Sometimes, They Aren't Always Bad.

'Liar.'

"Gerard, honestly I'm okay!" I said throwing my hands up in defeat.

"Frank, I know the look of not being okay, and you have it." Gerard said calmly. Gerard's eyes held a curiosity to them but they also held concern.

"Gerard please. I'm fine." I said looking down at the holes in my jeans.

"Frankie. Tell me what's going on." He said putting his hand on my slumped shoulder.

"It's just sometimes everything can be too much. With Bert and Ray it's just hard to focus sometimes." I said pinching the bridge of my nose, willing tears to stay in my eyes.

"I'll keep you safe from Bert. I won't let him touch you." Gerard said scooting closer to me on the bed.

"I know. And I'm a burden! You have to protect me, Ray has to take care of me. I haven't done anything for myself and it fucking sucks. I couldn't last one day without the people in my life." I explained rubbing my hands over my face.

"You're not a burden Frankie. It's a privilege to protect you. And I'm pretty sure Ray doesn't mind, he's your best friend." Gerard said in a very convincing tone.

"Why is it a privilege? You just met me today." I asked scowling. "It's a privilege because I care Frankie." He explained in light voice, contrast to my rough one.

"Why Gerard. Why are you so set on me? How could you care? You don't." I said feeling my throat swell with the need to cry.

"Why did I save you then?" He asked in a challenging voice.

"W-what?" I asked tilting my head slightly. I would not look at Gerard while I was like this. It wasn't worth the humiliation.

"If I don't care for you Frankie why would I save you. I could've let him shown you your place, I could've let him kill you but I didn't because I care. The first time I saw you so helpless in his arms I couldn't help but care. I want you to trust me and I want to help you. Just let me help you Frankie." Gerard said moving the hand that wasn't on my shoulder all around, speaking with his hands.

"Gerard-" I started with uncertainty.

"Just let me help Frankie." He said slipping his free hand under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. Tears had slipped down my cheeks already but I was okay with him seeing them this time. I wasn't afraid and I didn't want to be. He slipped his hand up to my cheek, rubbing for a brief second before continuing the path to the back of my head. With the way he was setting this up it seemed as though he was about to kiss me but I wasn't ready for that. Not just yet.

"Gerard.."

"Shh Frankie." He said and pulled me into his chest. The action took me by surprise and I laid stiffly on his chest not sure what to do at this point. "It's called a hug, Frankie. Ever heard of it?" He said chuckling. I relaxed and wrapped my arms around his torso settling into his warmth. No, he was not ice cold like every other fairy tale sets vampires out to be. They had normal body temperatures. We stayed there for a while, him rubbing the back of the head as we hugged. His breathing was calm and steady pulling me into a sleepy state. His clothes smelled of lavender which also added to my sleepiness.

"Gerard it's time for Frank to... Go home." Mikey said slowly after seeing our embrace.

"Thanks Mikey." Gerard said still not breaking the embrace.

"No problem." He said walking away, leaving the door open.

"It's time to go Frankie." He said pulling away from the hug. I nodded and let go of his torso. He smiled and gathers up my things for me as I sat in the bed. I finally stood up when I realized Gerard was waiting for me by the door.

"Sorry for what happened back there." I said referring to the small mental break down I had in his room.

"There's no need to be sorry for telling me how you feel. It's what friends are for right?" He asked still holding my bag over his shoulder. The thought of being friends sent my stomach into a fit of knots.

"Gerard, honey are you taking Frank home?" Mrs. Way asked as we made our way to the bottom of the stairs.

"Yeah." Gerard answered simply, grabbing his shoes from the mat by the door. I grabbed mine and followed him to the living room to put them on.

"Well, Frank it was lovely to have you over." Mrs. Way said rounding the corner as I stood up, done trying my shoes.

"Thanks for having me." I said offering a polite smile which was returned almost immediately.

"You didn't eat much of your dinner some packed a little extra for you. You can send the container home with Gerard or you can come visit again." She said handing a large container of spaghetti to me.

"Oh thank you but you really didn't need to." I said taking the container with a smile.

"Oh nonsense. You're like a twig you need some food in you." She said chuckling. Gerard had finished tying his shoes and now stood by my side, fiddling with his car keys as he waited for us to finish up our conversation

"You're welcome back anytime you like." Mr. Way said after he wrapped his arms around Mrs. Ways waist.

"Thank you sir." I said smiling at his words.

"Alright well, you must be going now. We wouldn't want you to be home late." Mrs. Way said shooing me and Gerard out the door.

"Well, it looks like you've made a good impression," Gerard said once we were in the car. "Buckle up." He added when he saw that my buckle was still snug against the car wall. I smiled and rolled my eyes but reached around for the seatbelt anyways.

"I like your parents. They're pretty nice." I said fiddling with the life of the container that now sat in my lap, creating a warm spot on my legs.

"They like you too." Gerard said turning out of his nice neighborhood. "I hope." I said looking out the window.

"So, I want to pick you up before school so we can have breakfast. Is that okay?" Gerard asked as I gave him directions to Ray's house.

"Yeah, sure that's fine." I said smiling to myself at the thought of having breakfast with Gerard.

"And I want you to eat all of that tonight and bring the container, washed of course. My mom loves that container so I'm pretty sure she likes you more than me." He said pulling closer to Ray's house.

"Okay. What time will you pick me up? I asked unbuckling my seatbelt as he came to a halt in the driveway of the simple white house.

"You will find that out when you text me tonight," He said smiling as I rolled my eyes playfully.

"You still have my number right?" He asked turning serious.

"Yeah. Bye Gerard see you in the morning."

"You sure will." He said waving before I shut the door, walking up to the house. I opened the door and quietly slipped inside, not wanting to wake anyone up. I heard his engine fade and I smiled at the simple gesture of him staying to make sure that I got inside alright. I walked into the kitchen and put the container on the counter, grabbing a player from the cupboard, which I had to grab a chair for. Damn my height. I dumped the spaghetti on the plate, careful bit to get any on the counter and set it in the microwave. I walked around the kitchen for a while waiting for it to get done. I was about to grab my phone and text Gerard when somebody shuffled into the kitchen.

"Where have you been.?" Ray asked teasingly.

"Are you mad." I said as the microwave beeped.

"Depends on how much spaghetti you're going to give me."

Notes

Sorry this took so long it wouldn't let me log in on my phone for the longest time so here I am now!! So sorry for the long wait and the short chapters!!!