"Gerard this is a waste of time,"Bob stared at me.
"No. Its not. Despite my stupid speech last night, there are still people who dont like me. I want to do something to change that,"I retorted.
"I dont see how getting this kid's drawings will do that though,"Ray said, scratching his neck.

"Look, when I was talking to him, he sounded ridiculously sad. I wanna get hi his drawings back and buy him a sketchbook. The kid lost his parent and has a way of easing the pain by drawing. I'm going to help him,"I said firmly. Mikey nodded at me then looked at Pete who sighed and nodded. Once those two were in everyone else just had to agree. And they did.

Frank walked into the room as he hung up his phone,"This kid lived 3 doors down from where you did. Its dangerous territory if Cole really is hiding out in the forest."
"No problem. We'll go with an arsenal,"I smiled.
"How? We dont actually have a car,"Bob muttered.

"Actually we do. In about an hour one of Linda's friends will be driving my car here so we-"
"My baby? Yes! You better not have fucked her up Gerard or I swear to god,"Bob grinned.
"Your baby? No no no its my car now. You wanted a drumset more than her so she's mine now,"I grinned.
"Yeah yeah whatever. She was still my first car and still has a special place in my heart,"Bob placed his fist over his chest dramatically.

Frank started giggling and just like that we were all laughing. I could barely breathe. Once our giggles had died down completely Frank said,"I think we need to turn in for the night."
"Please,"Mikey groaned.
"So are we staying here or do we go back to the house or what?"I asked as the guys all started wakling towards the door.

"We sleep upstairs. Its the only safe place really. And we need to be close to Chloe in case Cole calls,"Frank said, taking my hand in his and pulling me towards the door. We started walking up the winding stairs silently. We got to the second floor and I had just a few seconds to make out a long hallway with loads of doors. Coming out of one of them was a tough looking old woman holding a tray with medicine and bloody bandages.

I hurried after to Frank and asked,"What's on the second floor?"
"The hospital,"Frank said simply as we came out onto the top floor. Which was just one fucking massive bedroom. A whole heap of furniture had been pushed into one corner next to a bed so that all over the floor people could sleep. There were some people in sleeping bags talking to each other, some reading books and some people were even sleeping.

I followed Frank as we picked our way over to where Ryan and Brendon were leaning on a desk talking quietly. When they saw us the stopped talking and smiled.
"Good to have you guys back,"Brendon smiled. Frank looked uncomfortable.
"Its good to be back,"I smiled.

"Are there any more sleeping bags? We neeed to sleep. We've been driving and flying for the past two days,"Pete groaned, stretching loudly, his bones clacking and making me cringe.
"Yeah they're under the bed,"Ryan pointed to his left as he pulled out his phone.

We all moved towards the base when I finally put two and two together.
"Frank..."I said slowly, grabbing his hand and holding him back.
"What is it?"Frank looked at me. He knew exactly what I was gonna ask and I knew exactly what he was gonna say but I wanted to hear him say it.

"Who does this house belong to?"I tried to make it sound casual but my voice just came out tight and jealous sounding.
"Oh I dunno. Mikey mentioned their name earlier but I cant re-"
"Frank."
"Ryan's house,"He mumbled.

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to shut down the extreme anger and jealousy that ran through me at that moment.
"Why do we have to be here?"I said softly and opened my eyes.
"I told you. Because Cole has no idea about this place and Ryan's parents are away for 2 months or whatever,"Frank sighed impatiently, frustration seeping out of him and hitting me in a huge wave.

"Was that the case when you blew him?"I snapped. I regretted it immediately but it was too late. Frank's face was filling with fury.
"No Gerard. Actually, I sucked him off in the bathroom at the house!"He spat.
"Frank-"
"You wanna know something though?"Frank took a step away,"We made out in this room. Right over there by his bed,"Frank glared. I went to yell at him but I realised that everyone in the room was looking at us.

Frank spun around to Ryan and Brendon, frozen in place, staring at us in shock.
Brendon looked from me to Frank and then very slowly to Ryan. From the way Ryan was looking, Brendon didnt know about something.

"You- you said you only kissed..."Brendon said softly. Frank mouthed 'sorry' at Ryan before shooting me a glare and walking back to the stairs and out of sight. I turned back to Ryan and Brendon to watch the fight unfold. Ryan was stuttering uselessly as Brendon rambled on about how he had lied and sworn that it was just what he had seen and nothing else.

Brendon was getting angry and still Ryan had nothing to say.
"Well dont just stand there say something!"Brendon screeched and shoved Ryan.
"I dont know what to say,"Ryan mumbled.
"How about a fucking sorry you lying cheating bastard!"Brendon shoved him again, harder so he went flying backwards.

"Hey!"Frank was suddenly back upstairs and was running over to Brendon and Ryan. He got between the two of them just as Brendon had pulled back his fist,"Brendon calm the fuck down!"
"You can fuck off!"Brendon snarled at him and punched him in the jaw.

Now, I may have been pointlessly angry and stupidly jealous, but that didnt mean didnt I love Frank. I charged over to them as Brendon raised his fist back again and shouted,"I fucking loved you Ryan! You swore, you fucking swore to me that it was just a kiss! Nothing more!"He shoved Frank out of the way and grabbed Ryan from where he was frozen in shock.

In my mess of anger I barely noticed people asking what was going on. But I did notice Mikey running over and grabbing Brendon's arm. I dropped next to where Frank was lying on the ground, holding his hand to his face as Mikey said into the now silent room,"Brendon. Let go of Ryan."

I watched as Brendon's tearstained face turned to Mikey and then slowly to everyone in the room. Ryan looked scared and guilty as fuck as Bob walked over and gently but firmly peeled Brendon away from Ryan. He put up a fight for about a second before just shiving Bob away and walking into what I assumed was a bathroom.

There was a moment of silence before whispers spread through the room and the guys all came over to us, including Ryan.
"Frank. I'm so sorry,"Ryan sighed as Frank sat up properly.
"No its not your fault. Dont apologise,"He muttered and took his hand away from his jaw,"I'm bruised arent I?"He said looking up at me.

I couldnt see too well with the dim lighting of the room but I could definitely see a shadow along his jawline that didnt belong there. I nodded sadly, hiding the suddeny shock of feeling his hand grab at mine.
"Am I bleeding? I feel like I can taste blood,"He opened his mouth widely.
"No I cant see any. I think you're fine,"I smiled.

"Ryan I didnt mean to- for that to happen,"Frank turned to Ryan. I had forgiven Frank a long time ago but no matter what I did I could shake the small bubble of anger and hurt whenever I thought about it. Being in California had helped me to forget it. And we were sort of even because of what I did with Jade. But now that I was in Ryan's presence I couldnt stop thinking about it and knowing that they were in this room together made my blood boil.

I pushed the anger into a box in the back of my mine as Ryan said,"Frank its my fault for not telling him. Forget about it. I'm sorry he hit you okay? I'm gonna go and try talk to him,"Ryan sighed and walked over to the bathroom. Everyone else in the room had lost interest in what was happening with us but no doubt they would be talking about it all night.

Once the guys had made sure Frank was okay, they all retreated back to their already made up beds. Frank stayed sitting on the floor with his legs crossed, his hands picking at the end of his jeans. I moved in front of him and crossed my legs too. I was trying to think of something to say when he said very quietly,"Gerard I thought you had forgiven and forgotten..."

I took a deep breath and said,"I have. I trust you with all my heart. I dont know what happened to me earlier. I cant believe the words even came out of my mouth. I'm so sorry Frank."
"Gerard you dont need to apologise. I dont blame you for still having that anger deep inside. Sometimes you just have to let it out. Being in Ryan's house obviously made you snap,"Frank said, still deathly quiet.

I opened my mouth to say something but suddenly Frank shouted,"This conversation doesnt concern you guys, fuck off!"
The sound of mutters and groans spread across the room and multiple people turned away from us.
"Do you wanna go downstairs?"I looked at Frank hopefully. He nodded. I stood up and pulled him to his feet.

Once we were on the second floor, me leaning against the wall and Frank leaning against the banister of the stairs, Frank looked a lot more exhausted than before. I was overcome with the need to hold him when I realised it was because he put up a front for everyone. To make them think he's in control.

"Frank are you okay?"I asked without thinking.
Frank looked up at me, shocked and apparently lost for words.
"I mean- you just look so exhausted now that you arent in front of everyone. I uh nevermind..."I looked away, down the hall towards where the same woman I had seen earlier was coming out of the room at the end of the hallway looking sweaty as hell. She nodded at Frank then went into another room.

"Gerard if being here is gonna be a problem for you then its gonna be a huge problem for me and everyone else,"Frank said quietly.
"Its not a problem I swear I just- let my feelings get the best of me. It wont happen again though because we've got bigger problems at hand,"I sighed as my phone started going off. It was a different ringtone which confused me as I pulled it out and put it to my ear.
"Hello?"I said as Frank mouthed 'Chloe' to me,"Uh Chloe's phone this is Gerard speaking. Chloe's in the bathroom right now can I take a message?"I blurted out.

"Oh hello. I wasnt expecting to hear a mans voice,"An older woman chuckled,"I'm Chloe's mother. I was just calling to tell her that her father wants to see her before he goes."
Panic filled me,"Goes where?"
"Well to heaven of course. Goodness, that girl is quieter than a mouse about some things,"She sighed.

"Oh well I'm very sorry to hear that. I'll be sure to tell her. Bye,"I hung up quickly and stared at Frank, guilt spreading through me like wildfire,"Chloe's Dad is dying."
"Oh..."Frank said. I looked down at her phone and sighed. She had 3 unread messages.

They were all from her Mum. I was about to put the phone back in my pocket when I saw Cole's name,"Why have we never thought to read her messages before?"I mumbled as I opened their conversation. I scrolled to the top and started reading. Most of the texts held no interest for me. They were all about Frank and I but it was stuff I already knew. I got close to the finish when something made me actually take the words in properly.

"Listen to this,"I said, glancing up at Frank's worried face,"This is what Cole sent a few days ago. I need a huge favour from you. And then she said she cant call right now and to text it. He said, and this is where you're gonna shit yourself, he said and I quote, I need you to get taken hostage for me."