cut yourself in conversation | gerbert

chapter sixteen

bert sips his coke as he leans back against the cushioned back of the booth he and gerard sit in. he's feeling a lot better now that he knows his post and after gerard's reassuring words. honestly he doesn't know what he'd do without gerard here with him. even just as friends. gerard has the night off so they went to the movies and now enjoying dinner together. it's been a really amazing night so far, the movie was amazing. though bert was more focused on gerard through the whole thing. the way his green eyes remained focused on the screen, his sweet smile when something exciting happened. bert couldn't help but watch him.

bert just smiles and listens as gerard speaks. in love with the red heads pretty voice, the way he smiles when he talks, the slight new jersey accent that peaks through in some words. bert adores everything about him. from his voice to his smile, to the way he can hold his own. he admires how independent gerard is, taking care of his brother. going as far as to sell himself just to be able to keep their house and feed mikey. he's brave in bert's eyes. everything about him is perfect, from his personality to his looks.

"i should probably head home, mikey's probably waiting for me to get back. he likes it when i sing to him before bed" gerard chuckles pulling out his wallet to pay for dinner, feeling bad that bert always has to pay. when they grab dinner, go to the movies or get coffees bert always insists on paying. gerard just feels really guilty about letting him. gerard saves some extra to pay for tonight for once.

bert pushes gerard's hands away, using his other to pull out his own wallet and put the money in the leather bill case that holds their receipt at the edge of the table, dropping a ten for the tip. gerard chuckles shaking his head at how stubborn the blonde haired boy is and puts his wallet in his back pocket as he stands from the booth. bert standing as well. "alright beautiful, i'll drive you home."

the two continue talking the drive to gerard's house, talking about how bert was in band in high school. gerard finds it so cute that he played the trumpet in school. pulling into the driveway, their conversation dies when they hear arguing coming from inside his home. gerard removes his seat belt and gets out of the car, wanting to hurry and check on mikey. concerned, bert gets out and follows the red head to the front door where gerard enters. not thinking, just acting. concerned about what's going on.

heading up the stairs ignoring the yelling between his mother and mark, gerard knocks on mikey's locked room door. the bedroom door is unlocked and the two enter. mikey sighs sitting back on the bed. in some sweatpants and a t-shirt, obviously ready for bed. "mom and mark have been at it for half an hour now. something about her pills."

"why don't you guys come stay with me tonight? you can stay in the guest room." bert suggests, more insisting than anything. seeing that they're worried with the fighting going on. not wanting to leave them here in an environment like this. not a teenager, and not the guy he's deeply fallen for. gerard nods and packs mikey a bag, wrapping an arm around him as the three walk back down the staircase. yelling getting louder as they approach the bottom, until it stops as they enter sight where mark's voice quiets.

"gerard, who's this?" mark pauses his argument with donna when he glances over to see the brothers and a guy he's never seen before. gerard whispers in mikey's ear to go get in the car which he obliges without argument. gerard crosses his arms, posture straightening.

"this is bert, he's a friend." gerard clears his throat, looking to bert. bert crosses his arms looking back at the guy who seems to make gerard uncomfortable. protective over the him right now with everything going on in this house. bert places a hand on gerard's shoulder, leading him out of the house and back to the vehicle that's still running. gerard takes a deep breath, relaxing into the car seat finally breathing at a normal pace that they're out of there. "i'm so sorry about that, about this."