Frank has always been alone. His parents died when he was only fifteen from an intoxicated driver; he was left to his older brother James. James has always been successful in his life; opening his own law firm, and marrying the monster of all trophy wives, Kristin, Miss Universe, and the spokesperson of the Women’s Heart Care Association, he was loved by everyone. She was the most beautiful snob in America.

But when Frank turned eighteen, Kristen wanted him out of their house. Frank was a bad influence on their two-year-old daughter. James did try to persuade her that Frank is a good kid, in which he was, but she had him so whipped that he failed horribly; especially throwing him out on his birthday.

Frank slept at shelters for two years after that. All he had on him was two pairs of jeans, three shirts, and one coat, which wasn’t a coat. It was more of a sweatshirt. Most of his clothes he traded for food, or a bed. He really had nothing left.

The money he made was from odd jobs around town, but it was almost winter, and the shelters were more packed then normal. Rarely Frank would get a room; he was mostly likely to give it up to a family or a younger kid than he was. Every time he did that though, the shelter director would give him a plate of food for his kindness. So it was worth it in some way.

But today was a bad day for Frank, the last of his clothes were taken from him, even his duffle bag was gone; stolen from some ungrateful kids. And not only did they take his stuff away, but they left him pretty banged up. Bleeding from his eyebrow, Frank had had enough. As he walked the streets of Jersey, he begged God to show him what he was put on this earth to do. Because to him, it wasn’t clear. He didn’t deserve this. He was a good person, a straight A nerd, on his way to college, but had no money to pay.

But since there was no sign bright enough to catch him off guard, he headed towards the bridge, the bridge that connected Jersey and New York together. Walking across, he got to the middle, looking over the railing into the ocean, the cold, slightly frozen ocean. The cold breeze irritated his nose and cheeks; pulling his sweatshirt closer to his body, tears began to fall. He begged one final time, but nothing happened. God must have been busy with someone more important. Lifting his leg over the railing, he looked back at the zooming cars not even giving a care; they must have had something to go home too. Looking back out to the water, he sighed, pulling his other leg over, he held on.

As his fingers began to slip, he heard someone calling. Gripping tighter, he looked behind him to see a man, pulled over on the already narrow bridge.

“Hey!” He climbed the railing to get over onto the walkway. “You don’t want to do this! You really don’t trust me!” He begged. Frank saw him pull his scarf closer to his neck, tucking his longish black hair behind his ears; his pixie nose was also getting irritated by the whipping wind.

“You don’t-“

“I do, I can prove it, let me show you. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee and if you don’t like that I have to say than you can leave and jump off the bridge.” The man grabbed Frank by his forearm, trying to pull him back over. Frank nodded, coffee sounded so much better than freezing salt water. Climbing back over, the older man pulled him into his car. As people yelled and honked for him to move. “Okay you inpatient heartless assholes, I’m going!” Frank buckled himself up watching the man take off across the bridge. “I’m Gerard.”

“Frank.” He said softly.

“Nice to meet you Frank, how old are you, you look pretty young to be throwing yourself off a bridge.”

“I’m twenty.” Gerard laughed, looking quickly at the young man in his passenger seat.

“Wow, I feel old. I’m thirty-one. Why were you gonna do that horrible act. Believe me I’ve been where you are, sad, feeling hopeless, worthless, didn’t understand why I’m still alive or even put here.”

“I’m homeless.” Frank whispered. “It’s almost winter, I probably will die this winter anyway, so I was just gonna make it quick instead of suffering.” Frank played with the hem of his sweatshirt.

“Where are your parents?” Gerard asked. Frank stayed quiet. “If you don’t want to answer I understand.” Gerard added.

“They died five years ago. I lived with my brother for a while, but once I turned eighteen his wife threw me out. She thought I was a bad influence to their daughter, my niece.” Frank huffed. Gerard became pale, Frank had it worse than he ever did, he thought.

Pulling up to the nearest Starbucks, Gerard helped Frank out of the car, and into the warm shop. Ordering for the both of them, Frank went to find a seat in the back, away from people; it’s not like they were listening anyway since they had their computers and cell phones in their faces.

Gerard came over with two piping hot coffees, milk and sugar, and a cookie.

“You really didn’t have too.” Frank said. Gerard shook his head.

“I am gonna prove to you why you shouldn’t end your life. First, you too young, way young, two, I can see in your eyes, you really don’t want to die. You just want someone to notice you, someone to help you because everyone that you’ve encountered has treated you like shit. But I see you. I see that you need help, and I’m willing to help.”

“Why, you don’t even know me.” Frank pressed his hands on the hot cup, feeling a shiver run up his spine. Warmth, something he hasn’t felt in a while. Even the shelters were drafty.

“Because I’ve been there. I wanted to die, I almost did. I overdosed at twenty-one on my anti-depressants and some stale alcohol. I didn’t know what I was doing with my life. When my brother died, I was lost for a while. I- I didn’t see anything in my future, so I sat down one morning drank until I couldn’t see straight and took the hole bottle of pills. The next thing I woke up in a hospital with my mother crying over my body. I forgot we had a lunch that day and she came over to get me and she found me.” Gerard looked out to Brooklyn, the busy people rushing across the streets. “So I know what you are feeling.” Gerard looked at the younger man nursing the cup of coffee against his body.

“I’m sorry about your brother.”

“And I’m sorry about your parents. But everything is gonna be alright Frank. If I could get through it than you sure as hell can.” Frank nodded.

“Thank you for saving me.” Gerard smiled, ushering them out of the shop.

“Now, where can I drop you off, a shelter, a friends?” Gerard asked. Frank stepped away from the car.

“Its okay, I’ll get there.” Frank brought the coffee closer to his body.

“Come on, there’s a shelter close to my home.” Frank shook his head.

“Too late for shelters, they already picked whose staying in them, and anyway, they are all too packed so I never get in, or when I do I give it up to a family or a homeless kid.” Frank sighed. “Thank you though, so much.” He began to walk into the parking lot.

“Frank wait.” Gerard ran after him. “How about a friends, any friends around here?” Frank shook his head.

“No friends. I’ll be okay.”

“Meet me here tomorrow morning. Eight in the morning. Please, let me buy you breakfast.” Frank looked back at Gerard, before nodded. “Good see you than.” Gerard waved. He watched until he turned the corner, down some ally. Gerard got back into his car, his heart was heavy, he was worrying about someone he barely knew. Groaning into his steering wheel, Gerard turned on the car and headed home. Brooklyn was a tough town and he hoped, he prayed that Frank was gonna be okay.

The next morning Gerard barely got any sleep. He kept thinking of the worst that could happen to Frank. After getting ready for his day, he practically ran out of his apartment and to the Starbucks they were at yesterday.

Pulling up to the shop he saw Frank standing outside. He looked like he had a black eye. Gerard’s heart dropped. Jumping out of the car, he put both hands on the younger one’s shoulders.

“What happened?” Gerard pressed his hand to Frank’s cheek.

“Nothing, I’m okay.” Frank tried to turn away from him, but got pulled back.

“A black eye is not nothing.”

“Wrong place wrong time.” As Gerard walked towards the door, he saw Frank was hesitant to follow.

“Why didn’t you just wait inside for me?”

“I tried, I got kicked out.” Frank whispered. Gerard grunted opening the door, letting the smaller man go first.

“Whoa, whoa, you can’t come in here.” The cashier yelled. Gerard draped his arm around Frank.

“He’s with me.” Gerard yelled back. The cashier blushed as Gerard came up to the counter ordering the same thing as yesterday. Frank sat in the same seat too. “I’m sorry about that.” Frank shook his head.

“Happens all the time.” Gerard nodded, blowing on his coffee. “So what happened, where did you end up?” Frank rolled his eyes.

“Just a few blocks over, turned down the wrong alley and came face to face with a few tough guys, I’m okay, I’ve had worse.” Frank smiled sadly. But than Gerard’s eyes bulged as he saw blood running from the back of Frank’s neck. Grabbing a napkin, Gerard stood up wiping the blood, seeing where it came from.A large gash was on the back of Frank’s neck.

“Worse huh?”

“Yea, see, I told you I’ve had worse, that cut must have opened up, that was from two days ago.” Gerard tried to clean it put but it just kept bleeding.

“I need to get you to my apartment so I can clean you up. Come on.” Gerard said grabbing his coffee, tugging Frank along with him.

“Don’t you have work?” Frank asked, getting into the car.

“I’ll just work from home today.”

“No, I’ll be okay, really.”

“Frank, you’re coming home with me, said and done.”

As they pulled up to Gerard’s complex, Frank just silently followed him. Taking the elevator up to the last floor, it opened to a single door. Gerard handed him his coffee as he dug for his keys.

Finally, opening the door, Frank was pulled into a beautiful apartment, Artwork covered Gerard’s walls, a flat screen hung over a fireplace, with a large couch in the middle of the floor. His kitchen was in the right corner, and than there was a hallway to the left.

“Come on.” Gerard walked down the hallway to the biggest bathroom he’s ever seen.

“Whoa, do you live with anyone?”

“Oh, um, I use to live with my brother, I’ve had this place for awhile, my grandmother left it to us, section eight, rent can never rise. Now sit and take your shirt off.”Frank sighed, pulling off his shirt. He hasn’t seen himself shirtless in years. Looking into the mirror he wanted to cry. “Frankie, your gorgeous. You’ve just been through a lot.” Looking back at Gerard, he was on his knees, waiting for Frank to sit on the small bench next to the tub. Sitting, Gerard looked at the back of his neck, taking some alcohol pads wiping the crusted blood off. Frank hissed, jumping at the sudden contact. “Sorry.” Gerard whispered as he cleaned up the cut, fast. Gerard stood, holding a hand out, signaling to stay. As he left the bathroom, Frank stood up and looked in the mirror. His hair was too long, his beard was too thick, and Frank’s eyes were sunken in. He barely recognized himself. Gerard came back with a pair of clothes, and a towel.

“Why don’t you shower, I have a extra razor and I’ll give you a hair cut. I use to cut my brothers all the time.” Frank nodded. Gerard turned the fairly large shower on, placing the towel and clothes on the bench. “Call me when you’re done.” When the door closed, Frank took off his muddy pants and holey underwear, stepping into the shower.

After cutting Frank’s hair a little shorter than it was, Frank looked like a different person. Finally Gerard could see Frank’s eyes. Which were breathless, Gerard thought.

“Since I really didn’t get to buy you breakfast I can make you lunch, I’m pretty hungry myself.” Frank shook his head, gathering his clothes.

“I shouldn’t keep you from your work, I should go.” Gerard walked around the island in the middle of his kitchen.

“You don’t have to leave. I- you can stay here.”

“What?” Frank almost dropped his stuff.

“Stay with me, I have an extra room. Just until you have enough to pay for your own place.”

“That could be months.” Frank stated, walking towards the door.

“Then its months. Stay.” Frank shook his head.

“I can’t do that to you, you’ve done so much already. And I am so thankful.”

“Frank!” Gerard yelled. The younger boy jumped back. “Last night I could barely sleep cause I was worried about you. I- I don’t want to feel that way tonight or any other night. Please stay.” Frank looked at his ratty converse.

“I’ll stay, on one condition.”

“Anything.” Gerard grabbed Frank’s hands.

“Until I get a job, I do every chore in this house, dishes, garbage, packing you lunch, vacuuming, dusting, what have you, I do it!” Frank said sternly. Gerard nodded.

"Yes, Yes!"

Notes

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