Where's your heart?

Once we get outside Mikey leads me a few steps away from the entrance before turning to face me and asking "What the fuck just happened?" I bring my hand up to cup my cheek, the flesh stinging slightly as I say "I called her Frank." Mikey stares at me, his eye wide as Pete burst into loud obnoxious laughter, his hand coming up to give me a high five as he says "Fucking hell Gee, that's amazing." I shake my head as I raise my free hand to slap against his and Mikey's forehead creases into a frown as he says "What exactly were you....actually I don't want to know, let's get you home, you need to sleep it off." "I want to see Frank" I slur out, the whole world seeming to spin slightly as I stumble towards the curb, flailing my hand up in an attempt to hail a cab and Mikey steps over and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me back onto the sidewalk. "Gerard I really think you should just go home to bed." "But I need a hug, my cheek hurts" I slur back, pouting and Mikey shakes his head before turning me to fully face him and wrapping his arms around me. "You're too bony" I tell him, stepping back and I hear him sigh right before Pete says, "Come on Gee, it'll be ok." I turn to see Pete standing on the curb holding a cab door open and I stumble across to him, his hand grabbing my arm and helping steady me as I climb into the cab, both Pete and Mikey following me in and as the cab pulls away from the curb I hear Pete give the driver the address for the strip club and I bounce in my seat as I lean across him to say "Ha, in your face" to Mikey, Pete chuckling as he wraps his arm around my shoulders and says "We're just going for a quick hug ok, then you need to go home and get some sleep." I nod, not really caring about what Pete just said, only feeling happy I'm going to see Frank.

Five minutes later the cab pulls up at the club and Mikey pays the driver before we get out, going inside and as we enter the main room I see Frank up on the stage, spinning around on the pole in his gold sparkly briefs and I take off, stumbling towards the stage before both Pete and Mikey grab me, pulling me back and Mikey says "Gee, calm down." "But Frank..." I start, trailing off as I see Frank sink back to the floor and the music stops, Franks routine over and he turns and makes his way back stage, not sparing a second glance to the crowd. I look around and see Nicole behind the bar and I wriggle free of the grip on me and make my way across to the bar, landing heavily on a stool there. "Hey Gerard, what happened to your cheek?" Nicole asks, concern clear on her face and I pout as I say "I got slapped, I need a Frank hug." Nicole smiles to herself as she says "He'll be right out hun" before turning and going through the door into the back room and a minute later she comes back with Frank who is dressed in a pair of tight fitting jeans, a shirt in his hand and I launch myself off the stool and into his chest, my arms wrapping around his waist and he slides his hands around to rest just above my ass, turning his head to nuzzle softly into the side of my hair as he whispers "Are you ok?" I nod against his neck, sighing in contentment at the feeling of being held by him, his sweaty scent invading my senses and making me feel better. "Nicole said you got hit, can I see?" I nod again as I pull back a little, one of Franks hands leaving my waist to come up and gently cup my chin, tilting my head so he can see better and he makes a small noise under his breath before he leans in and presses a gentle kiss to my red swollen cheek. "What happened?" He asks and I shrug as I say "I don't remember" my words slurring a little and Frank smiles as he says "How much did you have to drink?" "I don't know" I tell him, my eyes widening as I try to remember and Frank just smiles, his hand sliding back down to rest over my lower back. "Gee come on it's time to go home now" I hear come from behind me and I turn my head to see Mikey standing there looking stern. "But" I start to whine and Mikey shakes his head and says "No come on, you came and got your hug now it's time to go. Frank is trying to work and he doesn't need...." "Actually I'm almost ready to go, I could take him home if you want." "I don't know" Mikey starts, his eyes narrowing suspiciously at Frank and I tighten my arms around him as I say "I like Frank, he makes me feel better."

Ten minutes later Mikey and Pete have left to go home, Mikey telling me he will call me in the morning and warning Frank to get me home safe and Frank leads me into the back room, taking me down a hallway and into a dressing room where there are two other guys sitting at a table removing makeup from their faces. "Hey guys this is Gerard, Gerard this is Andy and Spencer." They both offer me a hello and I say hi back before Frank leads me over to a couch in the corner and he tells me to relax and he'll be right back, wanting to take a quick shower before we leave and I nod, shifting around and making myself comfortable and the next thing I know the room starts going dark around the edges and I blink hard, closing my eyes in an attempt to clear them and I don't reopen them until I feel warm hands grabbing at me, shaking me and my name is being called. I reluctantly open my eyes, coming face to face with Frank and Nicole and I groan softly as they both smile, my eyes slipping closed again as Nicole laughs and says "Good luck with this" and Frank shakes me again as he says "Hey no, come on you gotta wake up so I can take you home." I force my eyes open again, feeling a little more clear headed after my nap and I allow myself to be pulled to sit up straight, Frank moving to sit on the couch beside me as Nicole kneels at my feet, her hands resting on my thighs. "You feeling ok hun?" She asks, her voice soft and motherly and I nod as I lean over into Franks side, his arm wrapping around my waist as he presses a soft kiss to the top of my head, making me smile. "You ready to go?" Frank asks softly and I nod, letting out a loud yawn as he guides me to stand up with him, Nicole grabbing a bag and handing it to him as he keeps his arm wrapped around my waist, helping steady me and the three of us make our way back out into the now empty bar. "There should be a cab waiting outside" Nicole tells us and Frank smiles as he says "Thanks Nic, I'll see you in the morning at the diner." We start to walk across to the front door when Nicole calls out "Goodnight Gerard, it was nice to see you again" and I raise my hand to wave as we leave the club, stepping out onto the street where the cab is waiting.

Once we're in the cab heading to my house I lean across and rest my head on Franks shoulder, his arm wrapping around my waist again and when I tilt my head up to try and press a kiss to his lips Frank tilts his head so I can't, his head moving and his lips pressing a kiss to my forehead instead and I feel disappointed, wanting to kiss him so badly. Before I know it we are pulling up outside my house and Frank pays the driver before we climb out and make our way up to the front door, my hands shaking as I pull my keys out and I can't seem to get the key in the hole so Frank takes it from me, letting us inside and I flick all the lights on as I stumble down the hallway into the bedroom, bumping into the wall a few times before I make it there, collapsing face down on the bed. A few seconds later Franks warm hands guide me to roll onto my back, his hand coming up to push my hair back off my face as he settles beside me and I frown as I say "You don't like me." "Of course I do Gerard, I like you a lot. Why would you think I don't?" "You don't want to kiss me" I tell him, replaying his actions in the cab in my mind and Frank shakes his head as his hand comes down to stroke my cheek. "You're drunk right now and I'm not going to take advantage of you while you're not thinking straight" he tells me, his voice sounding a little sad and I frown further as my stomach twists unpleasantly. "Frank" I say softly, his eyes trailing up to meet mine. "I really like you." Franks mouth pulls up into a small smile and I smile back, pushing myself to half sit up, my face hovering an inch from Franks and he holds my stare, both of us just hovering there before I start to lean in, Frank staying still until my lips are on his, the kiss remaining slow and close mouthed, Franks hand moving to tangle in the back of my hair.

Notes