Lonely Hearts Club (Sequel comming in June/July)

The arcade consisted of four sections. The gaming area. It was jam packed full of arcade games. Pac-man, mortal combat, donkey kong, Tetris, Super Mario Bros, street fighter....the list goes on. Beside that was the food court. It really wasn't much. Just a retro themed bar that served burgers and milkshakes. There was a popcorn and slurpee machine. Opposite that was the bowling alley, ten alleys all with big 1950's booths and gumball machines. The final area was a lounge area with a small stage and jukebox. The place was obviously themed and had red and blue as main colours. It wasn't exactly a 'hot-spot' around town but it made money and had regular costumers. Some of them were groups of high schools students from the three different schools in the area. Their best nights were Thursday's and Saturdays. But today was Tuesday and Pete was working night shift. The only good thing about that was that it was Patricks night off and he always came around with his friends and Pete loved Patrick and his friends. They were great. They always knew how to have a good time and they spent loads when they were here.

Frank was siting outside on the wall his feet barely touching the ground. He was bopping his head to this new local band Evan had told him to listen to at him and his bands little reunion. He felt great being back with the guys. They all seemed to fit together again and playing music seemed effortless. The jammed until Franks throat started to waver and then they all sat around discussing bands they liked and the possibility of getting a few gigs in place. The whole idea of being in a band again made Frank feel a little more at home and he just couldn't get enough of this band Evan had recommended. Fall Out Boy. The name was a bit off but he couldn't fault there music. Except the singer, he didn't like his voice. He had to see if these guys were playing anytime soon.

Frank was brought out of his thoughts by Mikey tapping him of the shoulder.

'Hey!' Frank said pulling out his earphones and jumping of his little perch. 'I was just listening to this band! They are so good you should totally...' Frank was cut off by Mikey.

'Yeah yeah, tell me inside okay? It's fucking freezing out here!' Frank laughed and nodded as Mikey dragged him inside.

Frank was instantly hit with the smell of popcorn and plastic, the sound of electronic blasting and the clatter of porcelain and the sight of Gerard Way running towards him at full rate.
'Frankie!' Gerard hugged him tightly and smiled at him. 'You made it!' Gerard smiled taking his hand and dragging him over to the front desk. He jumped up onto the counter and leaned over.

'Pete! Joe!' He turned back to Frank 'Let me introduce you to the gang.' Suddenly from the back room came a small eyeliner wearing guy with a red dyed fringe and pouty expression on his face. Followed by a taller guy who had hair that could compete with Rays. The smaller guy bounced up to the counter and gazed up towards Gerard.

'And what can I do for the better looking way brother?' Gerard laughed and nearly answered when Pete interrupted him.'Gerard can you move out the way I like to look at people when I'm speaking to them.' This made Frank erupt into laughter and Gerard hopped off the counter and sulked quietly next to Frank. Pete looked down at Frank and his eyes lit up. 'Oh and who do we have here! New meat! Exciting.' Pete gave a flirtatious look towards Frank and Frank blushed.

'Not for you Petey boy.' Gerard said and then he whispered. 'You've got Trick!' This made Pete blush and quickly shush Gerard.

'I wish!' Pete said then he looked across the arcade towards the diner. Frank followed his eyes towards a table which hosted Patrick, Ray and two guys Frank didn't recognise.

'Can you please stop staring at him and can you guys please go spend some money or I'll kick you out.' Said Joe jokingly and then he dragged Pete away by the hood of his hoodie and thereby ending their conversation. Gerard moved towards the table and sat down beside one of the guys Frank had never seen before.

'This is Josh! A friend of Patrick's and that's Dallon.' He pointed to the guy with the red mohawk sitting beside him and then to the really tall guy with floppy brown hair who sat across from them. They both waved towards Frank and then continued their conversations.

~~~~~~~~

The night rolled in and before Frank knew it he was on his fourth milkshake and was challenging Dallon Weekes, a guy he's just met, to a game of Mortal Combat and Frank lost because, next to Mikey, Dallon is the best gamer they have. There seems to be a regular patterned between being tall and good at video games, Frank thinks. Gerard was sitting at a booth with Pete, Ray, Patrick and Pete when Frank comes over and sits next to him.

'Why did you let me do that knowing he was that fucking good at Mortal Combat I just lost myself $10!' Frank said to Gerard, the table laughed and then Ray pipped in.

'You have to make your own mistakes.' Then Mikey plops down beside them and takes a gulp out of Patrick's milkshake, but Patrick's too nice to say anything.

'Frank, you were saying before how you came across a new band?' Mikey says changing the subject and sipping Patrick's milkshake thoughtfully.

'Oh yeah!' Frank said sitting up, it's only then he realises how close he is to Gerard and how he could feel Gerard side pressed into his and how Gerard arm is placed around his back. Nobody else has seemed to notice and that settles Frank a little. 'Yeah they are really cool, oh what was their name! Something weird oh...' Frank sat thinking for a second then finally grabbed his phone from his pocket and went onto his history. 'Oh! Fall Out Boy! My old friend Evan....' Frank was cut off from the whole table erupting into laughter and looking at him as if he just sprouted another head. Frank looked around to find Gerard crying and Mikey buckled over. 'What did I miss?' Franks said quietly to Gerard who just looked up at him and smiled.

'Fall out boy? Huh?' Joe said wiping a stray tear from his cheek. 'What do you think do think of them then?' Joe asks Frank directly and the laughter dies as everyone looks towards Frank.

Frank doesn't know what to say, the truth? Lie? What would he say if he was to lie? Truth he decided on truth.

Gerard watched him and he could see Franks eyes dart around him frightened he was going to offend someone with his next statement.

'I like them. They are really cool and probably the only pop punk band I've actually liked recently and I'd really like to see them live' Frank stutters out and then looked around the table. Petes is the first to speak.

'Fall out boy. They. We are playing a show next Saturday, you should come along.' Frank looks confused for a second and then Joe clears it up in one breezy sentence.

'Fall out boy is mine and Petes band.' He smiles and then Frank realises whey they were all laughing at him fangirling over their band. He laughs and then so does everyone else and then Petes beings to questions Franks thoughts on the band.

'The only criticism,' Frank says quietly across the table of conversations. 'Is that you need a new vocalist and pronto.' Pete nods in agreement and the grabs Patrick's shoulder.

'I don't like our vocalist I'm trying to get a new one and I've been trying to get this little angel to join us for months now, but it's not happening.' Patrick smiles weakly and goes to speak, but before he can defend himself Gerard pulls Frank out of the booth.

'Come on Frankie, let's go find Dallon and I'll try and win you back your $10.' Gerard pulled Frank always from the booth and the conversation and out towards the wall in which Frank had found himself only 2 hours previous. They both sat on the wall Franks feet not touching the ground and Gerard's were.

'So let me get this right.' Frank began. 'Pete likes Patrick and Patrick likes Pete, but they aren't going to say anything because they don't think the other returns the affection?' Frank questions Gerard. He nods in affirmative and then digs around in his pocket for a packet of cigarettes. 'Why don't any of you guys tell them? I mean they are both infatuated with each other!' Gerard places a cigarette into his mouth.

'Because they need to work it out by themselves. They may never work it out and that's okay because that's the way things were meant to be.' Gerard lights the sticks and then inhales deeply. 'They may just end up being friends forever and that's okay.'

'No, it's sad.' Frank says. Gerard passes the cigarette to Frank, who accepts it great fully. He inhales the nicotine infused smoke quickly and let's it linger for a moment and then he exhales the smoke through his pursed lips. Gerard thinks just then that he has found something more addictive than smoking and that was watching Frank Iero smoke.
'How is it sad?' Gerard asks taking the cigarette from Frank.

'Because they are obviously meant for each other I mean I've known Patrick for less than 48 hours and Pete for 2 and I know they fit together perfectly. So if they are only gonna be friends then that's a waste of that perfect fit they have. That bond.' Franks looking up towards the sky and Gerard is staring at him.

'But that's the way the world works. That's life. And life and love are not the same thing.'
'Yes they are, they are perfectly entwined. Love moves life and life spurs on love. It cheers for it.' Frank closes his eyes and tips his head into Gerard's shoulder.

'But love is exciting, life's repetitive, boring, endless until the end and then bliss.' Frank moves his head and looks at Gerard.

'How can you know if you haven't experienced life yet?'

'And you haven't experienced love.' Frank shrugs his shoulders.

'But I've witnessed it.' Frank jumps up and turns to Gerard. 'Change isn't all it's made out to be. Sometimes repetition is good.'

'I hate repetition, my entire life is repetition. Just day in and day out of the same old shit. The same old school and friends and arcade and family and the same old thoughts. I want change.' Gerard looks up at Frank who smiles sympathetically and grabs his hands.
'Let's go for a walk. I'm on a sugar high from all that milkshake.' Gerard nods and follows Frank around the desolate streets.

They walked in silence for a while, all that could be heard was the slow in sync steps and the quick breathes and occasionally a 'thanks' when Gerard offers Frank a cigarette. They stop at a park. It's dark and nobodies about so they go in and settle on a bench.

'Frankie.' Gerard's voice seems quite desperate and sad. This is a shock to Frank. He's never seen this side of Gerard before and even though he's only known him for two days he feels at home with him he feels safe and he cares about him. 'I'm sad.' Gerard said bluntly staring at Frank with his sad eyes.

'Sad?'

'I feel fed up, but only a little not as much as before. I feel better but still sad Frank still so sad and I don't know how to get rid of it.' Frank stares at Gerard for a while and then he finally thinks of something to say.

'Gee, you have nothing to be sad about of the exterior. So it's your thoughts that are getting to you and I can't do anything about the thoughts. Only you can beat them. Only you can truly find how to get rid of the sadness. But I can help.' Gerard looks at Frank, his big eyes full of....sadness. 'And Mikey, and Patrick and Ray and Pete even!' This makes Gerard laugh a sad pitiful laugh.

'I don't think I have it in me to fight them anymore.' Gerard leans on Franks shoulder and that was the end of the conversation.

And that was the end of the night.

Notes

Its okay though cause I have my dog to keep me company. But he doesn't undersant late night fanfiction uploading and is sleeping.

-C