The Kids From Yesterday

GERARD'S POV

I went to sleep satisfied that Frank was okay. His reaction to my present had made me so happy. I had to go to work tomorrow unfortunately, but it was okay because Frank would be there so i could keep an eye on him. Ray and Mikey would be there too. Frank had said it was okay to tell Mikey about what had been going on, and Ray already knew everything. So that was the first thing i did when i got home. I had a long talk with Mikey about what Frank was going through, and told him I'd be seeing a lot of Frank over the next week. Mikey laughed and said he was already used to it since we are always with each other anyway. Me and Mikey talked about some new comics Mikey had picked up today, and he said i could read them as soon as he was done. Then i went upstairs and had a good, full nights rest knowing Frank was okay.
Well, thinking he was okay.

As usual, the next morning i woke Mikey up and we picked Frank and Ray up. Frank lived nearest, so we walked around the corner and knocked at the door. Frank was still in his pyjamas, his hair pointing in all directions, his peircings twisted, dark shadows under his eyes. He looked at us for a moment, confused, then gasped.
"Shit!" He exclaimed, then ran upstairs to get ready. Mikey laughed, but i didn't. It wasn't like Frank to be unprepared for my work. Or to forget about it completely. And he looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep...
"I'll go get Ray and bring him back here." Mikey said, turning to leave. I nodded, walking inside and closing the door before sitting on the couch, yawning. I watched TV mindlessly for a few minutes before Mikey came back with Ray. I hugged him, glad to see him. He hugged back .
"Is he okay?" He asked, concerned.
"Well, he said he is, and i think he is, but..." I trailed off. Ray looked more concerned.
Then Frank came rushing down the stairs, in the clothes i knew were on his bedroom floor a minute ago.
"Sorry Gee, i forgot.." He said, hugging me tightly.
"It's okay. As long as you're okay?"
"I'm fine." He smiled as he pulled away, and i looked into his eyes. They were unreadable. His smile suggested happy, but his eyes suggested ... Emptiness.

We made our way down to the shop, and at first it was slow. I kept an eye on Frank most of the time. He seemed unusually quiet. He seemed cheerful, but ... Like i said, unusually quiet. Mikey, of course, wouldn't stop talking. He seemed to have forgotten our conversation last night. Ray seemed less talkative today too, and i knew it was because he waa busy thinking about Frank. Frank was one of his best friends, and had been before me and Mikey, so i understood that he was so concerned.
After half an hour or so, buissness started picking up a bit. We didn't have as many customers today though. I made sure Frank was always with me, so Ray insisted that he and Mikey do the coffee rounds. When he did i smiled at him gratefully, and he nodded back, smiling a slightly sad smile.

After the shift was over, we all slept at Ray's again. Ray had a big house, the same kind of layout as mine, but with a bigger everything. We slept on the air beds again, me and Frank on a double. Ray pushed the sofas to the back wall so there was more room. We watched horror movies all night, all the while me and Frank holding hands. To me and Ray's huge releif, Frank was soon back to his old self. It was again a good night. I made sure i stayed awake until Frank fell asleep, which didn't take long. And i fell asleep with him sleeping in my arms.

Notes

Cooey! Phew, things were getting a bit depressing there ':D hope yall still like it.