FicWad

CHAPTER ONE



Gerard stepped inside the door to the seven-eleven fidgeting slightly. It was uncomfortable being without them for so long. And he didn’t get more for another hour. Not until he met with his first client and went back to Jimmy. He had to give him the money. Then he would get his fix. And he was early too. That only made it that much worse. More time until he could start, more time until he could finish.

At least he had money for cigarettes. That would take some of the edge off. It was more reason he did what he did. Where else would he get the money he needed from? Jimmy was the only one he could depend on for that.

“Hey Gerard.” said Frank, the short and skinny cashier brightly. He was sixteen and just too cute for his own good. It would have been a safe bet to say that Jimmy would have loved to get his greedy hands on him if he could. The old perverts would just love him.

“Hey kid.” said Gerard, smiling despite the horrible feeling in his stomach and his fingers. “How are you?”

“Good. Got almost enough money saved up to buy the guitar I want.” said Frank, grinning from ear to ear.

“Would that mean that you would be- quitting soon?” Gerard asked, looking at Frank sadly. Frank had brightened his days a lot. Without him Gerard would have no bright points at all. He had loved talking to Frank every time he came to buy his cigarettes.

“I’m not sure. It kind of depends on what my mom says. She wants me to stop coming in so late at night. She says my grades have dropped. Which I didn’t think was possible because all I get is F’s and D’s anyways. I think she just wants me to spend more time at home. But I like working here. It’s fun.” said Frank with a small smile.

“I think you should keep working here.” said Gerard disconcertedly.

Frank looked down abashedly and then looked up at Gerard from behind his bangs. “Same as always, Gerard?” he asked, smiling cutely.

“Yup.” said Gerard, still frowning. This day just kept getting worse and worse. He set the money on the counter, pushing it towards Frank.

“Umm... Gerard?” asked Frank, looking up at him. He already looked upset. Frank played with his lip ring nervously for a second, “You know what, Never mind.” He pulled some money out of his pocket. “They raised the price but I’ll just give you some money so you can get them.”

He put a dollar down on the pile of money and punched some stuff into the register. “There you go.” said Frank, smiling and pulling out a pack of Marlbros, holding them and the change out to Gerard.

Gerard looked at Frank in shock.

“What?” asked Frank worriedly, “What’s wrong?”

“Why would you do something nice for me?” he asked.

“Because you’re nice.” said Frank in confusion.

“Really?” asked Gerard, “Y-you think so?”

“Yup.” said Frank with a grin, “And you’re interesting. And you seriously need to be shown some kindness apparently.”

“Ah, you’re crazy.” said Gerard. “Why would you want to show me kindness?”

“Because it’s not fair the way people treat you.”

“Life ain’t fair sweetie. Though that childish naivety is pretty cute.” said Gerard sarcastically.

“Just thank me, Gerard.” said Frank softly, looking hurt.

“Thank you.” said Gerard. He looked worried. “Hey, I didn’t mean it.” he said, frowning.

“It’s okay.” Frank mumbled. He looked at the clock. “Oh,” he said dully, “I have my break now.”

“Oh.” said Gerard uncomfortably, trying to find something to say without making things awkward.

Frank walked out from behind the counter, calling, “Hey Bob, come and watch the counter for me.”

He tall, blond, teddy bear-ish guy popped his head out from the back room. “What?” he asked.

“It’s my break.” said Frank, walking toward the front doors.

“Hey,” Gerard said, trailing behind him. “I really am sorry. I didn’t mean it. I wasn’t trying to be such a dick. I’m just bitter.”

“It’s okay.” he said sincerely, walking behind the building and sitting down on a big wooden crate.

Gerard sat down next to him.

“Is it alright if I sit out here with you?” he asked.

“Yeah, sure.” Frank pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his vest pocket and pulled a lighter out of the pocket of his slacks. “Want one?” he asked.

Gerard smiled. “You already gave me cigarettes, Frank.”

“So?” Frank smiled, pulling two out of the pack and holding one out for Gerard.

“Thanks.” said Gerard, deciding to take it graciously instead of refusing and upsetting Frank.

Instead of lighting it up Frank started picking at his cigarette nervously.

“What are you doing?” asked Gerard quizzically.

“It helps me think. Normally I would light up but I don’t feel like it right now.” said Frank, grinning up at Gerard.

“Oh.” Gerard stared at Frank intently, his lips curving into a smile at the cute way Frank’s brow wrinkled in concentration and he played with his lip ring as he picked apart the cigarette.

“So.” Gerard murmured after a minute or two, “How long is your break?”

“Oh, I have about twenty-five minutes left.”

“So half an hour?” asked Gerard. “That’s a pretty long break if I’m not mistaken. I mean, I’ve never actually had a real job before, but...”

“Yeah, it’s pretty long. Especially since I’m only a teenager and I only started last year. But Bob’s generous.” Interrupted Frank, blushing shyly.

Gerard leaned towards Frank, running the back of his hand over his cheek, wondering why he had momentarily turned a light shade of pink. When Frank jumped slightly at the contact and blushed even harder Gerard pulled his hand away and murmured, “Sorry.”

“I-it’s okay.” stuttered Frank. “I-I don’t mind.”

Gerard raised his eyebrows at Frank and said, “Okay then.” he stroked Franks cheek with his thumb softly and gently, carefully and slowly. Like he was painting the blush onto Franks face instead of it being dark blood under Franks skin pulsing and flowing, more beautiful than any painting could ever be.

“I wish I could paint you.” mumbled Gerard softly. He may have been a male prostitute and done drugs but there was always going to be the blood of an artist pulsing under his skin.

“What?” asked Frank in confusion.

“You know, take a paint brush and paint, put it to canvas and create a rendition of you. Haven’t you ever heard of art? It’s kind of who I am. Nothing else has ever filled me with as much passion as a simple canvas or a set of paints or a block of clay or charcoal or even a set of crayons does. And I would like to paint you. You seem like a good subject. You could be the entity through which my passion flows.” said Gerard, looking excited.

“O-okay.” mumbled Frank softly. “That’s okay, I guess.”

Gerard trailed his fingers along Franks jaw, over his lips and along his nose. He knew he shouldn't have but he decided to anyways. He leaned forward and brushed his lips slowly along Franks cheek, continuing to run his fingers along his jaw. He could feel the blush on Franks cheek on his lips and he decided to take his chances and go farther.

He gripped Franks jaw gently between his thumb and his first finger and slowly turned Franks head so that his lips rested against the younger boys own lips. Frank parted his lips slightly in surprise and Gerard's parted with his. Gerard trailed his tongue gently over Franks bottom lip and started to trail his fingers over Frank’s neck.

Frank wrapped one arm around Gerard gently and worked on deepening the kiss.

That was the point where Gerard pulled away. He sighed, standing up. “I have to go, Frank.” he said bitterly. He had felt someone watching them and that was never a good sign. It was probably one of his customers wondering why he was making out with the shop boy.

“Gerard.” said Frank with alarm in his voice, “I’m sorry! I wasn’t trying to take advantage of you or something. I- I would never... I mean, I wouldn’t try to get something from you. I wasn’t trying to like, get sex or something. I’m sorry!”

Gerard smiled a little bit. “Don’t be silly. I was the one who kissed you.” he said with an amused light in his eye.

“Then why are you going?” asked Frank in confusion.

“Because I have things to do tonight.” said Gerard, a slightly sarcastic smile playing over his lips at the fact that he had just brushed off the entirety of his job and all that it entailed as “things.”

“O-oh.” said Frank, looking downcast. “I understand.” he looked down into his lap forlornly.

“No, no, Frank, I really do have to go. I’m not just trying to brush you off. In fact I’ll give you the number to my... apartment.” he pulled a sharpie out of his pocket, grinning at Frank, “Useful for everything.” he said, laughing slightly and taking Frank’s hand in his own, writing his name and number on the back.

“Th-thanks.” said Frank softly.

Gerard looked down at him smiling. “I really do want to paint you. Call me and we can set up a time that you can come over so I can. I mean, if you want me to. It really is your decision.” his brow furrowed slightly. “Anyways, I really think you’re cute. If you want to call me go right ahead. It’s probably most likely that I’ll be home and awake from two-thirty to five.” he shrugged and leaned down one last time, pecking Frank on the lips softly before turning around gracefully and stepping away from him, looking like an antelope or a deer with his movements.

Frank looked after him with confusion written on his face and a slightly anxious feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Gerard walked away with a happy expression on his face and a feeling that he was doing something he really shouldn’t. A feeling he had always loved almost as much as he loved art. It was what had gotten him into drugs and prostitution in the first place.