Hopeless Hearts

The next morning Gerard woke up at 7:30 AM, groaning as he rolled over. He just wanted to stay in bed all day, and pondering faking sickness, though knew his mom wouldn't believe him after he was caught last night.
Gerard walked down the stairs to the breakfast table after getting dressed. He sat down at the table and sighed, grabbing a bowl and pouring cereal in it before dumping milk on top. He looked up, seeing his parents looking at him sternly.
"Gerard we need to talk about last night." His mother said to him as he rolled his eyes. "You cannot be smoking, Gerard. It's bad for you and you're too young. Where are you even getting cigarettes?"
When Gerard stayed silent, his father got annoyed with him and slammed his fists down on the table. "Listen here, you little shit. Your mother fucking asked you a question. You either answer her or I'll take care of you myself." He said, scaring Gerard some though Gerard tried to keep his composure.
"Fuck you. Both of you." Gerard replied, standing up and flipping his bowl on its side, getting milk and cereal all over the table. "I fucking hate you guys."
As Gerard was making his way to the door, his dad ran to him, grabbing him by the arm. He pulled him around and threw him to the ground. "You fucking ungrateful boy. You forced me to do this." His father growled at him before raising his hand and hitting him hard across the face. "You better say you're sorry to your mother." His father grunted as he stomped down on Gerard's stomach. "Fucking faggot. Get up and go to school before you're late." He said, spitting down on him before turning around and going to Gerard's mother, who had been trying to ignore everything that happened. He kissed her on the cheek and helped her clean up Gerard's mess.
Mikey, Gerard's younger brother, came down the stairs a few moments later, walking into the tense setting and looking around worriedly. He noticed Gerard on the floor, holding his stomach, and his parents cleaning up a spill. Mikey decided not to sit down and get breakfast today, walking out into the front yard and waiting on Gerard.
A few minutes later, Gerard had found the strength to get up and carried himself to the door, slamming it as best he could behind him.
"What happened?" Mikey asked Gerard as he looked at him sympathetically. Mikey had never had to undergo the pain Gerard had to, he was the family's favorite and had never been beaten by his father, so he could never understand it but still felt for him.
"They just.. were upset because mom smelled cigarette smoke on me last night." Gerard said, holding back tears very audibly. "I.. I'm skipping school today."
Mikey nodded, understanding why he would completely. "Okay Gerard. Text me if you need anything. Love you."
"Love you too." Gerard said, emotionless, as he pulled out his cigarettes and lit another while walking to the garage. He sat down by it, smoking as he pulled up his shirt to assess the damage. A bruise, foot-shaped, was already beginning to form.

"...Gerard..? What happened?" Frank's weak voice called from behind his garage.

Notes

The beginning of a beautiful more-than-friendship is coming <3