Bookworms Anonymous

Primarily nothing really happened for the next few months. Life just tumbled by the washing machine on a full cycle, Frank got dizzy just thinking about it, but nobody really noticed how fast the world was spinning or how quick life was unraveling they were all too busy caught up in their own lives and that was okay. Mikey and Kris went back to LA to plan for their wedding and baby. Gerard and Frank went back to New York, Frank working odd shifts at the pizza place and the coffee shop down from the bookstore to keep up the rent on his apartment while applying to college and Gerard worked away getting ready for his big project and final display for art school. Now it was October and everyone seemed to be in this horrible cycle, a pattern of normality or boring as fuck as Frank liked to put it. There were no weird adventures or crazy happenings or wild parties or secret affairs. No, it was just work, sleep, coffee, Gerard and then repeat. Not that Frank was mad about that, no he started to get mad when it started to get colder, the nights were getting darker and longer and Gerard began to go into a state of hibernation. That's when Frank lost his mind. Gerard was so engrossed by his Uni work that Frank took a backseat. not even 4 months into their relationship and already the honeymoon phase was over. They weren’t fighting or even drifting apart it was just Frank was a needy persona and sadly Gerard was busy.

And because of this they barely saw each other. A couple of coffee dates here and there and once at an MSI gig. That was until the weekend before Halloween. Lindsey and Gerard had been invited to Jimmy’s annual Halloween party which was always one of the best in New York City. The party always started off the Saturday Night and somehow went on till the early hours of the Monday Morning which meant Lindsey had gotten Gerard to agree to come to the Sunday night part of the two-day event. This year the theme was a Masquerade Ball which meant G didn’t have to put any effort into his outfit which was good since he only remembered he had agreed to go the morning of the party. Jimmy’s legendary parties weren’t always Gerard scene, but nothing ever got him as hyped for parties as Halloween did. It was hit favorite holiday. But life was crazily busy right now and he had no time to worry about socializing or breathing. And he still hadn’t finished that Stephen King book.
He glanced over at the thick book lying on his desk mocking him, Franks note sticking out a quarter of the way through as his little bookmark and reminder of his perfect boyfriend. He hunched back over this one part of his project which had gotten him stuck in a rut. The curve wasn’t right. The tone. The shading. The color just too light. Or maybe it was too dark. He couldn't seem to get it right and while he spiraled Lindsey was sitting on Jimmy’s counter top chatting happily to Kitty as the party buzzed around her, but obviously missing a certain blondes aura. His haze of color and spirals was interrupted by the buzz of his phone beside him. He didn’t even look at who it was he busted leaned back in his chair grimacing at the crack and stretch of his muscles and answered the phone with a groggy ‘Hello?’
‘Gerard Arthur Way, where the hell are you?’ He groaned inherently, he had forgotten the party, but before he had time to answer she was already beginning to speak again. ‘You promised. I have barely seen you and I know your working, but I miss you.’ Lindsey started down at her dress playing with the light lacuna d smiling sadly. She had really missed him. Gerard could hear her pout through her words and as he stared down at him messy drawings he decided that getting unimaginably drunk was something he needed right now.
‘I am on my way, idiot!’ He lied quickly. ‘Just running a little late because I needed to have the perfect outfit.’ He giggled mentally dressing frantically. Throwing clothes all over his room and screaming at his shoes. If he did it in his mind now it would save time later.
‘Oh you,’ She laughed falling for his lies. ‘Hurry, okay?’ He nodded and mumbled a yes before he threw his phone on his bed and started pushing through his clothes trying to find something to wear. He decided on black skinny jeans, a white shirt, and bowtie with a velvet purple suit jacket and his doc marten boots. He looked suave like he was going to a masquerade ball, but also casual because he didn’t want to stick out. And that is when he remembered…he forgot to buy a mask. He groaned scanning his room quickly, he could make one? But that would take too much time….There was a costume shop two blocks from his apartment and thankfully on the way to Jimmy’s they were bound to have masks. He pushed his hands through his newly dyed red hair. He was bored of the blonde and it was starting to grow longer sitting on his jawline is a messy haze of red. Lindsey would be happy he was red, she loved when he dyed his hair drastically.
The shop was probably one Gerard never imagined to find himself in. Dark, kind of shady looking, but it was the only costume shop near his apartment and he’d have to go downtown to get the next closest one. It was a small shop so it wouldn’t be hard for a normal, calm and collected person to find what they needed, but to him, the shop was a haze of swirling greens and purples. Everything blurred together making it impossible for Gerard to tell the difference between the wigs and the hats and the dresses from the masks.
‘Mask.’ He said breathily to the young boy behind the counter who was way too interested in his phone to even care about Gerard’s problem. ‘I need a mask, for a ball.’ He leaned over onto his knees and wheezed slightly. ‘I also need to work out.’ He said to himself, not before the boy pointed to the far corner of the shop. Gerard smiled kindly jogging over to the aisle and that's when he saw it. A single purple masquerade ball mask hanging limply from the wall display calling to Gerard and glowing like heaven had cast a beam of light over it.
Now Gerard was too busy grinning gleefully and sprinting towards the mask to realize there was someone else standing in the aisle also looking towards the same display. So a collision of high embarrassment and force occurred sending both bodies to the ground. The cold stone flooring which Gerard was sure would’ve broken his nose if the stranger's hand hadn’t somehow cupped his face.
‘Fuck’ He groaned sitting up and placing his head into his hands. ‘Fuck…fuck..fuck…..’His little outburst was interrupted by the stranger.
‘Gerard?’ Of course, he recognized the voice straight away and removed his hands from around his face revealing Frank who looked just as dazed as Gerard felt. Gerard smiled simply getting off the cold floor and helping Frank up as well. ‘Long time no see.’ He said almost bitterly enough for Gerard to hear the resentment, but it still went under the artists’ radar.
‘God, yeah Frankie.’ Gerard smiled pulling him into a soul squishing hug. But Frank couldn’t complain because for the first time in what felt like months but he knew was only days Frank could feel Gerard’s warmth, smell his scent and be in his presence again. ‘Why are you here?’
‘Halloween costume.’ Frank said blandly sneaking a glance to the mask he had his eye on. Gerard didn’t notice the look.
‘Halloween is tomorrow Frankie, I thought you’d be more prepared.’ Frank smiles doubtfully. ‘Although I will admit I am also here for a Halloween costume.’ Gerard quickly grabbed the mask from the display and smiled. ‘Got mine!’
‘Eh, no…I need that!’ Frank protested trying to grab it out of Gerard’s hands. Gerard looked quizzically down at his boyfriend.
‘Well, I got it first so…’ He trailed off. He really needed this mask.
‘Well, I saw it first and would have gotten it first if you hadn’t tackled me to the ground!’ Frank argued back causing them both to go into a frenzied argument about who the mask belonged to when suddenly something clicked in Gerard’s head.
‘Wait…you’re going to Jimmy’s party.’ it was more of a statement than a question that Gerard mumbled out as he slid down the wall and sat on the ground looking at the mask. Frank joined him sitting with his back against the wall also. ‘I am the worst boyfriend ever.’ He laughed.
‘No, you aren’t.’ Frank said quietly.
‘No, no I am because I have ignored two of your texts this week because I was too wrapped up in my stupid art project.’ He gasped shaking his head at his own stupidity.
‘Gee, It’s fine I get how important it is.’ Frank was interrupted by Gerard rambling again.
‘And I totally forgot about Jimmy’s party until about 10 minutes ago when Lindsey called me making me run to this slightly dodgy costume store and fight with my boyfriend I haven’t seen in over a week over a mask! And I still have finished that Stephen King book.’ Gerard throws his hands into the air and sighs.
‘If it makes you feel better I totally forgot about the party….’ Frank stopped looking over at Gerard again. ‘Wait, you still haven’t finished that book? You’ve been reading it since like February!’ Gerard nods before they fall into silence. Suddenly Gerard hands over the mask to Frank. But when Frank looks back with a confused expression pressed against his olive skin Gerard breaks the silence.
’To say sorry, for being such a shitty boyfriend.’ Frank takes it gracefully and smiles. ‘Hey! Dude!’ Gerard shouts after the boy at the front desk who comes stomping over to the aisle and stops suddenly when he sees two men sitting on the floor. ‘Hey, listen so the whole masquerade ball mask thing didn’t work out do you haven anything else.. like a superhero mask or something with a similar shape?’ The boy continues to stare at them for a few seconds before he points to a single yellow mask sitting on the shelf opposite them. Gerard picks it up and inspects it. It had black markings around the eyes and blue dots speckled on it.
‘Purple is opposite yellow on the color wheel meaning they do compliment each other.’ Gerard turned to Frank who he knew had never taken a lesson in art before in his life.
‘How do you know that?’ Gerard mumbles no longer paying attention to the boy who is watching the scene.
‘You…’ Frank giggled slightly standing up. ‘You talk about color theory in your sleep.’ Gerard laughs quickly before shaking his head. Frank smiles too before picking up the mark and tying it around Gerard’s head. ‘Oh, I like your hair. Red. It suits you.’
~~~~~~
Jimmy had one of the coolest apartments in the city. It was all opened planned meaning parties were like huge functions, but the best thing was the roof. The block of four flats shared it, but because the two bottom floor flats were occupied by elderly couples and Jimmy’s direct neighbors, across the hall, were cockroaches and rats he had the whole rooftop to himself which meant parties would be as big as he wanted. And he wanted them big. Gerard and Frank stumbled in together very late to the all weekend ordeal to see the party was as lively as any other. Dancing, drinking and a game of beer pong in the kitchen.
Lindsey spotted her friends straight away, only because of Gerard’s brightly colored mask. Frank was looking around like a scared rabbit as Gerard talked happily to all his old friends and the usual people he bumped into at one of these parties. She pushed herself off the bunker in the kitchen where she was watching an intense game of beer pong and sauntered over to the pair.
‘Wow. Looky-here! 2016’s couple of the year. Including the bastard who has been ignoring me for the past two weeks.’ She said flicking Gerard in the nose before smiling over at Frank.
‘Well, now I’m glad it's not just me he has been ignoring.’ Frank said before Lindsey pulled him by his black suspenders and kissed him on the cheek before hooking arms and walking over to where Jimmy was flirting with a girl none of them had seen before.
‘Well talk about couple co-ordination!’ Jimmy said gleefully while scanning Frank and Gerard outfits. And that's when both of them realized they were wearing very similar outfits. Gerard with his purple velvet blazer and yellow mask and Frank with his dark purple shirt and yellow converse. They both smiled sheepishly. Jimmy turned to the pretty girl he had been talking to and grinned. ‘And I bet they didn’t even mean to match. That's how infuriatingly cute these two are.’ Lindsey smiled to leaning her head on Franks' shoulder and grinning feeling Gerard behind them.
‘But, Frankie is mine tonight!’ Lindsey said causing Frank to blush slightly.
‘Does that mean I can have G?’ Jimmy said winking at the taller man and smirking causing Frank to giggle. Lindsey shook her head.
‘Sadly not my horny little friend. Gerard here needs to learn his lesson and so Frankie and I are going to ignore him the entire night and so do you.’ Gerard shrugged almost as if he was accepting his fate and going along with it. The trio broke off from Jimmy and his date making their way to the kitchen to grab some drinks. They were all leaning against the kitchen tops drinking in a comfortable silence as they watched the game of beer pong. Gerard wasn’t though, he was staring at Frank. He forgot just how interesting his face actually was and just how much he inspired him just by breathing and blinking and smiling.
‘You know Frankie…’ Gerard whispered into his ear. ‘You look real pretty tonight.’ Frank smirked taking a swig from his beer and not even glancing over at G. ‘I’ve missed you.’ Gerard pressed himself up against Frank so that he had him trapped. ‘I really wanna kiss you, Frankie…can I?’ Frank shook his head causing Gerard to groan slightly moving his mouth to his ear. ‘Please baby…’ He whined causing Frank to shiver.
‘Hey!’ Lindsey snapped her fingers between the two of them. ‘Hey, no funny business! Go up to the roof if you’re gonna dry hump each other I don’t wanna see that!’ Taking the hint Gerard grabbed Franks hand and pulled him out onto the fire escape through the back window and up the stairs to the rooftop.
‘Erm, I don’t care if we are out of Lindsey’s view. There will be no funny business.’ Frank said to Gerard in a warning tone. Gerard looked at him and smiled down at Frank. ‘I know, it just…It's nearly midnight.’ They looked around the roof was unusually empty. probably because it was so cold. Gerard moved over to a clear patch of wooden decking and lay down his blazer over the frost covered floor and lay down patting the soft fabric. ‘Lie with me Frankie.’ Frank smiled laying down beside him and staring up and misty sky. ‘Wouldn’t have been so perfect if the stars were out tonight?’ Gerard grumbled.
‘G, this is perfect enough.’ They sat in complete silence and the only reminder that they were the only people left in the universe was the repetitive vibrations of the music below them. Franks' lungs felt like crystal and he breathed in the shockingly sharp October air and let the stinging tears roll down his cheek hoping they wouldn’t form into ice before they plummeted onto the floor beneath them. Gerard grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly.
‘You make me so happy.’ Gerard smirked towards where the stars would hang above them from the strings of stardust and glimmer like hope in a desolate world. ‘I don’t need stardust when I have you.’ He spoke aloud and Frank didn’t reply he just let those words settle into his mind, imprint onto his soul because no one had ever compared him to stardust before. Suddenly Gerard looked down at his watch and watched the hand tick past midnight and into another day. ’Happy birthday Frankie’
‘Thank you G.’ Frank said so softly that the music from below them almost masked his words.
‘I didn’t get you anything, cause I’m the worst boyfriend in the history of everything.’ Gerard laughed glancing over towards Frank who smiled back.
‘No, you’ve been busy.’
’That's no excuse, but today…tonight got me thinking and…’ Gerard quickly rummages through his back pocket and then stop trudging full to Frank and grinning. ‘Close your eyes.’ Frank does giggling. Gerard struggled with getting his key off of his key ring before placing it in Franks' hand. ‘Open.’
‘I don’t get it G’ he says smiling at the key in his hand.
‘I want you around. I don’t wanna hide away and lock myself into the cycles I have done. I want you to come around whenever you want and I want to wake up and see your face and be surprised when you come over at 2 am with coffee and inspiration. Because you are my muse Frankie. I have spent two weeks staring at sketches and doodles and colors and lines and I haven’t been able to do anything with them. But ever since I bought your eye in that bloody costume shop my fingers have been itching and my hands have been aching with need. You make me want to create.’ Frank just lay there shell shocked at what Gerard had just admitted to him. ‘This is moving too fast isn’t it?’
‘Yes, but that what I like. I don’t have patience for waiting around and taking our time, damn I met your parents 3 months into the relationship and already fucked it up.’ Frank giggled staring at the key and then back at Gerard who was leaning over him.’
‘This isn’t a normal relationship is it?’ Gerard mutters still smiling down at Frankie.
‘No, but do you want it to be?’ Gerard shakes his head and lays down on Franks' chest. They lay like that for a little longer. Gerard beaming as he listened to the mellow heartbeat of his soulmate. Frank playing fondly with the gold key in his hand. ‘Wait, you need this key, to get home.’ Frank laughed noticing that this was the only copy of Gerard’s apartment key there was.
‘Looks like you have to come home with me tonight.’ Gerard smirked placing his two hands on either side of Franks' face.
‘I like the sound of that.’ Frank giggles. Gerard slowly removes Franks mask and then his own placing them down on the ground.
‘Frankie….’ Gerard says calmly moving a piece of hair from Franks' face and smiling down fondly at the beautiful man in front of him. ‘Can I kiss you?’ Frank smiled brightly blushing.
‘Always.’

Notes

WHAT! DID WE ALL THINK THIS STORY WAS DEAD? Same tbh. I also thought it was done for. but i have had uni and I've kind of locked myself away from other things like family and friends and so I took that as inspiration for this chapter. ENJOY and tell me what you think...if there is anyone left reading!

-C