NO FUN CLUB

10

Frank woke up to his phone ringing in his pocket.

He wouldn't have bothered to get it if it wasn't because it was annoying as hell, and then answered it without even thinking about it. 'Yeah?' he mumbled, his eyes still closed.

'Where are you, Frankie?' It was his dad. He attempted to open his eyes, his brain trying to register where he was.

He didn't recognize the furniture or the movie posters on the wall. He had too much to drink, and being him, chances were, he was in a random guy's room. But then he saw Gerard cuddled up to his right. 'I'm at a friend's.'

And then he remembered everything else. His grandfather was gone.

Fuck.

'Frank, I know it's a hard time for you, but this isn't the time for –'

'For what, dad? I just need some time, okay?'

'Fine. Take care.'

Once Frank hung up, he noticed Gerard stirring next to him, starting to wake up and looking at him with a sad smile. 'What time is it?' he mumbled.

Frank check his phone. 'Just past midnight.' Gerard cuddled closer and open his eyes, and looked at him. 'Hi,' Frank said.

'Hi.'

'Thanks for – staying with me.'

'Of course,' Gerard replied.

They looked at each other for a minute or two, not saying anything. Then Frank just leaned in and kissed him. It was quick and tender, yet it said all the things Frank couldn't say with words, and left them both smiling despite the heaviness of the moment. 'I just had to.'

Frank's face was puffy from all the crying, and his eyes were sad. Gerard wished he could do something to make him feel better. 'Are you –' he tried to ask, but was interrupted by another kiss, this time longer, and Frank holding his head with both hands. And Gerard couldn't complain.

'Now I'm okay,' Frank said and then kept kissing him.

'Frank –'

'No – I don't really want to talk about it.'

'You don't have to.'

Frank knew what he meant. And he was right. 'I'm sorry.'

'No. Don't apologize.' Gerard pulled him closer, their foreheads against each other. 'I want to be there for you. But I'm not –'

'I know.' Frank was so used to avoiding talking about feeling and ignoring them by making out or fucking, that he just thought it was easier. But he knew Gerard deserved more than that. 'He would have loved you, you know?'

The way he said that, his voice breaking, just made Gerard's stomach turn.

'He'd think that you're too smart for me and that I don't deserve you. He'd probably tell you that you're wasting your time working at the bar being so talented and all.'

'I'm sure I'd like him too.'

'It sucks that you couldn't meet him.' Gerard nodded. By now he knew how important he was for Frank. 'And the worst part is that I never told him. I was such a coward I never came out to him.'

'You're not a coward. That's not an easy thing to do.' He caressed Frank's face, and stroked his hair.

'He and my nana wanted me to bring a girl to dinner and I just couldn't tell them the truth. And then again, I was never in a relationship meaningful enough to introduce him to the family. But I would have liked him to meet you.'