Lonely Hearts Club (Sequel comming in June/July)

It had been two months since that first night at the arcade and Frank had gotten into a little routine. And he loved it. He loved this little life. His mum and him finally had the apartment the way they wanted and school was great and Frank still had friends. That was the biggest suprise. And he also had a gigged lined up that Saturday and Gerard was going to be there.
Gerard. Now there was a topic of importance in Franks life. Gerard was a naturally flirtatious person and he was all cuddly with everyone, but Frank didn't care because being close to the guy was addictive and Gerard was happy to be his constant hit. Frank groaned at his pathetic little crush. He is laying in bed thinking about Gerard and about Saturday night. Maybe something will happen, maybe Gerard will say something or maybe Frank will work up the courage to go further or maybe Frank and Gerard will stay friends and nothing will happen. Frank has more faith in the latter. He sat up and slipped outta bed. He didn't even pay attention to his surroundings just made his way to the kitchen; his head filled with scenarios and what ifs.

It wasn't until he had sat down at the kitchen table and was met by the sight of his mother not cooking breakfast that Frank noticed the snow outside. Oh.

'Snow day.' Franks mother said into her coffee cup. Frank sighed. It was a good thing sure a day or two off school. But it also meant 48 horrendous Gerard-less hours. 'It was on the radio this morning. All schools in the area are closed because, well the roads are unusable and everything's on lockdown. But guess who still has to go into work.' She placed her mug down and made her way to the coatrack. 'Me! That's who. You enjoy your day off Frank!' She said smiling at him enviously. He smiled back. He loved the way her eyes crinkled and she smiled with her teeth. She seems happy. If she's happy he's happy. 'Oh, I still can't find that damn scarf.' His smile drops. She doesn't see it though. She just pulls her jacket on and shouts 'Bye Frankie, see you tonight.' And she's gone and Franks alone.

The house is silent. He can hear the buzz of the refrigerator and the hum of the coffee maker. Frank seemed to have spent an hour and a half sitting at the breakfast table without really realising. He thinks about making breakfast but is so comforted by the silence that he doesn't want to disturb it. . It's so quite he hears the ding of his phone when a text comes throughFrank jumps out of his seat and runs to his room, grabbing his phone, and lying on his bed. It was from Mikey.

Hey! Snow day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay I am slightly too excited, but Patrick's got his big old house to himself and we are all gonna go over to his and have a movie day. You in?

Frank smiled. Looks like he's not gonna be mopping around the house today. He replied quickly.

Yeah sure! I'll just have to dig myself out of the house and make my way over!

The thing Frank learned over the last two months was that everyone lived in a two block radius of each other. So it shouldn't take too long to get to Patrick's even with this weather.
Frank decided to play some music whilst he got ready. It took him at least an hour and it wasn't until 11 that he'd properly picked an outfit. He was dancing around his room, performing some air guitar and singing when he heard a bang and everything went black. He picked up his phone '100% Battery' he muttered his thanks. He didn't want to be without a phone during what seemed to be a power cut. Damn weather. He decided to phone Mikey. He answered immediately.

'Hey man! Eh the powers went out.' Frank said casually picking up his shoes from the side of his bed.

'Yeah I know! We are at Patrick's and everything just went out.' Mikey said, he sounded like he was shouting or at least far away from the phone.

'What are we gonna do now?' Frank didn't want to be stuck in all day on his own and without power.

'I don't know, Patrick has some candles and he has his guitar so we should be able to keep ourselves entertained.'

'Yeah, I'm ready. I'll be around soon, do you need anything?' Frank was in the kitchen now his coffee was still warm. He sipped it quickly.

'Just your pretty little face Frankie!' That was Gerard. Frank spit his coffee all down his shirt. 'Gerard do shut up!' That was Mikey. 'Soz Man, you're on loud speaker.'

'Oh it's fine' Frank lied. 'I'll be about twenty minutes actually I've erm....gotta change my shirt.' Frank felt embarrassed.

'Cool, see you then dude!' Mikey cut the phone off before Frank could say bye. Mikey was so casual and calm and collected, Frank was fidgety mess with a coffee stained shirt. Yet Mikey was younger than him he still had his life more together than Frank did.

Once Frank was changed he locked up the house and made his way to the Stump household. Guitar on his back and earphones in. The snow was up past his shins at the parts of the pavement that hadn't been stomped on already. It was also still falling lightly. He was glad he was wearing his boots and not his converse; they would've been ruined. The walk which usually only would have taken 2 minutes took 10. Franks cheeks were numb, his nose bright read and his eyes watering by the time he got to Patrick's.

~~~~~~~~~

Gerard was dreaming about the arcade and more importantly Frank. In his dream Frank was princess peach, but like a male version. He and Mikey were Mario and Luigi and they were trying to rescue him. They had to battle through the levels and Yoshi was still Yoshi but with a fedora and hipster glasses and when they finally rescued Frank and they were about to kiss Gerard was coaxed from his dream unwillingly. Gerard was woken up by his brother jumping on his bed like an excitable child.

'GERARD! OMG ITS SNOWING!' Mikey was jumping all over Gerard's bed like a five year old on Christmas. 'Andddddd, it's been deemed too dangerous for us to go to school because there's like a foot of snow.'

'Yes Mikey. We live in New Jersey. We get snow every year.' Gerard said rubbing his eyes and smiling; remembering Frank as princess peach.

'Yeah, but it's the first this year! And a snow day!!!!!' Mikey was now off of his brothers bed and now over at his little window at the ceiling. He was pointing at it. It was totally covered in snow there was not one bit of light. 'AND!!!!! Patrick texted me he's got a free house and we are gonna go over their and watch movies. I suggested a Star Wars marathon, but Ray wants horror movies so I guess we will just have to vote when we all go around.' Mikey was speaking fast, but also being able to keep his cool and fabulous look whilst behaving like a small child.

Gerard raised himself out of bed and sat at his desk. 'Who is all going over to Patrick's?' He said grabbing his sketch book and pencils he knew if they chose horror movies he would get bored half way through and need something to keep him entertained.

'Patrick, Pete, Me, you and oh I need to text Frank!' Gerard smiled and put his stuff into a bag. Mikey was already dressed and had his hat and scarf in his hands. 'Hurry up and get dressed, I told Patrick we'd be over by 10!' Mikey left Gerard's room so Gerard could get dressed in peace.

When Gerard finally comes out of his room Mikey is sitting on the kitchen counter with two travel mugs of coffee and his rucksack on his back. Gerard sips the coffee and looks and Mikey thankfully. They sit for a while until it's time to leave and the walk isn't far, not usually but today it takes them twice as long to get to Patrick's.

When they arrive Gerard takes refuge in Patrick's living room on his big arm chair. He cuddles into the warm cushions and doesn't really pay attention to the rest of them, but just sat zoned in on his drawing. It isn't until there is a bang and all the lights go that Gerard starts to pay any attention.

'Patrick, what happened?' Mikey says from in the kitchen. Gerard is alone in the living room and it's very dark.

'It's probably just a fuse I'll go check.' Patrick's gone down to the basement and Mikey comes through to the living room and sits beside Gerard. 'Nope, must be a power cut!' Patrick shouts from downstairs. Pete is in the kitchen, but he hasn't said anything he's just standing there trying to to break anything.

Suddenly Mikeys phone begins to ring and he picks it up. 'It's Frank' he mouths towards Gerard. Gerard sits up quickly and says 'put it on speaker' Mikey does and places it on the table.

'Hey man! Eh the powers went out.' Frank says casually. Gerard smiles at the sound of his voice.

'Yeah I know! We are at Patrick's and everything just went out.' Mikey said leaning back on the couch.

'What are we gonna do now?' Frank sounded worried.

'I don't know, Patrick has some candles and he had his guitar so we should be able to keep ourselves entertained.' Mikey muttered quickly.

'Yeah, I'm ready. I'll be around soon, do you need anything?' Gerard smiled and leaned towards the phone and said.

'Just your pretty little face Frankie!' Mikey quickly pulled the phone up from the table an apologised for his brother. Gerard sat back on the chair and smiled. He could hear the blush in Franks cheeks, if that was even possible. Gerard couldn't listen to the rest of the conversation as Mikey had taken it off speaker and was walking towards the kitchen.
Gerard leaned back into the chair and pulled up his sketch book. He was so engrossed he didn't even notice Ray arrive five minutes later or the argument between Pete and Patrick about the band or Mikey telling Gerard to be more sociable. He only came out of his creative haze when he heard Franks voice.

Notes

God this is mundane isn't it?

-C