Poison

chapter 4-Afraid

I walk into work at exactly 3:00 P.M which means, I'm right on time and proud.

"Poison, got a hair cut I see." Olivia smiles, reaching out and then running her skinny fingers through my newly chin length hair. "Good. You looked like a fucking woman with that feminine face of yours and those long locks" I rolled my eyes, looking around.

No Frank.

I sigh, walking into my office. I take out the sketch I'm working on for Frank's tattoo and the one I'm working on for a very nice girl named Hailey. I compare the two, and they are much different. Hailey's is a simple black and gray cross that is going to be on her shoulder. I'm not sure why she wanted me to draw it out for her. It's fairly simple. Frank's sketch however, is a little more complicated. Its a black star surrounded by tinier ones that are colorful. The black star has blood dripping from it. These sketches were easy for me. Too easy.

I put Hailey's sketch away, studying Frank's. Could the black star be Frank? All the other stars are colorful. Pink, green, purple. They all stand and out, however, this one black star wants to stand out like the other stars too, so he makes himself explode. Explode the color of red blood, just to stand out more. Just to get the attention he's wanted.

Is that Frank? No... it's me. I sigh, scratching my head. I'm a heart attack in black hair dye.

"Party Poison?" I turn my attention to the door.

"Come in." I say. The door opens and to my surprise I see, Jet Star. Also known as Ray. Also known as Princess Fro Fro. "Hi Jet." I smile shyly, trying not to seem too surprised.

"Hey Party. How's the sketches coming along?" Ray asked.

"Pretty good. Have you heard from Frank? I'm not really sure when he's going to come take a look at this sketch." I say, holding up the design.

"I haven't." Ray shook his head, causing his afro to wave around a bit. "But I came here to ask you a favor."

"Okay." I say.

"I'm going on a quick trip to the store to get a few things, would you mind watching over my things at my piercing station?" I freeze, feeling my palms start to sweet. Where's there a piercing station, there's needles and tons of other... piercing and tattoo stations.

"I uh, how about I run and get the things for you? I wanna go out and get some air."

"No. I want to go. I know exactly what I want." Ray says. "Please."

"Sure." I nod, walking slowly out of my office. I follow Ray towards his station and take a few breaths. I stand awkwardly, trying to avoid eye contact with the needles.

"Thanks Party." Ray smiled, leaving me alone with my worst fear.

Needles.

I glance at a needle gun lying right on Ray's piercing chair. I gulp, feeling a little dizzy.

"Gerard?" I turn around to see Frank standing a few feet away. He stares at me, mouth slightly open and eyes wide.

"Pl-please watch Ray's stuff." I say running back into my office, away from the needles. Fuck. I bet Frank thinks I'm a whimp now.

"Gerard." I turn to face the familiar face at my office door. "I got Bob to watch Ray's stuff. I lo-"

"Sorry. Just the needles." I interrupt, shivering.

"I know Gee. Its okay. I lo-"

"No its not. I work at a fucking place that practically stocks up on needles and I'm afraid. It's so stupid." I feel something wet start to form in my eyes.

Tears.

I'm crying and I can't stop and this is embarrassing.

Frank closes the door and looks at me with concern in his eyes.

"Everyone is afraid of something Gerard. I'm afraid of spiders, remember?" Frank speaks softly, walking closer to me. I look down at my shoes nodding a bit. "Being scared of needles is not stupid. It's human. We all have our fears Gee. I know you are working in a place that uses needles all the time and it gives you anxiety bu-" Before Frank could finish, I find myself hugging him. One hand on his upper back and one on the lower. He sighs into my shoulder, resting both of his hands around my lower back.

"I'm sorry." I apologies.

"For what?" He asks, turning his face into my neck. I breath hard, thinking of a answer because I honestly don't know what I'm sorry for.

"I don't know." I reply. Frank chuckles, leaving hot breaths on my neck that cause me to shiver.

"Gerard, it's going to be okay." Frank whispers. Frank pulls away. "I kept trying to tell you that I love your hair." He smiles, reaching up to flick my head. I fake hurt, rubbing where he flicked me.

"Ow." I say. Frank smiles one of his big goofy smiles that I love. I whip my eyes with both of my hands yawning. "So, Frank, wanna see your sketch for the tattoo?"

"Of course but I need to tell you something first..." he trails off, running his fingers through his soft looking hair.

"Okay." I respond, sitting down.

"The sketch... I kind of... I kind of asked you to design it for- well, I don't want it to be tatted on my body." I look at Frank confused, pulling out the sketch from my desk. Franks eyes roamed to the sketch, studying it.

"What?" I asked.

"I-erm, I lied about wanting the tattoo."

"What? Why?" I asked dissipointed. I set the sketch down. "Why would you lie?"

"I lied because I just wanted to see you more and I'll pay you for the sketch of course. I wanted you to sketch it so I could have it an-"

"Are you kidding me?!" I almost yelled, sounding mad but I'm not. I'm really fucking happy. Frank looks away ashamed.  I let a smile creep on my face. "You aren't paying for shit." I say handing him the sketch still smiling. Frank looks at me confused, but then smiles a bit and takes the sketch.

"I thought you were mad." he laughs.

"I'm not." I say.

"I love it Gerard." Frank says, studying the sketch.

"I'm glad." I say. Before I know it, Frank's arm are wrapped around my middle back. I laugh, hugging him back.

"Thanks so much Gee." Frank pulls away and stares at my hair. "Your hair looks so good."

"Thank you." I say running my fingers through my hair. The fact that we just hugged twice and that he really likes my hair makes me so happy.

"So Gerard, I know you're off tomorrow and me and some friends are having a party at my buddy Josh's house and I was wondering if you wanted to go? You can bring Mikey." I smile at the idea. I haven't been to a party in a while. This could be fun.

"Sure." I smile, feeling butterflies in my stomach.

"Cool. I'll pick you up tommrow at 2:00 P.M at your house."

"Okay." I smile. "Will do."