We're Chasing The Sun (Frerard)

Chapter 2

All of them had launched at Ray with bright smiles—yes, even Mikey and, at that, Gerard was caught quite shocked as well. Bob caught Ray and Mikey into a tight embrace, which thank god Gerard escaped just in time. After a few minutes had passed, Bob loosened his tight embrace, adding a dramatic 'I'll never let go' which was inevitably going to lead to very unnecessary Titanic jokes by Ray, shortly followed by one of Mikey's typical 'shut up's.

And throughout the whole thing, Gerard stared blankly, smiling. 

"Don't you ever do that to me again! You hear me, you asshole?" Mikey threatened, pounding on his friend's chest, because, fucking hell, those had been one of the hardest months in Mikey Way's entire life and Ray had no idea. 

Gerard began to walk toward the car to help grinning Mrs. Toro with Ray's stuff. He heard shouts of laughter and raised voices behind. All that sounded so familiar to him. He didn't know how much he had missed this, not until then. You don't really know what you got, not until you lose it. He wouldn't let go of it ever again, though. If anyone ever dared to snatch that away from him, he'd turn into Hulk. 

"He missed you guys so much, you have no idea," Mrs. Toro said. "Wouldn't shut up about you. He'd drive the nurses crazy."

But oh, unfortunately, Gerard was afraid he'd have to correct her right there; Ray had no idea how much they'd missed him. 

And right then, in the Toro household, everything strangely felt like it was coming back. Aimless shit they'd throw to make time pass, Bob's insubstantial talent at Halo, drinking (apparently Mikey had sneaked some alcohol out of their house without Gerard nor his mother noticing?) and of course, the radio playing songs that brought back so many memories...silently somewhere in the room.

***

"Ughhhh," Gerard groaned into his pillow and made a valiant—though futile—effort to go back to sleep. For once, he wasn't waking up inexplicably in the middle of the night, no. This was far worse; he had to get up for school.

They should let him sleep it off. Or just sleep, in general, no need for justifications. This was totally unfair; it was only yesterday he had reunited with his friend again. He didn't want to get out of bed to go to school. School; what a lame excuse to get up. He wasn't sure of if he was lacking motivation as always again, or just had a point, but whatever. He wished for the latter. 

"Gerard, baby, it's time to get up!" he heard his mother shout again and made whimper sounds in response, to lure her pity. But it was no use. So, his last hope was wishing for the classic 'ugh, just five more minutes' technique to work.

"Gerard, you don't want to be late on your first day. Don't make me come up there and open the curtains. You know you don't want to," his mother threatened, more fiercely this time. And honestly, fuck Gerard's life, his mother knew him too well. He'd have to change his methods soon. 

But not right then, otherwise he'd be blinded by a bunch of external, dazzling light and, to be frank, Gerard didn't like the idea of that at all. So, he cursed his life one more time and got out of bed, contemplating potential ways to suppress his anger right then and there, but unfortunately, he was left with empty hands. Maybe school had sucked the whole creativity out of him already, just by its poisonous idea rising to his mind. 

He walked heavily down the stairs and was immediately met with his mother's eyes when he strolled into the kitchen. She gave him a warming grin Gerard knew wouldn't help in the situation too much, despite its brilliant brightness.