Lady of Sorrows? I Think Not! (New Version)

Pete winced as he pressed the ice pack to his forehead. He didn’t doubt that this vicious hangover could take down a walrus. His head was stuffed with a hot, prickly pain that was spreading slowly to his chest and stomach. Pete lay down on the couch with his arm over his eyes in an attempt to dull the ache behind them. Soon after Gerard had left for work, Vic had rushed out as well, leaving Pete alone. For a while he had tried acting like a human, but he as too lazy to maintain the façade and ended up impersonating a couch potato instead. The TV blazed silently beside him. He had muted the volume, but the images still flashed at him, even behind his closed lids. It didn’t help his headache in the slightest. Pete always knew he drank way too much, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. Sighing loudly, Pete placed the ice bag on his eyes and fantasized fitfully of sleep.

A loud, angry slam woke Pete with a start. He jerked himself into a sitting position as his eyes tried to look everywhere at once in the darkness. They soon found what they sought; a very pissed off Vic as he dumped his bag heavily onto the floor and headed for the kitchen.

“Hey Vic, what’s eating you?” Pete called before he yawned widely. Somehow, after sleeping all day, he still felt as tired as death. Getting to his feet slowly and stretching as he went, Pete followed the sounds of banging cupboards, a mug being slammed onto the counter top, and the soft bubbling of the coffee machine. Pete leaned against the door frame and covered his mouth as another mega yawn escaped him. He waited patiently, knowing his friend would talk when he was ready.
Vic stood with his arms crossed tightly against his chest; his eyes glared furiously at the coffee pot as if he felt it were filling up too slowly. He sighed, uncrossed and re-crossed his arms in stiff, jerky movements. His agitation was clear, and Pete knew it would be less than a minute before his friend couldn’t hold it all back.

“I’m just so fucking over it! He is a total asshole, and I’m damn sure he does it on purpose.” Vic chewed his full, soft bottom lip as his expression changed from anger to hopeless confusion. “How in the hell am I supposed to do a six month assignment in only two?” Pete knew Vic didn’t expect and answer but he still wished he could give one. He opened his mouth, ready to share his thoughts, but paused as Vic continued, “The whole damned class is going to fail so that jerkoff can have a fucking holiday. Kellin works after his day classes and with me working weekends; we won’t have enough time to even consider working on it. Not to mention the amount of time the research alone will take.” Vic sighed in utter defeat. Pete placed a comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“It’ll be okay, Vic. We’ll figure something out. Maybe you could ask your lecturer to let you work in bigger groups to share out the research time?”

Vic took a deep breath and flashed Pete a strained smile. “I’ll call Kellin later and see if he is okay with that. We had it all planned out; we’ll have to revise it all with a new group.” Vic turned his stressed, but slightly more relaxed, attention back to his coffee. “Gerard called and said they asked him to stay late. Apparently the new kid spilled a tray of hot coffee on himself and one of the customers.”

Pete whistled softly, “Damn, poor kid seemed so nervous the other dat. He must feel awful.”

Vic nodded his agreement and stirred cream into his coffee while Pete got a glass of water. Vic got friend’s attention again with a question of vital importance.

“So, Piranha 3D or Cabin in the Woods?” Both guys grinned and walked through to the lounge.

Pete took a sip from his glass and replied, “I don’t see why we can’t watch both.”

The café was busy, and as Gerard listened to a particularly difficult customer change his order for the fourth time, he felt an uncharacteristic surge of anger wash over him. If that stupid kid had just been more careful, he could be in the comfort of his own home instead of nursing blisters and slow clients. He withheld a sigh. He couldn’t blame Brendon for this. The poor boy was nervous enough already. It was only his first month. Gerard zoned back in as the client seemed to be nearing a decision, having been hurried along by the people in line behind him.

“Just give me a latte with extra cream.” Gerard painfully contained the eye roll that begged to be performed at the simplicity of his order. He had been standing there for nearly twenty minutes, after all. With the line finally cleared, Gerard turned his back to the crowded room to do a maintenance check on the spluttering, wheezing coffee machine. A man behind him cleared his throat in a deliberate way; he was clearly trying to get Gerard’s attention. Gerard turned quickly, his skin instantly covered in that hot, tingling anticipation that he had felt that morning. With a subtle sigh of relief, he pushed those thoughts from his mind and smiled at his brother. Mikey stepped forward with a smile, and a companion; the guy, Gerard assumed, was Mikey’s friend.

“Hey Mikez, that’s two visits on one day; I feel special.” Gerard beamed as his brother let out a rich laugh. He had so missed that sound.

“Don’t you ever forget it.” Mikey brushed his slightly too long, blond hair from his eyes and half turned to his companion. He indicated his brother with a casual, vertical sweep of his hand. Gerard gazed curiously at the new guy. “Frank, this is my big brother, Gerard. Gerard,” Mikey smiled broadly at him, “this is my new roommate, Frank Iero.” The new guy, Frank, offered Gee his hand over the counter, which he took and shook awkwardly. It was disarming; this beautiful man displaying what is now considered old fashioned mannerisms. Gerard smiled as he looked over the man’s features. They would be heaven to draw. Gerard dragged his eyes away from Frank’s face, before his staring was noticed.

“Remind us again what happened to your last roommate?” Gerard bit his pretty, pink bottom lip. It was shaky, but he felt as if he had a chance to connect with Mikey again. He also knew it Frank was the reason Mikey wasn’t on his cell or out drinking again. Mikey led Frank to the barstools further down the counter and launched eagerly into the Tale of the Rogue Roomie. Frank seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself as he roared with laughter in time with Mikey’s extravagant gesturing.

After serving a few more people, the line was once again finally finished and Gerard could take a moment to restock the coffee bar. The café was exuberant. Its little tables and lounges were full to bursting. The noise level was a pleasant buzz of voices occasionally punctuated by a ring of laughter. Sorting out the bar didn’t take Gerard very long, so he moved further along the counter to lean against it opposite his little brother, catching the tail end of a story he had hoped to forget. He crossed his arms and sighed as Mikey finished his little speech in between fits of raucous laughter.

Frank didn’t seem to find Gerard’s embarrassment nearly as amusing as Mikey, but he laughed any way to keep Mikey happy. Gee could already see this guy being good for Mikez; maybe even good enough to stop him from drinking permanently. Gerard excused himself from the conversation once again to waste more time listening to Mr. Slow, as Gee had named a particularly annoying regular. He always ordered the same thing, but spent so long standing and staring at the menu before getting his small, one pump mocha. Gerard already had it made by the time Mr. Slow actually ordered.
Other than a group of teenagers who came in about an hour later, the rest of the evening was relatively quiet. Gerard really enjoyed getting to talk to Mikey again; they had been so close once. Mikez and Frank stayed until Gerard could lock and even walked out with once he got his things from the store room.
Mikey got a phone call practically as they walked out the door, so Frank walked Gerard the short way down the street to where he had parked his car. Gerard fished in his beat up, old backpack for his keys, but as he pulled them out of the side pocket the cold, sharp metal slipped from between his pale fingers. Frank deftly snatched the falling keys out of the air as if it was nothing! Gerard stared in amazement. Frank handed him back his keys and smiled a crooked, cocky smile before walking back to where Mikey stood. Gerard waved at his brother and couldn’t help but smile as he watched Frank walk away; he was such a nice guy.

A happy glow seemed to surround Gerard as he drove towards home. He felt as if he was in the thoughts of someone who cared a great deal for him. This was the happiest he had been in the long time. But why did he still have an edgy feeling, like it could all so easily come crashing down around him? That was when he felt them. skin against skin, he could swear there were hands running slowly up under his shirt, feeling delightfully terrifying. Risking an accident, Gerard jerked around to see who, or what, was behind him.

Notes

So I changed this chapter a lot right at the end, but for a good reason. I promise! I had worked in a bit too much too soon, and decided you guys need to wait longer for the good stuff. Am I an evil witch? Maybe. Will you still keep reading? I certainly hope so!
Comments are always welcome of course. Feel free to vote/subscribe. I do love me some feedback!
Keep it Ugly, and Rock 'n Roll my Pretty Pansies