Since When Did You Become a Romantic?

Chapter 25: Robert Broke Up MCR

March rolls around quickly but stays for a long time. Things have reached that point in the year at Millard Fillmore's High when everything slows down before the big speed up that is April and May. People seem sleepier and the month just seems to drag on. By March 20th, people are clawing at the walls of the school practically. No one has seen Gabe in two weeks, Halsey smells like dog and cigarettes everyday. Other students look ready to jump out of a five story building because of sheer boredom. The teachers are no different.

Gerard is jumping around like he's on cocaine or he's groggier than a sleep deprived child. The mood swings confuse everyone, including his students. One class, someone asked to go to the bathroom and Gerard started crying. No one is sure what's wrong with him but Mikey thinks he can help.

"Trust me, Frankie. It's stress," Mikey stirs his coffee slowly in the breakroom.

"Don't call me that," he starts. Mikey rolls his eyes. "What should we do about it?"

He shrugs.

"He was awake at three in the am yesterday. You wanna know what he was doing? Making pancakes," Frank sighs.

"I think we should throw him a little party," Mikey does a weird shimmy.

He glances to the door to make sure Gerard isn't coming in. "Something really cute and lowkey?"

Mikey sips his coffee. "Yeah. Nothing much. Maybe just a little D&D game like the old days."

"The old days? You means three months ago?"

"Hey, a lot can change in three months."

---

On March 22nd, Frank and Gerard drive home as usual. Gerard seems a little weirder though. He keeps fidgeting and looking around afraid. Of what? Frank has no idea.

"You alright?" Frank asks.

"A little. I learned something big and it's really stressing me out," he talks quickly and it's hard to catch what he's saying.

The gears in Frank's mind start turning. What could Gerard know that he doesn't? Time to pry until he learns. "What is it?"

He immediately looks out the window to avoid Frank glancing at him. "It's nothing. It's just something about Baby Way."

Frank rests his hand on Gerard's thigh from the driver's seat to calm him down. "About Lindsey?"

"No, about Mikey."

FUCK HE LEARNED ABOUT JAMES. "Is he okay?" Frank asks while hoping this isn't about James.

"I think so but he's been lying to me. He's been seeing Robert or Tyler, whatever name you know him by," even saying this aloud made his heart hurt. "I'm going to confront him about it."

Frank is relieved that this isn't about James. He's never met Tyler or Robert, whatever his name is, and thinks he can happily support Gerard. "When?"

"Tonight."

Frank's heart nearly stops. He's glad they're driving on a quiet road because he almost hit the brakes. "Sorry what?"

Gerard looks at him confused. "Yeah...?"

He has to some deep breathing inside his head. The gang is at Gerard's apartment right now for the D&D game. Now Gerard is going to confront someone? Oh fuck.

---

"You really should wait!" Frank tries to tell him while Gerard rushes up to the apartment. He doesn't even turn around to reply with a quick "You've been telling me the whole way home."