Frerard - We're Just Friends (Part 1 of The 'Just Friends' Series)

15

The words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Gerard knew that he loved Frank too, but he just couldn't bring himself to say it in that moment. He was still so hurt by Frank's betrayal. But Frank had said it so easily. There was nothing forced about it. He hadn't made himself say it in an attempt to get Gerard back on side. It seemed truly heartfelt, and almost pleading for Gerard to understand what he meant to him.

Gerard pulled away slightly. He could feel himself faltering and didn't want that. He couldn't just let Frank off the hook so easily. He had to fucking face the consequences of his actions. He didn't reply; just looked down at his hands awaiting Frank's next step.

"Will you come in with me?" Frank dared to ask.

Gerard's eyes darted up to meet Frank's. "What?" he asked.

"To tell Jamia" Frank replied sheepishly.

"I don't know if I should" Gerard spoke uncertainly.

As he thought about it some more, however, he found himself wanting to go with Frank. He wanted to hear what he had to say and watch him suffer as he told Jamia that he had been seeing someone else. He wasn't keen on Jamia hearing that it was him that he'd been cheating on her with though. She would be distraught, Gerard knew that, but she had to know the truth. It wasn't fair that she had been lied to like he had.

"It's fine" Frank said interrupting his thoughts. "I shouldn't have asked."

He began to stand and prepared himself to face Jamia.

"I'll come" Gerard suddenly blurted out, forcing a small smile from Frank's face.

"Thank you" he whispered in return.

The two hesitated as they reached their door. Frank took a deep breath before grasping the door handle. He wanted to hold Gerard's hand – desperate for some support, but he acknowledged that that probably wasn't the best idea. Gerard was still pissed with him (obviously) and Jamia would be suspicious before he'd even opened his mouth.

"Frank!" Jamia began as he walked in. "What's going on? You're being weird tonight."

"Jamia" he started. "I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" she asked with a real look of concern on her face.

"Before I do" Frank started, "I need you to know how much I care about you. You know that don't you?"

"Yeah" Jamia smiled. She was stood in front of him now, looking increasingly worried.

"The thing is" he spoke quietly.
He inhaled deeply before continuing. "The thing is........is..........that I've been lying to you. I've been.....um............There's someone else Jamia."

Jamia's face froze as she took in Frank's words. She knew what he was saying, but her brain was taking a little while to fully comprehend it.

"What do you mean?" she finally asked, taking a step closer to Frank.

Frank looked at the ground, ashamed of himself.

"I've been seeing someone else" he simply said.

He felt the sharp sting on his face as her hand collided with it, making him see stars. It was the very least he deserved, so he just stood there and took it, before she shoved him in the chest hard with both hands and then continued to lash out at him, shouting and swearing as she did.

Gerard automatically stepped towards Frank and pulled him close, closing his arms around him almost like a protective cage to keep Frank safe within. He turned him away from Jamia's flailing arms and took a few of the hits himself. He felt so protective of him. He knew he had asked for this, and had thought he would find some satisfaction in seeing Frank getting what he deserved, but he didn't. He couldn't bear it. Frank looked so small and fragile as he was taking Jamia's blows, and Gerard just wanted to shield him from it.