Death Is Strange

FIFTEEN

Gerard half-expected Frank not to show up the next morning, but he and Ray met Gerard in the hallway as usual.

James met them halfway across the lawn. "I finally have a roommate," he said.

"Really? Who?" Ray asked, smiling.

James waved to a boy headed their direction. "This very fine specimen," he said.

The boy joined them. He looked at each of them with his dark, piercing eyes, tucking a strand of his chin-length brown bob behind his ear. He seemed to be considering saying something, but Ray beat him to it. "Hello! I'm Ray. This is Gerard and his boyfriend Frank."

"I'm Jack White," he said, smirking. "James said you guys were a trip. I have high expectations, obviously."

"It depends on what kind of expectations," James said as they resumed walking. "Gerard doesn't pole dance, and Ray isn't secretly conspiring to cover the campus in toilet paper."

"Who said I wasn't?" Ray asked, laughing.

"You should pole dance," Frank hissed in Gerard's ear, slipping his hand into Gerard's back pocket for a moment. "Everyone should get to see your tight ass."

Gerard blushed.

"I was referring more to their interests and musical taste," Jack said. But he looked like he was trying not to laugh. "I wouldn't mind an occasional pole dance as long as his boyfriend's doing a strip tease at the same time."

James busted out laughing. "Damn, Frank! You have your work cut out for you."

Jack smiled at Gerard. "Don't worry, I'm not trying to steal your boyfriend. I have a girlfriend."

"Oh cool, does she go to school here?" James asked.

"No. She's back in Jersey."

"I'm from Jersey," Frank said.

Jack nodded. "Nice."

"Do you have first period Science?" Ray asked as they reached the door to the labs.

"Unfortunately, no," Jack said. "I have Photography. See you later."

Ray waved at him and then turned back to the others. "He seems great," he said cheerfully. He lowered his voice as they reached their seats in the back of the room. "You doing alright, Gee?"

Gerard nodded, but then he turned to Frank. "How's your head?"

Frank looked confused for a moment. "Oh," he finally said. "Yeah, it's fine today."

"Just so you know, I'd never force you to have sex with me," Gerard whispered.

Frank looked even more confused. "What makes you say that?"

"Last night. If you just wanted to leave, don't think I would have pressured you."

"I had a headache, Gee. I didn't have any ulterior motives." Frank's forehead crinkled with concern. "Is something bothering you?"

Gerard swallowed hard. "No. I just... I thought you were making up an excuse."

"Nope. I wouldn't lie to you." Frank said it so matter-of-factly, Gerard felt all his frayed nerves begin to mend themselves, and he grabbed Frank's hand, lacing their fingers together on the table.

Ben met Ray and Frank by the door of the cafeteria at lunch. He still looked subdued, but his eyes weren't red and puffy today. "I found out more about Denis, unless you've heard already?"

Ray shook his head, his frizzy halo of hair bouncing with the movement. "What happened?"

Ben handed his phone to Ray, and Frank leaned in to watch.