Beyond The Filter

*Crystal's P.O.V*

I couldn't prevent the actions happened that moment. It happened all too fast. All I saw was Gerard come down the stairs, looking like he hadn't slept in days, Frank open his mouth to talk to him and then Frank was laid on the floor with a blood ridden nose. Time began to slow down and I put myself between him and Frank. Gerard's eyes narrowed at me.
"Stop it!" I shouted. "Jesus Christ, Gerard! You shouldn't just let him talk!"
"You fucking ran away to be with him! I told you I loved you Crystal! I've never said that before to anyone! Then you run away for a night of fucking with this prick. I hope it was worth it- after all I'd done for you-" Before he could finish, I grabbed him by the wrist and, with a lot of effort, dragged him into the spare room.
"Listen to me Gerard, if you don't, I know you will regret it. If you really loved me, or love me still, you must hear me out." I told him. He went to argue, but his features softened slightly and nodded his head.
"Right, you may not want to hear this, or believe it, but the reason I ran away was because when you went to make coffee the day I came back from the bus shelter, Mikey came in the room, and I knew something was up, and he then explained how he never liked me. He wanted me to leave and to not bother Frank or Ray, especially you, or else he would do something terrible to us, me or even himself. I didn't want to chance it, so I left as quickly as I could. I knew if I told any of you, then he would do something awful. I'm so sorry. Frank obviously left to come and find me and found me in our spot in the park. I didn't know where else to go and I had no intentions of meeting Frank or any of you. He obviously found me and I explained the whole situation. He believed me and I spent the night over there because I had nowhere else to go. I'm so sorry I have to to tell you this, but you have to believe me Gerard. I love you. I don't love you less than 42 hours ago. In fact I love you a whole lot more. Please Gerard. I beg you to believe me and to forgive me for my actions." I finished with a deep inhale of air. He looked stunned, shocked to hear such news of his brother. I could almost see all the options and opinions flying through his head as he contemplates what side to choose. After a few seconds, he looks at me and locks eyes with me.
"Look Crystal, I-" he did to manage to finish the sentence as the door had flung open and Mikey was at the door way with as much fury in his eyes as the other day.
"You bitch! You're twisting my brother! He's mine and he will never belong to anyone else but me!" he said as he covered the distance between us and pushed me to the floor. Gerard looked shocked until he grabbed Mikey by the hood of his jacket.
"Mikey! What the fuck are you doing?! Is she telling the truth?!" Gerard shouted. Mikey looked at him, scared. "IS IT?"
"Y-y-yes Gerard, but shes taking-" Mikey tried to get out.
"No! She's not trying anything. We could've all been happy, all together. But just because I've found someone I love, that's not you, you think it's okay to drive them away? I punched Frank for god sake! He's my best friend!-"
"It's okay! You just have to do whatever I say for now on!" we hear a call from the other room, obviously it's Frank, always the funny guy.
"Fine!" was all Mikey could say before he sprinted out the room and there was a loud bang as the front door slammed shut. He's gone.
"Crystal, I'm so sorry for this. I do love you. I always did, I'm just a jealous idiot. But I don't know where Mikeys gone or is going, and I care for him. He's had a troubled past and he's only had Ray and I. Fuck I need to find him." he said quickly. Obviously he was worried for what Mikey could do.
"Gerard, if you need to find him, go and find him. He's so important in your life and its awful having to live with nobody from your family, I know that feeling and I can't see it affect you. Go and find him. Forget about what he's done to me or said, its not about me now, its about you and your family," I said firmly and I meant every word of it. Being without family is like a fish thats unable to resurface, its okay for a little bit, but then they struggle to carry on and you start to feel a massive amount of pressure and unpleasentness on you at all times until you just give up. I almost gave up, but then i met Gerard, Frank and Ray. They saved my life and I will always be in their debt. But I can't see Gerard, the man I love more than anything in the world, go through what I have been through. I'm scaed of what could become of him if he had to.
"Go and find him." Was the last thing I said before Gerard bolted form his spot and burst through the front door into the world outside.

*Time Lapse, later that night*

Gerard Still hasn't come home. Even Frank and Ray had started to take notice to his long absence, we all thought he would find him quickly, bring him home and then we could then get everything sorted. But everything was going by so slowly, as if in slow motion. The clock that stood on one of the windowsills had a death defying constant ticking noise that made things even worse. Frank was constantly looking over at me, just to make sure I was okay and I wouldn't break down crying. I kept feeling as if it was all my fault, as if if he didn't meet me that night, if I'd ignored him, if I wasn't here, he wouldn't know me and they would be together again, happy. The whole group would go about what they were like before me. And to be honest, I think everyone wants it back to that time. I checked my phone again only to see the messages I've been sending to Gerard while he's been gone, hoping for some kind of reply. My eyes started to grow tired and heavy, but I couldn't sleep, not now. Ray and Frank have been dosing off all day, only to wake up and refresh themselves with coffee. God I just fuck things up so fucking much. I haven't felt so guilty in so long. I just hope that things couldn't get any worse.

*Gerard's P.O.V*

"Mikey!" I cried. "Mikey! MIKEY! Come back I need you! We need to talk!"
You'll be surprised that you actually don't loose your vice after hours and hours of shouting. For the first time I actually don't feel anxious of what people think about me out in public. I couldn't care less. I need my brother back. I know what he's done is wrong, purposefully trying to ruin my relationship with Crystal, but he's still my brother. The only person that's really been there for me through my whole life, the only person that knows me so well. Being without him would be like a fish without water, I don't think I could survive. I have been running through town to all the places we know, all the obvious places and all the I obscure places that only we know of. But I do not find him. Looking at my watch I know it's incredibly late and that the others would be worried about me, so I do one final frantic search for Mikey.
"Mikes! Please I'm begging you! Mikey!" I cry pathetically. I look to my left and see a group of teenagers smirking at me, they must think I'm mental. I never really fitted in much with them, partially because I really don't give a fuck about them and all their petty thoughts.
"Mikey!!!" I call for the last time before I feel an incredible throbbing in my throat. I grip my chest and slowly make my way home while digging in my trouser pocket to call Crystal. I dial her number and she picks up with the first ring.
"Have you found him?!"
Was the first thing she said frantically. I'm astounded by how she can brush off Mikey's mistake and care for his welfare so quickly.
"I haven't found him, I don't know where else he could be!" I said between pants.
"Shit. Look Gee, it's almost midnight, I'll call the police and see if we can get some of them searching while you come home for the night. If you want, we can all get up early and all of us will search for him. It's up to you"
"Good idea, I'll be home in five, I love you" She took a deep breath before continuing.
"I love you too Gerard, so much" she said before she hung up. I looked up at the starts out of habit. I remember coming out here for walks on my own. Gazing up at the stars wondering when my life is really going to start. I remember the night was similar to the one when I met Crystal. It truly was beautiful, photo worthy. The cold didn't bother me at all, it never really has. I made my way through the park and past our area, hoping that Mikey would be there just like Crystal was, but he wasn't. A wave of sadness passed through me as realisation hit me. What if we never find him? What if I'll have to live without him? He's played a massive part of my life and for him to leave so quickly would destroy me, even more so than what it is doing now. Home quickly approaches me before I turn around and look to the stars once more.
"I will find you Mikey, even if it's the last thing I do."

Notes