Eleven hours soon turned into Three hours as Frank spent the whole night pacing around in his small apartment biting onto his fingernails down to flesh. He couldn’t believe he did that, how did he no notice he was so focused on the shirtless image of his boss in his mind than to what he was doing.

He really couldn’t face Gerard not today not ever if it was possible; he thought and thought of any rational way he could avoid the situation and the only thing that made sense was to emigrate from the country and never come back, it sounded like a solid he even convinced himself to do it but then he realized it was just a fucking stupid idea from a stupid short ass man, if he did emigrate he knows for sure his mom and friends would hunt him down to see where he was and that hassle was something he couldn’t deal with, which to his luck would end up with facing Gerard again. He stood in the kitchen for two more hours binge drinking on coffee and smoking his last packet of cigarettes before he knew it was a good time to make a phone call, he grabbed the landline phone and turned it on , searching the contact list until he found ‘R.Toro’ he pressed call and waited for him to pick up.

“Hey, Frank sup?” Ray’s voice said from the other end his voice light and cheery so early in the morning.

“Hey Ray, listen man I know it’s not like myself but, I cannot come into work today” He said finishing the sentence with a fake cough.

“Dude, I can’t let you skip work today, I just received a text from Gerard that no employees are to skip work today didn’t you get it?” Toro replied

“Wha-? No my phone uhm I forgot to charge my phone last night, Toro you cannot be serious I’m sick, tell Gerard I caught the plague or something” Frank said, his eyes widening as he wished he’d convince Ray to cover for him maybe for today or week or forever!
“I’ll try man but if the boss insists on you coming in. You gotta come in man, we’re short on staff and oh wait he’s calling give me a minute”

Frank heard Ray answer his phone and the conversation got distant like Ray has moved from the room he was talking in. Frank kept biting his nails cursing himself and wishing he’d caught the plague for real and die and just have “Big fucking idiot” written on his grave stone, minutes felt like hours before he heard Ray’s from the other end.

“Frank, I told him he didn’t take it lightly he said and I quote he better get his ass to work or I’ll go to his place and drag him myself”

“Fuck sake! He doesn’t even know where I live so yea” Frank said feeling a bit relieved, he guessed that skipping work wouldn’t be a problem he’ll get sacked? So be it, worth it…. Or is it?

“Dude, he knows where you live you have your address on your contract, don’t be an idiot, I gotta go now cause I need to open the shop today, please don’t be a jackass and come to work today then take the rest of the week off if you want, but I don’t want Gerard to sack you for something entirely stupid, See you” and with that Ray cut the line off leaving Frank mentally stabbing himself in the face, he had no other choice, he had to face Gerard, and maybe who knew he forgot? He let it pass? It was accidentally? It wouldn’t be awkward if a straight guy sent a dick pic to his friend…… or boss… oh fuck Frank was about to die now he wished to die straight friends would take the piss out of eachother but GAY, gay people would think something else, he had no other choice but go to work, why didn’t the gods take Frank’s life easy right now? Was it that fun to fuck around someone?

He sighed and looked at the clock just an hour till he has to be at work, he slapped his forehead and grunted calling himself every insult that was in any books of any languages as he slowly made his way towards his bathroom to take a cold shower and maybe function like a proper human being.

The cold shower didn’t help his nerves as his hands where still shaking as he put on his work clothes , if walls could talk they’ll tell him that he looks like shit and sounds like a mad man, laughing and cursing himself in the his small apartment if he was lucky enough the walls wouldn’t go round town telling people how much of a fucktard he was. The tattooed punk kid that’s a dwarf but wouldn’t hesitate to punch the lights out any fucker no matter how big or huge the person is, was standing in his bedroom shaking, sweating cursing and about to have a mini heart attack as he realized that in 10 minutes he needed to be at work, he stalled too much and wished for the time to stop and let him relax a bit but time was never on his side. He chucked his apartment keys into his jeans pocket and got out his apartment only to realize that he left his phone in there, where he discarded in late last night on the bed just dead sort of shrugging he slowly started to drag his feet down the stairs and towards his destination…keys and strings or better his fucking doom.

---

Sweat beads running down his forehead and to his neck like it’s a hundred degrees out but it was not it’s October it’s cold as fuck and Frank was about to have a heatstroke as he stood still in front of the doors that led to the back room of his work where only the staff where allowed to use, he swallowed a lump in his throat and reached for the handle while he swiped his work card against the scanner and the door clicked open. He made his way inside towards the locker room and rested his head against his locker sighing.

“There you are” A voice came from the other side of the room which caused him to jump in his spot, cursing Ray as the man chuckled “So the ‘plague’ didn’t kill you yet?” Ray continued grinning.

“I’m not in the mood Toro, not today can’t you see I’m sweating like a pig it is the plague” Frank said rubbing his forehead from sweat and showing his hand to his supervisor.
“Not my orders man, Gerard wanted all employee’s to be here which is weird since he’s not even here yet” he shrugged and walked towards Frank “you look like shit” he added and Frank rolled his eyes “I feel like fucking shit thanks.”

“What’s up?” Toro asked again resting against the lockers as frank opened his and peered inside it.

“I’m sick, couldn’t sleep with this..fever”
“I’m not buying it Frank, I’ve seen you come to work about to die cause your immune system is shit this is just an act, what is? Hangover? Stood up?”

“It’s nothing Toro, stop prying-“ Frank was cut off as another employee came into the room running saying their boss is here and boy he does not look like he’s himself. Ray glanced at Frank and than back at the other “As shit as he?” he pointed to him as he started walking towards the door. The other shook their head saying nah he looks more….confused Frank looks like he’s about to die and with that they both exited the room and left Frank alone with the steel lockers he looked around and sighed he needed to get out of there and start his day maybe his boss would lock himself in his office and be too embarrassed to come out of there. Frank had only that to cling onto as he made his way towards the cashier area.

---

The day was slow and very few customers came into the shop which was a win to Frank as he didn’t feel like conversing much only 3 hours left till he can fuck off and go back to his apartment and be the miserable love-struck fucker, he rested his head on his arms looking down at his shoes as he took another deep breath, luckily Gerard was out of sight all day, as Ray said he was locked in his office doing god knows what, so that was also a win to Frank as he took a deep breath and shook his head “this will be over soon, it was just an accidental dick pic, it will be forgotten in a week” he said to himself.

“What will be forgotten?” Ray’s voice made him snap his head upwards a questioning look on his face.

“Nothing just talking to myself” Frank replied, lightly shivering at the thought of how much Ray has heard.

“Yeah, Gerard wants you in his office” Ray pointed towards the office door and patted Frank’s shoulder.

“He….What?” Frank could feel his eyes almost popping out of their sockets as Ray pushed him out the way so he could take Frank’s Place. “Why what did I do?” he asked he knew damn well what he did but this shouldn’t happen, he refuses to let this happen, he wanted to finish work and go home and not confront his crush about his accident. Ray shrugged and twisted his lips to the side “Well, I don’t know he just said Go get Frank for me and so I did, just go maybe it’s a promotion buddy you deserve it” Ray smiled and Frank let out a nervous laugh which was quickly replaced by horror as he started walking towards the office.

He stared at the door and look back at Ray wishing that he would come and save him or kill him, but nobody knew what was happening poor old Ray told Frank it’s a promotion…. A fucking promotion how fucking funny is that,, maybe it was because Frank forgot his phone and didn’t continue with the task he was given and so Gerard wanted to tell him that he’s not getting fuck all of a pay check this month? Who knew but Frank fucking knew, Frank knew it was about the picture and he needed to act so normal, not be a fucking idiot. He shook his head and took a deep breath ‘you could do this no big deal’ and for a moment there he did feel like he could do it, as he knocked and reached for the door knob he felt like he could do this like nothing would bring him down, like the man behind this door isn’t the man he’s been fantasizing about for 5 years. When he eard a come in he pushed the door open and slid inside only for his almighty manliness confidence to be blown up away as he looked at Gerard. His breath hitched inside his throat as he saw the beautiful creature sitting on the desk with only the window as a source of light.

“Sit” was all Gerard said and the air was already thick as fuck and awkward. Frank hestitated for a moment and then slowly made his way towards the vacant chair infront of Gerard’s desk.

“Now do you know why I called you in here?” Gerard continued as he stood up and walked behind Frank, Frank wanted to check on what his boss was doing before he heard a cabinet opening and something clicking, like a glass on a tray. Frank gulped down and sighed out.
“Y-Yes?” he questioned rather than answered, sweat beads returning back to his forehead.
Gerard hummed and asked a simple why’s that that left Frank to answer the question.
“Because I accidentally sent you a dick pic Sir” Frank managed to say between breaths as he shamefully looked down at the rug covered floor. From behind him Frank heard like a glass falling down on the floor and looked behind him seeing Gerard looking at him scarred a wine bottle in his hand while another glass was next to hit feet on the floor, Gerard’s face looked terrified as he swallowed wide eyed “a-accidentally?, What do you mean accidentally?”

Notes