Craigslist

Chapter Four

Gerard stumbles as he goes to unlock his door. He briefly looks around to see if his apartment is in decent shape. Gerard cleared the socks of his dusty ass grey couch. He threw the open olive jar away, because yeah, eating olives out of the jar with a tooth pick isn’t the sexiest thing.

Gerard cracks the door open and looks out. He sees a short – very short, like about five three? – in a black hoodie and ripped up blue skinny jeans. Gerard couldn’t see any ink except for the trace of something black on his neck.

The man (who Gerard assumed was Frank) looked up and smiled. And fuck yeah, this guy was definitely a model. He had sharp jade eyes and high cheekbones. A lip and nose ring made him look less intimidating more inviting.

Frank then flashes a smile and Gerard’s stomach drops.

“Can I come in?” Frank giggles and points inside the apartment.

“Yeah, I mean sure. Sorry. Ok.” Gerard opens the door wide and lets Frank in.

Frank nods. “So you paint?”

Frank takes a second to admire the painting of the Lady of Sorrows. Frank’s lips curve up and he giggles.

“Look man,” Frank starts to remove his Black Flag hoodie. Frank slips the hoddie off his head and point to his arm. “Gorgeous right?”

Gerard nods and steps closer. “Can I touch it?”

“Yeah man. Costs a shit load of money, but sooooooo worth it.” Frank beams and bounces on his heels.

“I’m gonna need more colors.” Gerard mumbles as he walks out of the room and returns with a Wal-Mart bag. Gerard looks up and blushes.

“I just need to paint a um… normal scenario. Like what you do at your house. If that’s not weird. Oh that’s probably weird. I mean – it’s fine if you don’t want to. I can get someone else, but your ink, it’s gorgeous and would be really cool to add the bursts of color, and plus…” Gerard pauses then mumbles, “Plus… you’rereallygorgeousandthatisanawesomebonus.”

Frank shakes his head and smiles. “What?”

Gerard takes a deep breath. “What do you normally do when you’re by yourself?”

“Jack off.”

Gerard goes pale and looks down. “Besides um…masturbation.”

Frank winks and giggles. “Watch TV and eat Pop-Tarts.”

Gerard places his bag on the couch and walks over to the kitchen. Was that flirting? Probably not. One dude speaking to another dude about stroking away on a couch is not flirting.

Is that what people talk about now?

“Yeah man, just made myself come SO HARD, I saw fucking stars.”

“Cool man. I rutted off against my bed.”

Gerard shakes his head and grabs a box of chocolate fudge Pop-Tarts. He shuffles back into the living room and Frank is taking off his shirt. Gerard takes a moment to stare and then he clears his throat.

“Hey man.” Frank smiles and then –

Yeah, he’s taking his pants off.

Gerard averts his eyes and passes the Pop-Tarts over.

“Did you just look away?” Frank asks, his mouth agape.

“Uh yeah… I mean… Should I stare?” Gerard asks and smacks his lips.

“Damn… No I mean… I normally eat Pop-Tarts in my boxers.” Frank shrugs.

“Oh… Ok. I’m just gonna uh, go grab my c-canvas.” Gerard points to his bedroom again and walks away.

Gerard returns with his canvas and Frank is perched on the couch, legs on Gerard’s coffee table and munching on a Pop-Tart.

“Make yourself at home.” Gerard mutters and sets his canvas on the stand. He pulls a chair up and sits. Gerard gets a pallet ready and looks up. Frank is watching him with a smile.

“What…?” Gerard mumbles and flushes crimson.

“Nothing. You just look so into it, and you haven’t even started yet.” Frank looks down at his hands and smiles.

“Oh… Thanks?”

“Yeah, you look good.” Frank grabs the remote and turns the TV on.

That was flirting. No mistaking it. Frank is practically naked and complimenting Gerard.

Fuck yeah.

Gerard starts making a soft outline with a pencil. The way Frank’s body is slightly slumped. The way Frank’s jaw is straining barely straining from the chewing. The way Frank’s tattooed hand is casually placed on his upper thigh.

Gerard’s eyes go wide and he looks at Frank’s thigh and beautiful hand. Gerard nods and tries to ignore it.

He also tries to ignore the slight tent in Frank’s black boxers.

Frank glances quickly at Gerard and smirks.

Ok, yeah, Gerard may not know people that well, but that was definitely something.

Gerard swallows the lump in his throat and moves to colors.

“Hey, can I take a smoke break?”

Of course, Gerard sighs. Smoking, even hotter.

“Yeah, sure. I mean, we’ve only been here for like twenty minutes…” Gerard trails off with a huff.

“Well Mr. Sassypants, I will do whatever you want me to do.”

Gerard chokes on the breath he was inhaling.

Frank giggles. “Anything.” He repeats.

“I um… I think I’m just gonna, uh… go and like… wash dishes while you smoke. Yeah. Ok…”

“But you smoke.” Frank points out.

“Yeah… Wait-”

“You smell like smoke, that’s all.” Frank giggles.

Gerard nods and he watches as Frank slides out onto the balcony and lights up. Frank takes a long drag and holds his breath before exhaling and looking at the New Jersey skyline.

Frank stubs out his cigarette and walks back inside.

“Gerard?”

Gerard turns and has a face full of Frank.

“Let’s cut the crap.”

Gerard raises his eyebrows and opens his mouth to say something, but Frank leans up and grabs the back of Gerard’s neck to pull him into a kiss.