Bookworms Anonymous

'So then Gerard was like "K-keep the C-Ch-change." And then he slammed the door shut right on his face.' Lindsey shouted in between snorts and giggles. Mikey was listening intently to the story laughing till his cheeks were stained with tears. Gerard was sulking on the couch in the corner whilst his best friend and brother where taking the piss out of him and obviously enjoying themselves. Mikey glanced over at his brother and frowned slightly wiping away the tears.

This had all started out as Chinese at Lindsey's apartment. Because Gerard refused to ever eat pizza again. They ordered food and Mikey was caught up on all the gossip. Mikey rambled on about the little record label he worked for in LA and how he would see if he could get MSI a meeting with the president of the company. Lindsey spoke about the band for a small while, but most of the conversation was focused around Gerard's failed attempt at a love life.

'Listen Gerard, if it makes you feel better, he does seem like he might be interested.' Mikey said cautiously. Gerard huffed rolling his eyes. Lindsey nods slightly in agreement.

'No! Gee he is right! You and Frank...you and Frank! Grank?' She said more to Mikey than Gerard. Mikey screwed up his face for a second then smiled.

'Frerard.' Mikey said and Lindsey's eyes went wide in excitement. She repeated a couple of times then walked over to the fridge. Mikey moved closer to his brother placing an arm around him. 'Frerard.' He whispered.

'Shut the fuck up Mikey.' Gerard muttered pushing his face further away from Mikey.
'You are lucky he isn't coming to the gig tomorrow.' Lindsey squealed slightly passing Mikey a can of beer and Gerard a coke. She nestled herself between the two brothers and sipped her beer. 'He would have a field day winding you up.' She giggled resting her head of Gerard's shoulder. Gerard pushed her off and grunted in response. She only giggled.

'Oh I miss you guys.' Mikey said looking very melancholy. 'I don't wanna go back to California. I've only got a month and then I'll be back there. I mean the weathers better, but nothing beats a good old New York City. And Jerseys great don't get me wrong can't wait to see mum, but New York is just the best of the best.' Mikey mumbled waffling on.

'Oh stop being such a mope. Both of you are so bloody moody. Bringing down my buzz.' Lindsey wavered slightly from the alcohol. Mikey nudged her and smiled slightly cheering her up. Gerard still wasn't talking, but did smile at Lindsey. 'I miss the days where we would all go out on a summers night and eat hotdogs in Central Park and go to the late night comic book stores and go to gigs and then you guys would crash at mine. Being 18 and having no responsibilities except the fact I had to make sure a 17 and 15 year old didn't die whilst they were with me. Your mum would have killed me.' Mikey mumbled gulping from his tin.

'Remember that time we went to that gig and they wouldn't let Gee in because...well because he looked 12.' Mikey said his voice wavering slightly from the alcohol. Lindsey nodded excitedly remembering the night.

'Yeah! I can't remember who the band were, but we really wanted to see them and we all met up and queued for ages and then the bouncer let me and you in and took one look at Gerard and laughed and pointed away.' She giggled furiously and Gerard just pushed himself into the couch more and screwed up his face. Hoping that the soft burgundy cushions would just swallow him up. 'Do you remember Gee?' Lindsey called over to him.

'Yes.' He said solemnly. Gerard did remember that night because it was one of the coldest and longest nights of his life, but also the best. They'd left him. On his own in the crisp air of February in New York City. The hours ticked by slowly as Gerard wondered the streets looking for something to pass the time. And that's when he found the late night record store which was owned by Ray, a man who became one of Gerard's greatest friends, Ray didn't own it at the time his father did and he worked there. Gerard stumbled in more to warm the tips of his fingers than to look at their selection of vinyl, CD's and tapes.

'Damn you fingerless gloves.' He muttered to himself as he ripped the garments off and stuffed them into his coat pocket. He looked around taking in the bright decor and crazy signs illuminating the place signifying the different genres. Gerard smiled the place smelled like vinyl and made him feel warm and fuzzy. His two favourite things in the world was books and music and he was happy to spend the rest of his life in this store. The store was dead. The lights and buzz of music gave off the false sense of life to the place. But in reality it was silent from life except a grunt and snore that came from the other side of the store.

Gerard looked up to see a full jungle of curls spread out against the front desk. This hair was attached to a body. The body was just insignificant when the hair was just so extravagant. Gerard tip toed around the store trying not to wake the guy. He made his way to the Punk Rock section and started to look through the Iggy Pop vinyl when he heard movement from The Hair. He glanced over his shoulder slightly to see if the guy was awake. He wasn't but now his face was fully submerged into the desk and was muttering sleepily to himself.

Gerard picked up a couple of vinyls before moving to the 'New Music' section. He always looked for new stuff to listen to new bands and new albums. He was flicking through the CD's when he suddenly slipped letting a pile of discs fall and clatter against the rough carpet. The Hair suddenly bounced from his slumber and stared widely at Gerard.

'I wasn't sleeping!'

'I wasn't stealing!'

They both said simultaneously staring at each other wide eyed and smiling slightly. The guy giggled and ruffled his hair slightly sending it into a frenzied mess.

'I'm sure you weren't.' The Hair said stepping down from behind the desk and sticking out his hand. 'Ray.' He said shaking Gerard's hand and smiling.

'Gerard. And I'm sure you were just listening for termites in the wood.' He giggled and shook it slightly feeling a pang of awkwardness. But then Ray noticed what he was holding.

'Iggy Pop. Nice. You should listen to these guys.' He said passing him a 'Rage Against the Machine' album from the new music stand before starting to explain how they were this electro hardcore band which literally just blew his mind.

That was a bad night which turned good. The late night music store seemed to turn into a weekly hang out for the trio and Ray became a close friend to all of them.

'I met Ray that night.' Gerard muttered standing up to put some music on. 'I went the record store and I bought a Iggy vinyl and he had fallen asleep on the job.' Gerard laughed flicking on the radio to brighten up the place. He hated reminiscing it made him feel sad for moments that he could never feel again.

Notes

This is the worst thing I've ever written I am so sorry. Pls don't hate me I've had zero inspiration and if you read my other fic you'll know why. I promise it'll be better next time.

-C

(When I wrote this chapter I took inspiration from the movie 'Empire Records', which you should totally watch, when I was describing the record store.)