Within This Moment ~ Frerard ~ slow updates

The Feeling Book

"I gotta say, man. I've been to a lot of places, but this diner is pretty rad."

Gerard raised a perfectly trimmed eyebrow at Frank's exclamation, thinking to himself that that tattooed man must've only gotten his coffee and vegetarian omelets from food trucks and hobos in alley corners, merely because Izzy's Diner wasn't a place to get excited over. Maybe it was due to the hours he'd spent working in the establishment or the bitterness he'd received from his boss, but the only emotion he felt while in the building was resentment. Any entertainment he got came from watching someone trip over the chair legs while walking or seeing someone outside slip from either the rain or snow. Of course, Gerard did get occasional laughs from his co-workers, but it commonly came with a scolding from their boss.

"Yeah, I can't relate to that. Must be some traveler's thing. This isn't a town to get excited over." Gerard said in a monotone, avoiding Frank's eyes and pretending to inspect his cuticles. Frank tossed his head back and laughed obnoxiously loud, as though Gerard had told the funniest joke in the history of humor. He dropped his hand and glared at Frank. "What's so funny?"

The man's laughter died down, but he still wore a tragically gorgeous smile, the stretch and curve of his cheeks seeming to lift even his eyes and sew joy into them. "It's just funny that you think I'm a tourist. I don't permanently live in Jersey anymore, but this is my hometown." The information left Gerard gobsmacked. How could he never have remembered this man before? The curse of age might've altered Frank's appearance, but Gerard knew eyes like that couldn't be so easily changed. Frank must've recognized the confusion in Gerard's expression because he leaned forward in his seat and commented. "I live in New York now, but I grew up here. This diner was actually one of my favorite places to come and hang out. I'm happy to see it still here, even if it's gone a bit downhill."

Gerard couldn't deny that his interest sparked just a bit, but he wouldn't press into the subject. If he did, the guy would certainly never leave him alone. Gerard only had to tolerate him for a while, and soon Frank would go. Instead, Gerard flickered his eyes down to the journal on the table. He really didn't care, truly he didn't, but Gerard was nosy, and before he could stop himself, he gestured with his fingers and spoke. "What's that?"

Frank tensed for a fleeting moment. He gathered himself up quickly though, and shoveled the last bite of his food into his mouth. "Nothing," he grumbled, pulling a twenty out of his pocket and slamming it on the table. Gerard watched in confusion as Frank's figure storm out of the diner. 'The fuck was that about?' He wondered. And people thought he was dramatic.

"Gerard! What did you do?" A voice shrieked at him. He glanced over his shoulder to see Alexis behind him. Gerard tilted his head to the side and clenched his jaw.

"Me? I didn't do shit." He huffed, pushing himself up, the seat's faux leather squeaking in protest. Gerard shoved his thumbs into his pockets and wandered towards the bar, his friend following at his heels. "I just asked him what he was holding and he got all pissy and stormed out. Fuckin' weirdo." A balled-up fist punched his arm roughly. "Ow," Gerard whined, rubbing over the area. "What was that for?"

"There's no reason to talk like that," Alexis sneered. "Maybe he was defensive, but I'm sure it was for a good reason."

Gerard opened his mouth to respond when he was cut off by a deep, booming voice that made his stomach go cold.

"Way!"

The two friends turned to see their boss, Bryar, stomping towards them, red-faced and bottom lip jutting out. Gerard resisted the urge to cringe, and from the corner of his eye, he could see Alexis failing to do the same action.