Daisy

Chapter Five.

It was a usual Sunday afternoon. After being excused from the remainder of my lectures for the week, I'd managed to spend the entire time at home or badgering some of my good old friends, such as Gerard, into taking me out and entertaining me for amounts of time. Thankfully, I'd managed to avoid both Mallery and Tia but had recieved two sympathy notes from the two of them, telling me that 'gossiping' was just not the same without me. I snorted at the mere thought of it, my only input into their antics would be a non-conformatory comment such as 'Mmm' or a 'I'm not sure' or the best, 'Ask me later.' As Gerard and I strolled through the park, we came across our favourite bench and sat down, it was a cold Jersey afternoon, crisp with the autumn and fall.

Gerard sat next to me, rubbing his hands together in a solitary attempt of friction. He wrapped his scarf around him a little tighter and reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a cigarette. Gerard brought the stick to his lips and fumbled with his lighter. Once the cigarette was lit, Gerard puffed on the end and blew the fumes into the air. "Want some?"

I shook my head, "I quit, remember?"

He pocketed his lighter and leant back, wrapping his left arm around my shoulders. I leant into his chest and laughed lightly. Gerard had acted like my older brother for the past five years. When I was fourteen, Scott had introduced the pair of us, for the two of them being the same age at eighteen. He nudged my shoulder, "What's so funny?"

I smiled up at him, "This. Us. We're not going on that date until tomorrow night, I just find it funny."

Gerard took another drag, "Only you could find that shit funny."

"Oh c'mon," I reprimanded him, "Don't you find it at least a bit funny? The two of us pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend just to impress some guy who might not even have the slighest interest in me?"

The corners of his mouth tugged upward, "Yeah all right, only us two could be so fucking stupid, - " He stressed the insulting adjective loudly, "To do something like that."

"Thank you though, for agreeing and stuff." I said as I snuggled further into the warmth of his chest. I felt him shake as he laughed quietly.

"I'm always here for you anyway, Liv."

There was no truer statement than Gerard's words. Two days before my fifteenth birthday Mom had died and Gerard had comforted me whilst Scott took care of Rose. For months afterwards, Gerard would ring the house to check on me, to talk about absaloute nothing down the phone, just making sure that I was happy. Gerard would happen to pick me up from school and afterwards we'd pick Rose up from elementary and he'd take us out for coffee and dinner whilst Scott would work at the bookstore, earning enough for us to make ends meet. Occasionally, Gerard's younger brother Mikey would join us. I had always liked Mikey, he was quiet and reserved, completely the opposite of Gerard. Some would question if they truly were related. But they were blind, or so I thought, because if you looked, and I mean really looked at the siblings, you would see so uncanny resemblences that it could be considered scary.

Scott, Rose and I all happened to be completely opposite of one another. Scott had inherited Dad's wire-curls of thick chestnut brown hair and Mom's light blue eyes where I happened to recieve Mom's thick, dish-water blonde hair and Dad's dark forrest green eyes. Rose happened to be the spitting image of Dad, for she inherited both Dad's eyes and his ringlets, except in Mom's colour. The three of us hardly looked related, if not for the fact each of us had recieved Dad's sharp cheekbones and Mom's short button nose.

"Hey," Gerard interuppted my train of thought, as he spotted a couple walking through the park eating crepes, "I thought you were buying us those."

Rolling my eyes, I waited for Gerard to stand up and he held out a hand to me which I gratefully took. We walked along the pathway in silence, Gerard taking drags on his cigarette every once in a while, my feet kicking at the rusty gold leaves and our arms linked together. As we neared the crepe stand, I took out my purse and pulled out 10$ and handed it over to the man both Gerard and myself had dubbed as the 'Crepe Dude.' We ordered our chocolate and strawberry crepes and waited for them to be made as I pocketed my 2$ change.

"So about this 'friend' of yours," spoke Gerard as wandered through the park, happily eating our crepes. "He thinks I'm your boyfriend?"

I finished chewing before replying, "Yes."

"And you want to get in his pants?"

"Don't be so crude!" I scolded him, "But in a sense, yes."

Gerard chuckled, "Well Livvy, I must say you've done brilliantly, lying to him from the start and everything."

"It's not lying," I said as I took another bite from my snack, "It's just twisting the truth a little."

"A little?"

"Okay, maybe a lot. But Gerard! He's just... wow."

"Wow?" Gerard repeated with a laugh.

"Yes," I told him. "Real wow-worthy. And it won't be so hard to pretend we're a couple, will it? Your Mom's always asking when we're going to get together with one another." I saw him nod and I bit back the urge to laugh as I noticed his had strawberry sauce trickling down his chin, "Ger, you got a little something there." He wiped it away and I nodded, "It's all gone. You looked like a vampire."

"Really? I did?" He said eagerly and I nodded my head, adjusting the beanie hat that had been shoved on my head before I'd left to meet Gerard at 'our' bench in Hudson. "Y'know," said Gerard, "Hudson park is a pretty nice place, isn't it? Y'know, I'd love it here if it wasn't for all of they mysterious disappearences and bodies that seem to creep up everywhere."

Grimacing, I had to agree with him. "So you remember how to be a boyfriend?" I teased him.

He glowered at me, "Hey, just because I've not been in a relationship for the past year and a half does not mean I've forgotten how to act like one. 'Sides... my last relationship wasn't exactly normal was it?" I patted his arm gently.

"Gerard?"

"Yeah Liv?"

"I think it's about time you got laid," I told him seriously before taking a head start and running away from him, well aware of his shouting obscenities at my retreating figure before he finished his crepe and took after me.

As I opened the front door and shuffled inside, I kicked off my shoes and shouted a quick 'Hello' to the seemingly empty house. After hearing a greeting being called from the kitchen (Dad) and from somewhere upstairs, (Scott) I threw my bag on the stairs and took off upstairs and entered my old bedroom. As I sat down on my bed, I jumped as the cell phone in my pocket began to vibrate. Taking the phone out, I noticed a number that wasn't stored inside my virtual phonebook and I pressed the 'green answer' button.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Vee? It's Frank." He needn't have said his name, for as I heard the 'Vee' and the melodic tone of his voice, the butterflies danced around in my tummy.

Feigning to remember the girls guide on how to act around those you tended to like, I tried to remain composure, "Oh, hey Frank." I said with a small, airily light tone. "How are you feeling?"

"Eh, I've been better. My stomach's still being a bitch but other than that. Brittany came by and dropped my phone off earlier for me-"

"Brittany?"

"My girlfriend," came Frank's voice, "She visited me earlier. It was nice seeing a familiar face." I repeated his words in my head, trying to see if there was any hidden messages or meaning, but none came to mind. "Vee? You still here?"

"What? Oh sorry," I apologised, thinking of something else to say, "Gerard just paged me." It wasn't a lie persay, as I flicked through my pager, the page was a couple of days old, but Frank didn't know that. I mentally slapped myself for acting so weakly pathetic.

"Oh right, he okay?" Frank asked, sounding truly interested.

Again, I wanted to hit myself for lying to such a nice, interesting guy. "Yes, he's good thanks for asking. How's Brittany?" I asked him, trying to keep the bitter sound out of my voice. Why am I bitter? He's done nothing wrong!

"Yeah, she's okay. She kept asking about you. I think she's in your psychology class or something. Brittany Andrews."

I repeated her name for a few seconds until a face suddenly fit her name. Brittany Andrews was a taller, slim, athletic, punk-rock girl who sat two spaces infront of me in class. Her hair was a vivid shade of purple and her nose, lip, bridge and if I remembered correctly, tongue was pierced. I'd seen her wearing a collection of Maiden and Misfits shirts before. I glanced down at my threadbare jacket and torn jeans and sighed. Of course she'd be his girlfriend. "Oh," I said with faint lightness, "I know her."

[continued in next post.]

__________________

Daisy

"Yeah, she said you'd seemed really nice. And she was totally cool with the whole double date thing. She just seemed surprised that she didn't know you had a boyfriend and stuff." Frank said. There was no suspicious tones in his voice and I thanked God for that. The last thing I needed was him to snoop around to find out about my affairs.

"I'm not that much of a very open person in relationships," I saved myself quickly, "And Gerard and I, we prefer the quiet end of things."

"Really? That's pretty cool. I do too, but Brittany must have told the entire freshmen year at Rugters. And she's cool for the whole double date thing. I was thinking just going to the cinema. I was gonna say bowling, but Harris says I won't be doing that for a while, or playing any shows."

"I'm sorry, but hey! When you get better, I'll come and see you play."

I could tell from the tone of his voice that he was smiling, "Sounds like a date, I mean plan," He corrected himself hastily as he stumbled over his words, "I mean plan, yeah plan."

"I know what you mean." I assured him.

"That's good, hey, listen, I'm gonna go, the nutjobs are letting me leave tonight so I'll see on Thursday, right?"

"Yeah, Thursday."

"Okay, I'm gonna go wheel myself back to bed." He told me.

"Wait, Frank, where are you?"

"In the cafeteria," he answered and I could hear him and his wheelchair squeaking across the hospital's floors in the headset of the phone, "I got hungry."

"So I can tell. I'll let you go, good night Frank and I'll see you on Thursday."

"Yeah, Night Vee, sweet dreams." The phone went dead. I put my cell back in my pocket and hastily took it back out again before dialling a familiar number. I listened to the comforting rings until a familiar voice answered the phone. Before the person could even say a 'Hello' I'd already started rambling for the entire population of America and pressed all of my worries and insecurities onto the one person I could truly trust with all of this. No, I didn't need Tia and Mallory giving me 'dating advice' or a number of tips on how to become a skank, no, I just needed the one person who could really help me. "Gerard? She's perfect." I complained and that was all Gerard needed to hear, for he ordered me to sit down and start from the beginning, just like any best friend would do.

__________________

Juliet

I love Gerard xD!
Ahaha.

I also love this and you<3

__________________

Rhia

that made me laugh! great updatee!

__________________

Jo

__________________

JAC<3 | I support Chent.<33 | Mini-Shaz is mine.

Know that we'll still have each other,
You can stand under my umbrella.<3
@}---}------

Music. Click it.

Daisy

Chapter Six.

I was halfway into my complaining session with Gerard when there was a slight knock at the door and Scott poked his head around the frame. Once he'd spotted that I was now talking on the landline phone, he rolled his eyes and gestured for me to get off of the phone. "Oi, Liv, get off, I need to ring Gerard for a minute." I looked at him before shaking my head and speaking into the phone, "One second." I turned to my brother, "No can do Scottie, I'm already on the phone with him."

"What? Liv!" Scott cried, stepping into my bedroom. "Get off I really need to talk to him!"

"Yeah, well so do I." I stuck my tongue out at him and turned back to the phone.

"Oh yeah because I'm sure it's really that important." scoffed Scott. I glowered at him and he rolled his eyes, "C'mon, please. I need to ask him if I can borrow the car this Friday night."

Gerard's laughter which had been emitting from the phone during our sibling discussion ceased and I could hear him say, "What? Why'd he need it?"

"Why do you need it?"

"I have a date-" He began.

"OOOO!" came Gerard's voice in my ear, "Who with?"

"Who with?" I asked him, voicing Gerard's question.

"This girl called Carrie now-"

Gerard took a tone of interest, "Is she ho-"

"You know what," I said, both into the phone and to my older brother, "Have at it." I chucked the phone at him and sent him out of my room. The last thing I really needed to hear was my brother and best friend talking about how 'hot' a girl happened to be and whatever the hell my brother and this new flame would get upto. I made a retching noise as I thought about it. I flopped back against the many pillows and buried my face inside one. What was with the world? Scott had a date, Frank had a girlfriend, even Rose had been telling me that some boy had been trying to play kiss chase with her in the playground at recess and what do I have? I have my best friend pretending to be my boyfriend to hopelessly attract someone who obviously isn't interested in me like that; Oh yeah Olivia, I thought bitterly, great plan, right there.

After Dad had announced that dinner was a disaster and that we were ordering pizza from the place down the block, I grabbed a couple of pepperoni slices and retreated back up to my room, flicking on the TV and grabbing my copy of Titanic, pushing it into the VCR player. Settling down on my bed, I couldn't help but cry as the end came nearer, and I found myself mouthing along the words, a side-effect from having watching the film so many times. I watched as Cal grabbed Rose's arm but she pulled free, beginning to walk away through the crowd. Cal rushed to meet up with her and I felt my eyes well with tears.

"Where are you going? To him? Is that it? To be a whore to that gutter rat?" Cal spat.

"I'd rather be his whore than your wife."

Enthralled, I watched as Rose struggled to find Jack and I clung to the pillow I was holding, feeling more and more emotional with each passing scene. Jack's words echoed out in my bedroom, "Keep swimming. Keep moving. Come on, you can do it." His words were the only things keeping Rose focussed, I noticed and I sat and watched as Jack's words tried to find humour in such a horrible situation.

"I don't know about you, but I intend to write a strongly worded letter to the White Star Line about all this." I found myself laughing even at such a emotional and touching scene. It just sounded like something Gerard would say at such a time.

"No, don't say your good-byes Rose. Don't you give up. Don't do it."

"I'm so cold."

"You're going to get out of this... you're going to go on and you're going to make babies and watch them grow and you're going to die an old lady, warm in your bed. Not here. Not this night. Do you understand me?" Jack pleaded with her, his voice firm despite the chilling water. At this point, the tears burst out of my eyes and I found myself sobbing at the film, hands cupping my face as I watched as Rose promised to never let go. "Come Josephine," Rose whispered, teeth chattering, "In my flying machine." She stared down at Jack's seemingly sleeping body, "Jack." She whispered, patting his hands, "Jack!"

At that scene, all emotions mixed together and I jumped as my phone had begun to vibrate, I fumbled for it, it was nearing eleven o'clock at night, surely this would be Gerard calling me back to finish our conversation. "Hello?" I answered with a sniffle.

"Vee? Hey, are you okay? You sound like you've been crying," came Frank Iero's worried voice.

Instantly I sniffled again, "No, No I'm fine. Really," I said as I clicked off the television set, "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Frank asked again, "You sound really upset, is there anything I can help you with?"

Before I answered, the wonder of whether this boy could get any more perfect crossed my mind. "No, I'm fine, I promise. Just a bit emotional."

"If you're sure."

"I am," I said, dabbing at my wet eyes, "What are you calling for?"

"Oh," said Frank, "I was just ringing to tell you that I was home and stuff. Plus Mom made me ring you to apologise again," I felt my happiness at him calling fade away. He was only calling on his mother's orders. "But that gave me an excuse to talk to you, so I did."

"Oh," I said, mentally bashing myself. Couldn't I have thought of anything else to say other than 'Oh'?!

"Hey, Vee?" Frank asked suddenly out of the blue, "Do you trust me?"

It was an odd question, but I found myself replying with a "Yes, I do."

There was a slight pause on the other line and then Frank said, "That's good. So if you trust me, can you tell me why you're upset?" Frank's voice sounded so truly and honestly interested and concered to know the reason as to why I've been crying that I felt compelled to answer him.

"I was watching a film," I said finally, "It was rather upsetting."

There was no mockery in Frank's voice, "Which one?"

I sniffled again, "The Titanic."

"The new one? It's really depressing, isn't it? My Mom made me watch it with her not long ago. It's not a bad film though is it? But now everytime my Aunt Teresa comes round it's all they ever watch, and if you walk in the living room, it's full with tissues and two sobbing women," laughed Frank, "I was crying when I watched it."

"Really?"

"No," admitted Frank, "But I was close. The whole scene from Rose and Jack got to me though. I want a love like their's."

"You do? I mean, you don't have that with Brittany?"

Frank was silent, "I don't know. I know for a fact that's it love," my heart sank just like the ship had done, "But I don't think it's the whole Rose and Jack love. I mean, they were perfect for eachother. With me and Brit, it's like... I love her, but I'm not in love with her. You understand?"

"That's like with Gerard and I," I said, thankful that I wasn't lying, and that it wasn't entirely my fault if Frank took it to mean we were dating, "I do love him. But... not so much in love with him." There, I'd managed to say it perfectly without lying one tiny bit. Gerard would be proud of me! "So what are you doing now?" I asked him, steering the conversation so it wouldn't end up with my spinning even more lies to the boy, guy... man. I think I'd settle for perfection, as that was definitely a description of Frank Iero.

"Just sitting at home, waiting for Mom to come bring me up some hot chocolate. I might go to sleep in a bit," I heard him yawn, "I hate those hospital beds. They really hurt your stomach."

"Sure that's not just your ribs?"

There was silence for a minute, until I heard Frank's laughter, "Sorry," he said, "I just shrugged and forgot you couldn't see me." I even found myself laughing at his stupid antics. "Do you think it's possible to have a love like Jack and Rose's?" Frank suddenly asked.

"Do you think it is?" I countered, not wanting to admit to my own insecurity. Personally, I thought it wasn't possible, the sincerity and hope in his voice made me squall my fears.

"I hope there is."

"One day," I began, beginning to wonder as to what I was going to say next, "You'll be a Jack, the counter part to someone's Rose. Frank, I can assure you that. And that Rose will be the luckiest girl in the world."

Putting on a rather charming and incredibly false British accent, Frank said, "There's nothing I couldn't give you. There's nothing I'd deny you if you would deny me. Open your heart to me."

"That," I smiled and then yawned, "Was a lovely quote. Although in a most terrible accent and by one of the worst characters in the film, remember the guy Cal?"

"Yeah, hated the bastard." said Frank.

"You're an odd one Frank," I told him, "And I'm afraid I'm going to have to get some sleep. I'll see you on Thursday."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it."

"Night, Frank."

"Night Roselaine."

I put the phone down, clambered under my covers and snuggled up towards my pillows, a calming sense coming over me. Had I truly listened to Frank's final words in the conversation, however, I would have realised that Roselaine derived from the meaning of 'The truest and purest of Roses.' But instead, I found my head mulling over the words Frank had spoken about his girlfriend and lacked the common sense to notice the hidden meaning in his words.

__________________

Jo

__________________

JAC<3 | I support Chent.<33 | Mini-Shaz is mine.

Know that we'll still have each other,
You can stand under my umbrella.<3
@}---}------

Music. Click it.

Juliet

-agrees with Jo-

__________________

Daisy

Chapter Seven.

On Monday morning I'd arrived a little early to my first lecture of the day, psychology and sat down in my regular seat in the corner of the room. I fumbled with my bag, taking out my stationary pad and biro, tapping it against the paper annoyingly. I blew air from my mouth as I waited for Professor Richmond to come in and take rolecall when I spotted her walk in alongside her friends. It really was no surprise as to why her and Frank were dating, she was just the definition of 'punk-rock-chick.' Instead of her taking her usual seat a few seats ahead, to my utmost horror and surprise, she came and sat next to me. "Hey Olivia," she smiled as she sat down, "I heard about you getting in that crash with my Frankie. How are you?"

"Oh," I stumbled over my words, swallowing back the lump that formed and the jealousy that arose when I heard her say 'my.' "I'm pretty good thanks, no lasting effects."

"That's good," said Brittany, "Frank said that you were really nice to him when he was in hospital. He said we'd probably get along."

"He did?"

"Yeah, so I thought maybe we could partner together for the next paper?"

I found myself agreeing even after not giving it much thought. It was even worse than I had first imagined, nevermind her being pretty and going out with the guy I had a semi-large crush on, she was incredibly nice, clever and exceptionally friendly to people she'd never really spoken to. For the entire hour and a half, I felt myself beginning to hate myself and wondering as to why I couldn't be more like her. During the last fifteen minutes of the class, the conversation soon turned on the topic of boyfriends. "I didn't know you were dating anyone," said Brittany, "What's he like?"

"He's really nice," I answered automatically, "He's funny, goodlooking, a gentleman, into the right scene and he's really really diverse, he can take to practically everything." Hopefully Brittany would relay my compliments back to Gerard on the double-date so I would get some extra brownie points.

"He sound's pretty much near perfect!" laughed Brittany, flipping her brightly coloured hair over her shoulder. "When did you start dating?"

"A couple of months back." I said, "I forget the date," I shrugged sheepishly to add effect; she bought it.

"That's sweet," She commented, "How did he do it?"

"You know," I began with a smirk, "It was really, really out of the blue. I don't think he'd even planned on asking me out, but hey, here we are." I added a little girlish giggle at the end, feeling completely revulsed at the high-pitched tone my voice had undertaken.

"Oh that's so sweet! When Frank asked me, it was planned but so unexpected. He bought me a rose," She said, eyes shining, "And took me out for dinner, I didn't take any notice until he asked me and the next thing I know, we're making out."

I forced a smile. Not only was Frank dashingly handsome, much like Darcy perhaps in one of my favourite books and films, he was charming, perfect and romantic and last of all, he belonged to someone else. As the lesson ended, I hastily gathered my belongings and stowed them away in my baf, wanting nothing more than to leave the class and head down to Biologoy when Brittany called out to me, "Hey Olivia? How about you come visit Frank with me tonight?" She asked brightly, "It seems as though you two became good friends."

There was the word again; friends.

"Oh, I'd love to really," I said, honestly meaning every word, "But Gerard and I have plans," I said, thinking that maybe he could come over and play some video-games and order chinese food, just like we did every Monday evening, "Maybe another time? Besides, we've got that date on Thursday, right?"

Brittany sighed, "Yeah. Sorry," She said when she noticed me looking a little confused, "It's just Frank's Mom really doesn't like me, I don't know why and I thought if you were there, you could distract her so me and Frank could spend some alone time?"

My heart fell into the bottom of my stomach as I said, "Oh." I back-tracked over all of her words, maybe Frank didn't consider us to be friends? No, that couldn't be right. But had Frank asked me over to distract his Mom? Was that all I was? A decoy? "Maybe another time," I said, feeling worse than I had all morning, "I'm going to be late to Biology. By Bitc- I mean Brittany." I smiled at her before moving away down the hall, shaking my head at my own mistake, as I had almost called her by the name both Gerard and I had created, 'Bitchney.'

All the way through Biology I felt distracted and my Proffessor noticed, but luckily thought it had to with the crash, which partially it had, as my mind stayed glued to the image of Frank Iero. I was only half aware of the flyer I was given promoting the annual Biology/Music-Technology trip to Washington that was stowed in my hand by Hayley after class. Stuffing it in my bag, I wandered down the halls and headed back up to the Hestia campus, dragging my bag along the floor, my footsteps heavy across the linoleum flooring. As I reached the hallway where my dorm room was situated, I reached into my jeans pocket and pulled out my keys when I heard a familiar squeaking sound. Turning around, I came face to well, body and wheelchair as I watched Frank wheel himself forwards. "Hey Vee!" He called out to me, waving one hand in the air as the other moved him forward.

I stared over at him incredulously, "Frank! Aren't you supposed to be at home?"

"Yeah," He nodded, "But I got my Mom to drop me off - life at home is brilliant, Mom's cooking and everything, getting my clothes washed but I prefer living on my own."

I nodded in agreement, "But wait - how the hell did you manage to get up the stairs?"

Frank laughed childishly at me, "You do know there's an elevator at the other end of the building right?"

"I do now?" He smiled at me and I grinned back, "I thought Brittany was coming over to see you?"

"Oh," said Frank as he wheeled alongside me, "She was - but she called and cancelled. She said you couldn't come though." Frank mentioned.

"Yeah, I have plans with Gerard."

"Oh, well that sucks." admitted Frank, "I was going to ask you if you wanted to listen to some music and stuff but if you're busy - maybe another time? You know I hate this thing." He hit his wheelchair, "It's so annoying, do you know how stupid I looked as my Mom helped me get out of the car?" He shrugged, "Hey - not to be a real pain in the ass or whatever, do you think you could open my door?" Smiling at him, I nodded and he handed me the keys as I opened his dorm room which was only a few doors away from mine. Odd, seeing as we'd never happened to run into eachother before, I thought, before holding the door open for him so he could get in. He motioned for me to come in as well and I did so, scanning around his room quickly.

On the floor was one of his guitars, notebooks of tabs evident on the fronts, a small TV and dreamcast sat on his desk, as well as a fairly modern computer with the windows ninety-eight screen flashing at me. His blankets were black and white checkered and ruffled, showing that they'd been slept in, but the creases were more defined, showing a lack of sleep for the past few days. "Thanks."

"No worries," I told him earnestly, "Glad I could help."

He opened his mouth to reply as I felt the familiar vibrating of my phone in my pocket. I smiled at him in apology and he nodded, assuring me that it was fine to take the call. Dropping my bag on the floor, I reached into my pocket and took out the cell phone, turning it around in my hands to read the screen. The characters 'Gerard Calling' flashed at me and I answered, "Hello? ..... No, I'm not... Yeah, I just got out, why? ..... No.... No.... Did you ring him?... You did? ..... Yeah we're still on for tonight.... Can you bring the things?" At that point I was aware of how bad this conversation could sound when I said I had 'plans' with Gerard who happened to be my 'boyfriend' who I'd asked to bring the 'things' so I carefully elaborated, "You know, the food and the games?" I noticed Frank blush from the corner of my eye, so he had definitely been thinking what I had worried about, "Okay, see you soon. Love you, Gerard." I added, quickly putting the phone down before Gerard could ask me why the hell I was declaring my affection down the phone to him. He would just have to wait for an explanation.

"That was him?" asked Frank, "Gerard?"

"Oh, yeah," I said casually as I flashed him a small smile, putting away my phone, hooking my thumbs between the belt loops on my jeans, "He just asked me what time to come over. We're watching a film - something about vampires taking over the world. Hey, you could join us if you want."

Frank politely declined, "No, I'm okay - but thanks. I'd be intruding."

"No, you really really wouldn't." I said, hoping that I could spend some more time with him, but Frank seemed adament not to.

"It's okay, I'll meet him on Thursday and hey Vee? Thanks for the help."

"I'm actually only a couple of doors down if you need anything else - ?"

Frank shook his head, "No, I'll be okay." He said, "You go see your boyfriend." He smiled, although it seemed oddly forced at that time, "Go have fun."

"If you're sure."

"I am-" said Frank, "Tell Gerard I said 'hi'."

"Oh," I said, feeling a little dejected, "Why don't you ring Brittany?"

"She told me not to bother her," Frank told me quietly, "But I'll be fine. Go, have fun watching vampires."

"Okay, bye Frank." I said, giving one last wave before heading to the door.

"Bye Vee." He said before I left his dorm room, closing it gently behind me before setting off for my own, dumping my stuff in the corner before heading for a quick shower before Gerard came over.

__________________

Juliet

Frankie's gettin' jeeaalllllouuuuussss!
^_^

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