jessie
Maybe I had a problem. But I've never been that anxious around someone before. If I thought it once, I thought it a million times--it was just him.

But, quite frankly, he was beginning to grow on me. I saw him when he laughed; it was like the whole world got an untold joke and laughed along with him. I could see the rays of sunlight coming from him when he walked, although they struggled to escape from the black mask of held-over teenage angst he veiled himself in. When he sang, it was like a hidden fountain of passion and expression. He was beautiful, and he made me quake.

I sat on the red leather couch in our living room, trying to refrain from making my upmost confusion for Michelle's sudden romance known. It was almost as if they knew each other in a previous life. She was never romantic towards anyone she didn't know well--in fact, she was never flirty at all. But this, batting eyelashes and cutesy smiles, perplexed me.

I tried not to think about it. The least amorous comment she made was to the television, and that was, "Why did he bring her his bullets, man? We all know she's gonna end up killing someone." The last show of CSI ended, and Frank turned off the television. He sat back on the couch, all while Kayla watched him with lustful eyes.

There was silence; it was awkward. Kayla interrupted it by suggesting playing a drinking game.
"No," said Frank and Ray at the same time. I knew Frank didn't want to deal with another horny, drunk Kayla after the night my friend found Aunt Linda's emergency whiskey. I assumed Ray, though, wanted to watch Gerard's back. Now that Michelle had mentioned it, I did recall seeing him drink quite a lot. Maybe that's why he was so rude the first time we met when recording--he was probably a bit tipsy. Hopefully that was it.

"Okay, okay," Kayla said, putting her hands up in defeat. "Just trying to get the party going." I looked at Gerard, on my left, whose mouth was in a tense line. His mouth...

"Frank, truth or dare?" Mikey asked. The seven of us collectively groaned. Memories of middle-school parties came back to me, and by the look on both Laura and Michelle's faces, it did to them too.

"What? No way," Frank chuckled. "We're not in junior high anymore. Do you really think--dare."
I laughed at his sudden change of mindset. "We're really doing this?" Gerard asked. He looked partly irritated, partly disgusted.

"Why the hell not?" Frank said. "I'm always in the mood for doing stupid shit." I could confirm. You've never seen stupid behaviour until you've seen Frank.

Mikey licked his lips. "Okay, I dare you to... whisper... the most seductive thing you can... in her ear." He pointed at Kayla.

"Jesus Christ, man," Frank said. Begrudgingly, he got up and put his hand to Kayla's head. He immediately turned bright red, and so did she.

"It's taking everything I can to not pin you against a wall right now," she said, choking. I was horrified, but everyone else seemed to think it was funny. They kept asking him what he said, but he just shook his head.

"Laura?" Frank asked. She picked truth. "Ever had moonshine?"

"I am a Christian!" she gasped. "I was also going to hell when I helped make it anyways, so it didn't matter." Since when did Laura, good sweet Laura, do anything bad? I didn't like this game.

She then asked Gerard, who chose a dare after retaliating with a remark on how moronic the whole situation was. He had to choose the most attractive person in the room and kiss them.
"What the fuck?" he said. "No, this is why I didn't want to do anything with fucking teenagers."
Eyes rolling, arms folded, he let out an exasperated sigh.

Laura smiled. "You a wimp?"

His upper lip twitched. "No. I'm also not an idiot, so I'm not going to do what you say because you are trying to trick me into it." His words became more harsh, but the guys seemed amused. We all could tell he would crack.

"Oh," Laura said, feigning disheartenment. "That's too bad. I thought you might be enough of a man."

"I don't need to prove my masculinity with something I don't want to do." It was then that the mood changed. Michelle, who was very comfortable-looking sharing an armchair with Mikey, stood up.

"Well, that was fun," she said. "Thank you, Frank, for the food." She headed out, soon followed by Laura, who gave my cousin a curt nod, and Kayla, who winked at him. I mouthed an apology and left the living room.

I ran into Aunt Linda in the hall, though, so as my friends retreated to my room, we talked for a minute. She asked if I was doing okay, if we needed anything. I firmly assured her that everything was being taken care of. She smiled and returned to her office.

Moments later, as I was reaching the staircase, I heard footsteps. Curious as I was, I took a peek. Who other than Gerard was about to use the bathroom.

"Hey," I called softly. He spun to look at me. "I'm sorry for... them." I took a few steps towards him.

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Do you see it?"

"What?" I asked. Creases formed in his face.

"Why I don't like you people," he said, as though the use of that phrase was totally clear and not offensive at all. But I knew he was talking about my age group. "You know just how to push people's buttons, how to piss them off..."

This was getting old. "Grow up," I said flatly. I felt my normal confidence boosting, the nervous wreck that Gerard usually made me hiding under anger. "I know what you mean, but for God's sake, Gerard, not everyone is as bad as you want them to be. You're not always going to be the victim of someone's actions, and I'm not sure why it's teenagers, but you need to get over it. Were you bullied or something? Because you're a grown man now, let it go."

His jaw clenched. Before I knew it, he had pulled me close and I felt his lips on my cheek. He pushed me back. "There's your damn kiss, sugar," he said.

I tried calling to him once I regained my senses, but he was already almost to the living room when I did.

Notes

Hooray for short chapters! I didn't know much on how to continue this... or maybe I did... you'll never know.

Next chapter will be longer and v sweet :-)

xoxo
gerweird