Don't say I'm better off dead

The green eyes looked up at him through the messy brown fringe and his bottom lip was shaking as he lay slumped against the tree. The cloth at the back of his neck was soaked with blood. But it was still him. It was still Frank.
Gerard blinked hard thinking that this was just a figure of his imagination. Just his mind playing tricks on him like he was in a dream. But this wasn't a dream. Trust me, this was about as real as life could get.
Gerard ran over to him and fell down next to him. Hugging him like there was no tomorrow. He kissed his neck, his face, took his hands in his own. Tears rolled down onto Frank's dusty jacket as he cried with joy. All of a sudden the sadness and worry left his bones and was replaced with happiness. He smothered Frank in hugs and kisses, his body shaking against his best friends. He felt Frank's breath on his face. He felt his heart beating through his chest next to his own. He felt the warmth of their two bodies. Frank was real. He was alive. Wait, he was alive?!
Gerard pulled away, holding Frank's head in his hands.
"Y-y-y-you're a-alive?!" he asked through the tears.
"Yeah." whispered Frank, "I'm alive."
"B-b-b-but how?!"
"What do you mean?" he asked wiping the streams of tears that flooded from Gerard's eyes gently.
"I-I thought you were d-dead! Y-your parents said y-you k-killed yourself!!!"
"They were lying Gee. They were lying." he dropped the blood soaked cloth to the floor, replacing it with a new one. "I-I would have told you if I'd have felt like doing that. I wouldn't leave you, Gee. Never." he continued pulling Gerard into a hug.
"B-but why did they lie?"
"Because they kicked me out, Gee. They left me to fend for myself after they found out about what Darren did to me. They thought I'd been in a fight. I guess they lied so that they didn't have to tell the truth, so they didn't have to pay the price for what they did."
"But they're gone now Frank. They're gone..." his reply muffled as he buried his head into Frank's chest. His arm touched the blood that was creeping out of a cut in the back of Frank's neck and Frank flinched as he did so.

"Who did this to you?" asked Gerard.
"Who do you think?" whispered Frank into his ear.
"Darren?"
Frank nodded his head in reply as he combed his hands through Gerard's long black hair.
"I thought I'd never see you again Gerard. I thought I'd lost you forever."
"I'll always be here Frank. And don't worry about Darren. He won't be visiting again."
"You didn't, did you?"
Gerard nodded.
"Oh Gerard. Don't. You might get hurt and I never want to see you hurt again. You hear me? But thanks anyway."
"I've missed you so much Frank!"
"We all have!" chimed in Mikey joining in the hug.
"Even I have!" exclaimed Ray, "And I've never met you before, but I've still missed you!"

Frank smiled managing to work his arm out of the hugs so that he could shake Ray's hand.
"The names Ray." he said.
"Frank."

When the bleeding on Franks neck had almost stopped Mikey made a makeshift bandage for it out of the bits and bats he found in the first aid kit that Ray had taken from the Care home. They all helped Frank up and headed back to the track that led through the woods. They headed towards the bus station. Smiling.


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Frank sat on the bus. He wasn't sure where the bus was taking him to. None of them knew where the bus was going. But they did know that it was away from here. A fresh start. A proper fair fresh start with people that he loved.
Gerard sat next to him asleep on his shoulder and he could hear his soft calm breaths. Mikey and Ray sat opposite, joking and laughing with each other. How lucky I am, he thought to himself as he peered down at the sleeping Gerard.
Then he looked to his arms. The bruises and the cuts were still there, reminding him of his past. Sure, some would never leave him. Just like how his past was never going to leave him, but now he had a future.
He knew that not everything would be perfect, no, it would be far from perfect. But it would be so much better than what he was used to. They'd have to avoid people in case they were found skipping their last years of school. They had to make a living. But they could do that together. Hmmm, the idea of the Romantic Chemicals didn't seem like a bad option. He was sure that he could think of a better name though. He flipped the words around: "Chemical Romantic" he said to himself." he paused, "wait, what about My Chemical Romance?" that sounded good.
The bus set off to its unknown destination. Frank just smiled as he looked to Gerard then to Mikey and Ray. They were alone. But together. They had each other and that was all that they needed....

Notes

Wow! Well that's the final chapter guys. I really just want to thank all of you guys for reading and commenting and giving me confidence in writing. This is my first fanfic and I hope that you all enjoyed. I'm sorry if I made you cry or annoyed at any part. Again, thank you for everything. Lav you guys. :) Xxx