Frank watched the clock above the whiteboard intently, annoyed at how slowly the time was ticking. It was another boring day of school, and Frank couldn't wait to get home and play his electric guitar. The Chemistry teacher Ms Kim droned on and on in the background, letting Frank's mind wander elsewhere.
He lifted his gaze diagonally to his right where Gerard, his crush, was seated. He let out a small sigh, admiring how perfect Gerard was; the way his long black hair fell over his eyes, his cute upturned nose, his soft-looking hands. He had liked Gerard since Gerard first transferred to his high school at the start of the year, and they clicked so well together that they became friends instantly. But Frank had never dared to confess to him because he feared Gerard did not feel the same way.
All of a sudden, Gerard noticed and turned slightly to look back at Frank, flashing him a smile. Frank immediately blushed and turned away, fiddling with his fingers.
The bell rang at last, and class was dismissed.
"Mr Iero and Mr Way," the teacher Ms Kim asked, "would you be so kind as to help me clean up the classroom please? I need to rush off for a meeting." Frank looked at Gerard, and Gerard shrugged, obliging. "Alright" Frank said.
The class emptied out quickly, as it was a Friday and everybody was in a rush to get back home. Ms Kim handed Frank and Gerard the chalkboard duster, broom and pan, and they greeted her before she left the classroom, leaving Frank and Gerard behind.
Frank felt his heart racing. He was alone.... with GERARD! He took a few discrete deep breaths as he turned away to sweep the floor with the broom, while Gerard wiped the chalkboard clean.
"Hey Frankie," Gerard said, making Frank's heart stop. "Y-yeah?" Frank replied nervously, not turning around. What was he going to say?? Does he know he likes me? Oh my god I'm going to die, Frank thought.
Gerard walked in front of Frank and smiled. "You're using the pan to sweep the floor, Frankie" Gerard remarked, snickering. Frank glanced down and saw that he was, indeed, using the pan to sweep the floor, brushing the stray pieces of paper into the broom and just making the mess worse, really. He felt the heat rush to his cheeks.
"Oh shit, I'm sorry I wasn't thinking," Frank said, now using the broom to sweep the floor. Gerard laughed, making Frank's heart flutter. "It's alright Frankie, you got it," he said.
After they were done cleaning the classroom, Frank wiped the sweat off his brow, and looked up at the clock again. 8pm. Did the time really pass that quickly? he thought.
"We did it Frankie!!" Gerard grinned, high-fiving Frank. Frank cringed at himself and at how high-fiving Gerard could still make him feel like jelly inside up to this day.
"Y-yeah we did" he smiled back.
Gerard reached for the classroom door to exit, but it wouldn't budge. He raised his brow, then pulled on it again. Still closed.
"Oh crap," Gerard said. "I think we're locked in."
Frank's eyes widened. "Wh-what?" he asked, taking his turn to pull at the door. Gerard was right; they were locked in. At 8pm. Where the school was already closed for the night. And they wouldn't be let out till Monday when the staff came back. Shit, Frank thought to himself.
"Looks like we'll have to sleep here for the night, haha" Gerard said, running a hand through his long black hair. Frank blushed. How was he going to sleep?? Gosh, this was simultaneously the best and worst day ever. It was almost as if Ms Kim was trying to set them up.
