This isn't boring or pointless or dragged out at all. It just seemed like you wanted to set the mood for the events in the chapter. I think the way it was written was supposed to be the same way Gerard is waiting for Frank to tell him what happened, but that could just be me. I liked how dramatic this story is, but it isn't done badly and isn't too ridiculous. It ( successfully) shows the drama in their lives and what the Way brothers have to go through with, and that it was like that even before Frank was there. This chapter is kind of dramatic too, but in a different way. There's not much dialogue in the story, just a lot of explaining of feelings and thoughts and how scared Mikey looks. The fact that all of this happens before Frank gets the chance to say anything before the chapter ended gives the reader a clue that there will probably be a lot of drama and it made me wonder what exactly was going to happen next. I think this was done very well well because it added to the feel that this was a very intense moment with a lot of emotion, and dialogue doesn't always deliver that mood. It didn't seem as if you just didn't know what to make the characters say so you just put a lot of other things. It seemed like here was a purpose for it, so this is why it's not pointless. I also liked that it was in Frank's point of view. Frank is the reason why Mikey wasn't already dead. He saved Mikey in that alley and gave him a place to stay. Saved him from Gerard who is just as emotionally troubled as Mikey. He's helped the Ways patch up their relationship a bit, they were getting better, and here they are back to square one. He saved Mikey from himself in a way. He was so insecure, wouldn't trust anybody, wouldn't speak to him for a while, but Frank was able to help him and he got better for a while too. Frank can fix them both, he's gotten them to the point where Gerard is about to be told about what he used to do to Mikey. They can get much farther, in a positive direction and Frank wants to be the person to do that. It's always interesting to see what Frank thinks about all of what happened in the story. I can't wait to see what happens next. It's really interesting and absolutely NOT boring. It's very well done, the whole story as well. Great job, and I'll be waiting for the next chapter.
Author's response
Tgank you very much; I feel very reassured by your review! I'm relieved that you don't think this story is ridiculous as that was my main worry with this; I didn't want it turning into some sort of laughable soap-opera style thing.
I agree with what you said about Gerar eig just as emotionally troubled as Mikey; I just think that Gerard's too stubborn to admit it and Mikey's too naive to think that his brother could be going through as rougher a patch as he is. Frank sees it though, so Gerard's not completely hopeless on that one.
Thank you so very much for being do lovely about my writing and taking the time to leave such a great, detailed review! :)