FicWad

“C'mon. This way.” He waved to me pushing branches away from us as we walked deeper into the forest. I just followed. As scared as I was, I would still follow. I'd do anything, be anything if he only asked me to. My pain lies in the fact that he probably never would. I wasn't paying attention to my feet and I tripped on something, crashing into him. We nearly fell but he caught me.

“Whoa, whoa. Watch it. You okay?” he laughed.

“Fuck I'm sorry. I feel like an idiot.” I said brushing myself off.

“Nah, its cool, but are you okay?” he spoke while flipping his hair out of his face. Sweet lord, how attractive.

“Y-yeah. I'm good.” I managed.

“Good. Keep up its not that much farther.” He said turning away and into the trees.

“Oh and Way.”

“Yeah?”

“Try to watch your step this time.” he teased laughing at me.

“You got it.”

A few minutes passed as I continued to follow. The sun found it's way through all the brush and seemed to shine only on him. It was so pretty. I couldn't help but want to drink in every drop of light touching him. Suddenly, we stumbled upon a little hidden cabin. It looked slightly run down. I saw Frank run to the front door. I picked up my pace and stood behind him.

“Here it is!” he beamed.

“What exactly is it?” I said surveying it and he answered my question when he had a key to unlock the door. Is this where he lives? I wondered. He walked in and gestured me inside. It had a small kitchen and dining room table. Full of dishes and normal house things. I saw what looked like a single bed further back in another room.

“Well I guess you could call it my hideout. Me and my dad built it. I don't live very far from here. Not that I actually stay there all the time.” He pulled up a chair and flipped it around backwards resting his arms on the back of it facing me. Standing made me feel awkward so I sat down too.

“Oh. That's cool.”

“Yeah, its a pretty nice escape sometimes. I hate my new step-dad and his son. They're complete and total pricks. So mom lets me stay out here as long as I pay to keep the water and lights on. Most of my stuff is still back at the house though. I'm not really sure if I want to make the move permanent or not.”
“Wow. It must be nice. How do you get the money for all this?” I said looking around the room.

“Its not hard. I work at an antique and book store in town. You know the one where all the old people go.”

“Wait a second. You mean the one a couple blocks from the comic book store?”

“Yeah that'd be it.”

“I must pass that place at least once or twice a week walking home from looking at comics.” This was crazy. This isn't me. I'm actually having a normal conversation with him. To think I was so close to him the entire time. If I had just stopped in, I would have had something to smile about on my way to the hell that I call home.

“Next time you do, just stop in. Chances are I'll be working. It's just me and Percy, the owner that run the place. He's pretty chill. Perce doesn't really care if I hang out with someone during my shift as long as I'm helping customers when they need it.”

“I'll keep it in mind.” I smiled faintly.

“Sweet action. It'd be cool if you did stop by though. No one ever does and I get so damn bored!” he laughed rising from his seat walking to the sink. He grabbed a two glasses from the cupboard and filled them with ice and water. Frank put one before me. It was strange. I didn't feel thirsty until he put it in front of me. I took a drink and watched him chug his standing at the sink. I never in a million years thought I would be in this beautiful situation, and with such confidence too. I had no idea where it all was coming from, but I was going to take it anyway.

“I bet. Being stuck around all things that are old. Including people.” I joked. He laughed sitting back down. Score 1 for Gerard.

“Exactly. Come save me sometime, dude! Please!” he said through laughter. What I truly found funny was the fact that he was saving me. He was my light at this never ending tunnel.

“Okay, I will. So shouldn't we get back? They're probably freaking out. Mikey doesn't always do so well with people he doesn't know.” My nerves were rearing their ugly head again.

“They'll survive for a few. Calm down. Besides, I brought you here for a reason.”

“You d-did?” fuck. My stammer was back. Well so much for confidence.

“Yeah.--” he stared me right in the face then. “Look, Gerard. I know I don't know you very well. I've seen you around school a lot though and I know now your home situation can't be exactly perfect. I wanted to show you this so you could have a safe place to come to. You and Mikey. Anytime. I can get a key made. Maybe that way all this shit won't be so bad. Like I said I don't know you very well, but I want to.”

I could see the sympathy seeping from his eyes, and I felt tears welling up at my own. It was all so much. This can't be real. This has to be a dream. Before I knew it tears were assaulting my face. I had to get out of there. I ran right outside the door. Hoping he wouldn't chase me. I didn't want him to see me like this. My eyes were blurry and I just ran and ran. No looking back. I tripped on my own feet and fell to my knees. My head hung and I sobbed. Suddenly I felt arms around me. I freaked and moved.

“It's just me! It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you.” Frank assured. I whipped back around to him.

“Why are you being so nice to me?!” I barked.

“Because you need it.”

“I was fine before! Just go!” I yelled again rising to my feet bracing myself against a tree facing toward it. I knew pushing him away may do the trick. It killed me to do it, but he didn't need to see me like this.

“No. I'm not going anywhere.” I heard him march over to me. I could feel his presence behind me. I stopped hiding my face and turned to him. I sniffled before I spoke.

“You can though, Frank. I'm stuck. I don't want you to be too.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” he said to me as I walked from the tree. He was too close. I couldn't breathe as it was.

“My life absolutely fucking sucks okay?! Bert and the vultures he calls friends are just as bad as my own flesh and blood, the monster that helped birth me. For chrissakes my mom is in the hospital because the motherfucker took a switchblade to her!!! I'm supposed to be able to protect her and my brother! But I can't! I can't even stand up for myself! I'm crying my goddamn eyes out and in front of another guy too! I'm pathetic! Now please tell me. Why in the hell would you want to befriend a mess like I am?!” I paced an spat as I spoke. He grabbed me by the shoulders to keep me from pacing. I averted my eyes. As many times as I had pictured in my head being so close to him, this was definitely not the paradise I had painted in my mind.

“Gerard. I want you to fucking look at me. Now.” My head involuntarily whipped its way to his face.

“What?!” I felt myself crying again.

“Whether you like it or not. You need me. I don't give a flying clusterfuck on toast about anything else but you and your brother now. You two don't have one person you can genuinely trust. Let me be that person. And if you won't well guess what? That's just too fucking bad. Why? Cause you're not getting rid of me. Not that easy.”

“I don't get it. I just don't understand. Frank before today, we barely spoke two words to each other.” I sniffled again and wiped my face with my sleeve.

“Hey. You don't have to. I just know that this is what I'm supposed to do. Something I have to do. I may not be able to fix everything, but maybe I can help make it better. I should have talked to you sooner. But we're talking now and we've said plenty more than just two words. I'm here, and I will be from today on.” with that last sentence his eyes were locked on mine, as misty as they were. He pulled me into his arms and held me tight. I just broke. I clung to him as sobs violently ripped through me. Frank just took it all in stride. I didn't deserve him. I didn't deserve any of this. He hushed and held me till it all passed and I heard my brothers voice through the woods.