Frerard - It's Always Been You!

4

A little of Frank's perspective for you all.

Enjoy!!

Frank had always looked up to Gerard. Had always admired every little detail about him. He saw him as somewhat of a superior in many ways, although Gerard had never done anything particular to expect that position, and certainly didn't see himself as better or above Frank in any way. Maybe it was that he was just a few years older than him and Mikey that he held him in such esteem.

Or maybe it was the fact that he had always had the hugest crush on him imaginable.

Growing up with the Ways in his life had made Frank feel like a part of something special. He saw himself very much as the third brother in many ways. His childhood held nothing but fun memories; family occasions, Christmas', Halloween, BBQ's or just generally hanging out with the Ways. Donna and Donald treated him as one of their own, as did his parents with Gerard and Mikey. The three of them were inseparable and were very protective of each other.

As Frank reached around thirteen years of age, he started to see Gerard in a slightly different light. He felt a little giddy when he was around him occasionally, and he started to appreciate how good looking he was, albeit Gerard going through that awkward no-longer-boy-not-yet-man kind of phase. He found it adorable when his voice would crack as it was trying to adjust to its changing tone, or when he would come into the room reeking of cologne because he thought it was the mature thing to do. Yet, beneath the maturing exterior, he was still very childlike – comics, models, toys and fantasy books still lighting him up from inside. He never got tired of hanging out with the two younger boys or saw himself as too cool to be around them.

When Gerard brought his first girlfriend home, Frank and Mikey giggled and made fun of him. But he didn't get annoyed with them – he simply laughed too and told his girlfriend that they were only messing about. Frank did feel something akin to sadness (or perhaps jealousy) however, when he would catch Gerard and Christina holding hands or making out. Still, he and Mikey would just laugh and make vomiting noises at the sight. The relationship didn't last very long at all, and soon after, things were back to 'normal', with the three of them watching movies and drinking too much soda most Friday evenings.

Then before he knew it, Gerard was off to college. Both he and Mikey felt bereft almost, as they resigned themselves to the fact that it would just be the two of them going forward. He was only going to be in New York, and the two knew he wouldn't be too far away, yet they felt like it was the end of something unique to them. And it really was. Once Gerard was out of state, they rarely heard from him. He seemed to have a new life, complete with new friends and a different girlfriend every time they did actually hear from him. Frank didn't believe for a second that Gerard was straight, so couldn't fathom why he kept trying to play that part. Still, he did. And every time he mentioned a new name to his mom, she would get all excited thinking this was 'the one.'

Frank was all on fifteen when Gerard returned from college for the holidays. He was all raging hormones and mood swings as he waded through his grueling teenage years. But the sight of Gerard made his heart race, and he knew it wasn't simply the imbalance of chemicals throughout his body that was causing it. It was the sheer change in Gerard - full of confidence and sass, with a whole new look of shaggy black hair and smoky eyeliner, along with his matured figure and incredible dress sense that made Frank weak at the knees. He suddenly felt very young and self-conscious. However, when Gerard took a seat in the den, and asked how he was doing, he was the same Gerard he had always been.

That was when Frank's slight obsession with him really started. He was in awe of how passionately he spoke about his studies and listened intently to both himself and Mikey when they told him about their usual, dreary schooldays. Frank could listen to him for hours. He asked him questions about life in New York, and he longed to pay him a visit and have Gerard show him the sights of the city (maybe while holding his hand and pressing his lips to the side of Frank's face occasionally).