Thirty Five Days

14: Plans and (Some) Progress

  Halfway through my final class of the day I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. Knowing from experience that I wouldn't get away with checking it in the classroom I put my hand up to ask to go to the toilet.
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​​​As soon as I was out of sight of the classroom I checked to see who the message was from, freezing when Gerard's name appeared at the top of the message.
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​​​I am well aware that last night perhaps didn't go quite as you had planned but before you jump to conclusions can I speak to you in person? I think Mikey was going to invite you round here tonight anyway so perhaps I could steal you from him for a minute? G
​​​PS Yes, I do realise that you've probably already made your mind up on this but I'd appreciate it if you gave me a chance to explain.
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​​​I wondered exactly what conclusion he thought I had reached because as far as I was concerned the only bad part of the night was when he walked out. Perhaps I should tell him that. Although he probably still didn't know I was gay, unless Mikey had text him at some point during the day. Well aware of the fact that I had to get back to class, I started to type out my reply.
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​​​​​Mikey hasn't invited me round to yours yet so theres still a chance I wont be there but I do think its a good idea to talk about last night. Maybe youll see that we reached slightly different conclusions from what we expected. Xoxo Frnk
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​​​​​I deliberated over every single word for much longer than was necessary before I heard footsteps behind me and I quickly sent the message.
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​​​​​"Frank, I know I said that we didn't need our meetings any more but since you're here now I thought I'd ask you how you're doing?"
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​​​​​Of all the people to find me texting Gee in the corridor, of course it had to be fucking Mr Urie.
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​​​​​"I'm fine."
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​​​"Now, now, you don't need to be quite so abrupt about it. Why aren't you in class just now?" "I went to the toilet."
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​​​​​"Really? Then why did you shove your phone into your pocket the second you heard me coming?"
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​​​​​"Look, I really don't need this right now Mr Urie. I went to the toilet, I was checking the time on my phone and then you prevented me from getting back to class promptly."
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​​​​​I decided that if I was going to get into trouble this late in the school year it might as well be for a better reason than just taking too long to go to the toilet.
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​​​​​"You don't need to be snappy with me Frank, that won't get you anywhere. However, you raise a good point about missing class so I'll walk you back to explain to your teacher that it was my fault you were late back."
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​​​​​"Great. Thanks."
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​​​​​If I hadn't wanted the conversation with Urie in the first place I don't know what gave him the impression I would want him to walk me to my class.
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​***
​​​​​​​​"So do you have any plans for tonight Frank?"
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​​​​​As soon as the bell rang at the end of the day Mikey struck up a conversation with me, which was unusual for him.
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​​​​​"Er... no, not really. I mean, there's still homework but I'm probably not going to do it anyway. What about you?"
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​​​​​"Oh, well I was wondering if you wanted to come round tonight? Grandma said this morning that she was going to make cake."
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​​​​​"What sort of cake?"
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​​​​​"I'm not sure. Probably chocolate."
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​​​​​"Well, since there's going to be chocolate cake I suppose it would be rude to say no, wouldn't it?"
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​​​​​While my love of chocolate cake probably would have convinced me to go regardless, I was really just excited about the chance to see Gerard again.
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​​​​​"Okay, I'll just text my grandma and let her know, even though we'll probably have gotten there by the time she picks up the message."
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​***
​​​​​​​Elena welcomed me enthusiastically, laughing a little at my face when I spotted the cake. I had been expecting a fairly plain chocolate sponge, maybe with icing, maybe not. That's not what she had made. There was fruit and coco powder and even piped cream flowers on top of the massive cake. I was just about to congratulate her on it when a voice behind me stopped any sound from leaving my mouth.
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​​​​​"Frank?"
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​​​​​It was Gerard.  

AN:

  Wow - two updates in two days! Long train journeys are good news for my writing! Also this is now 18K words long - that's a LOT of words... Anyway, as always thank you for reading this and don't forget to vote/comment - I really enjoy hearing your opinions. Love you :)