You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In High School

The very second Frank began to play, the world stopped. His anxious features and tense body immediately relaxed at the contact of his fingers and the fret board. The angular crevices in his face some-how softened when the music filled the air. Guitar was clearly a natural talent of his. As Frank played, Gerard stayed silent, listening intently, and when the notes ceased, an awkward silence penetrated the room. The two stayed quiet for a while, before Gerard broke the silence. ‘Whoa.’
‘Um, thanks.’
‘You’re really good.’
‘Uh, my uncle taught me.’
‘So, um do you want to do something? We could go to the movies, Star Wars is on.’ Gerard suggested.
‘Yeah, okay.’ Frank replied, packing his guitar away and standing up.
‘You can leave that here if you want, it would be easier.’
‘Yeah, it would, okay,’ Frank said gratefully, resting his case on the desk. They then made their way up the stairs, slowly emerging into the almost-blinding light. Frank and Gerard cruised the streets together, as a single mass of black. Gerard finally had a friend, as cheesy as it sounds. He had someone too look out for, someone to look out for him. Of course he wasn’t sure Frank felt the same way, but there was something between them, a beautiful tension. One that suggested more than friendship.
Gerard had never given his sexuality much thought, he had always just assumed he was straight, but Frank was gorgeous. Frank made Gerard feel something that couldn’t be explained, and he‘d only known him for a few days. There was something about his fragile body, his intriguing personality and his beautiful, angular face that made Gerard feel light-headed.
***
In the darkness of the movie theatre, he felt safe, like his thoughts couldn’t get to him, but when Frank placed his hand on the armrest between them, his head resumed its natural order of confusion. Gerard had the urge to take Frank’s hand in his own and squeeze it tight, but that would be weird, so he resisted and focused on the screen. Frank must have noticed Gerard’s uncomfortableness, because he glanced over with questioning eyes and edged his hand a little closer. Gerard’s body tensed further, and before he knew what he was doing, he placed his trembling hand on top of Frank’s. Frank flinched, then welcomed the new-found contact calmly, He slid his hand out from underneath and rested it in Gerard’s palm, rubbing it with his thumb. Gerard was shocked, Frank hadn’t freaked out! He had embraced the gesture! For the next hour, neither Gerard nor Frank moved, keeping their hands interlocked throughout the entire film. It was only when the credits began to roll that they broke apart and started collecting their things. The lights flickered on, illuminating the large room with a fluorescent glow. As they exited the room, they chucked their rubbish in the bin and Frank messed with his hair, and when the two reached the outside they stopped in their tracks. Standing at the bus stop were a bunch of jocks from school, talking loudly and laughing hysterically. Frank and Gerard attempted to edge past them without going noticed, but failed. Just before they were in the clear, one of the boys caught sight of them and alerted the others.
Shit.
‘Well, well, well. If it isn’t emo freak number one and emo freak number two. Out on a date are we?’ One of the jocks sneered menacingly. Frank and Gerard slowly backed away, but were steered into a corner.
‘Leave-‘ Frank muttered, but was cut off by Gerard, who grabbed his hand and darted between the jocks. They ran, and ran, and ran, until they had lost the bullies and felt like they were going to collapse. They then turned into the park they had visited a few days before and fell onto the yellowing grass. The two just lay there getting wet, to catch their breath, then burst out laughing. They had outrun the bullies! They had escaped! It was probably their determination mixed up with a little terror that spurred them on, but they had done it. And they had done it together.
***
Frank and Gerard sat in the park for what seemed like hours, enjoying each other’s company under the early sunset sky. As the last rays of light slipped under the horizon, Frank pushed himself up and grabbed Gerard’s hand to help him up too. Gerard cringed at the cheesy gesture and Frank giggled nervously, then stepped forward and took Gerard’s face in his. Reaching up, he pressed his lips against Gerard’s. Gerard was completely taken aback, but did not pull away. He kissed Frank back, their mouths moving as one. This confirmed Gerard’s earlier suspicions; he was not straight. He was bisexual, or gay. He didn’t care though, all he cared about was how Frank made him feel. When Gerard reluctantly pulled away, he took Frank’s hand in his own and massaged it under his grip. He didn’t know what to say, so he laughed awkwardly and Frank did the same.
‘Um, I should probably go home now,’ Frank said quietly.
‘Yeah, um, me too. This was nice though.’
‘It was.’ And with that, Frank and Gerard parted. By the time Gerard arrived home his mind was buzzing with questions, questions that could not be answered. However he was smiling like a fucking Cheshire cat, allowing the confusion to sink in and habituate his tense body. He was terrified, surprised, excited and full of dread all at the same time. That night, he slept better than he had in years, without nightmares polluting his dreams.
***
The next day was, thankfully, a Saturday, and Gerard slept in until midday, when the phone rang. It was Frank. When Gerard was called, he groaned but tackled his tiredness and made it upstairs.
‘Hello?’
‘Hi? Gerard? Um, it’s Frank. Can we meet up today, I have nothing to do?’ Frank crackled down the line.
‘Yeah, sure do you want to come over here?’
‘Yeah, okay. I’ll be over in a couple hours. Bye.’ Then Frank hung up.
***
Two hours later, Gerard was showered, dressed and high on caffeine. The doorbell rang and Donna, Gerard’s mother, answered it to reveal Frank, small and pale as ever. Though today he was unusually pale, like he hadn’t slept.
‘Hey.’
‘Hey.’ Frank and Gerard exchanged awkward greetings and Gerard introduced Frank to his mother. Donna smiled eagerly throughout the short conversation, clearly happy to meet Frank. ‘So, what’s up?’ Gerard asked.
‘Um, not much, I was just bored and wanted to talk about last night.’
‘Oh, yeah, let’s go downstairs.’ Suddenly Gerard was doubting his newfound friendship.
***
Gerard sat on his bed and patted the edge, hoping Frank would oblige, which he did. Frank sat down next to Gerard and shuffled awkwardly.
‘Um, so, I just wanted to check-well-last night-well it was-and I just wanted to make sure-well that-well make sure I didn’t just make a fool-a fool of myself well ‘cause I-well I just wasn’t sure what I did was-well-acceptable. I mean- well-yeah.’ Frank stammered awkwardly, but before he could say anymore Gerard crashed down on him, pushing him into the mattress.
‘It was acceptable,’ Gerard breathed through the kissing. He was relieved Frank didn’t come to reject him, but just to make sure everything was okay between them. Everything was happening so fast, because Gerard had spent the first fifteen years of his life without any friends, and suddenly he was in a passionate relationship with another guy, and a beautiful one at that. It was unreal, something that only happened in movies, but it was happening to Gerard.
‘So are you okay? You look really pale.’ Gerard queried, genuinely concerned.
‘Uh, yeah, I couldn’t sleep.’
‘Why?’ Gerard asked, shocked at himself for imposing.
‘My mum had a guy over,’ Frank replied, startling Gerard with his openness.
‘Oh. Were they-you know?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.’
‘No, no, no! It’s fine,’ Frank insisted.
‘Okay.’ Gerard concluded their conversation.

Notes