Thirty Five Days

19: Getting Ready

SinceI stopped being able to attend band practise Matt and Chris hadbarely spoken to me. If it weren't for Mikey constantly reminding meto do homework or giving me a countdown to the Black Flag concert I'mnot sure how I would have managed the incredibly dull days in school.Only the fact that I was skipping Wednesday afternoon made meactually turn up to my classes in the first place.

Despite ourfrequent conversations over text, Gee refused to tell me anythingabout what we were going to do on Wednesday, insisting that it had tobe a complete surprise. Much to my annoyance, he wouldn't even tellme if we were going to leave the house. I had tried asking Mikey afew times but he had just shrugged and said that Gee hadn't told himeither. By Wednesday morning I felt like I was going to implode fromnot knowing.

***

All through my classes I devoted myattention to thinking about what on Earth Gee had planned rather thanwhatever it was the teacher was droning on about. Occasionally, Mikeywould nudge me, reminding me that I was supposed to be at leastpretending to work.

As soon as the bell went at the end of mylast class I practically sprinted out the door without even sayingbye to Mikey. The entire way home I debated whether or not I wouldhave time to get changed before Gee arrived. Once my house was insight I realised that was not going to be the case. Gerard wasalready sitting on the doorstep.

He was dressed similarly tohow he had been the last time, but this time he had a jacket made ofblack velvet and was holding a bunch of red flowers that almostseemed to be glowing against his dark clothes. Walking up to him inmy old Misfits shirt and washed out jeans I suddenly felt veryunderdressed.

"Er, hi."

He turned to face meas I spoke and smiled at me, looking genuinely pleased to seeme.

"Well hello, Frank. How are you this rather fineafternoon?"

"I'm good, thanks. How areyou?"

Despite being slightly confused by the nearformality of his greeting I decided to just go along with it.

"Allthe better for seeing you, Frankie. Now, are you going to let usinside your house or must we do all of this on the doorstep? It is,after all, your own time we are encroaching upon."

Smilingto myself I unlocked the front door then stepped to one side to allowGee inside before me.

Once we went into the living room heturned to face me, smirking slightly.


"Now then, wecan't exactly have you dressed like that, can we? You're letting medown considering how much effort I put in for this afternoon. If youjust follow me, we'll see what we can do about yourclothing."

Without giving me a chance to respond, hegrabbed my hand and started to lead me upstairs, presumably towardsmy bedroom since that was the only place he had actually beenupstairs. It wasn't until we were halfway up the stairs that Irealised he was still holding the flowers in his other hand.


***

Oncewe were in my bedroom he gestured for me to sit on my bed, placed theflowers on my cabinet and then began to rake through my wardrobe.

Hepicked out all of my pairs of black jeans, comparing them to eachother and then to the ones I was wearing. Once he had decidedon a pair he placed them beside me and then went back to lookingthrough my wardrobe. He went through the same selection processagain, but this time it was white shirts he was looking at. I hadconsiderably less white shirts than black jeans so it took him a lotless time to pick one, which he then also places beside me on thebed. He completed the outfit with a red tie and my leastwrecked pair of all black converse. Once it was all laid out besideme, he stepped back and admired the outfit.

"Well,what are you waiting for Frankie? You need to go and put it on."

"Really?You want me to get changed into all of this?"

"Ofcourse I do Frankie. Now off you go and get changed. I'll still behere when you get back."

Itwas clear that I didn't have much of a choice about this and so, veryconscious of the time, I went to get changed.

***

Sureenough, Gee was sitting a little too innocently on my bed when I gotback. His smile widened as he looked at my outfit.

"Youknow Frankie, you're almost perfect."

"'Almostperfect'? Wow, you need to work on your compliments Gee."

"It'sokay Frank. I just meant that you weren't done yet."

Ashe spoke, he gestured behind him rather grandly and I noticed forthis first time that there was an array of eyeshadows and eyeliner onmy bed.

"You'relike a stereotypical 10 year old girl at a sleepover, you know thatdon't you Gee? First you dress me up, then you give me a make-over...What's next, a slumber party?"

"Wellactually, I wouldn't object to that one..."

Evenas he responded to my statement he was picking out eyeshadows andchecking them against my face. I sat rather meekly on my bed, lettingGerard move my face around so he could properly apply the make-up.Once he was satisfied he took me over to the mirror. I hardlyrecognised my reflection.

Apartfrom the huge difference in my outfit, Gerard had rimmed my eyes inred, making them stand out against my skin. The eyeliner smudged, butstill somehow perfect. I had never been so impressed.

"Doyou like it?" he asked nervously.

"Ilove it."

"Wellthen, I suppose you're ready now."

AN: This uploaded in the wrong order so I've had to delete and re-upload it so sorry about that!