Like Ghosts in the Snow ▹ ▶︎ Gerard Way

▹ Braindead for you.

▹ Cherilynn.

▹ November 12, 2002

"Dude, this was boring as hell! It's not fair you get to take pictures and shit while I just kinda sit here..."

"I took care of the merch table for more than two months and never complained, so shh. Besides, you better get used to it, Val. We still have two weeks to go, and if you don't sell enough t-shirts, I swear we're selling you to McDonald's in exchange for a meal."

"Damn, I thought I was worth at least an Olive Garden meal..."

Twenty-two days later, we were back on the road again.

Except now, I wasn't the only girl in the van anymore.

After a lot of whining, bitching, begging, and complaining, Mikey and I somehow convinced the others to let Valentine tag along. It was nice having another girl among the sea of testosterone I'd been living in for the last few months, and not having to take care of the merch table was an added bonus. Although, to be honest, whenever I glanced at the back of the van and accidentally caught a glimpse of her and Mikey pretty much reproducing, I really wondered if letting her come was a good choice.

"Baby? Angel? Sweetheart? Honey?"

Oh.

One of the things I'd discovered after Val joined us was that Gerard seemed adamant about out-lovey doveying his brother after he had a few drinks. Gee had always been pretty cuddly and affectionate, but the alcohol and having Mikey and Val nearby amplified everything by a thousand. And, though it was adorable most of the time, sometimes I wished I could take two steps without him following at my heel and pouting until I gave him attention (something that earned him the nickname "puppy boy" from Frank.)

"Well, if it isn't my sweet puppy boy," I turned around from the merch table and towards Gee, all sweaty and pouting, the adrenaline the show gave him evident on his face. I knew he hated the nickname, but I found it hilarious and pretty fitting. "What's up? Everything okay?"

Gee didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed my cheeks with both hands and nuzzled his nose against mine. The pungent smell of whiskey and sweat that emanated from his warm body made me slightly recoil, but it was to no avail because every time I inched farther away from him, he only got closer.

I knew he wanted a kiss, but I loved how he got all needy and bothered when I didn't give him what he wanted. So every time his pink, perfectly-shaped lips hovered too close to mine, I averted my face and kissed his neck or cheeks instead.

"You're such a fucking tease," Gerard finally breathily slurred once I dragged on the teasing for far too long. And with a rare surge of dominance, he pulled me flush against him with one hand and held my chin with the other before roughly connecting our lips. "Such a mean, mean girl..."

I ran my hands through my boyfriend's hair, and though it was sweaty and he kind of smelled like shit, I relished the feeling of his hands exploring my body and his needy mouth on mine. He usually wasn't this dominant, but I wasn't complaining- I was really into this side of him, to be honest.

Besides, I knew I had to enjoy this moment while it lasted. If this night wasn't any different from the previous ten, I'd end up sitting on the floor of a hotel bathroom, trying not to fall asleep while Gerard spilled his guts out on the toilet- and that was only if I got lucky. If I didn't, I'd probably have to make a midnight run to the nearest laundromat to wash the sheets, towels, and clothes his drunk ass was always unlucky enough to puke on.

"Fuck... I love the taste of your lipgloss," he mumbled once he finally let go of my face. His left hand stayed on my pink-tinted cheek, and through a smitten, drunken gaze, he grinned. "You want a drink, angel? I'm gonna go get one."