"Excuse me?" Gerard asked over the buzz of conversation that filled the cafe. The person on the other side of the counter repeated his order louder. Gerard smiled his thanks and turned to fill the man's order. As her turned, his eyes caught a familiar sight in the mirror behind the mugs. His friend walked towards the counter through the crowds that clogged the shop. Gerard's smile was more genuine as he turned around. He handed the customer his drink and waited as his friend neared. Vic's hair was quite long but his black beanie keeping it out of his face well enough. He had big brown eyes and the cutest smile, the kind of smile that made you smile too. A little shorter than Gerard, Vic still had an awesome body - even Gee would admit that much. Several girls that noticed Vic eyed him with varying degrees of lust or longing but he didn't notice.

"Hey Man." Vic flashed Gerard his special smile as he reached the counter. Gerard returned it happily.

"Here to keep me from going insane?" Gerard asked teasingly. Vic's laugh was full and warm.

"Always." Vic glanced around as if he hadn't just walked through the place. "Its quite full tonight." It was Gerard's turn to laugh.

"For a Friday? This is slow. Want anything to drink? Its on the house." Vic nodded and Gerard turned to get him his coffee, he already knew how his housemate liked it. Vic leaned against the counter, and smiled at one of the college girls still fawning over him from across the room.

"Pete got that job he applied for last week. Apparently the interview was a piece of cake." Vic thanked Gerard as he handed him his coffee. Gerard crossed his arms on the counter-top and leaned against it.

"He'll want to celebrate for sure." Their third and final housemate was notorious for his party habits. Vic nodded as he took a sip of his coffee.

"I wasn't supposed to tell, so act surprised when he tells you later I wanted to give you a heads up, because you'll be man down tomorrow." Gerard groaned and dropped his head onto his arms.

"He wants to go out tonight? I have work tomorrow!" Vic gave his friend a sympathetic look.

"I know how you feel dude, I have studying to do, but if we don't go Pete will be bummed out and neither of us want him whining for the next week." Gerard nodded his agreement.

"True. We should at least try to enjoy it. Do you know where he want to go yet?"

"He said something about that new club in town. I'm not too sure though." Gerard sighed and stood up straight as someone walked over to the counter to order another drink.

"We better stack up on the coffee now then, or we'll be crawling outta that club." Vic laughed; it was true. Pete could drink anyone under the table of he chose to. Gerard and Vic spent the next half an hour talking about things more general, like Vic's test results and Gerard's Weirdar - Gerard could detect weirdness in people; he had never been wrong, and the guys liked to joke about the weirdos that came in here every day. Gerard was busy in between with customers and Vic had at least seven different girls approach him in the time before the end of Gerard's shift at half past eight.

Without delay, Gerard grabbed his stuff stepped out from behind the counter and waited for Vic while he said goodbye to the latest group of girls. They walked out together, passed all the patrons and Gerard's coworker. Neither of them noticed the man in the corner, next to the door, and neither of them saw the way he looked at Gerard. There was an obscene hunger glowing in his eyes as the two friends walked right past.

Vic's car was right outside so they didn't have to walk far in the cold that froze the very air. Winter was definitely not the friendliest season even if it was the most beautiful. The heater warmed the car quickly, they drove carefully over the ice-slicked roads with the music loud. they got home in no time and found the house blazing light onto the front yard. It looked like every light in the house had been turned on. Gerard and Vic shared a look. Pete was home.

The front door was open, and music blared from the lounge stereo as they walked in. Pete was sprawled in the couch with a drink in his hand, already a little buzzed. He looked up as his friends walked in and almost jumped to his feet. Gerard waved and grinned. Vic just shook his head and laughed as he closed the door.

"Hey! Guess what?" Pete was so excited, and Gerard knew it would kill his mood if he knew that Vic had spilled the beans already.

"Hi. You seemed pumped man. What happened?" Gerard walked deeper into the lounge and dumped his bag on the couch. he leaned against the arm of the couch as Pete answered.

"I got the job! I start on Monday." His grin was contagious; Gerard couldn't help but grin back.

"Thats awesome! Well done!" Gerard hugged his friend and stepped back. "So are we going to celebrate or not?" Pete's face lit up at the suggestion.

"Damn straight! I was thinking we could all go to that new club downtown? You in?"

"Hells yes." Gerard fist bumped his friend. "Just let me get changed and we'll go." Gerard walked upstairs, and stopped when he reached Vic's door. "Vic, hey we're leaving in five minutes. You coming?" He didn't wait long for a reply.

"Yeah. I'll be right out." Gerard smiled and walked across the hallway to his room, closing the door softly behind him. He pulled off his tye and unbuttoned his work shirt as we walked over to his closet. He changed quickly, not wanting to kill Pete's mood by taking too long; he pulled on black skinny jeans, an Iron Maiden tee, his black converse and the leather jacket his brother Mikey had given him. Gerard stepped into the hall and closed his door at the same time that Vic walked out of his. They smiled at each other and walked downstairs together. Pete was amped; he had already finished another drink by the time they got to the lounge. Gerard grabbed his keys, knowing already that he would be the designated driver, and they all headed to the garage.

As the car pulled out of the driveway, a man stepped out onto the sidewalk, under the streetlamp you still couldn't quite see his features. He watched as the car turned the corner, and started towards the now empty house. His heart raced as he touched the door handle. He had touched it not long ago. His Gerard... The man smiled and knelt down to pick the lock; the door was open in seconds. The now dark house felt like a temple to him, everything a sacred item that his love had touched; that he wanted to touch. He took a deep breath. Self control was key; Gerard couldn't know he had been here, not yet...

Notes

Got a look at Gee's home life^_^ and its cute. But seriously with the weirdo. Get outta Gee's house you freak!

Rock 'n Roll Pansies.