I lost my fear of falling || frerard fanfic

Chapter 7: Uncharted territory

The weekend rolled in, bringing a much-needed break from the chaos of school. Frank sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. After the unexpected heart-to-heart with Gerard, everything felt different, yet uncertain. He could still feel the weight of Gerard's gaze and the tremor of honesty that had passed between them.

Just then, his phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. A message from Mikey flashed on the screen: *You good? Heard about the talk with Gerard.*

Frank chuckled softly, typing back: "Sort of. It's... complicated."

Mikey replied almost instantly: "Complicated how? You like him or something?"

Frank hesitated, his fingers hovering over the screen. Could he admit that? He typed: "Maybe. But it's complicated."

After a moment, Mikey sent another message: "Dude, just figure it out. You need to know where you stand."

Frank tossed his phone aside, feeling the familiar mix of excitement and fear. He knew he liked Gerard—maybe more than he wanted to admit—but the memories of Gerard's cruelty still lingered, casting a shadow over everything.

Later that afternoon, as Frank sat on the couch, he heard a knock at the door. Heart racing, he opened it to find Gerard standing there, hands in his pockets, an unsure smile on his face.

"Hey," Gerard said, glancing down before meeting Frank's gaze. "I thought I'd see if you wanted to hang out."

"Uh, sure. Come in," Frank replied, stepping aside, his stomach flipping with nerves and anticipation.

They settled onto the couch, a comfortable tension hanging in the air. Frank grabbed the remote, trying to focus on the TV. "What do you want to watch?"

"Anything but romcoms," Gerard said with a chuckle. "I can't handle it."

"Okay, let's go with a horrro," Frank suggested, scrolling through options.

As the movie started, Frank stole glances at Gerard, who was fully absorbed in the screen. The way he laughed, the way his expression changed—it made Frank's heart race, but a part of him was still on edge.

About halfway through, Gerard turned to Frank, a playful glint in his eyes. "So, what's it like being friends with the school's biggest jerk?"

Frank couldn't help but laugh. "Well, it's definitely an experience. But I think you're trying to change that, right?"

Gerard's smile faded slightly, his gaze becoming serious. "Yeah, I am. I don't want to be that guy anymore. Not with you."

Frank felt a knot form in his stomach. "What does that mean? You were pretty awful to me, Gerard."

"I know," Gerard said, running a hand through his hair, looking pained. "And I'm sorry. I've been acting out because I didn't know how to deal with everything. But I don't want to keep pushing you away."

Frank's heart raced at the vulnerability in Gerard's tone. "It's just hard for me to trust you after everything."

"I get that," Gerard replied, his voice low. "But I want to change. For you. I just need time."

They fell into a silence, the tension palpable. Frank felt torn—he wanted to believe Gerard, but the fear of getting hurt again loomed over him. "I appreciate you saying that, but it's going to take time for me too."

"Fair enough," Gerard said, nodding. "I can wait."

As the movie continued, Frank's mind raced. They shared laughter and banter, but the undercurrent of something deeper pulsed beneath the surface. Every time their shoulders brushed, he felt a jolt of electricity that both thrilled and terrified him.

Near the end of the film, Gerard turned serious again. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Frank replied, feeling a flutter of anxiety.

"Do you think we could be more than friends? Like... if I change, do you think you could see me differently?" Gerard's voice was tentative, as if he were afraid of the answer.

Frank felt his heart race, but he hesitated. "I want to say yes, but I'm scared, Gerard. It's hard to forget how you treated me."

Gerard nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I get it. I'm not asking for everything to change overnight. Just... let me show you I can be different. Let's take it slow."

Frank breathed a sigh of relief, the pressure lifting slightly. "Okay, slow sounds good. I just need to see it to believe it."

"Deal," Gerard said, a small smile breaking through. "No rushing. Just... us figuring things out together."

As the credits rolled, Frank felt a warmth in his chest. They had a long way to go, but at least they were on the same path. Gerard wasn't just the bully he'd always known; there was potential for something more, and that scared him in the best way.

"Want to watch another movie?" Frank suggested, feeling the excitement bubble up despite his reservations.

"Sure," Gerard replied, settling back into the couch. "But this time, I pick the genre."

"Alright, what's your choice?" Frank asked, feeling lighter.

"Action," Gerard said with a smirk. "Can't believe I just said that, but I could use some explosions right now."

Frank laughed, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope. The air between them was still charged, but now it was filled with the promise of something new—something worth exploring slowly, together.