Caffeine and Smoke -frerard-

Chapter 1

I sat on a chair looking out across the city. It was before school at 6:15 AM and I was eating a damn red, white, and blue Popsicle. Why? Cause I felt like I was American in that moment. My dog was laying beside me and I threw her the last bite.

At the bus stop I rearranged myself. I always dick around in the mornings and get ready last minute. Mornings were my time. Few sirens and everyone was dead asleep. Except for me and October. October was a stray we found as a puppy. We still have no idea when she was born or her breed, but she's perfect for me.

I adjusted myself. I untucked a piece of hair and pulled my hoodie down. I licked my bottom lip, fixing my piercing. I glanced at the old lady sitting on the bus stop bench, waiting as I was. She must've just sat down, because she started her daily greeting.

"Good morning, dear."

"Mornin'" I coughed

She was a sweet old black lady I had become quite acquainted with. Her name was Rhonda and she always went on the bus to do some task. Except Thursday's. That's when she stayed at home and played bingo with her great grandson, Todd.

"I'm off to Carol's house to help her with her garden. How about you, hun?"

"Jus' school." I smiled.

"I'll bet you'll make friends with someone today, sweetie. Now come here and let me fix your hair." She beckoned with both hands.

I bent down and she played with it till it stayed, "Such a handsome young man."

I helped her up when the bus came and she gave me her money so I could pay for her. I paid for both of us and she sat in her usual seat next to a homeless man named Rufus. My usual seat was taken up by a very attractive person I haven't really been aquatinted with. I had seen them around at school, but never really spoke except when I borrowed a pencil for a German quiz.

I looked down the aisle and started my journey down, focusing on my breathing and music going into one ear. When I got to the seat, I muttered, "Can I?"

He looked up, smiled, moved his stuff, and replied, "Yeah."

He looked away for a bit and I quietly looked at him. He had one earbud in, listening to something that made him happy. He had black hair that was slightly wavy and stopped just before his shoulders. He had a sharp jawline, and a sign of stubble.

He turned to me and smiled with his mouth open, pointing gently, "You're Frank, right?"

I nodded.

He held out his hand, "Gerard."

I took it and he shook firmly, "I sit next to you in German."

I half smiled, "Yeah, I asked to borrow a pencil once."

He talked with half his mouth, almost like there was a cigarette in the half he wasn't using. It was intriguing.

He smiled and muttered, "Yeah."

We small talked for awhile until our stop came, but he insisted that we walked to school together as well.

"People have told me to avoid you, because of stupid rumors, but you, uh, seem really cool." He spoke with half of his mouth and smiled that way too.

"You do too, thanks."

"Would you like to sit with me again, tomorrow? I, um, moved so I'll be on there from now on."

"Yeah, sure I'd like to." I tried to match his smile, but settled with a shy smile and a quick lick at my bottom lip.

He looked at my lips and said, "Oh and, uh, I like your..."

He touched his lips where my piercing was on me, "Piercing?"

He pointed gently, again, "That's the word."

Everything he did seemed gentle. Like he wouldn't hurt a fly. But at the same time, he looked like he was the opposite. He looked tough, fit, ready.

Someone called out to him and he waved at the yeller. He turned to me, put a hand on my shoulder and said, "See you around?"

"Yeah."

He gave me a quick wink and pat then ran off to his friends. I watched him walk away in curiosity. His friend put an arm around him and Gerard looked back at me. I could see him form the words 'but he's okay! Don't worry about him'.

See him around?

"Definitely." I said aloud.

Rhonda was right.