Kick Me Like A Stray

Chapter 2: Nothing You Can Say Can Stop Me Going Home - Frank's P.O.V.

Written by MEEEEEEEE. Ok, enjoy the chapter.

Everything was swirling. The colors were blurring, the lines smearing. I tried to reach for his face, to remember it, to keep it, but I could feel my hold slipping. I spiraled down, down, down, down, down, do-

"Frank! Get yo' lazy ass up and out of bed!" The voice of my roommate penetrated my dream. I groaned into my pillow, too lazy to even wipe the thin piece of drool off my chin. I kept my eyes closed, hoping that sleep would find me again. But sadly, I had no luck, because as soon as I started to relax, my roommate ripped my blanket away from my body.

"BRENDON!" I screeched as the sudden cold washed over my legs. My roommate smirked as he held my blanket up in front of my face.

"I gave you a chance to get up by yourself. You-" He pointed a finger at my body curled into a fetal position. "-decided not to take it. Therefore, your fault."

"You're dead, Urie," I glared at him.

"Funny. I seem to be very much alive," he shot back. Scowling, I sat up.

"You woke me up for a reason. What was it?" I said through clenched teeth.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. There's a bar off campus that a bunch of people is going to. Wanna come?"

"Dude."

"What?"

"We're both underage. We can't drink!" Brendon looked unimpressed.

"You've drank before!"

"Yeah, but that was just Billie smuggling in a glass or two. It wasn't a place where you need an ID!"

"But that's the thing. They don't ID. Now get dressed." He threw a shirt and pants in my face.
"Let's go."

***

I walked inside the dimly lit, crowded bar, coughing on the overwhelming presence of smoke in the room. As I took a few breaths, it became easier to breathe, and I headed over to the bar.

I found Brendon where he was already chatting up this guy he was facing, who was wearing... is that a scarf? Anyway, he was so invested in his conversation that he didn't even notice me sitting in the empty stool next to him.

I signaled the bartender. He grabbed a glass and walked over to me.

"Ummmmm, hey!" I said, trying to look older than I was. I know Brendon said they didn't ID, but I still wanted to be careful.

"Yes?" He replied, looking weary.

"Can I get a beer, please. I don't care which kind." I leaned back on my stool, trying to look nonchalant.

"Yeah, sure, whatever," he groaned. He filled up the glass with the brown, foamy liquid and placed it in front of me. I started to say thanks, but he had already walked over to another person.

"So anyway," Brendon was saying as I leaned in to hear his conversation. "I think that Professor Toro should be cool. I mean, I've heard some good things about him."

"Yeah, but," interjected the guy he was talking too. "He teaches Economics. The description sounds boring."

"Well, this website said that I needed to take it if I wanted to get anywhere in life." Brendon leaned back a bit too far, his head accidentally falling into my lap. He grinned up at me. "Oh hey, Frankie! I didn't know you were there!"

"Yeah, I figured. So who's this?" I said, gesturing to the guy with the scarf.

"Oh," Brendon said sitting up. "This is Ryan. Ryan, this is Frank, my roommate."

"Hey." He awkwardly smiled at me and waved. It was honestly adorable.

"Hey," I replied. "I guess I should leave you two to talk. I'll catch up with you later Bren." He waved over his shoulder as I stood up with my beer, instantly engaging in a conversation with Ryan again.

I looked around the room for an open seat, finding none. Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a guy with flaming red hair wearing a leather jacket.

"Hey, I noticed you looking for a place to sit. D'you wanna come and sit with me?" He started blushing, his cheeks turning the same color as his hair. In the dim lighting of the bar, I couldn't see the details of his face, but I could tell he was attractive.

"Sure! I mean... sure," I said, trying to sound cool and suave.

He giggled. I might have overdone it with the deep voice, but his giggle was seriously freaking cute.

He gestured over to a booth in the corner. "Let's go sit down."