Bookworms Anonymous

Thursday rolled by slowly and the torturous project Gerard had been working on wasn't the best distraction from everything. It wasn't developing at all and Gerard had zero inspiration.

'The epitome of prepossessing'

The title of the project was as far from Gerard's style as you could reach. He tried landscape drawing. He tried sketching Lindsey. But art isn't just reproducing a product onto a blank canvas. It's meant to have a twist and a passion to it. That's what Gerard lacked, the passion for an idea.

Gerard made a mind map of everything he found alluring and picturesque. He was sitting at the main desk at the bookshop chewing intently on his pencil and daydreaming about Saturday night when suddenly a pair of painted and well manicured fingers snapped in front of him waking him from his trance. He looked up hesitantly to see an older women hunched over carry around 5 books. She dumped them down carelessly and waited as Gerard rang them through. She was around 50 her black hair laced with silver slithers and her eyes a dark blue pierced through her round glasses. Her hair was pinned back and she was dressed in a long bottle green coat which swooped around her.

He smiled towards her and placed the books into a bag for her. She didn't return the smile she just sighed heavily.

'That'll be 45 dollars.' He said quietly towards the woman.

'Excuse me?' She said her voice ringing through the shop and gathering the attention of some other customers.

'45 dollars.' He said a little louder. The woman racked through her purse and pushed the money over to him.

'You must speak louder.' She said sternly and grabbed the bag out of Gerard's hands and stormed off. He sat back down on his chair and took a deep breath in. His hands shaking slightly. He hated this job sometimes. He turned back to his black page and shut his book loudly deciding that the project wasn't going to happen whilst he was working. He picked up his book he was currently reading. He read silently listening out for the ding of the door and fondled franks note, which he was now using as a bookmark, in his free hand.

Lindsey came in to see him at 1 to give him some lunch and to keep him company before she had to head off again. She was sitting on the front desk when the silent bookstore was filled by the sound of the ding of the door opening. Lindsey looked up from her phone and Gerard up from his book. At the door was a drenched Frank shaking and his clothes soaked and sticking to his small frame. Lindsey laughed and jumped off of the desk.

'Is it raining?' She said pulling Frank into the store and smiling at him widely. Gerard looked back to his book but wasn't reading.

'No I just like to shower with my clothes on.' He said shaking his hair and ridding of his hoodie. He hugged Lindsey making her squeal and cringe at his wet cuddle.

'Eww, you smell like wet dog.' She said taking his hoodie and putting it behind the desk. He laughed and settled beside Gerard at the desk. Gerard shrunk into his chair a little more at Frank's presence.

'I do have dogs so,' he called through to her and leaning over Gerard's shoulder to see what he was reading. Or not reading just pretending in Gerard's case. 'The Stand. I've heard it's good.' Frank whispers slightly into Gerard's ear. He recoils slightly shooting a smile up at him and then returning his gaze to the book. Frank sighs moving away from him.

Gerard realises his mistake at this point and he turns to Frank placing the book down. 'It's good. Just a bit slow and incredibly long.' Gerard says quietly smiling up at Frank from his sitting position. Frank smiles sitting next to him but on the desk, still keeping his distance. '1300 pages.' Gerard says staring at the book and not Frank.

'Very long.' Frank says staring at Gerard and not the book. 'Stephen King though. It's worth the months of reading.' Gerard laughs and nods slightly. Lindsey is leaning against the door leading to the back of the shop smiling at the scene.

'Frank?' She says breaking the moment slightly, but for a good cause. 'Are you gonna just sit there and distract Gee?' He smiles jumping down from the desk and sticking his tongue out at her. 'Or are you here for a reason?'

'Yes, I actually wanted to ask you both if you wanted to go to a party slash gig thing on Saturday?' Lindsey frowns slightly.

'We are kinda busy. Where about?' She says slightly interested in who was playing.

'I don't know. My friend got tickets and there were two extra.' He wanders over to the comic books to see what was new in stock. Lindsey walks over to Gerard who is still staring at the book.

'Invite him.' She whispers to Gerard. He frowns slightly looking up at her. She laughs at his facial expressions and then explains herself. 'Invite him to MSI's gig. As your plus one.' She says under her breathe so Frank can't hear.

'I'm your plus one though. Can a plus one have a plus one?' He says trying to find any excuse not to talk to Frank again today. Lindsey pushed Gerard out of the seat and towards Frank.
'To be utterly honest Gee I don't know but you have to ask him.' Lindsey whispered angrily smiling still, but pushing his towards his imminent doom. Frank turned around to see Gerard looking undeniably uncomfortable.

'Hiya.' Frank said absentmindedly his lips curling into a sly smile. He turned slightly so he was half facing Gerard but still able to scan the comic books. Gerard nodded slightly turning around to see Lindsey pointing angrily at the back of Franks head mouthing 'DO IT!' Gerard sends one last plea towards her is the form of a frown before she just reiterated her last message. He turned towards Frank nervously trying to calm himself before speaking to him.

'I...I was wondering.' Gerard breathed out quickly before gasping for another breath. Frank smiled up at him doe eyes and a kind smirk. 'If you wanted to come to Lindsey's bands gig on Saturday. I mean instead of going to your party. You don't have to if you don't want to...I mean I'd like you to come and we get to hang backstage. And well. Yeah.' He blubbered out waving his hands around nervously. He could hear Lindsey giggling behind him.

'That's the most I've heard you talk since I met you.' Frank stated simply cocking his head slightly. Gerard nodded slightly taking his comment as a no and turning to walk back to Lindsey. But before he could even take a step away a hand gripped his shoulder. 'Normally.' Frank whispered slightly. 'When you ask someone a question you wait for an answer before walking away.' Gerard turned slightly so that Frank could see his face but he didn't look at him. 'Yeah I'd love to.' Frank smiled to Gerard. Gerard nodded slightly and walked back over to Lindsey looking up at her giant grin.

'I hate you.' He whispered to her as he walked past. She squealed quietly and jumped on her toes in excitement.

'You love me!' She spoke in hushed tones balancing her stomach on the desk and leaning over into Gerard personal space. 'Gerard got a date...Gerard got a date.' She said in a sing song way. He shushed her and blushes deeply turning to see in Frank was looking. But he was too busy reading Gerard's recommendation of the week. 'It's a bookstore not a library!' Lindsey called over to him. He laughed placing the comic down and wandering over the them both. 'So I heard you're coming to our gig on Friday?' Frank nodded leaning on the desk next to Gerard their arms rubbing slightly. Lindsey smiled at their closeness. 'So you two are my plus ones? Twos?' She muttered placing her feet onto the desk and settling into her seat more. Gerard shoved her docs off the wood and gave her evils.

'No shoes on the desk!' He said sternly. Lindsey rolled her eyes and Frank giggled leaning into Gerard more.

'So is her band actually any good?' He says loud enough for Lindsey to hear. Gerard smiles slightly still not looking at Frank.

'Yeah, actually they are. Lead singers a bit up himself and the bassists a bit of a bitch.' Gerard said towards Lindsey not Frank. 'But they make good music.' Frank nods still leaning into Gerard. He could feel the dampness of Frank's skin press into his t-shirt.

'Honestly, in my opinion the Bassist is really awesome.' Lindsey says absentmindedly as she sways back and forward of the chair looking up at the two men. A little laugh escaped from between Franks lip as he rubs his arm against Gerard's.

'I'm looking forward to it.' Frank says to Lindsey shooting them both a sideways grin before they are interrupted by the ringing of the door meant for alerting Gerard when customers come in. But at the door isn't a customer at all.

'How's my favourite socially awkward nerd?' The man said over to the three of them. Frank didn't recognise him. He was tall and thin and had a New Jersey brawl. Lindsey squealed running over to the guy and swinging her arms around him tightly.

'Mikes!' She called excitedly that guy laughed and hugged back. Gerard just laughed, Frank could still feel his arm leaning against his.

'What are you doing here?' Gerard shook his head slightly at Lindsey's excitement. Once Lindsey had removed herself from Mikey he walked over and explained his surprise arrival whilst giving Frank some strange looks.

'Bit of a surprise/warning. Kris is here for a meeting for work I said I would come out and see you whilst she's busy working. So I checked your flat and then that coffee shop you love. But then I decided you were either working or at school. And here you are.' He explained coolly leaning beside him.

'You know this is my place of work I can't just have social gatherings here?' Mikey laughed placing his arm on his brothers shoulder. 'Also what's the warning?'

'It's mum.' He sighed. 'She's been asking me about you. She is worried and when I told her I was going to propose to Kris, she kept going on about how you were 23 and worked in a bookstore and how she was never going to get grandchildren.' Lindsey burst out laughing from behind the two. Frank was watching feeling unwanted.

'Can she not just stay out of my business. And you aren't helping my case.' Mikey holds up his hand in surrender. 'You with your childhood sweetheart and your getting engaged at 21, you are setting terrible high standards for her.' Mikey smiled sympathetically and looked across at Frank again. 'Oh,' Gerard squealed getting Mikey's message. 'Mikes this is Frank and Frank this is my brother Mikey.' They shook hands awkwardly and then Lindsey jumped up from her seat.

'This is all fantastic. My 3 favourite people and all, but I do have to get to work. Mikes how long you staying in the city?'

'Couple of days. Then heading back out to jersey and then back to California after mums little family get together.' Gerard groaned. 'You coming Linds?' She nods sighing.

'Yeah, Gerard convinced my to come out for a couple of days. Your mum likes me though so..' Mikey nods hugging her as she makes her way to gather her things. 'Anyway, Gee I'll see you Tomorrow night you and Mikes can come to mine. Frank I'll see you Saturday.' They all waved bye as she walked out the shop.

'So you're bringing Linds?' Mikey said raising an eyebrow slightly. Gerard nods shyly. 'So you aren't gonna tell her then?' He shakes his head. 'One day G. One day you're gonna have to tell her.' Mikey whispers slightly, but Frank can still hear him.

'Yeah yeah, anyway. You guys got a hotel or?' Mikey nods. 'You know you could have just stayed at mine?'

'Kris didn't wanna trouble you.' Mikey said turning to Frank and smiling. 'So, Fred. Who are you exactly.' Gerard gasped slightly resting his head in his hands.

'Erm, Frank? I'm just a friend. Just hang about sometimes.' Frank muttered looking slightly petrified.

'Oh really?' Mikey said looking him up and down slightly.

'Yeah, and speaking of I really have to go.' He says picking up his still wet hoodie and smiling at Gerard.

'You don't have to go.' Gerard said grabbing Franks forearm. Frank looks down at Gerard's hand and smiled.

'No, it's fine. I'll see you Saturday?' Frank smiled up at Gerard.

'Yeah 7 o'clock at Bowerys?' Gerard mumbled removing his hand. Frank nodded and then left. Gerard turned around to Mikey slowly. 'I am the older one. I'm meant to be the over protective brother.' He mumbled picking up a bundle of books and placing them on the display. Mikey laughed ruffling his brothers hair as he passed him.

'You know I'm very supportive of you Gee, I just wanna make sure you are happy.' Mikey smiled down at him.

'Well.' Gerard breathed out. 'I'm perfectly fine. Don't you worry Mikes, you just focus on your own life.' Gerard moved back to the display and looked down at the note lying next to book he was reading. He picked it up smiling down at Frank messy handwriting. 'And I'll focus on mine.'

Notes

Hey! I've decided I'm gonna get into a schedule with these fics now. So Aftermath will be updated on Thursdays and Bookworm will be updated on Sundays.

There ain't much to say about this except that I nearly made the terrible mistake of emailing this to University of Dundee today so yeah!

Please, tell me what you think and check out my other fic if you wanna.
-C

(God, I hate reading my own wirting.)