Surrender The Night (Frerard)

Frank woke with a bad taste in his mouth and a heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Today was the day he'd arranged to go into town with Ray and Brendon, and pretending to be someone's boyfriend was going to be difficult for Frank - Frank, who failed almost every single drama exam he'd ever taken. So no, this wasn't going to be fun for anyone involved... except maybe Ray, who hadn't shut up about the so-called 'date' since they'd set it up the evening before. He'd constantly been teasing Frank about what he was going to wear and if he was going to hold Brendon's hand.

It was really starting to piss Frank off, but what could he do? It's not like he could come out with the truth, because then not only would he have to explain about Gerard, Ray would also be angry that his best friend had gone to such great lengths to keep something so important from him. Guilt settled itself on Frank's shoulders like some kind of bird of prey, weighing a ton and making Frank want to throw up every time he caught sight of Ray's excited, dumb smile. He'd only ever lied to Ray about one thing, and that was where he got the bruises that Daniel had inflicted upon him. Frank was on the verge of breaking and spelling everything to Ray, but when he recieved a text from Gerard that notion was out the window. Just seeing his boyfriend's name light up his phone gave him a new resolve that he would not weaken and he would not give in.

Gee: Seeing as you're going on your fake date today, I thought I'd remind you who your real boyfriend is. ;)

Frank's heart pounded in his chest and his face heated up. He bit his lip and frowned as he wondered what he could say to that; what could be an adequate response? Was Gerard simply stating once again that he was Frank's boyfriend, or was he showing some signs of possessiveness, or was he hinting at something else altogether? Frank just didn't know.

The boy was pulled out of his thoughts when Ray leaned over his shoulders in an attempt to see his phone, smirking and taunting him with, "Ooh, are you texting your boyfriend?"

Frank choked on his next breath and scarmbled to get away from Ray, his breath coming in short, uneven pants. He was terrified - he had almost been found out! One stupid mistake on Frank's part could have ruined everything! How could he have been so careless?

Frank scoffed, eager to appear less bothered by the invasion of privacy than he actually was. "Are you sure you're really seventeen? You seem more like twelve." He snapped half jokingly, to which Ray punched his arm with more force than he'd intended to and Frank toppled off his bed, where he'd previously been perched, and landed on the floor.

"Asshole," Frank muttered, grabbing his phone off the floor and hastily typing a response to Gerard . "See if I buy you coffee now."

Frank: Don't worry G, I'm all yours.xx

"So what are we doing with Brandon anyway?" Ray asked idly, scrolling through his phone and making himself comfortable on Frank's bed, stretching his legs out to fill the space his best friend had been using.

"I don't know." Frank admitted, sending a quick message to Brendon to check they were still on. "Go get coffee... walk around the mall. I don't know. Why?"

Ray sighed and got off the bed, twirling his car keys around his finger and wsiting for Frank to get up and scramble after him. "I just don't know anything about the kid. He's only been here ... what? A week? Isn't that kind of fast?"

Frank bristled; he'd only been with Gerard just over a week and, without knowing it, Ray has insulted Frank's real relationship. Biting the inside of his cheek, Frank swallowed his snappy response and took a deep breath in. He just needed to keep his cool for the duration of the date and the he could come back to his room and call Gerard. But getting through the date might prove to be a lot harder than he previously thought.

"We're not about to get married, Ray." Frank forced a laugh although it sounded more like he was choking on something sharp rather than actually expressing his amusement. "We just like each other, y'know?"

Ray, blissfully unaware of Frank's ability to lie, just chuckled slightly and lifted one shoulder up in a half hearted shrug. "Not really, no. I don't think I'll ever understand your relationships Frank. 'Cause, y'know, you've never had any."

Frank shot Ray the dirtiest glare he could muster and made sure to slam the passenger door of his friend's car extra hard. "Asshole," he repeated. "You're definitely not getting any coffee later."

Just as Ray started the engine and pulled away from the curb, Frank's phone pinged with a text from Gerard. The boy hurried to unlock his phone and read it, excited at any sign of contact from his boyfriend.

Gee: You free tomorrow? You could come over...?x

Frank had to hide the goofy grin on his face as he replied, so Ray didn't get suspicious.

Frank: I'll be there.x

***

The two boys saw Brendon as soon as they entered the mall; he was leaning against the wall of the Slushie Factory with his hands thrust deep inside his hoodie pockets. He looked exactly like a the typical troublesome teenager except for the large pair of thick framed glasses covering most of his face, and the fact that he looked terrified whenever a stray shopper walked past him.

The he look of utter relief that crossed Brendon's face when he caught sight of Frank and Ray walking towards him was undeniable and kind of sad - what must have happened to the poor kid at his last school to make him so jumpy and paranoid? Frank didn't know, but he made sure his smile was extra wide as he opened his arms to hug him. It was awkward: all elbows in ribs and heads clashing. Frank was terrified he would be expected to kiss Brendon for Ray's benefit, but thankfully Brendon seemed as averse to that idea as Frank was, and turned his head away to look at Ray.

"Ah, hey." He smiled like someone who had just been caught indulging in PDA: half embarrassed and lovestruck in a stellar performance that Frank was envious of. "Ray, right? Frank's told me so much about you."

In fact, Frank had told Brendon a lot about Ray: over texts in Friday evening so they could at least pretend to have talked in the past. Frank probably told Brendon more about Ray than he did about himself, which might have been a mistake.

"Yeah?" Ray asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise and looking at Frank, who blushed and looked away. "He didn't tell me anything about you." The comment itself would probably have been taken as insulting if Ray didn't have the biggest, dorkiest smile known to man plastered across his face, and Brendon took it and rolled with it.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I kind of didn't want him to tell anyone." He smiled sheepishly and stumbled slightly as Ray slapped him on the back - in an overly friendly gesture - hard enough to wind him. Frank stepped forward and said, "Jesus, Bren, are you okay?", not so much to look like the caring boyfriend but because he hated to see anyone in as much pain as he knew one of Ray's back-slaps could inflict. Brendon was doubled over, wheezing and coughing, and a quick glance back at Ray told both of them he was feeling mildly guilty.

"Sorry man." Ray apologised, looking genuine. "Sometimes I forget I'm ripped, y'know?"

Frank snorted and said, "As if!" which earned him a punch in the arm that he was pretty sure was meant to hurt, and they all laughed. Frank couldn't help but feel a pang as he thought about Gerard at home, possibly with his brother but most likely alone, and wished it was he who Ray seemed to be getting along just fine with. He was glad to have Brendon, of course he was. He seemed like a real nice, friendly guy, and those were hard to come by at Frank's school, but he wasn't Frank's boyfriend and therefore this whole trip was pointless. It didn't matter that it was keeping Ray off their backs. He shouldn't have to keep Ray off his back!

For one long, lonely minute, Frank wished he and Gerard could go out together, could hold hands in public, could kiss in public. He wished they didn't have to hide their relationship, but then, he supposed, that's what entailed when getting into a relationship with your teacher.

"So who wants a milkshake?" Ray asked excitedly, leading them towards the nearest generic looking café - a small cosy place with a private booth away from the window. Private was good. "On Frank."

Frank gasped in mock anger and placed his hands on his hips; he couldn't begin to imagine how he looked. A short, angry, punk looking weirdo attempting to seem sassy, but whatever. Ray totally deserved to be embarrassed.

"Hey! What did I say about not buying you a drink?" Frank argued, feeling some of his earlier trepidation vanishing.

"Actually, you said you wouldn't buy me coffee. You never said anything about milkshakes." Ray pointed out - annoyingly correct as always - and high fived Brendon behind Frank's back. Idiot obviously thought he was being discreet, getting Brendon to side with him like he thought it would increase the chances of getting a free drink. What was up with that? Brendon was supposed to be Frank's fake boyfriend!

"Y'know," Frank started, scowling, "you're an -"

"Asshole." Ray finished for him, smirking wickedly. "I know, I know. Just buy me a milkshake you little shit."

***

Frank collapsed onto his bed feeling a lot better than when he climbed out of it in the morning. The day had been... productive if nothing else. It turned out Brendon was actually a really cool guy; he had an awesome taste in movies and music and he was even in a band back in his old town with some of his friends. Ray had got along with him surpsingly well, seeing as Ray didn't get along with anyone at first. Not even Frank. When he had first met Frank, he had been terrified of him and it didn't help that when they were forced to be lab partners for a science experiment Frank had 'accidently' spilled an irritant acid on his hand. It itched like crazy for ages afterwards, but they finally found common ground through their mutual hate for their crazy gym teacher, and as soon as they became friends they were inseparable.

There was one awkward moment where Ray had noticed they were barely touching each other and said, "You don't have to dial it down for my sake guys." Of course, he thought he was being a generous and caring friend when all he was actually doing was forcing the two to hold hands. Frank couldn't help glancing over his shoulder in case anybody from their school chose that moment to show up with their cameras and their nasty comments. Not that Frank was afraid; everybody knew he was gay and Ray would beat the shit out of anybody who dared to give him trouble for it. No, that wasn't why he was worried that people would see them. He felt that he was somehow betraying Gerard. Sure, they man knew what was going on and he knew they were going out together, but that didn't mean he had to go hold hands with the guy. That might have been taking it a step too far, and Frank was worried Gerard would somehow find out and be annoyed with him for it.

He heard footsteps and turned towards his door on instinct, not surprised when it opened a crack and his mother pushed her head in, smiling. Frank smiled back warmly; ever since the incident with Daniel coming over, Frank had been worried about her and was doing everything he could to make life easier for her.

Frank was loathe to leave her on her own; he hated the that there was a possibility Daniel might come whilst she was alone and unprotected. She was constantly in danger and the fact that Daniel had threatened to come back set Frank on edge. But the truth was, Frank was terrified. He was scared of not being there when Daniel came back, but he was also scared he would be there. The prospect of the person he feared and hated most in the world stopping by for a chat didn't fill him with excitement.

"You with your boyfriend, Frankie?" She teased, laughing when Frank groaned and rolled over onto his back, tugging the covers up over his head so he wouldn't be tempted to flip her off.

"Sure mom." He sighed. "Turn off the light on your way out?"

He heard her turn and the door creaked as it was shut, and then his mother must have changed her mind about leaving because she spoke again.

"Frank, I just want you to know..." She began, and Frank peeked out of his blanket. He could imagine her gnawing on her bottom lip like she always did when she was nervous. "I'm really proud of you baby. I just want you to know that."

The he woman sent Frank one more shy, careful smile which he returned affectionately and then turned the light off as she went out. It was still light outside but Frank felt drained and all he wanted to do was fall asleep.

Notes

Sorry this is just a filler chapter really. I just wanted to post something before I start school again tomorrow. Updates may be a little less regular from now on but hopefully it'll be at least once a week if not more. Enjoy! <3