FicWad

Frank wakes up the first time pressed tightly against Gerard's back with his face buried in his hair. He smiles and breathes in the other boy's scent. His stomach gives a happy flip and he brushes Gerard's hair aside and plants a kiss on the back of his neck.

His; Gerard is his for as long as he wants. With a contented sigh he imagines how perfect a life with Gerard could be and drifts back to sleep.
...
The next time he wakes up Gerard is setting close to the wall, looking out of the window. When he realizes Frank is awake he turns to him with a grin.

"Morning Frankie," he chirps.

Frank smiles back. "Morning." He scoots closer to Gerard and wraps his arms around his waist. Gerard leans in close and lays a quick peck on Frank's cheek; then ducks his head, blushing and giggling.

"Missed you," he chuckles.

"You're too cute," Frank tells him. He gets up from the bed, pulling Gerard downstairs behind him by the hand.

When they get to the kitchen he drops Gerard's hand abruptly. His mom is sitting at the table reading last Sunday's paper. She greets them without looking up.

Frank sets about getting breakfast ready to distract himself from the conversation he is about to have with her. He isn't sure how this is gonna go. His palms are sweating and his hands are shaking.  He is incredibly nervous.

"So mom..." he says with a shaky breath.

She watches him place cereal bowls on the table for Gerard and himself.

"Yeah, Frank," she finally asks.

"I've decided I'm gonna go to prom after all."

"Oh! Great, who's the lucky girl!" She gushes.

Frank feels a twinge of panic building in his chest as he tries desperately to figure out what to say. Gerard senses his distress and gently places a hand on his shoulder to reassure him.

Frank takes a deep breath and with new found courage he decides to just spill the beans as bluntly as he can. Quick and painless like a band-aid.

"Actually Mom,  I'm going with a guy. Gerard and I are gonna go together," he blurts. Quickly he adds, "I've kind of liked guys and girls for a while now. Just never told you. Do you hate me?"

She looks momentarily stunned. Frank and Gerard share worried glances and Gerard reaches for his boyfriend's hand and holds it tight. They are both expecting the worst then something surprising happens.

The look on her face shifts from confusion to realization to acceptance. She stands up, walks around to their side of the table, and keels down so that she is eye level with her son.There are tears in her eyes and Frank feels like he could start crying himself.

"Frank you're my son. There is nothing you could say, do, or be that would make me hate you. I'm happy you found the strength to tell me," she says. Her voice is quivering and she is losing her battle to hold back her tears.

She pulls Frank into a bone crushing hug then turns and pulls Gerard into the hug as well. Frank smiles. Linda was officially the world's coolest mom in his eyes.

After his mom stopped fussing over them, the boys found the biggest and warmest blanket in the house and curled up on the couch together.  Neither of them had anywhere to be so they spent the day napping, talking and watching TV.

Around dinner time Gerard got a phone call from Mikey.

"How you feeling Gee?"

"Lots better," Gerard laughed.

Mikey suddenly felt curious. Why was his brother laughing? He should be bummed out. Even if Pete was an asshole he expected Gerard to be somewhat upset.

"What are you up to," he asked.

"Setting here cuddling with my boyfriend."

Mikey could tell Gerard was grinning into the phone and it made him smile too.

"Wow, well congrats to you love birds," he says. "Be home for lunch tomorrow. Mom wants to spend Sunday with us."

Gerard agreed to be home by noon, said goodbye and hung up.

"Mikey's happy for us," he informed Frank.

"I knew he would be. He's known for a while that we liked each other."

Gerard laughed hard. "Of course! Fuckin' Mikey. He always knows everything."

Frank laughs with him. It was so true. No one could keep a secret from Gerard's brother.
...
The following Monday is akward and exciting all at the same time. Frank wakes up early to make a coffee run then surprises Gerard by showing up at his house to walk him to school.

Frank holds out a coffee for him and Gerard takes it, looking happy, and samples a sip. It's his favorite. Frank remembers little things like that and it makes Gerard feel warm and fuzzy.

They link their free hands and head to school quietly sipping. The silence between them isn't akward like with other people. They don't need words. The feeling of just being in each other's presence is enough.

As they walk down the hallway together they are met with congratulating smiles from all the girls. Most guys just ignore it per usual only occasionally shooting them a smirk.

Frank feels relived. He thought there would be horrible backlash with coming out but he thanks his lucky stars that he goes to school with people who understand or don't really have an opinion.

The only sour note that day comes when he, Mikey, and Gerard are getting ready to head home.

Pete and Brendon walk out of the school behind the three of them. Pete sees Frank and Gerard holding hands and flushes with jealously.

"Well someone moves on quick," he says obnoxiously loud. The three boys in front of him keep moving. They try to ignore him.

"I should have know that you had a thing for good old Frankie. That why you wouldn't put out for me? Too busy fucking short stack behind my back? Makes me happy that I left you." There was venom in Pete's words.

Frank, Gerard and Mikey stopped and turned around to face him. Frank looks at Gerard. He is crying. Frank lets go of his hand and walks up to Pete, getting in his space.

"He never cheated on you. Oh and he never slept with you because he was afraid of you." He growls. Turning to Brendon he asks casually, "Has he started beating you yet?"

Brendon takes Pete by the hand looking shaken.

"Let's go babe. They can't take a joke," he whispers softly.

Pete lets Brendon pull him away and they begin walking in the other direction.

"Smart choice Pete! Listen to your boy toy!" Mikey yells teasingly.

Frank and Gerard giggle and the three of them head to the coffee shop to study together.
...
It's a Saturday night and Frank and Gerard are hanging out in Frank's room like they usually do. It's two weeks until prom and the one month they have been together has passed pleasantly.

The only thing that they haven't sorted out is what they are going to wear to prom. Frank is thinking hard about it while Gerard sits across from him drawing.

"We should have signature colors," he suggests.

Gerard looks up from his sketch of a vampire and gives Frank a confused stare.

"For prom," he clarifies.

Gerard's face lights up. "Yeah, we should. What colors though?"

Frank buries himself in thought for a moment. His eyes brighten and Gerard imagines a light bulb hovering over Frank's long shaggy locks that used to be his mohawk.

"Red and black," Frank says with excitement.

Gerard practically drools over the idea.

"Gothic, sexy. I'm in," he gushes. "Tomorrow let's get the tuxedos tomorrow."

Frank pulls him in for a kiss. "It's a date."

...
Prom night finally arrives and Frank is so nervous he can bearly form a coherent sentence. He is setting in the living room of the Way's house anxiously waiting for his date. He gets up and heads to the hallway to check his tux in the mirror just to have something to distract himself

He looks pretty sharp. The mohawk is back and dyed a fresh black. His lip ring and nose ring glint in the hallway lights. He adjusts his jacket for the millionth time. The red color of the tuxedo is striking against the white shirt and the black accents. Gerard had picked it out for him and he had instantly loved it.

Gerard's tux was the reverse of Frank's. It was black with red accents. Frank couldn't wait to see him all done up.

He is suddenly pulled from his thoughts by the sound of Gerard and his mother at the top of the stairs. His jaw drops as he watches his boyfriend decend the steps. Gerard looks gorgeous.

His raven hair has been straightened and he is wearing dark, smokey eyemakeup. Frank leans in close when Gerard's mom goes to fetch her camera.

"You look unbelivably pretty," he compliments.

Gerard blushes. "You look really good too," he replies softly, shuffling his feet.

Gerard's mom returns and they pose for some pictures before Frank realizes he has forgotten something. He runs into the living room and comes back holding something behind his back.

Gerard gives him a questioning look and Frank reveals a clear box with a flower in it. It's a red rose. Frank removes the boutonniere from the box and pins it to Gerard's lapel.

Gerard thanks him and they get ready to head out after Gerard's mom stops fawning over them.

"Italian?" Frank asks.

Gerard nods enthusiastically and they make their way downtown hand in hand.

...
Dinner is great. Although both of them are so nervous they barely manage to finish their food, they are enjoying themselves.

When they finally get to the school they are starting to feel more relaxed.  Not sure why they were so tense before. They are going to have fun and quickly agree to no stress allowed.

Frank, being a perfect gentleman, holds out his arm so Gerard can take it and leads his boyfriend inside. They stare with wide eyes. The gym has transformed.  There are streamers and fake flowers everywhere.  The theme is apparently spring. It seems appropriate.

The music is not the greatest but they bop around like goofballs until they find Mikey anyway. At least if they look stupid they can be stupid looking together.

When they find Mike he is standing next to a really cute junior. Frank recognizes her from walking in the hallways at school but he doesn’t remember her name.

Gerard pats his younger brother lovingly on the back. “So this is your date? Nice Mikes! She is really stunning,” he says congratulating the boy. He then turns promptly to the girl and greets her warmly.

“Hi, I’m Gerard. I’m Mikey’s brother. It’s nice to finally meet you Alicia.”

Alicia smiles at Gerard. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

They stand around talking and catching up for a good ten minutes before the first, sappy slow dance of the night begins.

Frank and Mikey gently lead their dates out on to the dance floor.

Gerard is blushing and staring awkwardly at his feet. He knows people will be looking at them weird. Frank doesn’t care though. Let them look. That is how he feels. He places a finger under Gerard’s chin and tilts his head up so he can see him.

“Pretend it’s just us,” he coos. Gerard smiles and melts into Frank’s touch letting their foreheads touch as they spin round and round. He is caught up in the smell of Frank’s cologne and the feeling of his hands when the song ends and more upbeat music begins to play.

The night passes at a steady pace. Between talking with Mikey and Alicia by the punch bowl, clowning around to the stupid bump and grind music and slow dancing to every love song Gerard and Frank are having an awesome time. Bumping into Pete and Brendon doesn’t even dampen their mood.
…
Towards the end of the night they start the awards ceremony for the prom king and queen. Once they winners have been crowned. The principal announces that this year there will be another award given as well.

Gerard’s jaw drops to the floor when he realizes that he and Frank are being called to the stage. He hadn’t really been paying attention so he wasn’t even sure what was going on.

“You guys won!” Mikey tells him.

“Won what?” he asks.

“Cutest prom couple!”
Mikey gives his brother a playful shove and Gerard and Frank walk shyly to accept their gift certificates for the local mall.

After the awards are done the dance is over. Alicia and Mikey invite them to the after party at Alicia’s parent’s house and Frank and Gerard accept the invitation not ready for the night to end.

They all head to their lockers to grab the spare clothes they had left the day before just for this occasion. The prom clothes were fun but they were ready to feel normal again. Skinny jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies were way more their style anyway.

Changed and ready to leave, the four of them meet up at the front doors of the school. Trouble had managed not to find them until that moment.

Pete and Brendon walked over to them, blocking the exit.

“Enjoying my scraps Iero?” he said with mock innocence. Frank just stared at him trying not to let Pete get him riled up. He didn’t want to get in a fight and upset Gerard, who he could feel tensing up beside him.

 “Just let us leave man,” he said.

“No I don’t think I’m ready to,” Pete said teasingly.

Mikey pulled away from Alicia and stepped up close to Pete.

“Leave them alone,” he said. His voice was low and controlled. It was a warning; a reminder to Pete that he would not hesitate to throttle him. Pete was feeling brave though and ignored it.

“Sorry Mikes. Not my fault your brother is a slut,” Pete says with a smug smile.

That is the last straw and Mikey snaps. He draws back his fist and lands a hard right hook across Pete’s face. Despite Mikey’s small stature the blow knocks Pete on his ass where he stays looking stunned, a hand holding his bleeding nose. Brendon squeals and backs up as fast as he can without falling.

“My brother is not a slut!” Mikey hisses. He is leaning over so he is eyelevel with Pete. “However, your lying ass bitch of a boyfriend is,” he states. Pete gives him a confused look so he continues. “Why don’t you ask Brendon about all those blow jobs he has been giving the quarter back during study hall the past two weeks? I caught him red handed. I told him that if he didn’t keep you in check I would tell his little secret, and well, here we are. You were luck to call my brother yours you sorry prick. Just let that sink in.”

When Mikey finally ends his rant there is a small crowd gathered around staring. Gerard, Frank, and Alicia watch the scene feeling totally shell shocked. They never doubted that Mikey was a total badass that could hold his own, but to actually see him carry out his threat against someone had been impressive.

Pete got to his feet looking less than dignified. He glared at Mikey.

“Bullshit. Brendon wouldn’t do that. You’re lying,” he said heated and angry.

Mikey gave him a cocky smile. “Ask him yourself.”

Pete turned sharply to Brendon who was looking about as guilty as one could get, his face burning with his blush. He could barely meet Pete’s eyes.

“Tell me this shit he is spewing out of his mouth is bullshit,” he commanded.

Brendon flinched like he had been slapped. “I can explain,” he mumbled at the ground.

“Fuck you. We are done!” Pete boomed. He was beyond pissed and felt like a fool. He stalked off only to have Brendon follow him wailing about how Pete just had to give him another chance.

As they disappeared from view and the crowd broke up Gerard, Frank, and Alicia burst into laughter. Mikey joined them, rubbing his now sore hand. They couldn’t stop laughing. Pete had finally gotten his karma and they had all got to witness it firsthand. Howling with laughter they began the walk to Alicia’s house for the after party; trying desperately to catch their breath as they clutched their aching sides. It really was shaping up to an amazing night.