In My Mind Only

I took the bus home that day and sat on the right side so I could look out at the fading day. I felt my phone vibrate continuously, and I figured it was my mother so I picked it up.

"Yes, mother?" I spoke harshly.

"Wow," a deep voice responded. It was Mr. Way. I pinched the bridge of my nose for being so careless. I let out a deep sigh.

"Yes?" I asked. He was silent for a while.

"Am I bothering you?" He asked. His voice had a little tone to it. "Well, I just wanted to ask if you got my earlier text?"

"No," I lied.

"Oh, okay. That's probably a good thing, then." We stayed silent for a while.

"Do you wanna have dinner together?" He asked me.

"Uh, why?"

"Well, since you've been gone, I've been really lonely and I've been cooking twice as much food by accident, so would you like to?" He asked. I really thought about it, and I did miss his cooking. My parents didn't cook and so I had to cook myself. It gets really tiring. I knew it was a bad thing to do, but I felt I had to.

"Yeah, sure."

"Okay. I'm on my way now. I was already in my car."

"Mr. Way-"

"Gerard, asshole." I sighed, but hid a smile.

"Gerard, I'm not at home. I'm on a bus there right now. I was in town doing something, so i'll be home in maybe 20 minutes. I'm not sure. I've never taken a bus before," I explained calmly. Well, now I've gotten myself scared.

"How do you not know?" He asked. Okay, tell me the next place you're about to pass. Like a big store or something." I looked around and saw a Wal-Mart coming up on the left. What?

"I think I went the opposite way, because I don't remember seeing a Wal-Mart on my way here." I think I was going to hyperventilate.

"Shit, Frankie, you went to the town, like, 15 minutes away. Get off at the next stop and text me what it is. I'm on my way. Stay there," he said. It was starting to get dark and this was a bad place. God, why do I have be such a horrible fucking movie? At the next stop, five minutes after passing Wal-Mart, I rushed off, thanking the driver and taking a seat on the bus bench. I pulled out my phone and sent Gerard a text.

Me: I'm a bus stop between fifth and sixth street, about five minutes from Wal-Mart. It's getting really dark...

Of course I wouldn't admit it, I was really afraid.

Gerard: I'm almost there. Sit tight. If someone tries talking to you, ignore them or go into the nearest store and hid in there.

Me: Please hurry.

I'm sure he knew I was really scared right now and that reassured me that he really knew me. But I can't do this. I can't let him know any more about me, or I'll try to stay on contact with him after I graduate and go to basic. I sat there for five more minutes before I noticed a man walking his huge dog. He looked at me and we made eye contact for a split second before I looked away, not wanting to draw attention to myself.

"Hey, kid. What are you doing out here? It's dangerous," he said. He's voice was deep, but had a slight pitch to it. I looked up at him, raising my eyebrow.

"Then why are you walking your dog?" I asked.

"Well, I have a huge ass dog to protect me. But who do you have?" He asked. He took a seat beside me, but kept a good distance from me. Like enough distance to show we were strangers, but were in a conversation.

"I have someone coming for me," I said.

"I see. I guess I'll stay with you then so Oedipus will protect us both." I snapped my head towards him.

"Is there a story of why he's named that?" I asked. I was really curious.

"Well, I really like the story," he confessed.

"The story of the young man falling in love with his mother, killing his father, having sex with his mother and then going on to killing her, ripping his eyes out, and finally killing himself?" I wanted to be sure, because that's sick.

"Yeah, that one."

"That's super fucked up, sir," I chuckled out. I felt my phone vibrate and I took it out. The screen lit up my face in the dark.

Gerard: I'm down the road. I see the bus stop.

"You know you're pretty good looking. How about we get to know each other better?" The man asked. He sounded young enough, but I couldn't see him face, I could only help, but wonder if he looked like a pervert.

"You really like the story Oedipus, so I'm sorry, but no thanks. And I'm 14." At that moment, I noticed Gerard's car pull up so I stood up.

"See you," I said as I walked away and opened the car door.

"How much?" Gerard asked as he eyes me up and down.

"Shut your face," I laughed. "I'm too much for you anyways." He laughed this time and we drove off. The car ride was as silent as it always was before Gerard began to speak.

"So, it makes sense that you would take the wrong the bus," he stifled a laugh. I shot him a glare that I'm sure he could feel if he couldn't see it.

"If looks could kill, huh? So what were you doing over here anyways?" He asked. I tensed up. I shouldn't tell him yet, but I really wanted to.

"I was just walking without having a place to go, is all." I lied again. I was messing up my Cadet Creed already. I'd been faithful to it for such a long time and I'm throwing it away to lie to Gerard.

"So what are we having for dinner?"

"Ah, I'm making burgers. With fries. The usual fattening shit. Which you need, by the way. You are way too skinny. Start working out or something." I rolled my eyes.

"You're one to talk, you fucking twig," I scowled. He just laughed in response. The rest of the drive was silent, nothing but the slight sound of the Beatles best hits album playing. I swear, he was obsessed, but I couldn't blame him because I realized they were so good. Soon enough, we arrived at his house and got out the car after finishing up the song Ticket to Ride.

"So, did you wanna help me make them?" He asked. I shook my head.

"But I do wanna watch. I've always had this little, like... dream, I guess you could say, to watch someone cook for me as if they were my parents or something. The first time I actually ate a good home cooked meal was the first night I stayed over here. It was really warm and nice," I explained. He nodded in understanding, and then smiled sweetly.

"I'm really glad I could give you a family night."

"Speaking of which, look," I said as I grabbed my backpack, opened it and pulled out the bag of DVD's he gave back to me. "Let's finished the Wizard of Oz?" I asked. I pulled it out and held it up for him to see. A huge grin spread across his face and I smiled back. I popped in the DVD and started the movie over from where we left off.

"Right here?" I asked. I paused it when Auntie Em was walking away from her.

"Yeah, she was just about to sing the famous song Over the Rainbow!" He was way too excited for his, but whatever. I watched the movie and whenever the song came up, Gerard sang his heart out and I hide a smile behind the hand I was using to prop my chin up. I paused the movie as Gerard called me for dinner. We grabbed our plates and sat in our usual spots, and ate in silence before Gerard spoke again.

"So why were you in town today?" He asked.

"Don't be nosy," I told him. He rolled eyes.

"Just tell me, asshole." I set down my food and wiped my hand on the paper towel he'd given me, and then took a deep breath.

"I was enlisting in the Army today." He stopped chewing his food and swallowed whatever he'd just bitten off whole. He set his food down and then turned to me. I looked at him, and then he did something I never thought he would. He lifted his hand and laid it across my face, hard. My cheek stung and I held it.

"Why the fuck would you do that?!" He screamed. I stared at him wide-eyed, movie, food, and fun all forgotten.

"Because it's my future, Gerard. Why are you so angry?! God, man, I don't understand you one fucking bit!" I yelled.

"How long have you known you were going to enlist?" I stayed silent. "How long?!" He yelled.

"For about a year-" another slap came my way and he stood up, hovering over me. I looked up and him with a hard look and he glared down.

"You just ruined your fucking life!" He grabbed me by the collar and I just let him. This was something personal. It had to be, because it had nothing to do with me.

"Why would you do that, Frankie..?" His voice cracked. He slowly let go of my collar and dropped to his knees in front of me. He looked at me with pleading eyes, full of tears. He pulled me into tight hug, I almost couldn't breath.

"Why?" He asked again.

"I needed to leave this place, Gerard. I need to get away from my parents and everyone here."

"Even me?" He asked softly.

"Especially you. You're fixated on Ray and I want that to work out for you, but I have to do this. You don't know exactly how bad I need to do this." Before I knew it, tears started forming in my eyes and escaping down my cheeks. I made no move to wiped them, but instead hugged Gerard back.

"This hug, Gerard.. I like it. A hug is all I wanted from anyone. Thanks for giving me that." He stayed silent.

Notes

I would've updated earlier, but, like... I got sidetracked with another story on here and read about 37 chapters before realizing I still needed to do this cx
Anyways enjoy! Feedback would be sexy! ;3

-OAIF <3