To Cast Turpentine Kisses (A Frerard Student/Teacher)

Chapter 13

Frank's friends Bob and Ray start noticing that Frank's not acting out in school anymore, and how he's disappearing a lot and being kind of weird, but strangely more focused in school than anything else. Frank used to hang out with them at one of their houses after school a lot, but he never comes around anymore. They all know about Frank's parents' problems (it's been going on for a while, Frank's told them), so he just uses that as an excuse and says he has to be home more now.

But they go by Frank's house one afternoon and he's not there! (He's actually at Gerard's house, quite literally tied up.) So when Frank gets home that night, his parents are all "Frank where were you after school today?"

And Frank is wary but gives the same story he has been, which is "At Bob's house."

And his parents are all, "I think you know we know you weren't at Bob's house, because Bob and Ray came here looking for you. Now tell us where you've been."

And Frank makes up some bullshit about staying late at school working on homework because his friends distract him and he doesn't want to come home, and then just hanging out in the park until it's late because he's worried about their fighting, Frank can guilt them like a motherfucker (and the homework part isn't totally a lie... Gerard does make him do all of his homework first before they do anything). So they relent and say they're sorry and he doesn't have to stay out of the house because of them But Frank's like, "It's cool. I think I just need space. Senior year is stressful and I'm worried about getting into a good college." His parents make sad/guilty faces at him and hug him and tell him that whatever he needs to do it's okay as long as he's not in any trouble. Frank says no he's not, he's just stressed out. And he's dodged the bullet this time.