FicWad

During an interview with a local radio station the next morning Gerard broke the news that he was no longer engaged. Alicia had asked me to go along with her and we were sitting outside in the lobby area of the radio station. We could hear the interview through the speakers. “Well that bit of news is gonna get the Internet to buzzin’. I just wonder if she’ll get on her MySpace and tell her side of the story. She’s big on the Internet.” Alicia said stretching her long legs.
“Do you think she will?” I asked wondering if there was going to be more trouble than either I or Gerard had anticipated.
“Who the fuck knows? I just keep seeing her face when he told her he wasn’t gonna marry her. Fuck I wish I had had my camera phone.”
“Pissed beyond belief?” I guessed
“Oh hell yeah.” She thought a moment, “did you have anything to do with his breaking up with her?”
Well shit, how did I answer this one? Alicia was my best friend and I didn’t want to lie to her. Besides Gerard had already told Ray he planned on marrying me so I guess I could tell Alicia the truth. “Yeah, I told him not to marry her.”
The look on Alicia’s face would have been picture worthy. “You told him not to marry her?”
I looked around to make sure we were alone. “Yep, I told him to marry me instead.”
Now I really wished I had a camera phone. Alicia’s look was indescribable. “You told him to marry you?”
“Yeah” I said with a smile. “He went for the idea.”
She just stared. It was several minutes before she spoke, “But Laura you just met the guy. I don’t understand. Is he in love with you, are you in love with him?”
The day was starting to go downhill. I tried to make myself sound uncaring. “Look I know he doesn’t love me. He didn’t love her either but he’s supposed to get married. I just figured he might as well marry someone who wasn’t so vile to him.”
“But you didn’t answer the whole question. Do you love him?”
So much for not telling my best friend a lie. “No but I like him. When we’re together it’s all good.”
She looked confused. “Laura, do you know what you’re getting yourself into?”
I took a drink of my Red Bull before answering. “You make it sound so sinister. I’m not marrying a serial killer for fuck sake.”
“But you are marrying a guy who’s a bit strange. I mean I know you got know that. He’s different.” She couldn’t seem to find another word.
“There’s nothing wrong with different” I said defending Gerard. “He is what he is and I accept that.”
She shook her head slowly. “But do you really know what he is?”

The guys came out of the booth a few minutes later. Mikey pulled Alicia out of her chair and gave her a kiss. Gerard stood a good distance away never meeting my eyes.
“Hey Laura, ya like Sushi?” Mikey asked. “There is supposedly a great Sushi bar not far from here.”
“Whatever you guys want is fine.” I said standing.
Mikey turned to Gerard. “You coming with, Bro?”
Ray spoke up. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for Gerard and Laura to appear to be a couple already.”
Bob and Frank stopped talking and watched the interaction between Ray and Mikey. Gerard stood looking down at the floor. “Couple?” Mikey said slowly.
Ray shot Gerard a look that I couldn’t quite figure out. “Didn’t your brother tell you he’s planning on marrying Laura?’
Mikey looked at me then at Gerard. “Uh no. Guess I didn’t get the memo.”
There was a very uncomfortable silence. Finally Gerard spoke. “I think I’ll go back to the bus and catch a nap. I’m kinda tired.”
“You were out pretty late.” Ray said to Gerard but looking at me. He was really getting on my nerves.
Frank, bless his little soul, gave me a hug. “Well congrats on the upcoming wedding, Laura.”
I hugged him back. “Thanks” I muttered.
Ray snorted, “Yeah, well lets all keep that bit of info under lock and key for now. He just broke up with his fiancée. Saying he has another one might seem odd.”
“Yeah, that’s me, odd” Gerard said pushing past him and going out to the van.
I watched him sadly. He looked so beaten I wanted to go talk to him but Ray’s words stopped me. “Laura, if you really want to do this you gotta understand it’s gonna take several months. Then you and he can be seen together. People will buy the idea of you and he being together then.”
My anger got the best of me. “Do you always run peoples lives, Ray?”
Instead of answering my anger with anger he sighed, “I don’t want to but sometimes I have to. You can still be with him just not in public. If you want to move your stuff onto out bus you can.” I couldn’t decide if he was being nice or just throwing me a bone.
“I’m fine on the bus were I am.” I said.
Several people entered the building so we all moved out onto the sidewalk. “Going with us?” Mikey asked. One van was going for lunch the other was going back to the bus.
“I think I’ll just go back to my bus.” I said giving a smile I didn’t feel. I told Alicia I would see her later then climbed in the van. Gerard had taken a seat in the very back and had leaned his head back. His eyes were closed.
I took the seat behind the driver. Bob was the only other band member who got in the van with us. The driver took off back towards tonight’s venue. I noticed Bob kept stealing glances at me. I finally turned to him. “Hey Bob.”
He smiled, “Hey, Laura.” He looked back at Gerard then turned to speak to me. “Ray really ain’t a bad guy. He just cares about Gee.” He kept his voice low.
I had no idea what to say so I just shrugged. It was several miles later when Gerard sat up. “Laura, move your stuff on our bus.”
I looked back at him. His words sounded like a command but the tone in his voice was something completely different. Bob was watching to see how I would answer. The van pulled up to the busses. I moved over towards the door and opened it. I took one last look at Gerard who was watching me. “As you wish” I said before getting out. I did catch a glace at his smile before I walked off.