Since When Did You Become a Romantic?

Chapter 8: Will You Be My....

Monday morning rolls around faster than anyone wants. Frank exchanges tired nods to a few early students while he shuffles through the halls. He hasn't seen Brendon since he shoved his fingers in his ass and honestly didn't want to. He spots Gerard in his room and wanders in. "Hey, cutie," he smiles weakly.

Gerard looks up from his desk. "Cutie?" Frank rubs his eyes before sitting on a desk top. "We haven't even kissed yet and I already have a pet name?"

Frank snaps his head up and smiles weakly. "So sorry. I didn't mean to- um- my mind is all," he makes Star Wars crash noises with hand gestures. "I slept for three hours last night. Is today Monday??? Are you Gerard???" He tries to get up and leave, but Gerard stops him.

"No, no, no. It's alright. I've seen the way you look at me and I'm flattered," he starts to tell him. Just then, Halsey walks into class sucking a lollipop.

"Hey, bitches," she laughs.

Gerard sighs and turns to her. "Detention." He then looks back to Frank. "Meet me in the back of the school for lunch." He doesn't say anything else because Halsey looks like a giddy schoolgirl.

First period goes rough for Frank because all he can think about is lunch. Normally, that's true any day, but today is special. During the middle of the lesson, he gazes into the distance when someone mentions the the national flower of Belgium is a Red Poppy. Gerard wears poppy colored socks everyday. He pulls one stupid sock up and always forgets the other one and it's so cute. And his eyes look like Witch Hazel. Well, they kinda don't, but they are hazel. Frank daydreams. When he comes back, three students have left and someone is chewing gum off the bottom of a desk. Oh, what a morning.

---

Meanwhile, Ryan is having one of the worst mornings of his life. He wakes up to find Brendon and Mikey low-key kissing in the kitchen while making breakfast. He then spills the coffee on his already brown suit jacket, but cries anyway. Then, when he gets to school, the two emos keep texting each other in the group chat Ryan set up a while back to get the Way's and them together. There's no doubt Gerard sees the texts too.

Brendon 💖☀️

Ugh, I'm ready to leave

Mikey Way™

Just think about lunch ;)

Brendon💖☀️

ooo what are we having???

Mikey Way™

you know ;)

As soon as lunch finally does roll around, Ryan sits in a closet in the Hell Hall, crying quietly into his baloney sandwich. Gabe walks past there everyday on his way to the girls bathroom to smoke, but today he stops when he hears the gentle sobbing. "Mr.... Mr. Ross?" he asks quietly when he sees Ryan on the floor. Ryan looks up.

"I'm alright," he sniffles. "I just need some time."

Gabe tilts his head. "No, no, Mr. Ross. When I get found crying in broom closets, I get sent to the counselor and so are you," he say, bending down to helps Ryan to his feet.

"No, really. It's alright, Gabe."

Gabe looks into the camera likes he's on The Office. "There's a new counselor, so you might as well meet him while you're there," Gabe walks with his arm on Ryan's shoulder down to the room.

---

Meanwhile, Frank stands behind the school with sweaty palms and a jittery smile. Eventually, Gerard appears in the distance. He gives a small wave before dying a little inside. Is he gonna ask me out? Are you gonna be best friends? Does he wanna date? Frank thinks a million things.