They Don't Believe In Us (frerard)

31- I'll Help You

Frank's POV

Christmas with Gerard's family was the best I've had in years now. My family by blood, I felt forced to get along with, and always answered and asked the same routine questions like every holiday gathering. Though, from me, Frank, to you, the readers, I bet you're wondering why Gerard noticed me a little shaken up after his wonderful mother wanted to talk to me.

To be straightforward, Donna Way knows my career. And I'm sure you're all thinking, "Well, yeah, the whole musician thing." But that's not what I mean. I'm saying that she figured out I'm Gerard's teacher. She was stern, like any mother should be, but otherwise she didn't mind. Donna saw how I helped Gerard open up, and said that if his dad went psycho and I weren't in his life like I was, she doesn't know how he could have coped. She also expressed how she was worried about people finding us out and if any of Gerard's friends would accidentally let it slip that we're a thing at the wrong time and place. But I didn't tell Gerard about our encounter, and I don't think Donna will speak of it to him either. Not any time soon, that is.

Now it's New Years Eve, and the local pub contacted the band to see if we were interested in playing an hour and a half long gig at 10 pm, so that's what we're doing. Or, were doing. The four of us had just finished, and Patrick had come along with his girlfriend Elisa, since it had been awhile since we got together rather than talking briefly at school.

"You guys seem to keep getting better and better." Patrick exclaims when our four sweaty and deadly thirsty selves make it over to the cute pair at the bar. The bar tender setting out cold tap water for us at our arrival.

"Frank's been working his ass off." Matt says, patting my shoulder before chugging half of his water.

"We've all worked hard, though, seriously." I add, not liking the amount of credit he's giving me.

"Who here writes majority of the songs all on his own or with minimal help?" Rob joins in his thick Jersey accent, making me roll my eyes with a smile adorned on my face.

"You deserve this credit, dude, even though you obviously don't like taking all of it." Evan says to me, resting his elbows on the bar.

"Well, even if I do deserve the credit, I stand by my belief that you guys need to give yourselves more. There obviously wouldn't be a band without you guys."

"Let's just go with you all need to give yourselves credit and you guys are doing great." Patrick cuts in. "Let's drink, yeah?" The six of us cheer to ourselves before ordering beers, all sitting down next to one another and chatting away. Since I'm sitting at the end, I eventually draw myself out of the conversation at hand. I don't realize that my thoughts have been elsewhere until I feel a presence at my other side.

"Great job tonight, dude." A deeper voice rings through my ears, but not deeper as in masculine but deeper as in a woman. I smirk at the compliment, not because I was being cocky, but mainly because my face was feeling lazy.

"Thanks." I say with a smile, but not lifting my gaze from my glass of lager. Once I do, though, I'm in for a shocker. "I think that was one of our best gigs, yet, actua-..." The figure sitting by me made me lose my train of thought. I bet I'm staring like a bumbling idiot.

"It was definitely one of the best performances I've seen in a long time. Very crowd oriented and you're all passionate about your playing. I was intrigued throughout your whole show."

"You're Laura Jane Grace." I squeak out, her high compliments going right over my head. Now it's her turn to let out a little chuckle before she nods with a smile. Her cheeks are flushed slightly, and I wonder if she's not used to being immediately recognized out of the blue like this, because, sadly, Against Me! isn't as well known as they deserve to be.