Welcome Home, You Fantastic Bastard (Frerard)

8 - He's Mine

Eventually, I made my way back to mine and Gerard's apartment on my own. I didn't want to linger for long. I just needed to grab my stuff and go. I wasn't sure as to where I would be heading. It didn't really matter though, as long as it was far away from Gerard. 

It was funny, really. After prison, all I wanted was to come back to Gerard's arms, yet he was furious with me. Now it was like the roles were reversed. Surely, we weren't made for each other if all we ever did was fight and hate one another. Of course, we had our moments, but this was different. This time Gerard kissed someone else in front of me and left me down on the pavement with a broken leg- what a caring gesture from a boyfriend. 

As I packed up my old things that were stored in Gerard's room in a small box and a backpack, I couldn't help but continue to let tears stream down my cheeks. Had Gerard been cheating on me this whole time? Had he just been using me? Maybe his feelings for me were still left in the past with all the awful memories he had of me. 

I suppose I deserved it. This was my karma for having treated him so badly all those years ago. I took the love of my life for granted, and even though I had served a sentence in prison for possessing illegal drugs, I guess bad luck was always going to come back and bite me in the ass every now and then. 

Once I had gathered everything up, I discovered it wasn't going to be easy carrying all of my belongings with me on my own, especially because of the crutches. I sighed. That meant I was going to have to come back and get them some other time. But the thought of seeing Gerard's face again made me anxious, upset, and angry all at once.

Suddenly there were keys rattling at the door. I groaned. Looks like Gerard was back already. I turned my back to the apartment entrance, trying to hide my obviously red eyes and wet cheeks. 

"Frank...?" Gerard whispered softly after gently closing the door. I heard him slowly approach me, but I just squeezed my eyes shut, wishing I could disappear. 

I jolted as I felt his arms wrap around me from behind. What was he doing? First he runs off with some other guy and now he's back here attempting to comfort me? I shook off his grip of me and retreated to the other side of the room. 

"Leave me alone," I muttered almost inaudibly. I didn't want him to hear the hurt in my voice. I didn't need his sympathy, especially if I knew he wouldn't mean a word that escaped from his lips.

"Frank, I know it looked bad, but you have to understand," Gerard tried, "Bert's not-"

"I understand just fine," I interrupted bitterly. "You're his now, and I shouldn't have ever came back here to try to win you over."

Gerard approached me, "No, Frank! It's not like that! Bert's dangerous and I-"

Just then, the doorway to the apartment slammed open, revealing a furious Bert. 

"Just as I expected," he spat, marching straight towards me. As he passed Gerard, he pushed him aside roughly, completely ignoring him as he lost his balance and collided with the couch. "He came running back to you!" Bert towered over me and was only inches away from my face. I could feel his warm breath on my face as he opened his mouth to speak again, "Why he'd leave me for a lowlife like you, I don't know, but I'll make damn sure you won't ever come between us again."

Before I could think to defend myself, Bert's fist smashed into the side of my face, sending me backward. I dropped my crutches from the impact and ended up having my fall caught by the wall behind me. I heard Gerard screaming for Bert to stop in the background, but I only received another punch on my other cheek. 

I tried to block my face with my hands and arms, but Bert only took that as an opportunity to go for my broken leg. I shrieked out in pain as he kicked my shin, and I went tumbling to the floor. As I laid against the rough carpet, I saw Gerard out of the corner of my eye running out of the room. He was leaving me... at a time like this too. I felt tears pour from my eyes- not from the physical pain itself, but from seeing my true love leave me for possibly the last time.