I Believe We're the Enemy

A week later full of peace, the group sat under the twisted tree. Gerard sat on Frank's lap, reading a comic book. Frank caressed Gerard's matted hair, twirling his fingers in between strands. Ray, Bob, Mikey, Brendon and Patrick talked amongst each other, laughing up a storm. Gerard couldn't help but to hear his little brother, Mikey cuss. Gerard placed his comic book down and said, "What the frick frack did you say?"
Mikey smiled a bit, "Sorry, Gee."
Gerard grinned as he picked up his comic and begun to read again. Frank pulled his fingers out of Gerard's hair and said, "You guys don't find it weird how Rogen skipped a week of school since I confronted him?"
Patrick shrugged, "Maybe he knows who he's up against."
Gerard replied to Frank, "Who cares? He's gone. And his buddies aren't picking on us anymore-isn't that what you wanted?"
"Of course it is...but I'm just worried. Something doesn't feel right...I feel like something bad is about to happen-it's buried deep inside my gut."
Gerard snickered, "Nothing bad is going to happen, kid. You're so negative, baby."
Frank played off a smile, but inside he wasn't so sure. He usually never is wrong about these kind of things. He was worried that if something bad did happen, he wouldn't be able to take it. Frank looked at Gerard who smiled at his comic book. Frank smiled lightly before planting a kiss onto Gerard's cheek. Gerard reached and grabbed Frank's hand, but said nothing.
Patrick said aloud, "Well, I'm off to drama class," Patrick stood up, waved goodbye at the group who warily waved back.
Frank watched as Patrick walked away. He suddenly stood up, knocking off Gerard from his lap. Frank could see Ryan and Duke walking toward the group, their faces in a bitter expression. Patrick noticed and quickly changed his mind, turning back to the group who huddled around, facing the two jocks.
Gerard groaned as he stood up, "Frank-" Gerard noticed the two jocks and smirked, "Well, well, well-"
"Cut the shit, freak." Ryan ordered, sending chills up the group's spine. His eyes looked into Gerard's, sending daggers into Gerard's pupils, "Rogen hasn't left his house since last week, and you're the one to fucking blame-what the fuck did you do to him?"
Gerard glanced at Frank. Frank looked down, not looking into Gerard's eyes. Frank stepped forward, about to take the blame but Gerard cut him off, "I had to do what I could to protect my friends."
Frank looked at Gerard who didn't look back.
Ryan shouted, "Well, I have to do what I could to protect my friends." Ryan's hand snatched onto Gerard's arm, pulling him away from the group. Gerard didn't seem to struggle as much as the group thought he would. Suddenly the group became outraged. Something about laying a hand on their friend made their stemma stir. Mikey ran after the two, suddenly jumping onto Ryan's back. Ryan shouted, "Get the hell off me!"
Duke begun to pull, but Patrick grabbed onto his legs, making a resistment. Brendon put out his cig before grabbing Duke's jacket, trying to pull him off of Mikey. Bob and Ray joined in immediately, leaving out Frank who was in shock. Frank abruptly went over to face Gerard, pulling him out of Ryan's grasp. Gerard frowned as he witnessed the group attacking Ryan and Duke. He shouted, "Stop!"
Bob, Ray, Patrick, Brendon and Mikey stopped in their struggle, looking up to Gerard.
Gerard said, "Let them go."
The group had a strong hesitation, looking amongst each other before slowly letting go of the two. They moved away from Ryan and Duke who made threatening looks at the Freaks. Gerard said, "I don't want to drag you down with me..." His voice was low and it almost had a hesitation to it.
The two jocks looked at each other before rushing toward Gerard, pulling onto him, leading him away from the others yet again.
Frank couldn't let Gerard take the fall. Gerard has done so much for him already. He felt the need to return the favor-this time, Frank would do something for him. Frank shouted, "No! Stop! Don't hurt him, it was me. It wasn't Gerard."
Ryan and Duke stopped in their place. Duke muttered, leaning over to Ryan, "What do we do?"
Ryan scowled, "Take him too."
Duke ran over and grasped onto Frank's arm, dragging him away also. The group stared, every inch of their body was urging them to help their friends-but they looked at Gerard who met their eyes. Gerard mouthed, "Please" and shook his head.
The friends did nothing for Gerard's sake as they watched Gerard and Frank get dragged away. It was hard to let go when you know that something bad was going to happen. Brendon sighed as he watched the four leave, "Frank was right."

Notes