Bookworms Anonymous

Lindsey had broken her leg. Severe fractures in her right leg and concussion from when her head hit the ground. She laughed it off somehow and was totally fine except maybe for the fact she knew she wouldn't be able to play properly for a while. Frank and Gerard waited at the hospital while she was seen by the doctor. Gerard insisted that Frank go home, but he wouldn't budge from his plastic seat in the hospital waiting area.

Frank didn't know why he was so uptight about staying with him, but he just found his self not wanting to leave Gerard's side after their moment.

'She's going in for an X-Ray.' Gerard said coming out of the room that Lindsey had been escorted into when they all arrived at the hospital. Frank didn't like hospitals he spent a lot of time there as kid because of his less than sufficient immune system. Frank smiled up at Gerard and leaned back into the chair. Gerard sat next to him and sighed.

It wasn't that it was awkward it was just that they were alone and there was no one there to distract them. No gig, no bookstore, no Lindsey throwing herself off of the stage. Just both of them alone in a silent hospital. Gerard studied his hands which were wringing and shaking slightly from the adrenaline. Frank was staring at the pasty blue wall in from of him. Studying the little crack where it met the ceiling and the little dents made by drunks, beds, wheelchairs and maybe some fists.

Okay it was awkward.

~~~~~~

'Coffee?' Gerard said suddenly and loudly. His perspective was kind of messed up as they had been sat in silence for the past hour. Coffee, why didn't Gerard think of it before that would break the awkwardness yes coffee. Frank had jumped from the sudden noise as he was so deep in a daydream about the near kiss he had actually closed his eyes. He coughs awkwardly because of his physical reaction to Gerard speaking and nodded. Gerard looked at Frank and smiled. Coffee.

'Black, 3 sugars.' Frank said suddenly when Gerard got up from his seat. He only nodded and continued to walk down the hall. Frank continued to stare at the blue wall. He was a mess an actual mess. Who let him interact with other human being. Who in their right mind let him roam free in society with other people. He was a social disaster. He blamed his mother, yes it was all her fault, she was the one who brought him up to be the socially awkward weirdo he is now. It was the only explanation for why he made a move on Gerard. He made the first move. The thought made him wanna puke. The thought that Gerard obviously didn't feel the same way made him want to walk out the hospital jump on the next plane to Hong Kong and change his name to....Keith Smith. Yeah he suited that name.

'Keith Smith.' He said aloud smiling at himself. He liked it. He shook his head suddenly and buried his head into his hands and blew out all the air in his lungs. He was a mess. He needed coffee.

And Gerard had been away for too long.

Gerard was leaning against the crappy hospital vending machines contemplating whether he should just run away now. He was so bad at this. He didn't even know if Frank liked him maybe he regretted making a move or maybe Gerard picked up the signal wrong. He was probably straight. They usually are every guy, without fail, that Gerard has liked over the past 2 years has been straight. Frank was probably the same. He probably had a thing for Lindsey. Who didn't have a thing for her? Gerard groaned and banged his head against the vending machine.

'What did the coffee machine ever do to you?' Gerard tipped his head to the side so that his forehead was still leaning against the machine. Frank smiled awkwardly up at him and Gerard sighed. He closed his eyes and groaned. Frank pressed his lips together. He needed coffee and Gerard had been away for 15 minutes and Frank was actually frightened he'd ran away.

'Sorry, I'm just tired. It's been a long day.' Gerard lied and looked down at the options for coffee. Frank raised his eyebrows and moved closer. Gerard could feel his presence but didn't let on he just pressed the button that signified a black coffee and watched as the machine whizzed and ticked and the room was suddenly filled with the smell of coffee.

'Gee.' Frank said simply causing Gerard to visibly cringe as he pressed for another coffee. He passed Frank a polystyrene cup and hummed questioningly. 'About...what happened.' Frank said quickly then suddenly the words got caught in his throat and he couldn't even describe what he was trying to say. I like you. I like you and if you don't like me then...Frank thought about those words and before he could even start to utter them Gerard interrupted.

'It's okay. I get it, it was a mistake.' Gerard laughed sipping his coffee. Franks heart stopped in that moment. The little bit of hope he had latched onto that Gerard felt the same was gone. He tried not to look to heart broken.

'Yeah!' He said shooting him a fake smile and trying to not let it seem like he was harbouring feelings for him and that Gerard hadn't just torn out his heart and stomped on it a million times over. Which he was, but he didn't want him to know that. They walked back in silence to the waiting room and settled into their chairs. Suddenly a doctor erupted from the room Lindsey had been pushed into about 30 minutes previously. He smiled at Gerard.

'Lindsey has went in for surgery. She needs to have metal plates put in because she's suffering from severe fractures. I was wondering if it possible for you got get her a change of clothes?' Gerard nodded and stood up quickly grabbing his jacket. He worked out quickly that his apartment was closer than hers.

'I'll just pop over to my apartment and pick up some clothes for her.' Gerard mumbled before heading down the hall. It would be good to get away from Frank. Away from the awkwardness and his heart ache. Cause he didn't feel the same way. Gerard didn't have any hope that he would, but it still hurt. Suddenly Gerard was whipped from his thoughts by a hand on his shoulder.

'I'll come with you.' He heard Frank before he saw him and he pushed the hand away before Frank could ask why not.

'No. You stay here. I'll go.' Gerard didn't turn around and hoped to God that when he came back Lindsey would be out of surgery so he could talk to her. 'She'll hopefully be out soon and it will be nice for you to be here when she gets out.' Gerard said finally before walking out and leaving Frank on his own.

Notes

Hey! A couple on notices please read them.

1) This is late I apologise.

2) It's also a really bad chapter and the shortest thing I've written, but I've been very uninspired.

3) I'm taking a break from fanfiction for a 2 months. I have my final exams. As in I leave high school soon and I need to do well in these. So yeah, but I will be coming back don't worry.

4) The Lonely Hearts Club sequal is in the planning stages and I will probably start uploading it in July!

5) I'm going to University in Manchester. Like...I've accepted my place. How rad is that?

So, bye for now, but please keep this story alive while I'm away. Keep sharing it and commenting and don't lose hope I will continue it I love it too much to stop it.

-C