Lonely Hearts Club (Sequel comming in June/July)

Frank stood outside shivering. He really should have put a proper coat on. He didn't bother knocking, just walked in and said hi before making his way into the first of two sitting areas. There he saw nobody except Gerard. Curled into a little ball, a blanket wrapped around him and his sketch book balanced on his knees.

'Hi.' Frank whispered into the room, smiling down at Gerard. Gerard's head looked up and his face split into a huge grin, teeth and all.

'Hiya Frankie!' He jumped up and set his sketch pad down before running up to Frank and wrapping his arms around his neck. Frank placed his hands of Gerard's back, pulling him closer and breathed in. Gerard nestled his nose into Franks neck. The hug lasted at least 15 seconds. Gerard pulled away and looked at Frank smiling. 'Powers out. And they are all in the kitchen talking about stuff.' Gerard walked over to the couch and settled into it smiling up and Frank. Frank moved over and sat beside him and smiled.

'Why aren't you with them?' Frank lay back against the couch pulling off his wet hoodie and placing it beside his guitar. Gerard leaned over Frank, making his heart literally stop, and grabbed the blanket.

'They are talking about girls and Fall Out Boy...' Gerard wrapped the blanket around Franks still shivering frame. 'And I don't care about girls or Fall Out Boy. There you go, you need it more than me.' Gerard settled back into the couch and Frank was literally glowing with happiness at how close they were.

'Frank!' Mikey jumped on Frank cuddling him and siting in between him and Gerard. The rest of them waved at Frank and said hi as they all settled into seats and began their casual conversation. They ended up all sat on the floor playing truth or dare. Gerard was sat opposite Frank and wasn't really participating; just staring at Frank smiling. Frank didn't notice he was too busy trying not to stare at Gerard.

'Patrick truth or dare?' Pete asked the small boy, Patrick visibly blushed and everyone noticed; except Pete.

'Truth.' Patrick said quietly not looking up from his hands. Pete smirked and cleared his throat. Patrick looked up at him then and smiled.

'If it wasn't for the whole 'you can barely speak to your friends because you are so incredibly socially awkward' would you join my band?' Pete says, eyes glowing and a smirk playing on his lips. Everyone stared at Patrick who looked on the verge of a panic attack. Ray noticed this and placed his hand on Patrick's arm. Patrick relaxed a little and spoke quietly.

'I mean yeah, but I'm not a singer.' Patrick smiled at Pete and quickly looked back at his hands.

'You're kidding me right?' Pete said the juxtaposition between the volume of their two voices evident now. 'Patrick you've got a soul voice!' Everyone burst into laughter at Pete and so did Patrick. He was instantly let off the hook and it was Franks turn now.

Frank thought carefully about what he was gonna ask and who he was going to ask. This was his only chance, he had to make the leap. 'Gerard,' Gerard looked up casually and smiled.

'Truth or Dare?' Gerard's smile vanished and his eyes went wide. He pulled his mouth into a slight pout and then opened and closed it a couple of times like a fish.

'Erm, truth.' He said smiling, trying to keep his cool. Frank nodded and then moved from his crossed legged position to on his knees.

'Who do you like?' Frank asked simply and then a couple of seconds he explained himself. 'I mean, we all know Rays infatuated with Christa and that Patrick, you know, and that Pete, well, I know who they both like and everyone's in love with Mikey so really he can like anyone he wants. But you are a mystery.' Gerard sat still for a minute and then breathed in and out slowly. Mikey was obviously sniggering next to Frank and Ray, Patrick and Pete all looked intrigued at what was to be Gerard's answer.

'What's the forfeit?' Gerard said calmly and then Frank smirked and tipped his head slightly. 'Show me what's in your sketch book.' Mikey gasped and then turned to Gerard. Everyone else looked at Gerard as he had a mental debate with himself. It was the longest thirty seconds of Franks life. Then suddenly Gerard got to his feet. Frank smiled at the prospect of seeing Gerard's drawings.

'I think I've had enough of this game.' Gerard said simply and then walked out of the room calmly grabbing his sketch book and leaving them all in shock. Mikey jumped up out of his spot and ran after Gerard telling them all to keep playing and that he's be back in a second.
Gerard was sitting on the porch of Patrick's palace. Mikey was standing at the door leaning against the door frame. They both were aware of each other's presence and the silence was awkward and Mikey had to break it. 'You've got to admit he tried.' Mikey laughed and made his way to Gerard and sat down. 'Gerard, he was just trying to find out more about you, he's your friend.' Mikey nudged Gerard's shoulder and Gerard turned to him.

'Okay, sure but then what do I do when I have to tell him I like him.' Mikey smiled, he knew it, and then shrugged. 'It's obvious he is straight and even if he wasn't, which brother would he go for. The nerdy, good looking bloke one or the nerdy, creepy basement one.' Mikey laughed and then stood up.

'Gerard, there is one small issue.' Gerard looked up at his younger brother frowning. 'You can't help who you fall in love with. And Frank, even if he is straight or in love with me (which I doubt), still wants to be your friend. Now that's better than nothing right?' Gerard nodded and then looked down at his sketch book.

'I couldn't show him what's in here could I?' Mikey shook his head and then put out his hand and Gerard grabbed it and stood up.

'I guess not, but it's over now and everyone just thinks you're a grumpy tool so don't worry'. Gerard laughed and then hugged Mikey.

'I love you Mikey!' Gerard said to his brother and smiled at him. Mikey ruffled Gerard's hair and then smirked.

'Not as much as you love Frank though.' And with that the brothers made their way back into Patrick's house and into the living room.

When they walked back in Frank was sitting on Gerard's chair guitar in hand and strumming away. Mikey went and sat beside Ray on the coffee table, but Gerard stayed leaning against the door frame staring at Frank play. He'd never seen Frank play before. He didn't think anyone had.

'Any requests?' Frank smiled up at the group once he had finished tuning. Mikey mentioned some song Gerard hadn't heard of and Frank began to play it. It was something in the charts. Gerard knew the tune. Frank was humming along singing some of the lyrics. He had an amazing voice. Gerard could feel himself falling more for the guy every second. By the chorus everyone was singing along and laughing at Petes attempt at hitting the high note. The song finished and then Frank played another this one Gerard did know. Life on Mars. Patrick knew all the lyrics and even corrected Franks guitar playing.

'This is why you don't attempt Bowie when Patrick's around. He is a fangirl.' Pete said putting his arm around Patrick, making him blush deeply. Next he played My War and everyone was nodding along talking and making requests for the next hour. Gerard stayed at the door.

'I'm going for a smoke, be back in ten.' Frank said going outside, his guitar still strapped around him. Gerard followed him out also needing a cigarette. Frank sat on the stairs at the porch and lit a cigarette. Not noticing Gerard until he sat beside him. 'Oh, hi. Listen I'm sorry about earlier I didn't realise...' Frank was cut off by Gerard.

'Don't apologise. It's fine. It's just, I've never showed anyone but Mikes my art before. I'm scared of showing people it. It's like exposing my soul.' Gerard laughed. 'I'm sorry for over reacting it was stupid.'

'No, I understand. I remember the first time I showed someone a song I had written. It's like laying all your emotion down and saying hey criticise my feelings please!' Frank flicked his cigarette ash melting a layer of snow. 'I mean there is still songs I've never shown anyone before. Well except Evan.' Gerard raised his eyebrows in confusion. 'He's the guitarist for the cellabration.' Gerard smiled and leaned his head on Franks shoulder.

'What kind of songs?'

'Some about people, some about situations and some about feelings. I've written one recently called 'All I Want Is Nothing'. I don't think I'll ever play it though, not in the band anyway.' Frank said tapping his guitar. 'It's too personal.'

'What's it about.' Gerard said casually. Frank panicked, he couldn't lie to Gerard but he couldn't exactly tell him the truth. Maybe bend the truth.

'About love. First love.' Frank breathes out and looks at Gerard.

'Play it.' Gerard doesn't demand just suggests eagerly. Frank laughs and then shakes his head. He sees the disappointment in Gerard's eyes.

'When you show me your art, I'll show you the song.' Frank says, making a deal with Gerard and then settling into his second cigarette.

'I can't wait for your show on Saturday.' Gerard smiles. 'So do you sing for the band then?' Frank nods and takes a draw of his cigarette. 'You have a great voice.' Gerard looks up at Frank and giggles. 'You really do, I couldn't believe it when you started singing in there I thought..' Gerard hesitated.

'What?'

'I thought, wow this guy can't get anymore perfect can he?' Gerard wasn't looking at Frank just out into the snowy abyss. Frank looked down at his boots and then up and Gerard.

'You better be front and centre on Saturday.' Frank joked and nudged Gerard's shoulders.
'Actually you could probably be back stage if you really wanted.' Frank said casually breathing out a puff of grey smoke. Gerard loved to watch Frank smoke it became an addiction over the last two months he's known him. He'd actually cut down immensely since he met him.

'Really?' Gerard smiled at the thought of being at the side of the stage watching Frank play, like a supportive friend or boyfriend. Gerard shook the thought from his head. Friend. Friend.
'Yeah, I can get a few people backstage. You and Mikey can come. Maybe if we leave Pete and Patrick alone one of them will finally make a move. And Ray is gonna bring Christa so you don't wanna third wheel eh?' Gerard laughed and the sighed.

'Have you seen my brother? I always end up the third wheel when we go out.' Gerard snatches Franks cigarette out of his hand and inhales.

'Yeah, but I'll be there. We can be third wheel together, fourth wheel even.' Frank placed his head on Gerard shoulders and sighed. 'Anyway, the guys really wanna meet you.'

'Ditto, they seem like really cool dudes.' Frank and Gerard sat in silence and managed to smoke their way through half a packet of smokes and then finally decided it was too cold to be outside and went back in to find the electricity was back on and Star Wars was playing. They both settled on the arm chair which wasn't big enough for the two of them but they made it work and they watched A New Hope and half of The Empire Strikes Back before Gerard fell asleep in Franks arms dreaming of planet Hoth and Frank as a Jedi.

~~~~~~~~~

When Gerard awoke it was of his own accord. He smelt food. His stomach did a flip and then grumbled. He hadn't eaten since this morning. He looked at his phone. 5pm. He was curled up on the arm chair at Patrick's. He could hear guitar strumming and the clatter of pans and silverware. He raised himself up and walked into Patrick's kitchen.

Patrick's kitchen was huge. It has a TV and sofa in it. It was the size of Gerard's living room and kitchen put together. It was all state of the art and modern. It's centre piece is a large dinning table. Around the table was Ray, Pete and Mikey. Frank was on top of one of the counter tops strumming To forgive whilst Patrick is singing and frying vegetables and noodles. They are all laughing about something when they notice Gerard at the door.
'Morning sleepy head.' Patrick says and then pushes the stir fry into a bowl. Gerard stalks over and takes out a green pepper eating it.

'Hey that's mine!' Franks says pushing himself off the counter and placing his guitar on it. 'That's yours' Frank smiles pointing at a pan of stir fry with chicken.

'What's the difference.' Gerard says eating another pepper. Frank shakes his head and then goes to sit at the table and Gerard follows him.

'He's vegetarian Gerard.' Mikey says his eyes not moving from his phone. Gerard raises his eyebrows in surprise. 'For someone who is in lov...' Mikey stops himself and Gerard chokes on the pepper. 'Loves chicken, you seem pretty keen to eat Franks.' Mikey saves it suavely and nobody seems to see his mess up, but Gerard's still chocking and bright red.

'You okay?' Frank says with concerned eyes. Placing his hand of Gerard's back.

'Yeah, I'm good' Gerard strains taking a drink from Mikeys water. 'Bloody hell.' He says under his breath and then smiles to Frank. 'Sorry, I'm just really hungry.' Frank laughs, his hand still on Gerard.

'Well that's good cause dinners ready.' Patrick says bringing over plates and sitting opposite Frank. 'Oh my mum phoned. She's stuck in New York. I told her not to go. She had a meeting she really didn't wanna miss, but now there is no trains running to get her back so she is having to spend the night at my aunts, so you guys can stay if you want?' They all nodded in agreement. The food was amazing and Patrick then admits it's the only thing he can cook. Pete still nags at Patrick about the whole band thing all the way through dinner and Patrick gives in.

'Okay, I'll come to a rehearsal. That's it! I'm not promising anything. Now can we please eat in peace.' Patrick sighs pushing his food around his plate. Pete literally squealed in delight and hugged him. That seemed to make it all worth it for Patrick.

'Speaking of the band. We might be going on tour next summer. Like a proper tour.' They all smile in delight whilst Pete explained the terms. 'We just need to have a full line up by January and then boom, we can go out on tour. Though we do need a support act but I guess Eyeball records can deal with that, but I would rather take a band we liked.' Pete was now sitting on the spare seat next to Patrick smiling.

'That's great man, so how long will you be on tour for?' Mikey asks, his mouth full of food. But he still looks cool as fuck and that kinda pisses everyone off. '

About a month. It'll be great. We can get a proper following and hopefully get the attention of a bigger record label.' Gerard then has an idea and sort of turns towards the conversation for the first time since they all sat down to eat.

'What about the Cellabration?' Frank looked slightly confused and then Pete smiled. 'Franks band, they could use the platform.' Pete nods along with what gerard is saying then turns to Frank.

'Well, this band it's nothing serious. Not yet anyway. Just a bunch of kids playing free concerts just to have fun. I mean I can mention it to the guys. But I'm not sure you'll want us.'
'What are you on about. Isn't that how all bands start out, all the best ones anyway? Just a bunch of losers playing in a garage or basement just to pass the time. That's how Fall Out Boy started anyway.' Everyone laughed and agreed.

'Eh, we aren't losers.' Frank says smiling and then Gerard smiles and puts his hand on franks shoulder.

'Yeah you kinda are.' Mikey cuts in and then eats another mouthful of food.

'Fuck you MikeyWay.' Frank says throwing a noodle at Mikey's face.

The conversation went back to normal after that. They talked about Saturday, Christa, Gerard impending portfolio for art school and the fact most of them didn't know what to do with their lives.

~~~~~

By the end of the night they had played a game of cards against humanity, watched reruns of friends and ate enough popcorn to feed an entire cinemas worth of people. They all went to bed at around 12ish. Patrick to his bedroom. Pete and Mikey sharing the room beside Patrick. Ray taking the spare single room and somehow Gerard and Frank ended up taking the attic guest room. It was all Mikey's idea.

Frank collapsed onto the bed with a giggle. Gerard lay beside him smiling. Gerard could feel the heat radiating off of Frank.

'Tonight was great.' Frank said turning around to face Gerard. Gerard was leaning on his elbow propped up and staring at Frank. 'I've never laughed so much in my life.'

'Same here. Everyone's had a great time. Though I'm pretty sure Petes totally bummed out about not getting to share a room with Patrick.' Gerard closes his eyes slightly, he can feel how tired he is now. 'But he does get to share a room with my brother and everyone seems to have a thing for him' Gerard groans.

'I don't see it. Sorry, but your brothers a bit of a douche. Lovely guy, nice and all but he really does think highly of himself.' Frank is laughing and moving closer to Gerard.

'You see everyone finds the self confidence attractive. Everyone says he is the better looking out of the two of us. The more attractive Way brother.' Gerard giggles. '

I would have to disagree. I don't think he is.' Frank says tilting his head slightly to be in line with Gerard's.

'You don't?' Gerard finds himself moving his head closer to Franks.

'Not at all.' Frank is whispering now. He can feel Gerard's breathe on his cheeks. His heart is hammering out of his chest. Wait. That isn't his heart that's the door. Gerard moves away from Frank and sits up quickly. Just as Patrick walks in.

'Hey guys, I've got some Pj's for you to wear. I mean they will fit you Frank but Gerard you are like an entire person bigger than me so the trousers won't fit, but the shirt will.' Patrick's stops to look at them both. Frank is lying back on the bed staring up at the ceiling breathing quickly and Gerard is siting bolt straight his cheeks flushed. 'Are you two okay?' Patrick places the bundle of clothes down of the chair in the corner of the room. They both sit in silence for a minute then Frank thinks of something.

'Gerard was telling me a spooky story about the woods out back. You know the woods that cover the entire area between here and the school. Yeah and you coming in gave us a fright.' Gerard physically relaxed and nodded his head in agreement not trusting himself to speak.

'Oh! Yeah? I've never heard it you'll have to tell it to me sometime.' Patrick yawns. 'Anyway, I'm shattered. I'll see you in the morning.' He closed the door and Gerard collapsed onto the bed staring up at the ceiling.

They were both silent for a good minute or two. All that could be heard is the faint chatter from downstairs and their heavy breathing. Suddenly they both erupted into laughter. Hysterical laughter. Dying down only after Frank got up to put some night clothes on. Gerard tried not to look, he really did but it was quite impossible. Frank had another tattoo on his back. A pumpkin with the phrase 'keep the faith' written below it. Gerard turned away just as Frank faced him. Frank jumped onto the bed and pushed his face into the pillow sighing. Gerard got up and inspected the clothes. Patrick was right. He wouldn't fit into the bottoms they wouldn't sit comfortably at all. He would have to sleep in his boxers. He tugged off his shirt and slipped on Patrick's old plain black Tshirt and dumped his jeans and shirt beside Franks. He turned around to find Frank staring. Gerard raised an eyebrow and Frank smiled back at him. Gerard lay on top of the bed staring up at the ceiling. Frank did the same. It was a comfortable silence. The noise from down the stairs had died and all that could be heard his the snoring and breathing from around the house. Gerard slowly turned his head towards Frank.

'Night Frankie.' He said quietly. Their hands brushed as Frank moved to be on his side.

'Night Gee.' Frank smiled at him and closed his eyes. Their hands still touching slightly
They both fell quickly into a calm, dreamless sleep.

Notes

For someone who had to make them up on the spot, these chapter titles are pretty damn good.

-C