I had said goodbye to Mikey about ten minutes ago, and was sitting on the steps now, tapping my cane on the stone. I wasn’t good at waiting, I didn’t have much patience. But I couldn’t get Mikey’s question out of my head. Would I date Ben? He had been going somewhere with that, but I couldn’t quite connect the dots, and it was niggling at me.
“Frank?”
I lifted my head, smiling slightly. Footsteps were coming towards me, up the steps. Gerard sat down next to me, his shoulder brushing mine. “Hey.”
“Hi,” I hummed, looking down again. His fingers brushed my sore cheek and I jerked away quickly, hissing.
“Sorry, I um..”
“It’s okay,” I said quickly, smiling sadly. “I just...I ran into a door last night and it still kinda hurts.”
Gerard hummed, rubbing my back gently. “You haven’t got a bruise.”
“It’s not that bad, it doesn’t hurt much.”
He went silent, and I felt him studying me. “You’re stunning, y’know, Frank.”
I blushed immediately and coughed awkwardly. “I uh...I honestly don’t know what I look like.”
Gerard pulled me into a hug carefully, cradling my head with one hand. “You’re very handsome.”
I buried my face in his warm neck, a surge of emotion suddenly overwhelming me. I had been keeping up a front all day and now here I was, safe in another man’s arms, and I could finally let it go. I started to cry, softly at first, but soon I was sobbing, my fingers twisting in the back of Gerard’s shirt as I clung to him. He rocked me slowly, but said nothing, just stroking my hair and letting me cry.
After a while, I pulled away, burying my face in my hands. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry..” Gerard stroked my other cheek, shushing me gently. “Don’t be sorry, Frankie. We all need to cry sometimes. Come on, how about we get that ice cream?” He helped me up gently and took my backpack before placing my cane in one hand and taking the other. “Let’s go.”

I licked the back of my spoon, causing Gerard to chuckle softly. “You are adorable.” I ignored the flush of my cheeks and rolled my eyes. “You’re the one flirting now.”
“It makes you smile and Mikey gave me some good news today. I’m in a good mood.”
I grinned and swallowed another spoonful of mint choc chip. “So you only find me cute when you’re in a good mood?”
Gerard laughed again, tapping the end of my nose lightly. “Don’t be silly. I just meant that I never normally flirt with someone I met the day before.”
“But I’m different, hmm?”
“Very,” he smiled, fixing my hair carefully. “I’ve only ever really dated people older than me, and all but one of them were assholes, so..”
“So I guess I am very different,” I smiled shyly, taking another spoonful.
Gerard hummed, shifting in his seat. “Yes. I’ve also never dated a blind person before.”
“Are we playing Never Have I Ever or having a human conversation?” I giggled teasingly, leaning back slightly.
“Okay, okay. I have a real question for you. Why are you sad today? You’re laughing and smiling, but it doesn’t feel right. Something’s bothering you.”
I ate another spoonful quickly, to give me time to think of a suitable half-lie. “I’m missing my dad a lot today,” I began. That wasn’t untrue. “My mom and I argue a lot now, I don’t think she’s really let go of him yet.”
Gerard scooted his chair closer to mine and wrapped an arm around me. “I’m sorry, Frankie.” I shrugged and leaned into him slightly. “It’s not your fault, and you’re here for me.”
“I know, but I understand how you feel. It’s hard when you’re still kind of grieving and it feels like the world keeps turning around you and no one understands.”
I nodded slightly, rubbing my eyes quickly. “I don’t like being sad...so I try to be happy anyway, y’know?”
Gerard nodded, brushing his knuckles over my cheek soothingly. “Yeah, you think that if you fake it long enough, it’ll come. But Frankie...I know it’s a huge cliche now and everything, but it really does get better. And I’m here to help you get through it.”
I sniffed, leaning my head against his chest. “How’d your dad..?”
He ran his fingers through my hair, hesitating. “You don’t have to tell me,” I mumbled quickly, feeling like I’d crossed a line.
“No, I um. I was trying to get the words straight. He shot himself, and he didn’t leave a note or anything,” Gerard answered, his voice a little more raspy than usual. I hugged him quickly, leaning against his chest. “I’m sorry.”
Gerard rested his chin on my head, playing with my hair. “I'm okay.”
We sat there in silence for a while, then Gerard took a deep breath. “Your ice cream is melting, Frank. I think you should finish it soon.”
I nodded, sitting up and taking a couple more bites. Gerard got up and I looked up at him in a slight panic. “Where are you going?”
He kissed the top of my head. “Just the bathroom, Frank. I'll be back in a second, don't worry.”
I relaxed back, blushing slightly. I hated it when people caught me overreacting. I didn't do it so much anymore, as I'd learned to be a little more calm about life, but I’d always been anxious about people leaving me, especially people leaving me in public places.
I finished up my ice cream by the time Gerard came back, taking his chair again and rubbing my shoulder. “You finished?”
I nodded slightly, ducking my head.
“Oh Frank...how am I gonna cheer you up?”
I smiled slightly and shrugged. “I don't know if you can, Gerard.”
He sighed and leaned back. I listened to the bushes rustling for a while, then turned my face up to the sky. The sun was warm, but intermittent, so I assumed it was cloudy. It was somewhat windy, but the wind brought little chill with it. Gerard touched my cheek, making me jump.
“Sorry, Frank,” he murmured. “I was just talking and I don't think you heard me.”
I shook my head, turning to him. “No, I'm sorry.”
“It's fine,” Gerard hummed, a smile in his voice again. “I said that I'm going to be moving soon, into a new apartment. Maybe you'll have to come and visit sometime.”
I blushed and shrugged. “I'd like that.”
Gerard hesitated again. “Frank, I want to make you happy, but I really don't know how.”
I flashed him a sad smile. “I don't know either. I think I just need some more sleep.”
“Should I take you home? You could have a nap?” Gerard suggested softly, placing his hand over mine.
“I think I should go home anyway,” I murmured, turning away from him slightly. “My mom will want me home soon.”
“Alright,” he smiled, kissing my forehead. “Let's go, then.”

---

Mikey leaned into me on the bus ride home. “Study time! Yay!”
I rolled my eyes and leaned my head on the window. “God help us.”
“That's not the attitude,” Mikey chuckled, grabbing his backpack as the bus stopped. “Come on.” He helped me off the bus and started walking me towards home. “You gotta be positive about finals.”
“I'm just glad it's our last year,” I sighed, holding onto his hand tightly. He took my keys from the pocket of my backpack and unlocked the front door.
“Me too. Everyone is, I think. I'm glad I'm gonna take a gap like Gerard did. I need to sort myself out.”
I followed him inside, kicking my shoes off in the vicinity of the rack. “Mom?”
I heard running footsteps and Mom stopped in front of me. “Why is he here?”
I froze, taking a deep breath. “Mikey's here to study, I okay’d it with you earlier.”
She took a sharp breath in. “I did nothing of the sort! The house is a mess, your room smells terrible! Mikey cannot come over today!”
“We were gonna study,” I said calmly, standing my ground.
Mikey touched my back lightly. “I can go, if um...if you want me to.”
Mom took a step towards him. “Yes, I think you should.”
I stepped sideways, blocking her as Mikey grabbed his backpack and put his shoes on. “I'm sorry, Frank,” he murmured, touching my shoulder lightly before he slipped out of the door, shutting it behind him with a quiet click.

Notes

I think the next chapter is going to be Gerard's pov, and there probably won't be too many of those tbh