Skylines and Turnstiles

Part 3

"Yes... well, except for your 'band members'. I don't remember anything, and neither does Ray, so I'm willing to bet this 'Frank' and 'Bob' don't either. I thought you said Bob wasn't in your band anymore?" Mikey questioned. 

"He isn't, but the point is that he was, for a good 6 or 7 years too, and he doesn't remember. He's a teacher back in... um... my world." 

Mikey laughed, but this time is sounded sincere. "Well, one thing's for sure- the Bob Bryar I know ain't no teacher." 

"Where can I find him?" I asked. 

Mikey merely shrugged. "I heard they're playing show tonight just a few hours away." 

"Is there any way you can get me backstage?" 

"Sure there is. They're real good friends of ours. I was considering attending myself." 

"Is that so?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"Yup. It all started when we did a cover together of Under Pressure-" 

"Thanks, Mikey," I interrupted. "Now... what do you know about Pencey Prep?" 

"Hm... They're good at partying, not much else." 

"What do you know about Frank Iero?" 

"Well... awesome tattoos, drinking problem, loves dogs. You name it." 

"Any chance Pencey Prep is playing a show a couple hours away?" I asked hopefully. 

"Nope," Mikey said. My face fell. "But, they are playing one downtown as we speak." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Mikey slammed the breaks and we pulled to a stop in front of the arena, surrounded by security and rabid fan girls. 

"Thanks Mikes," I said as I opened the door and got out. I turned and shut the door quickly, "When I get back to wherever I'm supposed to be, I owe you a coffee," I told him through the open window. I turned around and quickly headed towards the entrance. 

"I'm holding you to that," I heard Mikey call to me from behind. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

It took several minutes, but I managed to convince the security I was a friend of the band, by telling them I was Mikey, and after they checked a list, I was allowed to enter. I was given directions how to get to the room the band was waiting in. Not even the opening act had set foot on stage yet, so I was doing good on time. 

I managed to find the room, and I knocked hesitantly. There was a shuffling inside, before a voice said, "Come in." 

I opened the door cautiously, expecting to find the ex-members of Pencey Prep, but shocked to find Frank sitting on a couch, smoking and boredly flicking ashes into an ash tray. 

He didn't look up from where he was sitting, but continued to stare at the floor tiles below him. 

"John, if you're here to give me shit, I don't really want to hear it," he said in monotone. 

I smiled. "I'm not here to give you shit." 

Frank looked up. Confusion washed over his face. "Gerard?" 

"You remember me?!?" I asked happily. 

"How could I not remember Way's older brother?" he said smiling. He stood up and walked over to me. 

It's not what I was expecting to hear, but I'll take it. "Great! So you're as confused as I am?" 

"Yeah, man," Frank agreed as he hugged me.