leATHERMØUTH -frerard-

Interlude 3

"Frank! Oh my- are you okay!?" He bolted to my side.

I was on the ground. Sobbing. I had never cried in front of anyone. But here I was in the boys locker room. And there was Gerard as if on queue. It was like his day was planned almost perfectly just so he ran into me when I needed him.

Supernatural, almost.

I shoved that thought back where it came from.

Gerard wrapped his arms around me and tried to comfort me the best he could. His arms felt nice around me. They were warm. And... soft? Our uniform wasn't soft. I looked at his bare arms. He took off his blazer and had rolled up his shirt sleeves.

It was hot in here.

His skin was soft. His hair was soft, too. His face was very close to mine and it felt comforting. His hair tickled my face here and there, but other than that, it was peaceful. My breathing finally matched his. I had calmed down.

His breath was warm and sent chills down my neck. I finally met his eyes. He wasn't smiling. His eyes were wide and his lips were parted. I wondered what he was doing. I wiped my eyes and laughed slightly.

"Thank you." I whispered.

He kissed my forehead and didn't speak. In fact, he didn't speak at all. He didn't even ask if I was okay or say 'you're welcome'. I don't remember much of my crying, but had I said something? Something that upset him?

Had...

Had I hurt him?

He just held me. All he did was hold me and fall asleep on my shoulder. I stared at him, unable to process this person before me.

Maybe I was a fag.

If liking him close to me and liking his lips on my forehead made me a fag, well then, I was a fag.

And I was proud of that.

I had been watching him sleep for about 30 minutes when I gave in. I touched the side of his face and he squirmed a bit. I smiled, watching his face scrunch up the way it did. His eyes fluttered open and his eyes met mine.

I gasped.

He was beautiful.

Everything about him, from the way his lips curved to the way his hair was tossed around sleepily, was beautiful. I didn't know what to do with myself.

I had never had feelings for anyone.

And yet, here I was.

"Are you...." he trailed off, staring at me the way I was staring at him.

Captivated.

Fascinated each other existed.

I watched his eyes. They were scanning my face, lingering on my lips. I felt something bubble in my chest. At first I thought it was hate, but it felt sweeter. Very sweet. So sweet in fact, I had to see if I was the same person.

What if he knew about my dreams... he wouldn't want to be near me. He knew so little, yet so much about me just by staring at me.

He started to lean in and I felt myself stop breathing.

What was he doing?

Was I supposed to lean in, too?

He was turning his head, looking at my lips. He was very close now, and I had no idea what was happening.

"What are you-"

He yanked my tie violently, bringing my face to his. Our lips touched and I felt my chest burn and stomach feel sick. But not a bad sick.

Oh.

He was kissing me.

I didn't know how to do that... As soon as I was about to kiss him back, he pushed away and stood up, face red silk. I sat on the ground, clothes disheveled, confused out of my mind. He pulled at his hair.

I touched his leg with my finger tips, "Gerard, I-"

"I get it! You don't like me!"

He was crying.

My heart felt like it dropped.

I didn't know what to say.

"I'm so sorry... I- I shouldn't have kissed you. I'll j-just leave..."

He dashed away as I called out to him, "Wait! Gerard!"

What had I done?

"Where you going, fag?" I heard a voice in the distance say.

I stood up, preparing myself for the impending death. Five schoolmates came around the corner and all grinned when they saw me.

"Fag Iero, long time no see. I see you made your boyfriend cry. What'd you do? Break up?"

They all laughed.

They sounded like asses.

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Oh! A private little toy, then!?" One of them shouted, all walking closer.

I was cornered and I knew what was coming. Fists and feet and hands and knives and insults were thrown at me all at once from all sides. By the end of their fun, I was on the ground, tired, bleeding, and most unbearably depressed.

I didn't know how to clean myself up.

Gerard had always done it for me.

And I had messed it all up.

They were right...

I'm nothing.

I got up the best I could and tried with all my might to get to my truck. I could've sworn I saw jet black hair from the corner of my eye, but maybe it was the swollen eye.

Revenge was on my mind.

As was the taste of Gerard.