Malignant

Chapter Fourteen

  Two years since I've been discharged. Two fucking years. My hair is long like Gerard's now, and I dyed it blonde again. My skin is no longer yellow at all, and it's almost unnoticeable that I've had cancer. Ms. Way put all my stuff in the attic, where she also put my bed. Even though I don't sleep up there, I will go up there with Gerard and we'll play music. We think we found a nice place to live, and Ms. Way said she'd help us with finances.

"Frank, Gerard, come downstairs, breakfast's ready!" shouts Ray from downstairs. Ray and Mikey are together all the time. Ms. Way asked if Ray and Mikey would like to come home for Christmas, and of course they said yes. It'll be the first time they meet Mikey's  boyfriend. They arrived late at night, and me and Gerard were already upstairs and sleeping.

"Come on, Jer," I say, placing a kiss on his forehead. He wakes up, and kisses me back. We get out of bed and change into clothes that aren't pajamas. He puts on a black skirt that comes right above his knees and a neon pink shirt, and I put on jeans and a Screw The Day shirt.

We walk downstairs, and I go into the kitchen while Gerard goes into the dining room. Ray turns around and sees me.

"Ah, you must be Frank. Nice to meet you."

They extend their hand for me to shake and I do so, smiling.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Sure, grab those few pans and those utensils and bring them into the dining room. I've got the rest, and so does Mikes."

"Okay." I grab what they told me to grab and walk into the dining room. Gerard's talking to Mikey, and getting the plates set.

"Go ahead and eat while it's hot!" says Ray, smiling. Mikey walks over to them and hugs them. It's fun, Mikey is taller than Gerard, but only by a few inches.

I sit next to Gerard, and Mikey and Ray sit across from us. They start talking about something weird they saw on TV, and I look at Gerard, who's putting as many pancakes onto his plate as possible.

"Hey Frank, could we go somewhere later? Just to get out of the house for once."

"Of course, Gerard. Where'd you want to go?"

"Let's go to that one park where no one ever goes but it's still really nice. And we can sit and chill and talk to each other."

"Okay."

"But let me eat my pancakes first. Ray, these are amazing!"

"Thank you, Gerard. You know, your brother tells me all about you, how you're one of the best people in the world. If you couldn't tell, Mikes thinks a lot of you."

"Well, of course he does! He better, with all the random things I've done with him! You two seem perfect for each other. And I know Mikey really likes you."

"That's good."

I finish the last of my bacon and Gerard finishes his last pancake, and we walk over to the door. I wave goodbye to Ray and Mikey, and me and Gerard exit the door. He grabs my arm and pulls me as fast as he can. He seems really eager to go to this park, and I have no idea why.

Once we get there, he takes me to the edge of the pond.

"Gerard, what are you doing?"

"I love you so much, Frank."

He bends down onto one knee. Dear god, are you kidding me? I feel my eyes well up with tears.

"Frank, I've been through so much with you, and you allowed me to be right next to you the whole time. I've watched you leave, and I learned how pitiful my life would be without you. I love everything about you, your smile, the way you talk, the way you'll never give up. And I'll never give up on you. No matter where you want to go, what you want to do, I want to be there for all of it."

He pulls out a small velvet box.

"And I want your permission to be there. So, Frank Iero-"

He opens the box, showing a beautiful silver ring with a small diamond in the center. I gasp and the tears fall.

"Will you marry me?"

I smile, and look at Gerard.

"Yes!"

He stands up and places the ring on my finger. I smile and kiss him, my new fiance. Maybe this living thing won't be so bad. I'll have Gerard in my life.