Worth Living For

Chapter 20

I trudged up the stairs of my apartment building, dragged my bag next to me. The growing sound of music confused me, since I had never heard music being playing in this building since I had lived here. The building was filled with older people, and it was always fairly quiet. The music seemed to get louder as I neared my apartment door, and I realized that it was actually coming from mine as I entered.

The music being played was classical rock; the music I had listened to growing up. I set my bag down and walked into the living room, where the music seemed to be coming from.

Gerard stood with his back to me. His right arm was moving rapidly back and forth, staining the canvas with the paint with each stroke. I moved my weight from one leg to the other, causing the floor to creak over the music and making Gerard jump, then twirl around to face me.

"Welcome home!" he smiled, flaying his arms around in the air. He noticed my eyes following the paint brush in between his fingers, and he started to quickly explain. "I'm sorry for using your supplies! I got a sudden burst of inspiration and I couldn't go home because Delilah's at her boyfriend's house in Florida for the week and I forgot she was leaving, so I didn't think to grab the keys on the way here yesterday. I hope you don't mind. I'll buy you more! I will. And I'll go get another key made, so don't think that I'm just invited myself to stay the week here. Oh gosh, I'm so sorry-"

"Gerard, calm down." I stepped closer to him, putting a hand on each of his shoulders. "I'm not angry. You're welcome to use my art supplies any time. And you're welcome to stay here any time you want as well. It's okay."

Gerard sighed. "Thank you, Frank."

I replied by wrapping my arms around him, pulling him close to me.

It had been a few weeks since we had made up. Gerard had stayed the night almost every night since then. Even though I told him I was okay, he insisted that he stay with me. I loved waking up and seeing him on the other side of the bed, or him being in my apartment when I got home from work. I wasn't used to it yet, but I loved it.

"How was work?" Gerard asked, walking to the kitchen and over to the coffee maker.

I followed him, and answered his question as he poured two cups. "It was good. I haven't had an interview in a while, though, which is weird. I've just been doing little tasks for my boss."

"Hmm," he handed me a cup, holding the other one in his hands. "Well, it's the beginning of summer. It'll be slow for a little while, I'm sure. It'll be okay." he leaned forward and brushed his lips against my forehead lightly, then walked past me and sat at the table.

I took the chair across from him, setting my mug down. "I hope that's what it is."

Gerard nodded.

We finished our coffee in silence. Gerard escaped the kitchen to go finish his painting in the living room, and I told him that I was going to go ahead and go to sleep, and he assured me that he would join me as soon as he was finished.

I stripped down to my boxers and climbed under the covers. The way my air conditioner kept my apartment freezing cold felt so good compared to the outside weather that continued to get warmed every day. And being under the blankets was the best place to be, especially when I felt Gerard climb into bed and wrap his arms around me to keep me warm.

~

I woke up that morning not by my alarm, but by the smell of coffee and the feel of a soft kiss on my forehead. I opened my eyes, and they were instantly met with Gerard's. A smile spread across my face.

"Good morning." I whispered.

He smiled. "Good morning, Frank." he pulled away.

I sat up in bed, and he handed me a mug. He walked around the bed and sat down next to me. We sat there together until both our mugs were empty, and then I got ready for work.

On my way toward the door, Gerard's hand laid on my shoulder and he spun me around to face him. He pressed his lips to mine, for the first time in a while.

"Good luck at work today. You'll do great." he said after pulling away.

"Thank you." I smiled, kissing the tip of his nose. He scrunched it up in an adorable way, then turned back toward the kitchen and left me on my way.

I arrived at the building a few minutes early, and grabbed a donut from the lounge on the way up. I plopped down in my chair and pressed the power button on the computer, waiting for it to start up. There was an email from my boss in my inbox, and I opened it eagerly, hoping for a new interview today. Instead, it told me to come to his office as soon as I read the email. I sighed, closing the laptop and standing up, making my way to the elevator and up one floor. I knocked on the closed door and listened for the murmur that invited me inside.

"Sit down." he greeted me, gesturing to the chair on the other side of his desk.

I followed his orders. He stared at me for a minute before speaking again.

"I heard that you've been having relations with someone that you interviewed,"

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn't breathe.

"You know that that is not acceptable here."

I nodded.

"I'm afraid that we're going to have to let you go. Unless, of course, you're willing to stop seeing this person."

I ignored the last statement, and managed to spit out the question that was clawing at me, begging to know the answer.

"Who told you?"

He sighed. "That's confidential information-"

"Who told you?!" I repeated, louder this time.

"I am not able to tell you that, Mr. Iero!" he yelled, standing up from his chair. "Now I suggest you pack your things and leave the building before I am forced to call for security!"

I stood up from my chair and snickered. "I know who it was," I said calmly. "It was Ava, wasn't it?"

He pursed his lips, not uttering a word.

"Fucking knew it." I shook my head. "Thank you. I'll be leaving now."

I waved at him before exiting the room, then the building, not bothering to get my things from my work space. I walked straight home, not letting myself turn back, afraid of what I would do if I faced Ava.

I hurried into my apartment, forgetting that Gerard was there. He stared at me with wide eyes, at the distraught state I was in.

"Why...why are you home so early?" he asked hesitantly.

My eyes roamed his face, trying to avoid his eyes, where were filled with concern. "I...I got fired." I spit out, my throat starting to close up again.

"Oh, Frank..." he covered the space between us quickly, wrapping his arms around me. I fell into his embrace without hesitation. "I know how much your job meant to you. It'll be okay, though. You'll be okay." he assured, rubbing my back.

I nodded against his shoulder, and he pulled me into the bedroom where we sat side by side on the edge of the bed, facing the window. We started out at the city for while, his arms still wrapped around me, until the room was lit up only by the lights of the buildings that shined through the glass.

Gerard untangled his arms from me, then stood up from the bed. He glided across the floor to the window, pulling the dark blue curtains closed and filling the room with darkness. He found his way back to the bed quickly, pulling me with him to the head of the bed and laying down next to me. He wrapped his arms around me once again, whispering another reassuring "It'll be alright, Frank. I promise." in my ear before both of us drifted to sleep.