Greatest Hits

Looking around at what he created, Gerard was amazed. He could say this was his. And he created it. He created the large shop now known as Spin Records. A music shop where you can enjoy, buy records, CDs, or downloadable MP3’s. The shop at rows of vinyl’s and CD’s, but also had a lounge in the back to relax and find new music. It was Gerard’s safe haven.

The shop was located in the middle of Main Street, in a small town on Long Island, between a coffee shop, lucky for Gerard, and a bookshop.

Covering all the hot spots in town with flyers of open day and job opportunities, Gerard was getting a lot of calls. But for the first few days, until Gerard had a team, his brother came up from Jersey to help.

Gushing over the music wonderland his brother made, Mikey took his time learning the store and the register, just in case he was gonna be longer than his brother said.

But opening day came, and Gerard opened the door to eight people waiting outside. Surprised, he welcomed them asking if they needed anything, while Mikey did the same, until a small man came into the shop holding his beanie in his hand. Gerard’s eyes widened. He was breathtaking. His hair was shortish, but looked so soft. His hands tattooed; Gerard wanted to see past his leather jacket, was his whole arm covered in his artwork? His eyes, God, they were bright and beautiful. But Gerard was a statue, so Mikey, rolling his eyes, confronted the new customer.

“Hey, welcome to Spins, how can I help ya, dude.” Mikey asked. The man looked at his feet, scuffing the floor with his old looking converse.

“Um, I am here for a job interview with the owner?” He asked.

“Me!” Gerard said way too loud. “That’s uh, me, Gerard, yea, follow me.” Gerard blushed, walking towards his office in the back. The man followed, entering the poster-covered walls of Gerard’s office. In awe, Frank stood there with his mouth gaping.

“Nice!” Frank thought he said in his head.

“Thanks.” Gerard laughed, sitting in his chair, he welcomed Frank to also sit. “So I am not gonna bore you with stupid questions that you usually have to answer at normal jobs, but this isn’t a normal job. This is a job where you get to be real and enjoy yourself. I hope you enjoy music.” Gerard blushed, looking at his hands.

“I use to be in a band. I can play guitar and every band that is on the wall right now I love, a lot.” Frank laughed.

“Good, so I need someone full time to help me open and close; we open at eleven, and close at eight, so about a nine hour day with an hour lunch. Um, and we are close at four on Saturday’s for live shows, I have been looking into local bands that would play, and how much to charge people so this Saturday we wont being doing that cause I still have to go over a few things, but we are closed on Sundays. If you need another day off I understand, probably Wednesday since it will probably will be-“

“No, no I wouldn’t need another day off Sundays are fine. Um can I know about-“

“Pay, yes fifteen an hour; if you do over time, than time and a half. As every other place. Now can I know a little about you?”

“Uh, yea, well, I’m Frank Iero, uh I’m twenty two, originally from Jersey, but I needed to get away after my band broke up. I recently just moved here, like I’m still living in a hotel looking for a place. Um, my past jobs were 7-11, so I know how to work as acashier; um I was in a band for ten years, until we went down in a fiery crash. I only have my GED, so I hope that isn’t a problem.” Gerard shook his head.

“Not a problem. When can you start?”

“Tomorrow, I would say now, but I got to go look at an apartment above the jewelry shop.” Franks sighed. Gerard laughed, nodding.

“Understandable, and tell Mrs. Jacs I said hi, Gerard Way. Be here around ten-thirty tomorrow.” Frank nodded holding out his hand.

“Will do.” Frank smirked, Gerard took his hand, jumping slightly; he felt a shockwave for through his arm to his spine. Looking at Frank wide eyed, as Frank mocked him, the younger man just nodded, heading out of the office.

Leaning over his desk, Gerard sighed.

“God, what did I just do?”

So at the end of the day Gerard hired two people, Ray and Frank. Since Ray was only looking for part time, which wasn’t much of part time, Gerard had him on Wednesday’s and Saturday nights so he could help with the shows. But Frank and Gerard would be running the rest of the week.

Mikey was proud of him, he promised he would stay the rest of the week, but he had to leave on Sunday to get back to school. And Gerard was perfectly all right with that.

When Mikey and Gerard got home after closing the shop, Gerard went straight for the kitchen to make coffee.

“So what was up with you and that Frank kid?” Gerard stopped in his tracks.

“What do you mean?” Gerard shoveled coffee grinds into the filter.

“You were weird I don’t know seemed like you tripped over yourself and fell into a black hole of love.” Mikey said, sitting at the kitchen table.

“Well, he’s like drop dead gorgeous, but nothing that serious-“

“Yet.”

“Mike, I can’t just-“

“You can do whatever you want, when are you gonna let what happened to you and Joey go? Huh? When you’re on four years of being devoiced?” Gerard wiped around glaring at his brother. “He was an asshole and you know it. If I didn’t come home that day, you may have-“

“But I did.”

“Gerard, just, all I am saying is, try again, You may be surprised.”

The next day, Gerard walked to the shop seeing Frank huddling in the corner of the door and his coat to stay warm.

“Hey, um want coffee, I’m getting a cup before getting in the shop?” Gerard said, walking past Frank; the younger man followed, relaxing once he entered the coffee shop. They waited on line in silence, until Frank realized.

“Oh, I have to thank you, not only for the job, but the lady that is renting the place to me brought down the price a little when I said that you were my new boss. So thank you.” Frank smiled.

“Oh wow, nah, no problem, for some reason she loves me. But yea, I’m glad you got the place. Did you move in yet?”

“Yea last night, I don’t have much. Just clothes.” Gerard looked down at Frank, confused.

“Are you going back to Jersey on Sunday to get the rest of your stuff?” The shop owner asked.

“I don’t have any stuff. Just my clothes. I’ll buy stuff when I get enough money.” Frank shrugged.

“What are you sleeping on?” Gerard moved with the line.

“A sleeping bag.” Frank whispered.

“A sleeping bag!” Gerard almost shouted, disturbing the half awake people.

“What can I get you Gee?” The cashier recognized him.

“Hey Beth, ah can I get a black iced coffee, lots of milk and even more sugar, what about you Frank?”

“Oh I got mine.” Frank waved Gerard to finish.

“Nah, it’s your first day, bosses treat.” Gerard joked.

“Uh, just a hot coffee made the same as Gerard’s.” Beth nodded, giving Gerard his business owner discount.

“$3.75.” Handing the money over, Frank walked around Gerard to the end of the counter to wait for the coffees.

“Thanks again Gerard.”

“No problem, just a welcoming for my new employee.” Gerard winked, grabbing his coffee while heading towards his shop.

Half way through the day, it got slow, so slow that Gerard was on one of the lounge couches looking at his phone. Frank was at the counter reading a magazine.

“Hey Gee, where is that man who was here yesterday with you?” Frank called. Gerard sat up.

“You mean my brother? He’s at my apartment. Since its gonna be a slow day I let him just hang around, he may bring us a late lunch though.” Gerard shrugged falling back down on the couch. “Best idea, best idea getting these couches.” Gerard moaned. Frank laughed.

“Um, I may know a band looking for a gig.” Gerard shot up again, this time groaning cause now he was dizzy.

“You do?”

“A friend of mines band is in town, well he came to see if I was okay and I told him about this place and he said if your looking for a opening band for cheap he’ll do it. They are amazing too; they have a record deal with Eyeball Records. I don’t know if-“

“Eyeball Records! Really, tell him he’s in. I’m doing it for a thousand, is that enough you think?” Frank’s eyes went wide.

“Dude that’s way more than enough. They are only across the bridge. Well I did the math if I charge twenty dollars a person, and I can fit a hundred people in here legally, I’ll make that thousand back and an extra thousand.” Gerard walked over to Frank.

“I didn’t realize this place was that big.” Frank got a good look of the shop and it was, it was huge.

“Oh, plus the rows of music, they roll, so I just put them on the side wall behind the band, it will be fine.” Gerard shrugged.

“This must be your dream.”

“More than just my dream.”

Notes

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