Friday I'm In Love

△ 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 △

Bert opened the door with a flirty smile and a cup of coffee before he set his eyes on Gerard and replaced both with a sigh, handing Gerard the mug. "This doesn't look good," Bert said, opening the door to let him in. Gerard nodded, sniffed, and shuffled inside without any complaint. Bert closed the door behind him with a small click, his heart sinking as Gerard dumped himself on a sofa and buried his head in his hands. "are you going to tell me what happened or are we going to play Guess Who?"

"I think I've screwed everything up, Bert. I told Frank and  I made him upset. How selfish is that?"

"Do you want a cigarette?" 

"What are you, the president of the unhealthy coping mechanisms club?" 

"It's good to have hobbies." Bert shrugged. "Usually when something goes wrong I either smoke, get a tattoo, or screw around with my hair. Most of the time it works." 

"Alright, I'll bite, what's your idea?"

Three hours, two cans of beer, and one packet of Redvines later Gerard found himself back in Bert's bed. They hadn't meant to, not really, but Gerard was a creature of habit. Bert had put Little Shop of Horrors on and lit up a cigarette with a yawn. Gerard wasn't paying attention, he knew the show like the back of his hand, instead, he let his eyes go out of focus and blur the colors together as he hummed along. Bert didn't mind the silence, they spent most of their time in silence together, they didn't need words. Gerard's mind couldn't help but wander back to Frank's apartment, he wasn't sure why he tortured himself. He was, Frank was there. Gerard wasn't there. 

The light from the TV reached out towards him, its fingertips curling gently against Gerard's skin like the touch of a paintbrush. Figures danced across the screen in beautiful, grainy, 1980s quality that framed his childhood. Bert, beside him, sat slumped against the wall with his knees up at his chest and a cigarette between his lips. Gerard lay hugging a Darth Vader plushie, which he'd got Bert for his birthday, against his chest as faint salty tears rolled down his cheeks. Mikey hadn't called. Why would he? He was with Ray having far more fun than Gerard was. 

"Bert?" 

"Mhm?"

"Love you." Gerard smiled, wiping his face with the back of his hand. Bert turned to him and shook his head before reaching over and messing up Gerard's hair affectionately. 

Bert laughed. "I know that, dufus."