Like Driving Toward the Morning Sun || Frerard (COMPLETED)

Chapter 13- morning.

"Are you awake?"

He groaned in response and I felt him nuzzle my side.

I assumed this was a gentle way of saying 'fuck off' and just played with his hair instead.

It was nice, really, to wake up at three in the morning to find the guy I'd been kissing earlier was still there- in my bed, cuddled up to me. And it was so, so nice to finally admit to myself (and it was only in these few moments that I did so) that I was definitely in love with him and I was probably gonna act on it. Of course, just kissing was fine, I can die happy with that. But anything more... Yeah, anything more would mean I'd die euphoric. Even so much as being his boyfriend would make me even happier, although the thought of asking him 'that question' scared the shit outta me (more than teenagers do), so I decided not to ask. Not yet.

We didn't have long left, and as I scrolled numbly though various social media sites on my phone, I was bombarded with updates on the Orb. Apparently, when it hits, it will not take out all of us. Instead, it'll only affect those closest to the place it hits. Suddenly I realised that there was hope- a tiny glimmer of hope- for the whole human race and I started writing a note. Something that anyone who survives can dig up and read: I don't care if they knew me or not, although, as I wrote it, I tried to think about what I would say if someone I cared about (Gerard) were to read it.

Admittedly, I cried a little writing it. The whole thought that these words may be the last and only memory anyone will ever have of me made me sad. I wanted to be remembered for more, although now that seemed very unrealistic.

I think Gerard noticed me crying, because soon enough the note was folded up on the side and he was kissing me again and again and again.

---

Mom gave us both a very odd look as we emerged downstairs at 11:45, me in a skeleton onesie that belonged to Gerard but I'd stolen it because it was cosy and him in an oversized ACDC 'Rock or Bust' world tour T-shirt that reached halfway down his thighs.

Thinking about it, I can now completely understand why my mom had judged us so hard.

She didn't mention it, though, and simply offered us pancakes, which we both agreed to. So, we sat at the table next to each other in slight awkward silence as cheesy 80s pop blared out of the radio at that annoying volume where it's too quiet to actually listen to but too loud to ignore.

And, with my mom and dad sat opposite us, we all ate pancakes in silence.

Until dad started quizzing Gerard on his grades again, which I will not go into detail about because it was insanely boring and Gerard honestly looked like he wanted to stab my dad with the closest knife to him (which was coated in Nutella).

And, all too quickly, the morning was over. We got dressed at around 12:30, then decided to venture outside.

---

It was a surprisingly cold, crisp July afternoon, and the world was alive. The birds screeched at each other in a way someone who actually liked nature would enjoy, and people bustled in the streets, almost as if we weren't all doomed and this was just another Saturday. Cars sped around and angry drivers honked at each other aggressively. Moms and dads and children and teenagers and old people and pretty much (what felt like) the whole population swarmed into shops or cafes or various fast food joints, as if they were in a rush to spend every penny they had left before it all turned to nothing.

Gerard held my hand and we watched for a moment before he pulled me into the mass of people.

It wasn't great- although I was happy he still held my hand because it meant I wouldn't loose him.

He lead me to a coffee shop, which was busy as fuck and instructed me to go find us a table, which is what I did.

Gerard came to the table 7 minutes and 21 seconds later holding two mugs, giving one to me. "Okay so tell me if this is too soon," he started, looking at me. I could tell he was nervous. He spoke faster than normal. "But I really like you, Frank, and we have basically no time left and I wanna spend that time as happy as I can be and you make me happy and..." He trailed off and took a deep breath, as if he were trying to calm himself down, "and I would like to date you."

I giggled at first, in some sort of weird happy shock before pausing the giggles for long enough to nod and say, "and I'd like to date you, too."

His face lit up and he kissed me.

It was so easy after that. We drank our coffee in comfortable, giggly silence and left.

---

I'd almost forgotten about the drugs.

Almost, until the following day when I got a call from him.

It was late in the afternoon and I was in my bedroom doing nothing when he called me. I noticed it was him and picked up instantly. "Hey."

There was a giggle in the background before Gerard responded with an excited, "Frankie!"

He sounded different. "Are you okay?"

"Me? Okay? I'm on the top of the fucking world!"

"Okay..."

"You should come over."

I contemplated it for a moment, then chose to go and see what was going on. "Alright.. Now?"

"Yeah, whatever, whenever you want."

"Okay, bye.."

"Bye!" He giggled and then hung up.

I was worried about him, which was my main motive for going over there. That, and curiosity to see what the fuck he'd actually taken to get him like that. Mom silently judged me- I could feel her eyes burning into the back of my head- as I grabbed whatever shit I needed and left exactly thirty seconds after Gerard had hung up.