Friday I'm In Love

△ 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 △

Frank was in no way prepared for Sunday. He stood in front of the grimy floor length mirror on the inside of his closet door and ran his hands through his hair. Pete had left for work at five with a kiss goodbye and the promise of being home by six. Frank knew he couldn't go to the funeral - he looked and felt like death - but still somehow closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 

The ceremony was nice. Only a few people were there - Donna's church friends, Gerard, Mikey and a few distant cousins he didn't recognize - all close to tears. The lady taking the ceremony was pretty, taller than Frank with neat black hair and a dark suit. She was soft spoken, kind, and gentle as they gently tossed the dirt onto the casket. Gerard and Mikey stood a few feet to his right, both crying silently as everyone payed their respects. 

Frank hung behind, his heart already torn out and trodden on as Gerard looked up with him with those big hazel eyes. Dark circles clung to his lower eyelids as Gerard hesitantly walked towards him. Mikey looked no better, silent and stoic, as the remaining family drifted out the cemetery into the cars. Frank gave them both a nod, barely able to speak as Gerard threw his arms around Frank's neck. 

Frank's heart stopped; he was rendered breathless as Gerard's warm breath sent chills down his spine. He wrapped his arms around Gerard's back loosely, his face pressing into the other man's shoulder as Frank's heart thumped rapidly under his jacket. Gerard was so much slimmer than he remembered, Frank's hands now moved to rest on the taller man's ribcage as they drifted apart. He couldn't decipher the expression the other man held as Frank gave him a small smile. 

So Gerard moved away, gulping for air as he tucked his shaggy black locks behind his ears. "Do... do you maybe want to come for drinks? I mean- you don't have to, it's just Mikey and I..."

Frank's brows creased as he found himself instinctively reaching for his cell in his pocket. "I'll take a rain check for that - Pete's supposed to be coming home at six.", he replied as he glanced down at his scratched up watch. Gerard's smile wavered only slightly before he nodded in response. 

They began walking away as the sky began to darken, both men side by side as silence fell over the cemetery and the birds fell into a slumber. They slipped into the bustling amber glow of the nearest bar, a small booth near the back where they shed the heavy black jackets. They ordered their beers and sat in awkward silence until the waitress came over. 

Gerard shifted in his seat, licking his lips and rubbing the base of his neck uncomfortably as Frank dropped his eyes to the coaster under his beer. Frank cleared his throat, messing with the knot of his tie as he flushed a dark crimson. Gerard crossed one leg over the other and took a sip of his beer, looking down at his hands as Frank bit his lower lip. 

Gerard met his gaze by accident, wringing his hands as Frank drank his beer. "I'm sorry - I'm making this awkward - how are you?"

"I'm fine. How are you? Are you still with Jenny?", Frank replied, glancing around. 

"Jenny? God, I haven't seen her for years - since graduation I think.", he muttered quietly, scratching the back of his neck as Frank raised his eyebrows. "How did you and Pete meet?"

Frank choked, a hot blush creeping up his neck as he set his beer down and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "We actually met on prom night."

Now it was Gerard's turn to look like he'd been slapped, before frowning in confusion. "P-prom? You didn't go—"

"I actually... did, you just didn't see me because you were too busy making out with Jenny.", Frank muttered embarrassingly. "I wasn't there for long - I went to the park to smoke. Pete sat down beside me after a few  hours and we got talking..." he trailed off, biting his lip to keep back the smile tugging on his lips.