Drums Of The City Rain

Everything had built up to this moment, it was pretty overwhelming. All the years spent fantasizing of escaping, finally I was free, we were free. Never again would I watch my brother crushed by our parents, never again would I be sat on my bed trying to heal his bruises, both physical and emotional. Finally, I could see happiness, all the clichés I’d been promised but never ever expected to be granted were within arm’s reach. I didn’t know how I felt about that, I was ecstatic I guess, but absolutely fucking terrified. I almost didn’t want it. As we walked through the foreign streets, I worried about everything, both practical and emotional. What if Ray’s flatmates were arseholes? What if all this only made Mikey worse? What about the law? I mean we weren’t due to have anyone come round to check our homeschooling progress for 3months and it’s not like our parent’s would care enough to report us missing, so we had time to sort something out. But what then? What if we couldn’t sort anything out? I pushed those thoughts out my head. We had to live in the moment, I could be hit by a car and die tomorrow. It’s unlikely but not impossible. It’s much better to seek happiness when you can and live the happiest damn life even if it only lasts a few months, rather than spend eternity trapped in a world of mediocre routine and hurt. It’s important to live. And Mikey wasn’t living at all. And that had to change. I was embarking on Mission: Help Mikey learn to live. When I thought about it I had never lived either. I’ve never been who I am. The only time that came close was that fall out boy concert. That moment was the only time I’ve been truly happy. I began to wonder about illogical, emotion based things. Did I deserve happiness? Honestly, all I’ve known is depression. It’s been for me when no one else was. What is it like to be happy? I didn’t know. I feared finding out. Depression, was like my comfort blanket, okay it was shit, but it never left me, it was like an old friend, a toxic relationship. But I guessed now it was time to try and break it off.
“H-how long to go?” Mikey panted, snapping me out of my thoughts. I checked the time, 11:43pm.
“5minutes maybe? We’ve been going for about 10minutes” I informed him. I looked at my hand, struggling to read in the dim light and the sudden rain that had begun falling. I had written the route out on it, we just had to keep walking along this road until we reached the turning for ‘new road’. 284 new road. I became aware of how wet we were getting, we were both just in hoodies, stupidly our coats were packed in the suitcase. I hope Mikey didn’t end up getting hyperthermia or something. We were still holding hands, normally I would have cringed out of it by now but I didn’t mind in the moment, each other’s grip was reassuring, it kept us both grounded. I slowed down slightly as we were both shivering and I could feel my brother struggling to keep up. The city street was busy, full of cars, lights and noise. There were people shouting across the road to their pals, huddling under shelter and rushing along the pavement. Suddenly, I spotted a road sign lit up in a car’s headlights.
“Mikey! That’s the road” I exclaimed, letting go of his hand to point. He made a noise of recognition and we picked up the pace. Finally we reached the sign and turned left into a built up road. There were 5story high blocks of flats either side of the street. Suddenly I remembered it from when I’d been here before. The flats were plain looking on the outside, identical rows of windows and small crevices, balconies built into the wall, almost intimidating. I could hear music and the sound of voices and swearing coming from a few and worried about whether this was the best place after all. My thoughts, breathing and heart was racing, everything was multiplied by 10, I couldn’t pinpoint one thought or emotion. I looked at the sign’s next to the doors of each block. Flats number 1-20. Okay that was miles away. On the other side was Flats number 381-400. This must have been a really fucking long road. We kept walking, focusing on the right hand side, creeping closer to number 284. Flats number 361-380. Flats number 341-360. Flats number 321-340. Flats number 301-320.
“Gerard!” I heard a voice call above me. I looked up at the next block and saw Ray waving excitedly from a 4th floor balcony. I waved back, grinning from ear to ear, feeling a wave of euphoria wash over me. I looked back to Mikey who was subconsciously hiding behind me with a blank face. His eyes lit up slightly when he saw the excitement in mine though. I noticed Ray had disappeared from the balcony, leaving two other figures stood there chatting together. As we reached the door, it was swung open and I was engulfed in a hug, almost suffocated by the recognisable fro.
“Fuck am I glad to see you” Ray grinned as he pulled away. I couldn’t manage to offer anything but a smile in return. “And you too, Mikey” He added, holding his hand out to my brother who was stood looking like a rabbit caught in headlights. He shook it weakly before Ray invited us into the building. I didn’t say anything, I couldn’t think of anything to say or think, I just knew I suddenly felt safer and happier than ever before. We decided to take the lift up because of this goddamn suitcase, Ray trying to make conversation.
“Sorry I’m not being very chatty I just- I- I’m so- fuck” I breathed. It all felt like a dream. When we reached the right floor, the doors opened and I spotted number 284 on the the flat directly opposite, the door slightly ajar.
“Here we are” Ray beamed, entering the flat, me and Mikey following. My brother nudged against me sheepishly, looking worried. The hallway was plain white, the floor scattered with shoes and miscellaneous junk. There were 3 doors down one side, 2 doors down the other and Ray led us into one right at the end. I grasped Mikey’s wrist as I looked around the room, it was quite small, the walls were completely covered in band posters, there was no wallpaper, just posters. Between two tatty looking sofas, in one corner were 4 guitars, which made my heart skip. A black haired woman was sat on one of the sofas on a laptop, listening to music. She was wearing a one sleeved off the shoulder tee which revealed a bright tattoo sleeve, I imagined that tee had started out average and she had customised it. In the opposite corner of the room was a small television set, buzzing with kerrang. The adjacent wall was mostly a door which led out onto the balcony I’d seen Ray waving from moments before. Sat cross legged on the floor, leaning against the glass smoking was a young looking kid in a hoodie. I could make out the glint of a lip ring and a nose ring. For a second I felt slightly intimidated by him, I hoped he wouldn’t pick on Mikey or anything but he looked up at me and shot me a welcoming smile and I recognised his face from before.
“Frank! Must you smoke in here?” Ray groaned.
“It’s tipping it down out there! I mean I know the balconies sheltered but you still get fucking soggy” Frank I guessed he was called grumbled but put it out his cigarette nonetheless.
“Okay, anyway you two, this is Gerard and this is Mikey” Ray announced, sitting on the sofa next to the woman, gesturing for us to sit on the other. She took out her earphones and got up to shake both our hands.
“Hey” she smiled “The names Lindsey”
“Hi, Lindsey” I mumbled and she sat back down. Just then Frank stood up and firmly shook both our hands.
“Frank” He grinned. I muttered a greeting in response, this entire situation painfully awkward. He perched on the arm of the sofa as I scooted closer to Mikey.
“Tea?” Ray asked Mikey and I.
“Yes please” Frank interrupted mischievously. Ray sighed.
“Gerard? Mikey?” He added.
“Y-yes please” I smiled awkwardly “Milky, 1 sugar” We both looked over to my brother who nervously shook his head and Ray went into the kitchen.
“So, tell us about yourself, I guess” Lindsey suggested softly.
“I’m Gerard, I’m 17, This is my brother Mikey, He’s 13, we both like comics and bands” I explained.
“Okay that’s awesome, by the way Ray explained your situation to me and Frank and I want you to know if either of you need someone to talk to or just a hug, my room is the third door on the left hand side” She offered, pointing up the hall.
“Thanks” I murmured “I genuinely appreciate it” We sat for a few seconds in awkward silence. Mikey leaned against me, not enjoying the situation, jiggling his foot up and down. “Don’t worry, it won’t stay this awkward” I whispered to him, nudging him slightly, hoping no one else had heard.
I thought for a moment, thinking of ways to relieve the tension. “So you play?” I asked, nodding towards to guitars.
“Yes!” Frank exclaimed “Me and Ray play guitar and Lynz play’s bass, I’m in a band actually, pencey prep”
“Awesome” I replied, relaxing slightly “We had a rubbishy acoustic at home, but I could only strum out like 2 chords let alone a song”
“All the best started like that, I could teach you if you want” He suggested. Mikey looked round excitedly but didn’t say anything. “And you Mikey” he added.
“I- I kinda wanna play like bass” Mikey murmured, barely audible.
“Oh well, in that case Lynz is your girl” Frank chuckled. Lindsey looked up at the mention of her name “Little Mikey here want’s to learn bass” He informed her.
“Oh awesome!” She beamed “I’ll try to teach you sometime, I’m not that good though” She got up and picked up what I assumed was her bass from the corner. “I can play most songs but not the really advanced ones but to be honest most pop and rock songs are pretty simple anyway” She told us, tuning her bass. Frank got up too and picked up a white guitar, I assumed was his.
“Hey, meet pansy!” He chuckled.
“Hello pansy” I giggled, talking to the guitar. Frank sat on the floor in front of us and began tuning up. Just then Ray walked back in carrying two mugs, handing one to me and one to frank.
“I used decaf, I hope you don’t mind, it’s kinda late and I don’t know about you but I’m gonna be going to bed soon” He explained.
“Same to be honest” I replied.
“Yeah you’ve had a long day” He agreed “Your bedroom is second on the right, Frank’s is first on the right, the kitchen as you can probably see is first on the left, the bathroom second on the left and Lynz’s third on the left, I normally sleep in the living room or Lynz’s if Franks throwing a wild party”
“Wow okay, are you sure you don’t want mine and mikey’s?” I asked.
“No, it’s fine, we’re really chill round here, when Jamia and Bob lived here, everyone used to sleep in everyone’s rooms and a lot of the time we just all crash in the living room” He told me.
“Okay awesome, if you don’t mind I think me and Mikey will say night now” I said, Mikey agreeing.
“Night guys” Everyone smiled in unison as Ray picked up our case for us and carried it into our room.
“Night” I murmured, waving and following Ray.
Our room was about the size of my old room, with a double bed. Once we’d brushed our teeth and washed, Ray made sure we were okay and didn’t mind sleeping in the same bed before gently closing our bedroom door and joining the others. Mikey and I didn’t really talk much but I felt him relax once we were alone again.
“So what do you think of the others” He whispered, climbing in bed.
“I don’t know, I liked them, I was really worried they were gonna be horrible” I replied under my breath.
“Yeah same” He agreed. I glanced at the time. 00:30.
“Parents are gonna be getting home soon” I commented, wondering what would actually happen. I didn’t think they’d notice until the next evening, they only time they ever spoke to us was to call us for dinner. If that.
“Fuck them” Mikey muttered. I giggled at his upfront response.
“Yeah, just that” I chuckled getting in bed “Night”.
“Night”
“Love you”
“Love you too”

Notes

Aaah it feels so good not using a trigger warning for every chapter.
How r u?
This fic is getting excite isn't it
And you've met frank!!

((reminder ur an amazing person))

plz comment n jazz

Megan x
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