Famous Last Words || FRERARD

8

Frank walked into class the next morning looking...down, to say the least. He was wearing his biggest, baggiest hoodie that he owned, which hung off him and made him look like a child wearing their parent's clothes. His jeans were huge as well, and the only thing that was holding them up was his belt. Even when Gerard walked up to him and waved, Frank just stared at him blankly. It was odd, to say the least.

By the time lunch came around, Frank was resting his head on one of the tables, hardly moving besides the soft rise and fall for breathing. Gerard sat down across from him, a worried look on his face.

"Hey, Frank." When Frank didn't respond, Gerard continued. "Dude, you look more depressed than me right now, which, to be honest, I didn't think was possible."

Frank chuckled softly, sitting up and smirking weakly at him. His eyes were outlined by dark bags, not made by the eyeliner he'd lost the confidence to wear long ago. The glint in his irises was gone, replaced by a void the clear fact that he'd given up. "Funny."

"Frank....what the fuck happened to you?"

"Nothing."

"This doesn't look like nothing."

"It's just...nothing. I'm sad. That's all."

Gerard could tell he was lying without a doubt. It's hard to bullshit a bullshitter.

"You don't have to lie to me, Frank. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, right." He mumbled, looking away. Gerard frowned, staring at Frank as the other refused to look away.

'Looking away, so anxious or worried. Baggy clothes, so potentially dysphoria. Or maybe he is just sad, but I doubt it. He's mentioned his parents are s-.....OH! HIS PARENTS!'

"Is it something going on with your parents?" Gerard asked, returning to a neutral expression.

"How did you know?"

"Lucky guess. Sometimes I get like this when my parents decide to be extra shitty."

"I don't know what to do." He mumbled, shaking his head.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Frank."

"I said nothing. Just fuck off, okay?"

"Jesus."

They sat in silence for a while, both contemplating apologizing, but neither did. Instead, Gerard cleared his throat and broke the silence.

"I accept."

"What?"

"Your offer for a date. When we were in detention. I'm going to let you take me on a date."

"Gerard, I don't think that's such a-"

"Well, then I'll take you. Frank Iero, will you go on a date with me?"

Frank fell silent for a while, Gerard gnawing on his lip nervously. 'Wait. Why am I nervous? It's just Frank. We're just friends...if we even really are friends. I guess? It's complicated.'

"Eh, why not."

Gerard grinned, Frank half-smiling back. "Sick! Where do you wanna go?"

"Your place? I really don't wanna be home."

"Oh. Uh...I mean, if you can pretend we aren't on a date until we make it to my room, then sure. My parents are.......homophobic. And that's an understatement."

"I get it."

"I can just drive you over after school. I have to drive my brother Mikey too, but he shouldn't be too annoying."