On your knees // Bandom

59. The Only Exception

Last day of term. 24 hours since Franks father had rejected him. A week since Jimmy had confessed his love and run with it. Two weeks since Pete had kissed Gabe with a mouth of apologies. A month and a half since Ryan S died, since Awsten had stopped talking. Three and a half since Ryan R had lost his memory and restarted his relationship. There had been more milestones along the way, but those stood out to the people they concerned.

Some were secrets, and no one knew the full truth of all of them, they just all had their sides and misconceptions and best guesses.

Now, though, they'd have a week of respite. Awsten would leave that night, soaring out of the city, watching the veins of his city like they do in space. Dallon had plans to make this holiday as memorable as the last, but no one but him knew of them, and Brendon wasn't scared for Lindseys party.

Frank was still shaken, but Jamia invited him and Gee and Hayley around to hers so they could start the break with a hangover.

Gabe was going to Petes for the first time since they broke up, years ago. He drove them both over there with his heart in his throat, knowing that Petes family hated him with good reason. He was glad he wouldn't have to wake alone the next day, he'd had enough of shaky mornings and grabbing the pillow and ringing Pete or Brendon or Lindsey just to hear their voice on their answerphone.

Pete was messing with the music, never letting songs finish, skipping from genre to genre like a rock bouncing across a pond. The worst part of it all was that Gabe had known the lyrics to all of them.

Maybe that was nervousness, too. Jumping songs to try and speed up the time, unable to sit still and sing along. He was scared to face the music.

"Hillary still hates me?" Gabe checked.
"Yeah, I mean... she has a point. If a guy did that to her I'd fuck him up."
"No, I get it." He reached over and blindly grabbed Petes hand. "What about Ash?"
"Barely remembers you, I think. He was, what? Eight or nine? You didn't talk, I wasn't out."
"And your parents?"
"Don't know shit. I'm technically out to them, but, like, not enough to tell them if im dating you."
"Okay. So no flirting in front of them."
"Some flirting. Undercover flirting."
"I'll do my best."
"Y'know what, Gabey?"
"What?"
"I like you. A lot. Hillary and Ash and my fucking parents opinions won't change that."
"If my dad hated you I'd just be more into you to be honest."
"Real quick what's his number and address?"
"Uhhh just at 'not my emergency contact' and 'not my house' despite the fact I'm under 18 and he's my legal guardian."
Pete blinked, "He's not your emergency contact?"
"He can't get here quick enough for an emergency."
"Who is, then?"
"Don't have one."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Who would come?"
"I would."
"Would you, though?"
Would he?

Frank would be Gee's emergency contact in a heartbeat. He'd drop everything for them, and never thing about the consequences. There weren't many consequences that night, though.

In Hayleys eyes, at least, it was a double date. But who were the couples? Frank's head was in Jamia's lap, and Hayley and Gee were sharing a bottle — getting winedrunk and rosy cheeked.

The air was loose and golden, everyone relaxing in the glow of temporary freedom and casual romance.

Jamia ran a hand through Frank's hair, "You need to wash this."
"Mmm.... I had a shower before we came."
"With shampoo. And conditioner. Gee, back me up?"
Gee looked over, "You're fine, baby."
"I'm on Jamia's side," Hayley told him.
"Of course you are?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"

They'd lost track of who was saying what, it was just words overlapping; honey spilling out of them. Compliments and comebacks and easy laughter.

"You believe in love?"
"I have to."

Happiness. That was it. Elevated above the world and the troubles. If they needed space, they'd go back to that evening, the taste of it, the sound.

"C'mon. Lets play truths."

Frank sat up, and the hands fell out of his hair.

"1, 2, 3..."

Frank remembered the first meeting with the music room squad. Before anything was solid in his life except his father, and now...

"4, 5,"
"6, 7, 8"
"9, 10,"

Gee had spoken last, leaving Jamia as the only person who hadn't gone. She sighed. "Truth, then, what do you want to ask?"
"Ideal date?" Hayley asked.
"I want... something casual. Just chilling, getting to know each other. Being cute."
"Getting to know each other?" Frank asked, his voice teasing."
"However she wants to interpret that."
"She?" Gee tilted their head. "Anyone in mind?"
Frank reached across and poked him. Jamia's eyes met Hayley's and then lost them again.

Stars aligned above them, and they didn't care. Somewhere, someone was falling in love; or giving birth; or dying; or getting married. They didn't care.

Closer than that, though, Pete's worlds were gonna collide and the crash would fill his lungs with smoke.

"You look nervous." He said to Gabe, opening his gate.
"I am! Fuck."
"Language." Pete warned.
"I'd consider it an honour to be a bad influence on your little brother."

Pete kissed him, let all the smoke fill both of their lungs. It didn't taste so bad after-all. The calm before the storm. Tension spun between them like spiders web.

Pete pressed the doorbell and Gabe watched the shadows between the curtains in the living room turn to shadows behind the frosted glass of the front door. It opened inwards and nostalgia spilled out. He'd been here before, with Pete, and what did he have to show for it?

Pete distanced himself before his mom saw them. It stung. Where was the line between him being out, and being out.

"I'm glad you're back, Gabe. I know you boys had a falling out but you're friends again, right?"
"Mom..." Pete dragged It out, annoyed.
"It was my fault," Gabe saw Hillary walk down the stairs towards them. Her eyes narrowed.
"No need to place blame, just come on in."

He followed Pete in, and Hillary was right behind him, watching him carefully. He deserved it. The distance and the looks and the tiptoeing through memories.

There were many contrasts here: Hayley and Jamia just starting out, drawing the line between dating and friends in chalk and watching it wash away. Gee and Frank established beyond reproach, fighting and finding each other, beyond where they should be. Gabe and Pete beginning again, hiding from the spotlight and the past, jumping into the deep-end knowing they'd hit the bottom face first.

"Frankie," Jamia reached for his phone.
Hayley laughed, "I thought only Gee could call you that?"
"Only Gee can call me that in front of people."
"And what am I? Not people?"
"Maybe not."

Hillary pulled Gabe aside, her fingers digging into his wrist. "I don't trust you."
He didn't protest, "That makes two of us."
"You don't trust me?"
"I don't trust myself."
"Then why..."
"Would you rather I broke up with him?"
"Than cheated on him? Yeah."
Gabe still hadn't backed out. Ignoring both fight and flight, "I'm sorry."
"Thats not a response."
"How do I tell you I love him without it being cliche?"
"You prove it."

An/ A month without uploading she comes back with a chapter that no one even asked for