FicWad

Hello, hello, hello! Thanks a lot for the comments on the previous chapter! It's good to know that you're still reading after it took me forever to update. J

This chapter is short and just atype of filler, but there might be something in here that might come up again later in the story. I don't know...

Let me know what you think!

xoxo



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"You can climb through my window any time."

I wore a small satisfied grin as my head rested on her chest and I stared up at the ceiling way past the point of content.

"I don't think that's going to happen again soon. It was a failed attempt at a romantic gesture anyway. My clinging on for life was hardly a graceful or pretty entrance," Brittany spoke up while one of her hands played with my hair. "But I guess all that drama was worth it." And I could sense rather than see her smiling.

"Hey, if you just suddenly decided to come over I'm guessing your parents don't have a clue that you're here."

"Not really," she admitted drawing the last word out. "My bedroom is on the ground and a hell of a lot easier to sneak out of than sneaking into yours."

Another grin found its way onto my face and I felt a chuckle escape my lips. It was quiet for a while, neither of us saying anything with only the low sound of the clock ticking in the background. Damn that thing was loud when the room was otherwise silent.

"Can I tell you how much you suck?"Brittany's voice interrupted my train of thoughts and I leaned my head back to look at her taken aback. "You do," she insisted seriously. "Before our break-up yesterday," the blond paused to roll her eyes. "We were a couple for five weeks? And you haven't taken me on a single date."

My eyes grew wide as I realized what she was saying. I haven't taken her on a date before, ever. This also led to my next thought. Did she want to go on a date? I never imagined that she would. We were always so busy fighting and making up afterwards that we didn't really get out much. Actually going out on a date never really came up.

"Are you going to say something?" she wanted to know, her green eyes staring down into mine own hazel ones.

"Do you want to go on a date?"

"Why Frank Iero I thought you'd never ask," she muttered and I could tell that she was making an effort not to roll her eyes.

I lifted my head and sat up slightly in order to look at her.

"Why didn't you say something? I always figured you weren't into that sort of thing."

She rolled her eyes once again at my words. "Frank, I'm a girl. Of course I'm into that sort of thing. Besides Ishouldn't have to ask you to ask me on a date. You're the guy. You're supposed to take the initiative."

I gaped at her in surprise. Wow, Iseriously underestimated her. She was obviously more tuned into everyday things than I thought. I'll have to keep that in mind from now on.

"Okay, then let's go on a date."

"When?" she asked quietly.

"You can name the time and place."

Brittany sighed dramatically. "Aren't you just a born romantic?"

I grinned broadly, leaning in and pressing my lips to hers for a few seconds. My phone started ringing and Ipulled away to answer it.

"Hello."

"Dude, you're seriously walking on thin ice."

"What?"

"Brittany. I'm assuming she's with you,"Gerard clarified unnecessarily. I knew exactly what he was calling about the second I saw his name flashing on my phone's screen.

I glanced at the blonde watching me with a curious expression and smiled at her.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I acted all innocent, trying not to laugh.

"She's not home and if she's not with you then where is she?"

"I don't know if you remember, but we kind of broke up yesterday."

"Kind of," he muttered emphatically and I could picture him rolling his eyes in a similar fashion as his sister.

At this I lost my restraint and started giggling. "Look, I swear she's not here," I repeated not that there was any way he would believe me.

"I mean it. Tell my sister to get her butt back home before my parents realize she's gone."

I kept laughing even after he hung up the phone and I had no idea why.

"My brother?" Brittany guessed, one perfectly shaped eyebrow raised in question.

"I told Gerard that you're not here."

"You want me to spend the night?"

I found the astonished look on her face amusing and my face practically split from my grin.

"Sure. If you want to," I said still smiling.

Brittany's eyes narrowed in disbelief for a brief moment and then her face lit up like a little kid's in a candy store.

"I'm staying," she announced, leaning back against the pillows. "This is the first time you're not kicking me out and I'm going to take full advantage of that."

"Just so you know Gerard said you should go home," I informed her just in case.

The teen shrugged uncaringly and patting the comforter over her stomach in what I took to be an invitation to lie back down which I gladly accepted. This was definitely a turn of events that I never would've expected. Last night this time I was... Okay, don't go there. The fact remains that I thought I would be spending my time with Amy from now on instead of with Brittany. For some reason I just couldn't seem to rid myself of the latter. It was quiet and yet again the only thing I was aware of was the loud ticking of the clock against the wall. I really needed to replace that thing.

"You know, I just realized that you're always the one to run away."

I gaped up at Brittany in confusion, because I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about or wait, no I did. She was talking about the day before when I blew up and left.

"You stormed off that first time you found out about my relationship with Tray and you did it again yesterday," she continued in explanation. "You always get so worked up that you simply storm off."

I turned my head to get a better look at her.

"Can you even blame me?"

She thought about my question for amoment and then nodded. "I do. You should try staying for once and then maybe we can fight things out and get over it."

"Are you kidding me?" I growled quietly, sitting up to glare at her. "You lie to me about still being friends with your ex and you just expect me to be cool with it?"

"Not at all. I understand why you're upset, but if you stayed and listened to my explanation, you know, kept an open mind, we could've avoided yesterday's drama." Brittany sat up straight too and looked calmly back at me. As if I was the one who started it all. She's the one who freaked out when she found out that I knew about her continued friendship with Tray. She was the one who broke up with me/. /Not the other way around.

"Why are you so threatened by Tray anyway?"

I couldn't help staring at her with an /are-you-stupid/look on my face. Here we go again. Five minutes of peace and we're back at each other's throats over the same issues, always the same damn problems. We had no originality and we definitely had no self-control. This situation was just all too familiar.

"Uhm, maybe because he's always the reason we're splitting up?" I said. "He was the reason things went sour between us in the first place and yesterday he was also the cause of our break-up."

"Yesterday was not his fault," Brittany disagreed. "Granted, he may have been the trigger of our argument, but he was definitely not the reason we broke up. We broke up because of your stupid pride and my endless selfishness. As for that first time you actually owe him thanks."

"Now you've seriously lost me."

"Try and see things from this point. Do you think we would even have been here if it weren't for that? Do you honestly think I would've come around and actually left Tray of my own accord and given you more than just this?" she asked, motioning to us in bed. "Because I don't think so. I think that if that never happened that you and I would still just be fuck-buddies," she said deadpan. "Nothing would've changed. My brothers would still be in the dark. We would still be having petty fights and all this jealousy would not even be an issue."

"It's not about jealousy," I argued stubbornly.

"Then what is it, Frank? Enlighten me."

"I just can't stand the guy."

"No, let me tell you what it is. You're insecure, because you're afraid for some odd reason that I'm going to leave you for Tray which is utterly ridiculous considering the fact that I already broke up with him in order to be with you!" she exclaimed somewhat loudly. "Why?"

"Because you were with him first!" I spat out. "Clearly you liked him."

"Maybe, but clearly I liked you more, because the last time I checked I'm in your bed and not in his..." She trailed off, realization dawning on her face, though I had no idea what it could be. What did she suddenly know that I didn't? "Frank, why didn't you tell me that's why you hate him?"

"What? What are you talking about?"

The blonde shook her head and stared at me with a softer look in her eyes than before.

"What is it?" I demanded feeling self-conscious by the sudden change in her expression.

There was a sudden knock on the door and to my great amusement, Brittany hurriedly ducked under the covers.

"Yeah?" I called in response.

"Frank, it's late. Can you please keep it down?"

"Yes, sorry, Mom."

"Sorry, Mrs. Iero," Brittany also called out feebly.

She peeked out from under the covers and I grinned at her.

"Imagine how awkward that would've been if my mom asked us to keep it down and we weren't busy arguing."

Brittany's cheeks flushed.

"Thanks heavens we were just arguing. Otherwise it would have been mortifying."

I chuckled, sitting up and pulling on my boxers. I could feel Brittany's eyes on me as I did.

"Hey, Frank."

I turned around to face her and waited patiently for her to say whatever was on her mind.

"I never slept with Tray."

I gasped loudly. That was an unexpected confession.

"I'm telling you so that maybe your hostility towards him would subside."

"But..."

"I don't know why I never thought of it. The reason you were so upset when you found out about my relationship with him is because you assumed that we were sleeping together too, but we weren't. We never have."

I gulped and opened my mouth to respond, but nothing would come out.

"Frankly, it doesn't have anything to do with you, but if it would make things easier for us and defuse this pending argument then I hope you feel reassured."

This was terrible! Don't get me wrong, Iwas thrilled that she hasn't had sex with Tray, it was great news, but what did that mean for me? Was Brittany really a much better person than I was? Here she was being honest with me about never sleeping with Tray and I couldn't even say the same. My jealousy of her relationship with the football player was completely unfounded. Her jealousy towards Amy on the other hand... The second things went south between me and Brittany I ran to Amy and I spent the night with her. Granted, I had, have, feelings for the latter and she for me. It was based on these mutual feelings that we slept together. Now every time Brittany was going to have a fit and question me about Amy's intentions I was going to have to lie. I now knew how Amy felt about me and I knew how I felt about her.

Oh shit. Was this what Amy meant when she said think about it? I doubt that she meant that I should jump right back into bed with the youngest Way. Then again she already knew it was going to happen. How did she know that and how was she going to react when I told her?Did I have to tell her? Maybe I could tell her that I need a little more time to think things through, because right now I was honestly confused as fuck. Sure, I was happy being back with Brittany, but what about Amy? I wanted to be with her too. However, I couldn't have it both ways. I was going to have to choose.

Great. Things could never be easy.

No, I was going to be honest with Amy. She would understand. I owed her at least that much. Besides, she predicted this in the first place so it shouldn't come as too big of a shock when I tell her about it. It didn't change that once again I chose Brittany. It didn't make any sense. Amy was always the person I would go to whenever I needed someone to talk to and couldn't talk to Gerard. And Brittany keeps pushing me away, but Ialways end up coming back to her. Why was that?

"Frank!"

"What?" I head shot up and I looked at Brittany a little dumbstruck.

"Where'd you go? I opened up to you and then you drifted off to your own little world."

"Oh, sorry."

"Well, are you going to say something?"she wanted to know after a moment.

I'm happy you didn't have sex with Tray?I'm happy to know that, but you'll be pissed to now that I spent the night with Amy? What the fuck do I say?

Brittany leaned away from me and frowned.

"By all means keep quiet. I didn't just expose a part of myself to you for the first time," she grumbled, her frown deepening. She shook her head in dismay, "Forget it. I'm going home."

She started to put on her underwear and that's when I came back to my senses and grabbed her hand midair to stop her from pulling her jeans on.

"Stop, I'm sorry! I just wasn't expecting that."

"No, shit!" she hissed in annoyance, pulling her arm free from my grip, but at least not making a move to keep dressing. "I thought you'd be happy to know that, but instead you looked...disappointed," she breathed out the last word in confusion.

"I am happy," I assured her. "Ecstatic even. Your confession just took me by surprise that's all. Please don't go."

The blonde sighed, dropping her jeans back onto the floor and instead grabbing my discarded t-shirt and pulling it over her head before coming back over to the bed and sitting down and looking at me.

"What is up with you? I mean, I thought things were okay with us, but you're acting strange. You're all quiet and broody. What's on your mind?"

She was definitely a lot more observant than I gave her credit for, but now was the worst time for her to start picking up on things. Time to change the topic.

"Nothing. I'm just curious about everything else I don't know about you. Do you remember the question I asked you that first time after we slept together?"

She thought about it for a minute and then her eyes grew wide in realization and she started laughing.

"Oh no you don't. Just because Iconfessed to never having actually slept with Tray does not mean I'm going to tell you about all the other boys I've dated."

I groaned loudly, "Please don't tell me that you've dated the entire football team."

"What? Ew, no! I haven't dated the football team, only Tray, but he was the exception and I've told you that he and I come a long way."

"I know. I know. You still haven't answered my question though."

"Frank, I'll start being honest with you if you start being honest with me," Brittany stated calmly, lifting up the covers and climbing into bed. "I'm not stupid. Don't think I didn't realize that you were simply trying to change the topic. Honestly, I'm insulted. So are you going to fess up?"

She wanted blood and wasn't going to be satisfied with anything less. I scanned through my thoughts trying to think of something to tell her that would be the truth and close enough to why I'm so absentminded tonight.

"You wanted to know if everything between us was okay? Yes, they are, but I can't help wondering for how long. You know the way our relationship works. We're always fighting."

Come to think of it now, we weren't even happy together. It's not that we were unhappy in our relationship, at least Iwasn't, but we weren't happy like a couple in love was supposed to be. We were just stuck in this cycle, fighting, making up and being content for a few minutes before one of us explodes and the cycle starts all over again. It was tiresome, but for some reason we couldn't break free or we wouldn't.

"That's just a bad habit that we have to get out of," Brittany murmured practically reading my thoughts. "But you're going to take me out on a date tomorrow and things are going to be different. Ipromise," she said, kissing my cheek before lying down and turning away from me, closing her eyes, ready to go to sleep.

I wanted to believe her, but we've promised each other that things were going to be different so many times before and things never changed. Sure it will be better for a while, but we always came back to square one.

And I still didn't know what to do about Amy. Maybe it was time to talk to Gerard. My instincts told me that he already knew exactly what was going on. Even if he didn't I could certainly fill in the blanks and hopefully he'll be able to give me some perspective. He'll probably give me another punch in the face as well, but right now I would gladly take it if he could help me out of this mess I've gotten myself into.

Why couldn't you control your damn hormones, Frank? No, the real question was why Iever got involved with Brittany.

She couldn't even be mad at me even if she did find out about me having sex with Amy. It's not like we were together when it happened. Yeah, like it'll be that easy.

Maybe I should've stayed in New York. That way nothing ever would've started between me and Brittany and I never would've met Amy either. And your life still would've sucked. You'd be wasting away in your dump of an apartment with no job and no girlfriend.

I sighed deeply, leaning down to kiss Brittany's hair before turning off the light and getting into bed myself. Maybe if I went to sleep and woke up again I would realize that all of this was just a really messed up dream. I wasn't this stupid. The real me would never find himself in this type of situation. That's right, this was all just a bad dream. I was going to wake up tomorrow morning all alone, Brittany and I were still going to hate each other and Amy was simply going to be the band's legal representative, another one of my colleagues.

Get real.Truth be told, I wouldn't change my situation even if I could. Sure I would prefer things to be easier and less complicated, but regardless, I was pretty happy. I bet I would be a million times happier when I finally chose who to be with and put all this drama behind me. Yes, I was going to talk to Gerard and make a decision. Things come to a close tomorrow.

I smiled satisfied with that idea and closed my eyes. Tomorrow was going to be a great day.



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Ficwad hates me. I swear it only ever cuts off my chapters when I don't check them.