I Drew You Once in Art Class

One Hundred Seven

"I was thinking," Frank said.

The two had woken up ten minutes ago and were laying facing each other, warm under Frank's comforter. The letter, which had been read several more times while Gerard had slept, lay on Frank's nightstand, the edges crumpled from Frank's grip.

"I was thinking, you and Hayley would get along really well."

Gerard raised an eyebrow. "You don't think that would be awkward?"

"Maybe at first, but you guys are similar in a lot of ways! Like, you both have similar humor, you both like to bully me..."

"Someone has a type."

"Shut up! I'm serious, you guys would like each other. Maybe we can all go see Christmas lights or something."

"Christmas was, like, three days ago."

"So? Botanic gardens still keeps 'em up for like, a month."

Gerard made a whiny face.

"Come on! Haley would be down, I know she would. Besides, you need more friends. It's helpful to have more than one, I've found."

"Okay, rude!" Gerard laughed, throwing a pillow at Frank. He dodged it so it landed somewhere behind him on the tan carpet.

"Okay, fine. I want to meet her anyways. Even though she knows all of my stupid Bert drama."

Frank smiled.

They had five more months of Junior year, which Frank thought was plenty of time for Gerard and Hayley to get acquainted.

Gerard whined. "It will just be weird! She totally still likes you, it's not like she got over you in four days."

"Yeah, but like, eventually! And besides, weren't you the one bitching at me over jealousy? Hmm?"

Gerard opened his mouth to speak but closed it again for a loss of words. Frank grinned smugly.

Gerard rolled his eyes. "Okay, fair, but still!"

"I'm gonna tell you something an idiot told me a few months ago."

Frank half-lidded his eyelids and lowered his voice to sound like that giant fucking turtle from finding Nemo.

"You don't have to be jealous, bro. I'm with you, bro."

"Hey! I don't sound like that! And I don't say 'bro'!"

"Point is! I'm not with Hayley. I'm with you and you know it." He grabbed Gerard's shirt."So shut up about it and kiss me before my mom comes and makes us get up. Bro."

That was probably one of the most audacious things Frank had ever said in his life.