EARLY SUNSETS

9 .i am loved and so in love.

'Hey,' Frank said answering his phone. He tried not to be obvious, but he was too excited to hear Gerard's voice. They hadn't seen each other in the last couple days since Gerard was in New York working on a personal project with friends.

So Frank was back in his apartment, by himself, unless Jamia had time off to hang out. He missed crashing at Gerard's and his smell, and how warm his bed was.

'How are you?' Gerard asked.

'Sad.' Frank loved being dramatic, especially with Gerard because that would always get his attention.

'Stop that! I'll be back in a couple days.'

'But I miss you.' It was no exaggeration. Everything reminded him of Gerard. he wanted to go to his place after work and cuddle and tell him about his day, and then remembered he wasn't there. 'I'm all alone!'

'What about Jamia?'

'She's working, ugh!' There was silence. Frank was making himself a sandwich to eat before leaving for work. 'How's everything?'

'Amazing, really! I'm just doing all the voices, and we might finish before we thought.'

'That's great! So you're having fun without me?'

'I never have fun without you.'

'Good to hear.'

Later that night, Jamia called him and they went to the movies and for ice cream, and she told him that if he felt lonely, he could go play video games with her brother Evan after school. 'Why does everyone think I'm miserable?' he asked. They were sitting outside, eating from each other's ice cream. She didn't answer, just gave him a look. 'Is it that obvious?'

She knew him better than anyone, especially now that they were dating. 'Frank, I may have been your girlfriend for a couple months now, we've been friends for a couple years. I know you. I know that look.'

'You're not angry?' he asked embarrassed.

'Not really. I knew it the moment I met him. You're different with him, and I'm happy for you.'

'But – ' He didn't even know what to say. He didn't want her to be jealous, but he was surprised she was so okay with it. 'I still like you, you know?'

'I know. And I like you, too. And trust me, it's weird. But we're honest with each other, and I know he cares about you a lot.'

Frank blushed when she said that, unable to help himself.

'See?' she continued. 'You miss him. It's normal.'

He kissed her gently. He was so grateful for her, she was his best friend and she always understood what was happening way before he did. And the fact that she was hot as fuck and agreed to be in polyamorous relationship with him was a plus. 'Wanna go back to my apartment?' he asked, and she didn't think twice about it.

The next day, after school, he drove to Jamia's house and hung out with Evan, playing video games all night to keep him distracted, and their mom asked him to stay for dinner, before he and Evan went to the garage to play guitar. When Jamia came home from work, they watched a movie before he left.

When he walked out of his first class, there were tons of texts from Gerard.

Can't wait to see you!

Only 4 more hours and I'll go back home

I love u

I miss u

They made Frank smile, and his day was instantly better. I love u, he texted back. I'll be waiting for you.

Have a good day.

I know I will, Frank replied.

Frank couldn't believe they had become one of those couples.

He couldn't stop thinking about seeing him again for the rest of his day, at least until he was off, and made it home. He had switched his shift with someone else to have the day off, and spend it with Gerard. He just needed to take a shower and head out to Gerard's house.

Except, as soon as he put some clothes, someone was knocking on his door.

He thought it was Jamia, even though he told her he'd be with Gerard.

'I'm coming!' he said, walking to the door without even bothering to put on a shirt because he was sure it was her. And then, he saw Gerard. His reaction immediately went from anger to surprise, not expecting his boyfriend to be outside his apartment, and couldn't even finish his sentence, because Gerard pushed him inside, his lips attached to his, and his hand looking for Frank's.

After closing the door, they made it to the couch, and it took them less than ten seconds to take off their clothes and be all over each other. 'I missed you so much,' Gerard said panting, already putting on the condom.

'I missed your dick.'

They wrestled, but that soon turned into groping and licking and stroking and then Gerard fucking Frank.

Frank didn't have any food since he'd been eating out or at Jamia's, so Gerard ordered pizza, and they watched TV, not really watching. Frank lit a blunt, and asked Gerard about Breakfast Monkey, and Gerard told him the whole plot, and they made up lines on the spot, making different voices saying the most absurd things.

Soon, they got sleepy and fell asleep in the couch, snuggling into each other because there wasn't enough space for both of them, but they were too lazy to make it to the bed. 'I love you so much,' Frank mumbled. 'Please don't leave me ever again.'

'I would never,' Gerard said, already falling asleep.