~time stamp: middle of May~



Gerard sighed as he trudged to class...alone. He was always alone now...always going to school alone, always eating alone, always going home...alone. Well, that’s not entirely true; Frank was there, just like he always had been...when he’s not off fucking someone else!…but Gerard had been ignoring him, and all his attempted apologies for never showing up to his birthday like he’d promised to do.

Gerard had his earbuds in, as the internationally recognised sign that he didn’t want to talk, and he would much rather you just went away...but Frank was a stubborn little shit that apparently couldn’t take a hint. Gerard still loved Frank of course...it would be so much easier if he didn’t...but he did.

Entering their Art classroom, Gerard headed to their usual table near the back. This was one of the few classes they shared, and as such it had been Gerard’s favourite...now though...

He sat down heavily and pulled out his earbuds, as Mr. Chomsky didn’t allow them in his class. He felt Frank sit down next to him, and now he knew there was no escape...he would have to listen to Frank trying to beg his forgiveness for the WHOLE FUCKING LESSON!

He pulled out the piece he’d been working on, and tried to block out what Frank had to say. It was practically impossible.

"And they have the best caramel mocha dirink and you can get it iced or hot and I have a coupon for buy one get one free, so let's go after school, okay Gee?"

Gerard sighed, rolling his eyes.

"I’m busy after school."

He muttered, eyes fixed on his attempt at a hyper-realistic drawing of an elephant. If he didn’t get an A+ for this, he was going to be pissed.

"Come on Gee, we haven't hung out in weeks. Can't you spare a few minutes for your best friend of ten years?"

Gerard’s pencil paused and he lifted it slightly off of the paper.

"Best friends?..."

He turned his head.

"Best friends remember each other's birthdays Frank. They don’t forget so they can fuck some British twink at a party."

He looked back down at his paper. His hand was trembling.

"Gee, come on. I said I was sorry about that. I just got so fucked up and I couldn't remember, you understand right? I mean I still gave you that amazing gift didn't I? I know you wanted that for years!"

"I sold it."

Gerard lied through gritted teeth, his eyes still on the paper and starting to water a little...he would never sell something Frank had given him.

"You..."

Frank look devastated.

"What the fuck Gerard?! Why would you do something fucked up like that? Don't you know how long I saved up to get it?!"

"Mr. Iero."

Frank didn't even hear the teacher. He shoved what he was working on off the table and force turned Gerard to face him, gripping his arms tightly.

"Tell me why!"

Gerard gasped, wide eyed and a little scared.

"I didn’t!...I...I wouldn’t."

He never wanted to see that look in Frank’s eyes again.

"Mr. Iero, that is quite enough! Principal's office now!"

Frank shoved Gerard back hard and then threw the project he was working on across the room. He grabbed his bag and stormed out of the room.

"Gerard are you alright?"

Gerard sobbed slightly, his breath hitching. He squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds and took a couple deep breaths, his bottom lip trapped between his teeth...then opened them again and nodded.

"Yes sir, I’m ok."

"Do you need a moment. Perhaps to use the bathroom?"

Gerard took another breath and looked down...his hands were full on shaking now.

"Uh, yeah...thank you s-sir."

"You may take your books since class is almost over and...you may have extended time for your project since Mr. Iero...interfered."

Frank had knocked the drawing into a paint can, tipping it and causing black to drip down over it. Gerard sniffed, looking at his ruined piece.

"Thank you sir."

He said quietly. He shoved his pencils into his bag and stood up, leaving the destroyed picture where it was...and walked out, heading straight to the nearest bathroom. Pushing into the room, he felt tears start to stream down his face. He went into the last stall and shut the door, sobbing as he slid his back down the wall til he was sat on the floor with his knees to his chest and his face buried in his arms. There, he cried.


(time passes)


"Gerard, dinner's ready."

Gerard looked up from his desk to see his dad in the doorway of his room.

"I’m not that hungry dad. Can I have it later?"

"You feeling alright buddy?"

Don came in and felt his son's forehead, hidden under his black bangs. Gerard turned his face away, frowning slightly.

"Yeah dad, I’m fine..."

He looked back up and shrugged.

"I just wanna get some more of this done before I stop for a break..."

He nodded to his drawing...that he’d had to start again completely from scratch.

"Ok?"

"Alright, I'll wrap the plate up, and we have your favorite dessert too."

Don kissed his head and then left with another shoulder squeeze. Gerard’s stomach protested, but he didn’t want to think of food right now. He went back to his picture, glad that his dad hadn’t noticed that he’d started it again...he didn’t want to have to explain.


(Time passes)


"Hey Gerard, someone left something on your desk."

The girl with the ponytail who’s name Gerard didn't remember, pointed to his desk in homeroom which now contained a small wrapped box. Gerard frowned as he walked over to his desk and picked the box up. He turned it over in his hands, but there was nothing written on it except his name. He looked back at the girl.

"Did you see who left it?"

He asked curiously.

"Nope, it was here when I got here and Mr. Hanover wasn't even in the room."

Gerard sighed, nodding.

"Ok, thanks..."

He sat down at his desk and stared at the box as if he thought he could guess what was inside. Of course he couldn’t, so after a minute or two, he picked it back up and started to pull off the paper. Inside the box was half of a charm on a necklace with a note. Gerard looked at the half heart, trying to decider what it said. It was clearly the second half of three words, but his brain seemed to be set on slow right now.

"...ST, ...KING, ...ENDS...what the Hell?"

He picked up the note.


Hey Gee,



So I fucked up, I mean I really fucked up, but I wasn't joking, you are my Best Fucking Friend and even if you sold the kit I bought you, I am sure you had a good reason. Take as long as you want to forgive me, I deserve that, but please wear this so I know that we still have something?



Love Frankie.xxx


Gerard read the note three times, then looked at the half charm.

"Best Fucking Friends..."

He whispered, running his fingertip over the engraved letters and seriously considering just throwing it away.

"You bastard."

He sighed after a minute, fiddling with the tiny clasp and fixing the chain around his neck...he never could stay mad at Frank for long. He tucked the charm inside the top of his shirt and put the box and note into his bag...he’d make Frank sweat a little bit more before he let him know things could be ok.

Class started and he got on with his work.


(time passes)


The bell rang for lunch and Gerard joined everyone in the rush to get out of the room. The hallway was packed with teenagers hurrying to get to the cafeteria, cause it was Friday and that meant pizza...for the lucky 50 or so who got there first anyway. Gerard joined the flow and was making good progress until someone stuck their foot out and he was sent sprawling to the floor amidst a sea of legs and laughter. He cried out as someone stood on his hand, but eventually he was back on his feet.

Head hung low and his arms wrapped around himself, he made his way to the cafeteria and got in line. All that was there now were some questionable looking sandwiches, or some mystery meat and soggy fries. Sighing, he chose a sandwich and a juice box, paid, then headed to the table he and Frank had claimed as their own on their very first day of school. Frank wasn’t there yet, so Gerard sat down and stared forlornly at his rather unappetising looking meal.

"Don't you think this is better for lunch?..."

Frank held out a plate with the coveted pizza on it.

"Or would you rather this instead?"

He brought his other hand from behind his back and held out a box from Gerard's favourite sushi restaurant. Gerard blinked up at him silently for a moment, blank faced. Both options looked better than what he had, but he wasn't quite ready to admit that yet.

"I'm good..."

He looked down at his pitiful meal again. He could almost feel the sadness coming from Frank...and it hurt him. He looked up again as he pushed the sandwich away.

"Second thoughts."

He gave Frank a small smile as he nodded toward the sushi box. Frank smiled and placed the box in front of Gerard and then sat the pizza down. As he moved to get in the seat, his half of the necklace swung forward. The shiny gold caught the light and Gerard frowned slightly, looking down. He went to open the little sushi box to distract himself, forgetting the shoe print bruise forming on the back of his hand.

"What happened to your hand Gee?..."

Frank took it before Gerard could pull it back. He looked at it and growled.

"Harmon. I recognise that pathetic pattern anywhere."

Ronald Harmon was one of the richest kids in the school. He was popular and also an ass. Gerard wrenched his hand back, shoving it under the table and between his knees.

"It’s nothing..."

He frowned, staring at his lap.

"Just an accident."

"I'll bet."

Frank started to look around the room for him. Gerard looked up.

"Just leave it Frank. It doesn’t matter."

Then Frank heard it. That laugh. He turned and saw Ronald push some kid into the garbage can. Frank was out of his seat and going towards him before Gerard could even blink.

"FRANK NO!"

Gerard shouted. But apparently Frank wasn’t listening. Gerard sighed heavily and stood up. He left the sushi, the pizza and his crappy sandwich on the table...and walked silently out of the cafeteria. He couldn’t deal with this right now and what little appetite he’d had...was now gone.


(time passes)


"Man you should have seen him."

"I know, I never saw Harmon so pissed!"

"Yeah, but he deserved it."

"True, but who thought that short kid had it in him?"

"Harmon went home, but I think the punk is still in the nurse's office."

Gerard’s eyes widened as he surreptitiously listened in on the other boys' conversation. Frank got hurt?...for him?! Swallowing heavily, he stood up from his table and walked over to the teacher's desk, clearing his throat as he reached it.

"Um, Mr. Connors?"

"Yes Gerard?"

Gerard shuffled his feet, wrapping an arm around his middle nervously. Mr. Conners was not his biggest fan.

"Can I...go to the nurse please?...I’m feeling really sick."

The teacher began to roll his eyes when one of the other students stood up.

"I kind of saw what he was stuck with for lunch and that sandwich didn't look so good."

"Fine, go."

Gerard gave a pained half smile before mouthing 'thank you' to the kid who helped him...then grabbed his things quickly from his desk and left the room. He headed to the nurse's room and paused outside. Taking a breath, he carefully pulled the half charm out to sit over the top of his shirt, then knocked on the door and waited.

Frank was in pain, but it was worth it. His mom was going to ground him for life though. Still if it meant Gerard forgave him it was even more worth it. He didn't realise how angry his best friend really was still.

"Frank, someone to see you."

Gerard peered into the little side room and saw Frank laying on a cot with his shirt open, holding an ice pack against a large purplish mark on his ribs. There was also a bruise around his right eye and a cut on his lower lip.

"Oh my God Frank, why did you do that?..."

He said with a frown, hurrying to Frank’s bedside and gingerly touching the bruised boy's cheek.

"I told you I was ok!"

"That's why I did it. Cause you always say it's fine when it isn't..."

Frank gave a smile that cracked his lip more. He winced a little.

"I wanted you to know you could count on me."

Gerard took a deep breath in, then let it out slowly.

"Frank, I don't need you to beat people up for me...I just need to know that if you say you'll be somewhere...then you'll actually be there..."

He brought one hand up to absently play with the chain around his neck.

"You get it?"

"I do and I will. I promise I won't let you down again Gee."

Gerard sighed heavily, a soft smile spreading on his lips...he really couldn't stay mad at Frank.

"Fine. You better not, mister."

He fake scolded him, but couldn't keep a straight face and after a moment, burst into quiet giggles. Frank didn't care how much pain he was in, he reached up and pulled Gerard into a hug. It had been too long since he heard his best friend laugh. Gerard hesitated for a moment, tensing up...then relaxed with a sigh, holding onto Frank as tight as he could. He really missed this.

"This weekend, we are gonna watch movies, and have pizza, and stay up till forever cuase it's been too long since we have done that...well that is if i am not grounded for life."

Gerard pulled back to smile fondly at Frank.

"I’ll explain to your mom if she grounds you. I’ll tell her you were protecting me."

"She likes you better then me anyway."

The nurse watched the two boys interact and it made her smile. She saw that spark that she saw many times between two would be partners, worried about each other in here. She knew there was something special there, they just had to realise it too.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks, how’s you?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!...we thought as a special treat, we would give you two chapters today, so this is the first, and the second will be up shortly...enjoy.

Until next time (a few minutes from now)...PLEASE COMMENT and peace out babies!
<3