The Only Hope For Me Is You

Chapter 12

Have you ever woken up in the morning and thought,"Ugh, I'm still alive?" and just wish you could just fall back asleep?  Surprisingly, today wasn't that day for me. In fact, I don't think I've ever woken up feeling so entirely new in a long time. Gerard's, Mikey's, and the whole gang's faces lit up in my thoughts. For once in my teenage years I had gotten ready for school in under thirty minutes.

"You look pretty happy this morning." remarked my sister Feely. "What? Was your little escapade last night that much fun?...Could you tell me about it?" She inquired with her eyes above her coffee mug.

I rummaged through the kitchen cabinets as I thought about how to answer. "Oh you know. I made some new friends and we went to the park. Nothing worth talking about." I partially lied. "But I liked it." I smiled as I prepared my breakfast.

"I'm glad to hear that, Fanny-pack. Mom and Dad would be happy, too." Feely murmured. I sighed. "Hey don't forget this weekend's my art exhibition so don't make any plans. I need you there."

"Yeah well...yeah...I gotta go."

Stuffing my mouth with toast, I gave a kiss to Feely on the cheek and made my way out the front door. I forgot there was a step on the pathway from my house to the sidewalk so I missed it entirely and fell forwards. I landed on my knees with half of my toast coming out of my mouth.

I heard laughter a few paces ahead; to my horror, Mikey, Gerard, and Frank were halfway between their bikes and on the pavement.

"Whaf arf ooh eyes duin heya?" I swallowed. "What are you guys doing here?" I stood on my feet and put my hands on my hips. Bewilderment consumed any feelings of embarrassment.

Mikey was the first to calm down. He answered,"We're taking you to school. This is your initiation into our group. If you can ride with us to school on a bike, then you can ride wth us anywhere. It's stupid, I know, but we couldn't really come up with anything else." He shrugged.

"So I heard about yesterday, Frannie. How was it, Gee? How did you call it? The 'most amazing afternoon you've ever had' was it? " Frank teased, receiving a dirty look from Gerard.

"Just get your bike Fran." Gerard said, not daring to look me in the eyes.

"Sure." I replied simply and went to go get it. I opened the garage with force and retrieved my green/yellow/red bicycle. His name is Bobby Marleyson. "I'm ready!" And I rode out with my long dark hair trailing behind me. I rode in silence as I heard the guys talking and joking around. I shouldn't have spoken for it wouldn't ruined this perfect moment. I felt free. I closed my eyes and raised my arms against the wind. This is what it feels like to have friends.

"Frannie! Careful!" yelled Gerard. The handlebars wobbled and I barely saw myself turn just in time before I almost crashed into a car at an intersection. It honked fiercely at me and the driver yelled out the window,"Watch where you're going, you idiot! Stupid kids!" My heart was pounding against my chest.

"Sorry!" I started laughing. "That was a close one! My God!" They all stared at me as if I were going crazy. We pedalled twice as fast to get away from the infuriated driver.

"Frannie. you okay?" asked Frank. "You do realize you could've been dead five seconds ago, right!? You're insaaane!"

"I seriously saw your life flash before my eyes. Frannie, aren't you scared!?" Mikey yelled. "I always knew you were insane. Did your mother drop you when you were a baby!?"

"You guys gotta lighten up," I chuckled," I'm still here aren't I?" I breathed deeply. Truthfully, I haven't been more scared since the time my parents and my little brother died. But I won't be admitting that anytime soon.

"Stop it Fran, it's not funny." Gerard scowled. "Everything's such a joke to you. You could've been hurt. Then it would've been our responsibility to care for your goof off." I was taken aback. I glared back.

"Geez, it didn't happen, don't get your dick in a twist, dad." I retorted. Mikey stared with his mouth open, Frank laughed his butt off, and Gerard merely glared as he pedalled onwards. We were silent for the rest of the ride together. We made it into campus and we rode towards the bike racks. I bumped my bike into his on purpose while walking. Coincidentally, Gerard and I ended up tying our bikes in front of each other in close proximity. He looked up at me just as I was looking away.

He was only worried about me so why was I being so...bitchy? He could've expressed his concern a lot more delicately though. Maybe I should apologize or else we'll never speak to each other again. I looked up at him just as he was looking away. "H-hey-" I started to say.

Gerard's POV

"Frank! Mikey! GEE!" yelled a red-headed girl running in our direction. She knocked the air out of me as she bear-hugged me. Frannie looked like she wanted to say something to me before I was tackled. "Gee? How have you been? Did you guys miss me?" It was Izzy. She let go as she hugged everyone else. Frannie looked at a loss for words.

"That cruise through the Caribbean was amazing! I can now sympathize with Sergio a lot more. It was amazing!" She kept babbling on and on. I hope Frannie doesn't feel left out. It's a good chance for her to make a new girl friend. What am I thinking? As if she wanted me to worry about her. "We're glad to have you back Izzy. Nothing's changed since you left." I stated monotonously. I immediately regretted saying that. *facepalm*. Now Fran will never talk to me.

"I know, you guys can't live one day without me," she sighed. "Where are the others? I have to see them! I'll talk to you guys later!" Izzy ran off in the direction of the others. I sneaked a look at Frannie and surprisingly her expression was extremely blank.

"So Frannie, umm, that girl is-" I started to say.

"So Frank, that's Izzy? Huh. She seems nice." She interrupted as if I wasn't even there at all. "I hope I can get to know her more."

"I wouldn't say nice but you guys would totally hit it off. You two seem like you would be the best of friends. Don't be intimidated if she comes off a bit strong." he answered.

"Oh. Okay, she'll like me. I hope." she said. "Sooo any sights on Andy Evans, guys?"

"I think I saw him by the-" I said before she interrupted me yet again.

"I can't wait to see the look on his face when everyone sees him. It was totally worth those excruciating hours after school skipping class with your brother." She told Mikey. He looked confused but Frank was quick to catch on. I saw a mischievious gleam in his eyes.

"I knooow, that must've been torture for you. Hah, that loser think's you're friends though, be careful." Frank laughed. He shrugged his shoulders at me.

"Aww, I'm flattered you're concerned over my well being. You phrased it so nicely." she pronounced loudly. I stared exasperatedly from one to the other. And then walked away. They don't get it. I know that in their eyes I'm being a total pansy but I have my reasons. Why did something so stupid upset me? The idea that I could lose a friend all over again torments me. I don't want to be able to relive that. The truth is I lost my grandmother in a car crash when I was twelve. She was very close and dear to me. She taught me how to be a kid and was there for me when my parents couldn't. And in that painful moment where Frannie almost crashed into the car, I thought I'd lose her, too.