Death Is Strange

EIGHTEEN

Panic gripped Gerard's chest. One moment Frank was telling him he was going to save his dad, the next he was crying like a child, blood pouring from his nose, his body going limp.

Frank's eyes suddenly flew open and when he saw Gerard, he laughed, choked, and fell forward into Gerard's arms. "Oh my god," he gasped. "Fuck!"

"What happened? What the fuck happened to you?" Frank's blood was smeared on Gerard's shoulder, but Gerard didn't even care. Something awful had clearly happened. "Too much time travel?"

"I... need to... let me clean up," Frank said shakily, pulling away and trying to stand up. He clutched his head in both hands. "Shit!"

Gerard stumbled out of the bed, grabbing Frank by the shoulders and easing him back onto the mattress. "Sit still," he commanded. "Give me a minute to get dressed. I'm going to take you to the bathroom and you're going to clean up, but I'm going to help you." Gerard grabbed a Kleenex, wiping the blood off his shoulder, and yanked on his jeans and t-shirt. "Okay," he said gently, hooking Frank's arm around his shoulders.

"I want to shower," Frank said. His voice was steady now, his eyes clearer. "I just went through hell. I need a fucking shower. But I can stand now. I'm good."

"Okay," Gerard said, letting Frank stand on his own. "You go get in, and I'll stop by your room and bring you clothes."

Frank nodded wordlessly, then headed for the door, pausing for a moment to regain his balance before heading to the bathroom.

When Gerard opened the door to Frank's room, Ray was riffling through his backpack on his side of the room. He glanced up, and saw the look on Gerard's face. "You okay, buddy?"

Gerard nodded. "Yeah. Frank needed some help with something." He went to Frank's side of the room and gathered Frank's towel and pouch of toiletries. He found a clean, black-and-white striped shirt and some ripped jeans, then dug through the other drawer to find socks and underwear.

"Are you sure you guys are okay?" Ray asked.

"Yes," Gerard said firmly. He desperately thought of a subject change. "Did you... did you see my Photography project? I turned it in yesterday."

Ray smiled. "Yes I did. Now I have to go, I don't want to be tardy." He laughed. "Unlike you."

Gerard rolled his eyes. "Fuck school. It's Friday anyway."

"Famous last words, my friend," Ray said, chuckling again as he left.

Frank felt fine by the time he stood beneath the lukewarm spray. His headache had gone away as he adjusted to his surroundings again, and now he was just relieved to have his fauxhawk and his boyfriend again.

The bathroom door slammed shut. "Frank, I'm here," Gerard called.

Frank waved a hand over the top of the shower stall.

Gerard's footsteps echoed through the otherwise dead silence. "I'm gonna drape everything over the door," he said.

"Is that it?" Frank said.

"Are you suggesting I do otherwise?"

"I mean, you could deliver everything in person. I could unlock the stall."

"Hypothetically, of course." Gerard's voice had taken on a seductive tone, and a shiver raced through Frank. He unlocked the door. Gerard slipped inside, setting his stuff in the corner.

Frank watched Gerard, silhouetted against the plastic curtain, and a smile twisted his lips when he saw Gerard pull off his shirt. "Is this the kind of thing we get expelled for?" Gerard asked, his voice low, barely audible over the water.