as he straightened a pile of comics.
"How old are you?"

Mikey turned to face me,"I'm 16, why?"
"Why werent you in an orphanage? Did you run away like Gerard?"
"No uh, Pete's parents are fostering me."Mikey said awkwardly and walked away down an aisle of manga.
"But doesnt that make you and Pete-"
"Foster brothers? Yes I know, related in everything but blood it seems. But as soon as I turn 18 they're gonna stop. Pete and I became best friends after Gerard- yeah. And then Pete somehow convinced his parents to foster me to get me out of the orphanage. I know it seems weird that Pete and I are dating but- he didnt want me in the orphanage cause it just it sucked. Like, really sucked. Its the only reason I'm not in the halfway house now because of Pete's parents. I'm so grateful to them. Its why I have this job. So I can help out with things. Gerard tries as well but he doesnt get as many hours here as me. Besides, he hardly ever stays there anymore."Mikey sighed.

"Oh..."I stared about at the anime section. Why anybody was interested in this shit, I had no idea. I preferred the superhero ones.
"Yeah. Why'd you ask?"
"I dont know it only just occured to me that you should be in the orphanage or something."I muttered.
"God dammit, why do people do this?!"Mikey groaned and knelt down on the floor to start picking up all the comics off the floor.
"People are douches?"I suggested as I got down on my knees to help.

I stacked them into piles for Mikey to sort out but only just realised that he wasnt helping anymore.
"Hey dude you're the one that works here."I looked up at him to see he wasnt even looking at the mess. He was looking behind me. I looked behind to see nothing.
"Sorry I just- I'll be back in a sec okay?"Mikey got up and left me on the floor.
"I aint putting this back! I dont where it goes!"I called over my shoulder as I put the last one on the pile. I moved the pile to the side and stood up with a groan.

"Mikey?"I called. I walked around the shop looking for him. I couldnt find him anywhere so I went to wait by the counter. I started fiddling with some action figures when I knocked a bunch over. I started stacking them all up when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"Can I help you?"I turned to a guy with a joker t-shirt on.
"I'd like to buy these?"He looked at me like I was retarded.
"I dont work here dude. I'm waiting for my friend. Who does work here. Mikey! Customer!"I called over my shoulder and stepped out of the way.

"No- just- talk to him."I heard Mikey say before stepping through the door and greeting the customers. I felt prickly all over as I realised who was out back.
"Thanks guys."Mikey smiled at the two guys who thanke him and left.
"Mikey is-"
"I'll be two seconds Frank. Sorry."He smiled and disappeared before I could even ask him.

I moved from foot to foot anxiously as I heard low angry whispering.
"Could you two please do that out there? I'm trying to work here."Mikey's boss said loudly. There was some more whispering before Mikey stepped out and ran a hand through his hair.
"Whats going on?"
"Sorry Frank. Come on!"He leaned in the door way and tugged on someone. They were fighting hard. But Mikey won in the end and managed to get Gerard to stumble out to stand there awkwardly.

A thick and heavy silence settled on the three of us for about ten horrible seconds. Each second dragged by as Gerard refused to look anywhere near me.
"Hey Frank what did you do with those comics?"Mikey asked suddenly.
"I just pushed the pile to the side. I had no idea where to put them."I said.
"Awesome. I'll go put them back."Mikey grinned as he left Gerard and I alone.

"So uh..."I started to say but realised I had no idea what.
"I just forgot my phone."Gerard muttered and looked down at the ground,"But I have it now so I guess I can go."He said it as if I wasnt even there. Like he was talking to someone else. Or no one at all. He walked around the counter and walked past me without a second glance.
"Gerard!"I cried as I followed him. He sped up as he walked out of the store, calling a bye to Mikey, and rushed to his car.

"Gerard please dont do this."I sighed as I watched him struggle to unlock it. He ignored me and got in the car as soon as it was unlocked. I rushed forward and tugged open the passenger side and got in.
"Frank please just go."He said into his hands.
"No."I said firmly. I slammed the door shut and stared straight ahead.
"Frank will you stop this? If you want to know if I've forgiven you or not its pointless because I dont fucking know yet. Just give me some god damn time will you?"He looked across at me and made me look at him.

"Gerard-"
"I still love you. I just dont know if I hate you as well."He blinked away a tear and visbly steeled himself.
"Gerard I still love you. And I feel so horrible for what I've done to you and I understand if you wont forgive me I just- please dont ignore me. If you cant forgive me then I hope we can at least still be friends."I looked out my window and chewed on my lip ring as someone walked past ridiculously close.

"Frank..."Gerard sighed, I faced him and had to fight the urge not to kiss him. His face was flushed and he had obviously just licked his lips. He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at me so intensely that I gave up.
"Gerard. You may not be able to forgive me for what I did but please forgive me for this."I said. I surged forward and attacked his lips in a kiss. He tensed up but then it was like he melted. His whole body relaxed as he grabbed my shoulders and kissed me back.

I used his shoulders to pull myself closer as he grabbed my hips and lifted me onto his lap. His fingers went into my hair and gripped tightly. I moaned into his mouth as he bucked his hips up. I slid my hands down his chest towards his jeans and started undoing them.
"Frank- No."Gerard said into my mouth. He moved his lips away from mine and rested his forehead on mine.
"Sorry."I said. He just sighed, his breath tickling my face lightly.

"Alright off. You want a lift?"He asked as I moved back into the other seat.
"Uh if you dont mind?"
"I dont mind at all. I just gotta drop in at Pete's first."He said as he started the car. I nodded and looked down, willing my dick to go down and stop causing me this unneccesary pain.

I couldnt understand it. Not 5 minutes ago he had been pretending I didnt exist, now he had just kissed me and was giving me a ride.
"Gerard you-"
"Please dont talk."He said quietly as we drove. I sighed and stared down at my feet.