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

‘I spoke to your mum on the phone,’ Gerard started, ‘she seemed very… loud.’
Frank snorted.
‘Yeah.’
‘Is she always like that?’
‘More or less.’
‘Hm.’
Silence.
‘She has her ways.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘She’s crazy, basically.’ Frank stated bluntly. Gerard laughed nervously, this was getting rather deep. He climbed back onto the chair and rummaged through his comic book collection that was dominating the corner of the room. He grabbed a couple and started reading, then handed one to Frank. The two compared collections and debated the abilities and scenarios of the characters. What if this? What would happen if? It was blissful, peaceful and calming.
***
Weeks passed, and Frank and Gerard spent a lot of time together. They listened to music, sat in the playground, ‘did homework’ and talked about random shit. Gerard was pleased he had a friend, and from what he could tell, so could Frank. This is getting awfully cliché.
***
Gerard crouched on top of the toilet seat, unsure of what to do. He couldn’t hide forever, especially since he had no fucking idea what he was hiding from. Where was Frank when he needed him? Frank hadn’t been in school for days, and although originally Gerard suspected he was simply ill, but now he wasn’t so sure. He had been struggling more at school since Frank wasn’t there and the intrusive thoughts were getting worse. Anyway, he was hiding in a toilet cubicle because all he wanted was to get away from everything for a moment as he was on the brink of having a mental breakdown Gerard felt like his blood was boiling and he wanted so badly to scream, but instead he curled his hands into fists and began to attack the cold, brick wall. The tears ran down Gerard’s face as he punched the wall, his knuckles now bleeding badly. He pulled his now bloody hands to himself and slumped to the linoleum floor.
***
‘Turn to page 64 of your textbooks. Read through the text and complete the exercise on page 66. If you don’t finish this during class, your homework will be to complete the task,’ Mr Caine directed. There was a low groan throughout the classroom, and Mr Caine hushed the class. Gerard was doodling on his notebook when the door creaked open and Frank crept in. ‘Late, Mr Iero!’
‘Sorry,’ Frank whispered, then made his way to the back of the class. He sat at the desk behind Gerard and rubbed his temples like he was in pain. Maybe he was. He was wearing dark sunglasses and a hat, his hair covering most of his face.
‘Sunglasses off in class please,’ Mr Caine complained. Frank began to object but the teacher insisted, so he cautiously slipped them off and hung his head over the table. Suddenly Gerard understood why he was wearing the glasses, he could just make out a black bruise surrounding Frank’s left eye. He looked like he had been hit, or punched, or kicked in the face. But why would somebody want to hurt him? Frank was perfect.
***
At the end of class, Frank darted outside, but Gerard was caught up by the teacher and his handing-in-homework policies. He didn’t see Frank for the rest of the day, so after the last bell he headed for Frank’s house.
***
Gerard opened the battered gate and knocked on the front door. He heard a clatter inside and after a couple of minutes someone removed the chain. The door was pulled open and a young, tiny woman in a long cardigan, a white vest top and straggly hair was revealed.
‘Hello?’ She whimpered.
‘Um, hi,’ Gerard smiled down at her sympathetically. She looked like hell. ‘Is Frank here? I’m a friend of his.’
‘Er, yeah.’ The woman turned around and the door swung shut, but Frank appeared and opened it again immediately.
‘It’s okay mum,’ He said, and his mum left the doorway. Frank stepped outside and closed the door behind him. ‘What’s up?’ He asked, surprisingly casually.
‘Frank, I haven’t seen you in days, but you appear at school today with a black eye and then disappear at the end of fourth period. Please tell me what’s wrong,’ Gerard said bluntly. Frank sighed and fiddled with his gloves.
‘Erm, nothing.’
‘You’re lying. Look, I’m worried. Please tell me. He was being rather harsh and very direct, but he cared about Frank and wanted nothing more than to help him. All through their conversation thoughts were attacking the back of his mind. He didn’t want to scare Frank.
Silence.
‘My Dad.’
‘Hm?’
‘He came back last night, and trust, me, that is not a good thing.’ Now he was being blunt.
‘Why?’
‘How can I put this? Oh, he’s insane.’ Frank was being sarcastic now and seemed annoyed.
‘Hm?’
‘He’s an alcoholic and he hurts both me and my mum, hence the black eye,’ Frank explained under his breath. Gerard was speechless. ‘And I can’t do anything to help her,’ he said even more quietly.
‘I…I…I had no idea, I’m… so sorry.’
Frank chuckled. Clearly he was in a bit of an ‘I don’t give a fuck’ mood. ‘Come on, let’s go,’ Gerard said.
‘Where?’
‘Park.’
‘Okay.’
Frank and Gerard made their way slowly to the park, walking side by side in the cold air, Frank’s arms wrapped tightly around his skinny body. When they arrived I the barbed-wire-fenced park, the two sat down on their bench. The stayed there for a while, silent in each other’s company.
‘Does it hurt?’ Gerard asked, referring to the bruise.
‘Yeah.’
‘Is that the only one?’
‘No.’ A single tear trickled down Frank’s cheek.
‘Come here,’ Gerard ordered, and Frank leaned onto his shoulder, crying more heavily now. Gerard lifted his head up and kissed Frank’s lips, salty with his tears. ‘I’m sorry,’ He said.

Notes

This is a really short chapter, but it's sorta just the second part of chapter five. Longer chapter next time, enjoy!
-Gee