Pretty Boy (You Make Me Want To Live)

Starlight

Frank sat swinging his legs off the familiar park bench, a certain weight about his heart. He had arrived at almost 1 am, earlier than usual, and it was now nearing 3am, which meant that if Gerard was coming, then he should have turned up by now, which he hadn't.

He let out a sigh, leaning back against the bench and pulling his legs up to his chest, closing his eyes for a second. He sat up again, glancing around him one last time before standing up, picking up his phone that had been laying on the bench besides him. He patted down his pockets, smiling to himself when he found a twenty pound note.

He looked around again, just to be sure that Gerard wasn't anywhere around before leaving the park, ambling along until he neared the convenience store.

He pushed open the door, making his way over to the counter offering the cashier a tired smile.

"A pack of cigs please."

"ID?"

Frank lifted up his phone, where the ID card was kept for safekeeping and showed it to the cashier.

"That'll be £11.50 please."

Frank slid the note across the counter, pulling the small cardboard box towards him. He'd tried to quit, he really had, but stress had gotten the better of him and he was back again for another box.

He pocketed his change before heading back to the park, holding a brisk walk in the hopes that he might see Gerard again, but his hopes were dashed when he arrived back and the place was as empty as ever.

He curled up on the bench again, pulling the small packet from his pocket and taking one of the small papery sticks from it, carefully placing the packet back in his pocket, balancing the cigarette between his lips as he fished in a different pocket for his lighter, something he always seemed to have on him, despite having allegedly quit smoking.

He flicked his lighter on, cupping his spare hand around the tip of the cigarette, holding the small flame near and took in a deep breath, immediately feeling himself calm down. He held the thin stick between his first two fingers, bringing it up to his lips and occasionally taking a breath of it, blowing the smoke away and watching the pretty patterns swirl away in the light breeze.

Every now and then he'd practice simple tricks, blowing rings, or dragon blowing the smoke away, hiding behind the cloud of smoke, sometimes blowing double rings if he got bored, or if he was feeling particularly inclined, he'd do - what he thought was called - a jellyfish, making the smoke look like the sea creature as it swirled away from him.

But before he knew it, his phone was buzzing loudly next to him, making him jump and drop his cigarette, which he quickly stepped on to put it out.

"Hello?" Frank answered wearily, only now realising that it was light around him, and how tired he really was.

"Breakfast's ready." A cheery voice rang down the phone, a slightly mocking tone to it.

"Shit- I- Oh, fuck- I am so sorry-"

"Hey, it's okay, don't worry about it, just get your ass back here, I've already made enough and I need someone to help me eat it, yeah?" Maxx asked, waiting for the confirmation that Frank would be coming home before hanging up.

Frank glanced around him again, his features falling slightly when he still didn't see Gerard anywhere and started making his way home.

The walk seemed to take forever, even though in reality it only took about ten minutes tops, but that didn't make Frank's heart hurt any less. He had really been hoping to catch Gerard so he could apologise. He felt like such a dick, first running off because he couldn't deal with his own feelings, then not turning up the next night. It really sent the wrong kind of message to Gerard.

He unlocked the front door, being hit with the smell of fried eggs and a weak smile made it's way onto his face.

"Frank?" Maxx called and Frank wandered into the doorway of the kitchen, watching silently as Maxx cooked at the stove, using a spatula to peel the eggs off the pan.

"Sorry, no I killed him on the way here, was that wrong?" Frank snickered. Maxx's cooking always managed to put him in a good mood, but Gerard still hung like a dark cloud at the back of his mind.

"Awh damn, well then murderer, I really hope you like your eggs sunny side up 'cause that's how I've made them." Maxx joked back, sliding the eggs out onto a plate then pulling out some toast that had been kept warm under the grill and adding the slices to the plates.

"Thanks Maxx." Frank said quietly, sitting down at the table as Maxx turned to him, setting the plate in front of him.

"No problem, just text me or something if you aren't gonna be home in the morning so I can text you when I start cooking, yeah?"

"Okay..." Frank replied softly, tucking into the food.

"So," Maxx started after a couple of minutes of silence as the two boys practically devoured the food, "Where were you last night?"

"I- uh-"

"You don't have to tell me of course, just was curious..." Maxx interrupted before his brow furrowed and he leant forwards, sniffing the air, "Why do you smell of smoke?"

"I was smoking earlier...?" Frank winced, because no shit he'd been smoking earlier.

"Fair enough." Maxx shrugged, taking another bite of toast.

"Are you gonna come to school today? No offence but you look like you've just been resurrected from the dead." Maxx chuckled.

"That bad huh?" Frank gave a weak smile, looking down at his food then glancing back up and seeing Maxx nodding with a sympathetic smile.

"Okay, well, I'll see you later then? Get some sleep for me buddy." Maxx patted Frank on the shoulder as he left the kitchen. Frank just nodded, taking the last few bites of toast and moving to put his plate in the dishwasher. Maybe he'd see Gerard tonight.

The thought alone was enough to make him feel slightly happier as he trudged up the stairs and into his bedroom, falling face first onto his bed. Almost as soon as he hit the mattress he was asleep and snoring softly, completely oblivious to Maxx closing his door behind him with a fond smile and a quiet 'sleep well'.