I don’t know how, but I ended up falling asleep in Gerard’s bed. I wake up in the morning with him wrapped around me as tight as the first time. Only now we’re face to face. And I’m pretty sure it’s unintentional on his part. And Mikey’s not here to give him a wake-up call. I mean, I could get him up myself, but…His face is so angelic right now. I mean, he looks peaceful and cute. I mean, it would be rude to wake him up so early on a Saturday!

Yeah, that’s the one. Except, what time is it? I can’t tell because of his tiny, curtained window. I crane my neck around and eventually find a clock. It says 7:13. Holy fuck! Why am I awake so early? It’s Saturday! But can I really go back to sleep now? That would be like admitting defeat to Gerard. Then again, he’s really warm…

I find myself snuggling closer to him and inhaling. He actually smells really nice. It’s comforting. My eyelids slowly grow heavier and…

…

“Wake up, sleeping beauty. Don’t make me kiss you,” a voice cuts through my dreams. It was a weird one. I think I was getting married, but I was in the dress. And I never got to see the other person’s face. I couldn’t tell if it was a boy or girl. They had their head bowed, so all I could see was a mop of stringy black hair.

“Frank, I can see your eyes moving. Wake up before Mikey comes down and has a cow,” that voice again. Why can’t they let me sleep? I deserve it, I think. After such a full week and Mikey and Gerard’s harassment…I swat at the person who is apparently right next to my face.

“Go away. Need sleep,” I mumble.

“Not when it’s past noon you don’t! You need to hang out with Mikey or he’ll get all jealous.”

I roll over. Mikey Shmikey, he can wait, “Five more minutes.”

“I didn’t want to do this…” suddenly a strong pair of arms wrap around me and pull me off the bed. They hold me up in a standing position while I attempt to blink the sleep away. It’s not working very well, so I struggle against my captor, desperate for the soft bed and Gerard’s warmth.

I snap awake at that thought. I really just meant the bed. No way did I want to be back with Gerard. Speaking of Gerard, I notice that he’s the one holding me. Great. Just what I need, another dose of homosexual flirtation. Not. I wrench myself out of his grasp as quick as I can.

“I’m awake already, geez! First you get me in a vice grip while I’m sleeping and now this?! You gotta get over this fetish of holding onto me.”

He smirks as if something is really amusing, “If I recall correctly, you were holding on to me while we slept. So stop the accusations, okay?”

A pout crawls onto my face. He’s lying. I woke up in his arms. Not the other way around. Though…were my hands clenching his shirt? No, couldn’t be. My memory’s just playing tricks on me, “Liar. I woke up at seven and you were totally wrapped around me.”

“Yeah? Why didn’t you wake me up and make me get off you then? Because I had to pry you off of me.”

“I don’t have to explain myself to you!” I yell before running up the stairs. This feels so deja-vu. And way too close to accusations for my comfort. Why can’t Gerard see that he’s only a friend? I mean, yeah I guess my actions don’t make it too obvious, but it’s not my fault! I just want him to be normal around me.

I run up to Mikey’s room and curl up in his moon chair. Why someone as tall and lanky as him has a moon chair, I have no idea. But it’s really comforting and makes some of my stress go away. Mikey looks over at me and frowns.

“What’s wrong, Frank?” he asks.

“Gerard won’t stop…and you aren’t doing anything to help!” I whine.

He sighs, “Frank…I can’t help you run away from yourself. I know you’re going to end up with Gerard, so all I can do is wait for it to happen.”

I groan, “Mikey! I don’t want to be gay!”

Wait…Don’t want to be gay? When did it become that? I’m not gay, which means I just said I want something I already have. Man, I’m stupid.

Mikey coughs, “Why not? I mean, no offense, Frank, but people already think you are. So you don’t exactly have a reputation to protect. And I’ve met your mom. She’s totally cool, and I know she wouldn’t freak out on you. I’m your only friend, and I’m not going anywhere. So what’s stopping you?”

What is stopping me? I mean…he’s right on all accounts, but… “I’m just not gay, okay? I’m sorry. I know I’m hurting Gerard, and…I don’t want to do that, but…It has to be done. So please, just leave me alone about it.”

He shakes his head, “Fine. Wanna play a game?” he motions to his x-box.

Finally, something I can do without embarrassing myself, “You bet!”

…

We play around for a few hours before his mom comes in and asks if we want to go out for lunch. It sounds good to me, so I agree. Mrs. Way takes us to a really nice Italian place in the middle of town. I wasn’t expecting that. I was thinking more McDonald’s. Oh well. The waiter leads us to a table and I notice for the first time that Gerard came too. I have no idea how I missed that.

He smirks as if he’s just thought of something great. I raise an eyebrow at him. He then moves to pullout my chair and motions for me to sit. I blush before following his wishes, muttering a small “thank you.” Now people are going to think we’re a couple, but what was I supposed to do? Pushing the chair in and pulling it out myself would just be ridiculous and rude. So I calmly order water and a Caesar salad instead of getting upset.

Gerard has taken up the seat next to me, leaving Mikey to sit across the table. I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I mean, this way he can’t stare at me the whole time we’re here, but…He’s also really close. The table isn’t very big, so I can feel a bit of his body heat. I know he can feel mine, too, and he’s probably enjoying it way more than I want him to. I should probably just stop worrying about it, though, it’s ruining this lunch.

I stare at the table as I wait for my food. I barely hear a whispered “They’re so cute together!” from across the table. I feel my cheeks flame red, and I look up to see Mikey’s mom pulling away from his ear.

“Pardon me, ma’am, but we’re not together,” I say as politely as I can muster. I’m starting to think there’s some conspiracy against me.

She smiles, “Oh, I know. Not yet, of course. You’re underage.”

“No, I—”

“Mom, Frank’s not interested,” Gerard cuts me off. Wait, what? Since when was he on my side? Never, that’s when!

“Oh,” she looks a little embarrassed, but is soon saved by the food arriving. My salad, Mikey’s ravioli, his mom’s chicken pasta, and Gerard’s...salad? why does he have a salad like me?

“What’s with the leafy stuff all over your plate, Gee?” Mikey voices my question.

Gerard shrugs, “I didn’t want Frankie to feel awkward about being the only veggie.”

That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I’m absolutely fine with being the only veggie. I’m used to it. Still, it is kind of…sweet of him to consider that. I smile slightly and look at him.

“You should have asked me about that first. I’m fine with eating alone. I don’t try to control the dietary habits of others.”

Gerard blushes, “Oh…”

I put a hand on his arm, “Thanks for trying to be nice, though. I’ll buy you a new plate, if you want? Then I can just take home some leftovers.”

“Oh, no, Frankie. Leave that to me. I’ll flag down a waiter,” his mom says. Then she puts her hand up until the nearest guy notices us.

He comes over and smiles, “Yes, what can I do for you?”

“Can I get some chicken pine?” Gerard asks kindly.

The man looks at him and his eyes widen, “Yes, of course. I’ll be right on that!”

He scurries away, leaving me very confused. Was he afraid of Gerard for some reason? Why else would he run off like that? Oh well… Mikey and his mom are stuffing their faces already, but I don’t want Gerard to be eating after we’re done… SO I set my fork down and wait. Gerard notices instantly.

“What’s wrong, Frank? You’re not eating.”

“Of course not. Then you’d be eating alone when your food comes.”

He looks shocked for a moment, then smiles. He opens his mouth to say something, but is interrupted by the waiter returning. Gerard smiles at him, “Thank you.”

“It was no trouble at all…um…my name’s Sean.”

“Gerard.”

The guy nods, “I know. I see your pictures around school all the time. You’re really good.”

“You go to art school too?”

“Mmhmm, uh…listen, I get off my shift in a couple minutes. Would you mind sticking around? I’ve wanted to talk to you for a while.”

“Sure, no problem.”

I feel something bubbling up in me, and I’m suddenly eating my salad with a fury. Who does that guy think he is? Flirting with Gerard. That is what he was doing, right? That’s how you get someone interested in you: find a common interest and point it out. He probably doesn’t begin to understand Gee’s deeper side. He’s just seeing a pretty face with some talent. Ugh.

“Uh-oh, Gee. You’re making Frankie jealous.”

“I am not!” I shout. Jealous, bah! Who gets jealous of a guy hitting on another guy that they don’t like. Not Frank Iero, that’s for sure. I just think Gerard deserves better than that…idiot waiter.

Gerard just shrugs, “Well, he had his chance. He’s not interested. Might as well move on.”

Move on?! Oh, fuck no. He is not going to…to…uh…go out with that waiter who totally doesn’t deserve him… Cuz he deserves someone good. Yupp. I have to stop him, for the sake of his own happiness. Or I could just let him make the mistake. I mean, that’s what parents usually do. Plus, if I try to stop him, they’ll think I really am jealous, and I’m not.

“Frank, there’s no more food on your plate. You can stop trying to eat the ceramic.”

I look down and see that he’s right. God, I have got to stop letting him get to me like this! Why didn’t I just stick to my plan of staying away from him in the first place? Oh, right, because he was depressed. But if he has someone else, he won’t be depressed. But he also won’t be chasing me. And besides, he’s my friend…I guess there’s just no escaping him.

We finish our meal in silence and head out the door. And surprise, surprise guess who’s waiting in the parking lot? Mr. Art Student Who Thinks He Can Take My Gerard. Wait, my Gerard?! No, no, he’s just Gerard. Just. Gerard. Seriously, Frank, get your act together! Gerard starts to walk over to him and I immediately follow. I want to know what they’re talking about. I stay just a few feet behind Gerard, listening but unnoticed.

“Hey, Gerard!” Sean says in a super bubbly voice.

“Hey, you wanted to talk?”

Sean blushes. Blushes! “Um, well,” he leans in and talks quietly to Gerard, low enough that I can’t hear. That weasel.

Gerard laughs and shakes his head, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh, but I sorta saw this coming. Nothing against you, Sean, but I’m not really looking for a relationship right now. I hope you understand.”

Not looking for a relationship, my ass! What’s with the super obsession with me, then?!

Sean looks down and shuffles his feet, “Oh...yeah, that’s cool, um…sorry to bother you.”

“Hey, we can be friends, though. Hang out in school and stuff, how’s that sound?”

Sean’s face lights up, “Yeah, great! Here, I’ll give you my number!” he pulls out a sharpie and scribbles something on Gerard’s arm. I really don’t like that.

I walk back to Mikey and Mrs. Way, satisfied that Gerard does not have a new boyfriend. Moments later he joins us. I raise an eyebrow at him, “Not looking for a relationship?”

“He’s not really my type.”

“What is your type?”

He pretends to think, “Well, I guess he’d have to be kind of on the shorter side…Probably with a Mohawk, gauged ears, and a scorpion tattoo. I bet he’d be really stubborn and play the guitar. Just, you know, to generalize the description.”

I have no idea how to respond to that. All I can do is blush, bite my lip to keep from smiling, and shake my head.

Notes

THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! READ IT!!!

Ok, so, hello any confused readers out there! i was reading back through this and surprise! realized i forgot to post a chapter! I only have myself to blame, because i didn't have them labeled well. um, i think it was chapter 4? go back and read it! i mean...if you weren't missing anything i guess you don't have to, but i'd rather you did. so i'll post alot of new chapters now in order to apologize for that.