8: Is it alright now?

260 6 2
                                    

Everything seemed calm that morning. Everything seemed like it was going to be okay. I didn't like to think that way, because I knew that was never the truth, but I couldn't help it that day for some reason. Frank and I had a great time the previous day, and it made me a little more confident that he was in fact okay. There still was a haunting feeling that something was wrong with him, but there wasn't much I could really do about it. I could only continue to be his friend, and I was totally okay with that. I felt like I would mess something up if I'd asked again, he'd feel pressured, and I didn't want that. I didn't want anything else but Frank to be happy, for Frank to feel okay like a past point in his life that I hadn't known.

I'd woken up before everyone else in my family, like I. usually did.. I felt like I didn't have to rush, and it felt really, really, nice. I took my time choosing what to wear, which was something that I was never able to do. Usually Mikey would wake me up, I always slept in too late. I guessedit was my turn to wake him up this time. That was okay, though. I wasn't going to fall back asleep anyway. I was already awake enough.

After fulling getting dressed and ready for the day, I was off to Mikey's room. The door creaked open, and I tip-toed over to his bed, where my younger brother was sleeping. I nudged his shoulder a few times, laughing quietly when he groaned and threw an arm over his eyes.

"Mikey, Mikey wake up," I whispered, a smile spread across my face as he rolled over and blinked a few times.

"Wait, Gee?" He said quietly, sitting up and rubbing his eyes, "Why are you already up?"

"I just...I just am," I said with a shrug before turning and walking out of the room. To be fully honest, I didn't even know why I was up that early. I didn't know why I was smiling that morning. So, in truth, I wasn't hiding anything from Mikey at the time. I didn't think I would ever really hide anything. He was my brother, and we were close, no secrets were held between us. That wasn't an exception.

A half an hour later, both of us were opening the door with our things. Both of us were smiling, and that was something that was rare when it came to the Way brothers. It was a good smile, too. A smile that meant something. Something that was unknown, but it felt so nice that one couldn't help but smile. We looked at each other for no more than a moment before Mikey pushed me forward and gestured to a small man across the street. I waved back at my brother, then jogged across the street to the friend I'd spent the previous evening with.

"Morning, Gee."

"Hey, Frank," I said with my smile still there, "Any work on the drawing?"

It was Frank's turn to smile. Something was off about it, but I didn't pay much attention, even if I should have, "A little. I'm not far along though."

"You're bound to not be, but I can't wait to see it."

"See mine? Gerard, I know you've been drawing something. I don't know why it's such a secret, but I'm looking forward to it."

I nodded, looking down at my feet and kicking against the cement path as we walked, "I hope you do." I mumbled.

--

School was dreadful that day. I found myself trudging along, my mood slowly draining as I made my way. I didn't talk much that day, not even to Ray or Bob. I didn't talk to Mikey. I didn't talk to Frank. But, I found that to be okay. Well, on some levels. My thoughts swirled around my brain, bad ones mostly overtaking the good ones.

I made my way home quickly that day. The door slammed shut behind me, and I could almost hear that Brendon Urie kid silently thanking me. I threw my things on the floor harder than I had in awhile, falling onto my bed roughly. I buried my face in my pillow, ready to drown out everything. I didn't even notice I didn't have my phone with me, I didn't even notice when Mikey slid into the room for a moment before leaving again.

If These Walls Could Talk [Frerard] Where stories live. Discover now