The (Shipped) Gold Standard

I.W.S.I.L.Y.f.t.T.o.M.L.B.I.A.T.S.E.W.H.M.

Part One: I Wanna Scream 'I Love You' from the Top of My Lungs, But I'm Afraid That Someone Else Will Hear Me

Frank [POV]

There he is, up there on that tiny stage like he's something. And oh he is. He's more than just something. He's everything. Everything in my world, all at one time. His fiery red hair styled to chaotic perfection, which he kept absentmindedly running his hand through. And that damn jean jacket. I told him not to buy it, but he bought it anyway. I'd be lying if I said he didn't look fucking hot in it. He had to be breaking some kind of dress code wearing a jean jacket over a Stones shirt and impossibly tight black jeans. Fuck. And here I am, stuck sitting in the front of this cold-ass lecture hall listening to him explain something about 19th century artists. His arms flailing about when he would get really into a topic. His hands quickly, messily scrawling out important words in big, all-caps, print on the chalkboard. Everything he did made my heart hammer against the inside of my chest. I swear if anyone was sitting next to me, they'd surely think I had a real problem. And they'd be right. I do have a problem. A problem called Gerard Way. Head professor of the art department. Now you see my problem. I'm sitting here, not listening to a word he's saying, drawing various little characters, when I should be in his office. Splayed across his desk. Waiting for him to come in from another lecture. Imagining what would soon be happening and enjoying what my mind created. So much so that I couldn't wait any longer. Then he'd finally come in, the look on his face priceless. A mixture of shock and lust. Then he'd lock his door and saunter over to me. And he'd look me up and down in the way that had chills running down my spine and through the ends of my toes. He'd lean down over me and whisper in my ear "Mr. Iero, what are you doing?"

"Mr. Iero, are you going to answer my question?" Professor Way's voice brought me out of my daydream.

"S-sorry sir, what was the question again?"

"I asked, 'what was Van Gogh's most famous piece?'"

"Oh. Well, that'd be Starry Night, sir."

"Thank you. At least I know I'm not completely wasting my time with you."

He was harsh, yes. Sarcastic and down right rude at times. But that was Professor Way. And I couldn't be treated any differently than the rest of the fuckheads in his classes. See when I'm in school I'm Frank Iero, music major, art minor, skating his way through classes with just enough to pass with a decently okay grade. But in the privacy of Gerard's apartment I was Frankie, Gerard's boyfriend who lived for the intimate moments that were so scarce this time of year. I was made to promise Gerard one thing and one thing only. Never let Frank Iero, the university student and Frankie, Gerard's boyfriend, get crossed up. Gerard would surely be suspended and I would definitely cease to be a student at this university. Two things that neither one of us could afford.

So, it's two-thirty in the afternoon on a Friday. And I, Frank Iero, am waiting to get out of my last class of the day. I will sit here and draw for another five minutes before Professor Way releases us for the weekend, but not before I add a few last words at the bottom of a doodle of me and Gerard. Everyone will go on their marry way back to their dorms, all except me. I'll wander around campus for a bit before I go through town and end up in the lobby of an apartment building. I'll climb six flights of stairs because Gerard says the elevator is old and isn't safe for me to take. Then I'll finally reach my destination. A black door with "605" in gold, metal, numbers posted in the middle. Gerard's apartment. Where I spend my weekends. Where I'm Frankie and he's Gerard. My own personal heaven.

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"Fucking stairs. 'Frankie that elevator's ancient. There's no way I'm letting you take a ride in it. You could die!' I'm dying right now, Gerard, from cardiac arrest or some shit cause you make me take the goddamn stairs!" I grumbled to myself as I climbed my way to Gerard's door. Finally making it there, I dug my key out of my pants pocket.