Gerard's POV

"Tell me how it goes okay?"Mikey looked at me seriously. I nodded and gave him a weak smile. I felt like I was going to fall over, throw up or start crying. Or a combination of the three. I forced myself to get out of the car before I lost my nerve. Mikey waited til I was on the sidewalk before saying,"It's gonna be fine okay?"

"Yeah... Thanks,"I croaked, my throat burning from how dry it was. Mikey smiled before driving the car away. I turned around and looked across the road at the place. A small smile made its way to my face at the sight of it. Frank had done this all himself. This was his coffee shop. I couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride in him, despite the fact that he had told me he hated me the last time I had seen him, three weeks ago.

I checked for cars quickly before walking across the road. Through the door I could see him focused intently on making coffees. I felt a burst of relief at the sight of the counter. There was two coffee machines, one at each end. The one closer to the door had a sign above saying 'take away drinks here'. Frank was at the other end. He was ridiculously busy. Busier than I had ever seen him when he was working at Starbucks. I slipped through the door and managed to get to the stairs without him seeing me. I grabbed a table at the back and sat with my back to the stairs. There was no one else up the top for some reason. Downstairs it was almost packed though.

Two minutes later someone came up to take my order.
"Hi there, welcome to Frank's Coffee House. What can I get for you today?"She smiled widely. She had white blonde hair in two long plaits with the ends dyed bright purple.
"Uh- a double shot espresso. Is- Is that- the owner, Frank, is he working today?"I asked awkwardly.

"Yup. He's making the have here coffees today. But I think he's about to take a break. Did you want me to grab him for you?"She gave me a bright smile.
"No! Uh- sorry. No. Just- thats cool. Thank you,"I managed to bring up a smile.
"Great, I'll be back in a few minutes with your coffee,"She smiled and spun around, her plaits flying around, and went back downstairs.

After five minutes more the girl with plaits came back holding my coffee. As soon as she sat it down I grabbed it and drank it all.
"Wow, you must have been going through withdrawals,"She chuckled.
"You have no idea,"I smiled, enjoying the bitter taste of a coffee made by Frank.

"Can I get you anything else?"
"Yeah can you get Frank to make me a small flat white, extra hot, soy milk, decaf, half strength with half a shot of vanilla? And a regular butterscotch mocha,"I smiled.
"Uhhhh suure,"She stuttered slowly, writing down the ridiculous coffee.
"Oh and can you make sure Frank delivers it to me?"

"Uh- I don't think that's possible. He's the only one actually on coffee right now."
"Is there anyone else that could take over once he's made it? It's really important that he brings it to me,"I begged her, on the brink of dropping down onto my knees.
"I- I guess Miranda could take over. I'll see what I can do,"She smiled, covering the frustration in her eyes.

"Thank you so much,"I smiled gratefully. She turned to go but I stopped her,"Could- don't mention me? If he asks who just say its some woman with her husband and little kid?"
"I- should I be worried?"She asked carefully, taking a small step away.
"No please- we used to be- friends and this was a little joke I did. Gave him the most difficult coffee to make."

"Ohhh, right. Okay I'll do my best,"She suddenly grinned at me.
"Thank you, you're awesome!"I grinned back. She left me grinning for a minute before the nerves set in again. What if he was with someone and said no? What if he wasnt with someone and still said no? What if he got really mad and kicked me out? Millions of different thoughts like those were running through my head.

I had thought the espresso would have helped calm me slightly but it hadn't really done anything at all. My head perked up as I heard Frank complain loudly.
"Are you fucking kidding me? That is ridiculous. What the fuck is the point of even getting a coffee?"
"Frank she'll hear you,"My waitress replied as the sound of steaming milk reached my ears.
"I don't give a fuck I hope she hears."

I supressed a laugh and started tapping my fingers to the sound of Blink-182 in the background. Another two minutes passed by before I heard Frank again.
"Why the hell does she want me to bring it up to her?"
"I- I'm not sure."
"Well fuck her, you bring it up. I've got coffees to make."

"Uh- she she said it had to be you. Look, she's a pretty nice woman. She seemed really apologetic that she had to order it. I can run and grab Miranda to cover while you take it up?"
"Alright fine. They're gonna sit here and get cold while you get her though,"Frank said airily. The sound really travelled up here.

Another minute passed by before who must have been Miranda started talking,"Oh shit. Frank go take the coffee. Lisa can you make meeeee five shots?"
"I fucking hate people,"Frank grumbled. I grabbed my spoon from my espresso plate and looked at my weird reflection. I couldnt actually see anything so I just smoothed down my hair and made sure my fringe wasn't flicking out anywhere.

Frank's POV

As much as I wanted to stomp up the stairs to signify how pissed off I was that someone would even want to drink something like this, I couldn't because then I'd spill the coffee. I kept my eyes darting between the mocha and the cup of shit as I slowly made my way up the stairs. When I reached the top, the only customers I could see was a guy with shockingly black hair sitting with his back to me.

I took two steps forward as he turned in his seat and looked at me. I couldn't breathe, my heart beat had picked up his pace, there were butterflies in my stomach, my mouth had gone dry and my hands were clutching at air. A burning on my feet made me look down to see the coffees spreading everywhere, the cups and plates broken into tiny pieces. The coffee was soaking through my shitty work shoes and was burning me and yet I still couldn't move.

Gerard was already at my feet, picking up the pieces of crockery. I opened my mouth and tried to say something but Gerard's arms were suddenly wrapping around me, untying my apron. My first thought was 'oh god yes suck my dick' before I realised he was using it to mop up the mess.

Gerard balled up my apron and left it sitting on the floor. He stood up, about a metre away from me, and tried a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"I hope you know you're paying for that cup of shit,"I croaked out. Gerard laughed, a dry cackle.

"What are you doing here?"I asked quietly, making myself move. I shook my feet, throwing little droplets of coffee everywhere.
"I uh- I l-love you still?"Gerard's face seemed to break,"When I saw you at that fucking fair I felt so ridiculously happy even though you were with that guy and then you brought him to the wedding and I just wanted to shoot myself. Then I saw him making out with someone else so I thought I- well the alcohol decided I should try and talk to you and it turns out you were drunk as well and then- Frank I lied. I do remember it. I remember it all. I remember the way you looked at me. The way you kissed me. And on the second night I also remember what we talked about. You telling me you missed me. And that you still loved me."

I closed my eyes as it all came back to me. How could I have forgotten that?
"Frank, the morning after, when we were at the airport, and I asked you if we could catch up or something. The morning you told me you hate me, that was when I knew,"I opened my eyes to see Gerard took a step closer to me.
"Knew what?"I uttered out softly, ignoring the urge to pull him even closer.

"I knew that I would never stop loving you..."Gerard sighed, sounding like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
"Gerard... When- when you guys- you didn't- no one even contacted me... Nothing,"I tried blinking away the sudden tears but only succeeded in making them leak out and trail down my cheeks,"I was in the worst possible state and you didnt even do anything about it."

"Frank you know I-"
"And yet... After all this time,"I swiped the tears away,"After all this time I'm still in love with you. I mean, I should be over all the fucking butterflies. But I'm not. For the past four years I have been trying to ignore the feelings that just wouldn't budge. Trying to tell myself that you and I was just something that wasn't right. But then I accidentily heard The World Is Ugly on that fucking boat ride. First time I ever actually listened to it. That was when it became more difficult. Especially after what happened at the wedding. And after seeing you today... Making me make a coffee that fucking sucks like you used to,"I smiled without meaning to,"You- you know how some things make sense? Like peanut butter and jelly? Well one of those things is you and I..."

"Mikey hid my phone,"Gerard blurted out suddenly.
"Uh- what?"
"The day you got out of prison, I wanted to contact you, I really did, but Mikey hid my phone three days before hand and he deleted the missed call from you. He told me on the plane after the wedding. I almost strangled him. But- yeah. When I finally got my phone back two days after you got out, I thought I had no calls from you or anything so I left you alone..."

Shock and anger ran through me,"I hope he knows that these past four years could have been so much fucking better if he had just let you call me or something."
"Oh yeah he knows alright,"Gerard smiled and took one more step closer, bringing us an inch apart.
"Good..."

As we stared at each other, an overwhelming urge to touch him ran through me. I desperately wanted to run my fingers through his hair, push my lips against his.
"This is going to be the first time I've kissed someone sober in about 8 years,"I found myself saying.
A look of shock flashed across Gerard's face,"What makes you think we're going to kiss?"
"Shut up,"I smiled and grabbed his shoulders to reel him in for a kiss.

In an instant his hands were wrapping around my waist, squeezing me tight as we kissed. After what felt like a million light years, we broke apart. Both of us breathing hard. He rested his forehead against mine, smiling widely at me as he stared into my eyes.
"You maybe wanna try again?"He asked quietly.
"Yeah I think I wanna try."