Craigslist

Chapter Six

Gerard shoves another olive in his mouth. His eyes keep darting back to the faint outline of Frank’s body on the canvas.

Six weeks.

Six weeks and Gerard can’t forget about him.

Then something inside Gerard snaps.

Gerard didn’t do anything. He just jumbled up his words. People do that all the time! Why aren’t they prosecuted?

Gerard slams his jar on the coffee table. Frank was being over dramatic. Frank is the one that takes advantage of clients. He is the one that came on to Gerard. Gerard wasn’t sprawled on a couch half naked. Gerard wasn’t falling to his knees to suck Frank off.

This isn’t Gerard’s fault at all.

But Gerard also feels like he lost an opportunity. Frank seemed like a great guy. Gerard could totally see himself waking up to Frank’s perfectly shaped eyebrows, Frank’s high cheekbones, Frank’s dusty cherry colored lips, every single morning.

Gerard tries and convinces himself that Frank is a terrible person. He probably kicks puppies or something.

Gerard sighs. He does this to everyone. Always fucking up and creating problems.

He should’ve just stayed in his mother’s basement forever.

Gerard’s hands ball up into fists. Those words keep ringing in his mind. Frank’s lasts words to him, “I hope it sells.”

Gerard turns red and he wishes he could just rewind time.

He walks back over to his table to get his olives.

He’s all out.

Gerard huffs. “Fuck you, you fucking olives.” He kicks the wall and yelps. Now his fucking toe hurts and he’s out of olives.

~*~*~

Gerard shuffles down the street, head hung. He just wants olives.

But then he hears a loud honking noise. No, not honking, but laughing. Loud obnoxious laughter.

Gerard looks across the street and gasps.

Frank is walking and laughing with another guy. The guy is slightly taller than Frank, jet black hair that sweeps across his forehead and bright blue eyes.

Gerard guesses a fellow model, because this guy is gorgeous.

Frank takes a sip of something in a plastic cup. The other guy nudges Frank’s shoulder and snatches the cup out of his hands. Mr. Blue Eyes takes a sip – out of the same straw.

Gerard didn’t realize that he stopped until he catches Frank’s line of sight. Frank’s eyes light up and he grins at Gerard.

He whispers to Mr. Blue Eyes and he looks at Gerard. Blue Eyes smiles and they start walking across the street.

Oh my god, oh m’god, ohmygod.

Gerard tries to act like he wasn’t staring, as he starts walking away from them.

“Gerard!” Frank screams.

Gerard stops and slowly turns around. He tries to smile, but makes more of a duck face.

“Hey.” Frank says and pulls Gerard into a hug.

Frank is hugging Gerard.

Gerard stiffens and doesn’t move.

Frank pulls back, a slight frown. “Gerard, this is Destery.”

Oh, a cool punk name.

Gerard smiles and extends his hand.

“Nice to meet you Gerard.” Destery smiles and Gerard feels sick. Gerard’s stringy hair can’t compete with Destery’s clean and shiny hair. Gerard’s pale, malnourished skin doesn’t even come close to Destery’s clear complexion. Gerard’s stupid small teeth doesn’t mirror Destery’s straight, white teeth.

“Yeah, uh – you too.”

Destery releases Gerard’s hand and takes a sip of the drink, that, oh yeah! Frank was also drinking out of.

“Still in the same place?” Frank asks while he scratches his nose.

Gerard nods.

“I’ll see ya around Gerard.”

Gerard nods again.

Then Frank is turning around while Destery hands Frank the cup and Frank takes a sip.

Gerard wants to roll over and die.