The Sharpest Lives (frerard)

Murder House

Frank Iero

It's been a few months since Mikey and Gerard came to our school. We've gotten to know each other better over the months, and they've helped me get out of fights and detentions, which I can't be thankful enough for. The twins are really sweet to Ray and I, but I don't know why. Were both just losers. But for some reason, they can't see that.

Gerard and I haven't gotten around to working on our assignment yet, though. I think he's trying to put it off for as long as he can. I don't know why. I've asked him if he wants to change subjects from vampires, but he says he's fine with whatever we do. I know that's not actually how he feels, though. I wish he would just tell me-

I pull open the front door, sudden silence filling my ears. My feet take me forward, my hands dropping my school bag to the side of my feet. A slight sound fills the silence. A small voice whispers something muffled, the sound echoing from the living room. I walk forward hesitantly, trying to make as little sound as possible. My hand extends to reach for the handle of the living room door, my heart hammering in my chest. Neither of my parents should be home yet. Is someone robbing my house?

My hand shakily pulls open the door, and what I see waiting for me makes my body freeze, my breathing stopping.

My mother.

Making out with a complete stranger.

On the living room couch.

Her head turns my way at the sound of the door opening, and she freezes in place. We stare at each other for what feels like a decade, when she finally decides to speak.

"Frank, it's not what it looks like-" She starts, but I cut her off.

"Oh really? Because it looks like your cheating on my dad with a man I've never met." I say, my voice rising. The man looks at me cautiously, then back to my mom, his eyebrows creased.

"Look, Frankie, I can explain..."

"Oh yeah? Id really love to hear all about why you think it's fine to cheat on my dad with..." I trail off, looking over to the man whos now got a very confused and concerned plastered on his tanned face.

"You said your son would be home at four..." The man mutters into my mom's ear, and for some reason, that action fills me with a rage I've never felt before.

"Frank! Calm down-" Mom yells at me, her face emanating fear.

"Calm down? Calm down? You expect me to calm down after I just found out that my moms fucking cheating on my dad?" I scream at her, feeling tears stride down my cheeks. "I fucking hate you! You can't even... Just forget it. You can both go fucking die." I finish coldly, spitting out my words like poison.

"Frank!" Mom yells back at me, hurrying over to where I stand. I turn my back to her, walking over to the door and opening it, letting the cool Fall breeze run past my face, making my mind calm, but that feeling doesn't last for long.

"Please just listen to me-" She tries to speak, grabbing onto my wrist. I shake it off with ease.

"I'm done with your bullshit. I'm done with everything! You're a fucking liar! Leave me alone!" I scream. By now I'm not sure what I'm saying to her, but it makes me feel so good to scream. I have to get out of here. I have to leave this filthy house. My feet take me outside, onto the porch. 

I see my moms face crinkled in shock and concern, staring back at me, but she doesn't try to stop me when I run. My feet pick up the pace as I sprint down the dusky street, my tears drying in the wind. My mind is racing with thoughts, memories and insults...

I can't believe this. My mom, the person I thought I could trust, cheats on my dad with some male prostitute-looking guy I don't even know. The tears start to roll down my face again. How could she do this? How could she-

Suddenly I feel my head hit something hard and soft all at once. I stumble back, almost falling over my own feet, my vision blurry from the tears.

"What the- Wait... Frank? Is that you?" A familiar tone calls out to me. I look up quickly, wiping any trace of sadness or anger out of my eyes, and try to grasp my bearings. My eyes catch a tall teenager with black hair and pale skin looking cautiously at me.

Gerard.

"Oh... uh, hey Gerard." I say as steadily as I can, sniffing.

"What- woah, are you ok?" He asks me, concern filling his voice.

"I'm fine, yeah..." I shrug, acting careless, but my voice breaks. Before I can do or say anything to stop myself, I feel a lump in my throat start to form, and tears start to well up in my eyes again. I desperately try to wipe them away with the back of my hand, not wanting to let Gerard see my weakness.

"Hey..." He says soothingly, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "It'll be ok. Do you... want to talk about it?" He asks me, concern coating his voice like honey. I nod, and look around the street quickly, searching for any sign that my mother came after me. An empty street answers my question, but I still feel anxiety rise in the pit of my stomach.

"Can we... go to your house?" I ask softly, taking a shaky breath.

"Yeah, ok. It's not too far from here." He says and guides me forward, his arm still around my back. I smile slightly, looking up at his serious expression and dark hazel eyes. He looks over to me, catching my eyes, and blushes.

"Sorry... is this uncomfortable?" Gerard says awkwardly, taking his arm away from me.

"No, it's fine." I laugh, wiping away my tears with my hand, and this time they don't come back in a flood. All past emotions are long gone, in replace by happiness and contentment.

Suddenly Gerard leads us up a tall driveway, walking up to a huge, dark wooden house, large, shadowy windows on each side.

"Oh my god, you live in the Murder House," I say, stopping in my tracks in shock.

"The what?" Gerard demands, confusion filling his voice.

"Well, a couple of kids up my street call your house that because its always so dark and stuff- don't worry, I don't think it looks like a murder house." I try to cover up quickly, Gerard's face filling with concern and confusion. He doesn't say anything as we walk in silence up to the door of his house. Shit. I shouldn't have said anything. Now I've made my friend uncomfortable because he knows that people think his house looks like somewhere that people get killed.

Gerard opens the door, and we walk inside. Suddenly the sweet, trademark smell of soup fills my nose, and my eyes try to adjust to the new darkness of my surroundings.

"Hey, Gerard! I'm just cooking soup for dinner, its pumpkin, like you requested- oh! W-whos this...?" A sweet, light voice asks as we enter the room. A small woman suddenly walks up to us, light skin and black hair matching Gerards perfectly.

"Hey, mom. Um... this is Frank. He's my friend. Is it ok if he stays here and studies with me? We won't be long." Gerard says.

"Yeah, it's fine. You can even stay for dinner if you like, Frank." She asks me. I look over to Gerard, whos got an unsure expression in his eyes.

"Mom, I'm sure he won't-"

"Yeah, Id love to." I smile, cutting Gerard off. He looks over to me, shock playing on his face.

"Alright, well just be upstairs so if you need us..." He trails off, guiding me away from his mom and up a set of stairs in the corner of the dark room before I even get to have a good look around.