Work Text:
Gerard stared out the window of his English classroom, mind wandering far from the lecture. The dark clouds outside mirrored his mood. He was sketching in the margins of his notebook, paying little attention to what he was drawing. Art was his escape. To him, it was a way to express his feelings and thoughts that he couldn’t put into words. Across the room sat Frank, trying desperately to focus on the lesson. But his eyes kept drifting towards Gerard. Something about the quiet, mysterious boy was alluring. He had noticed his sketches before and was fascinated by the dark, intricate designs. The bell rung and snapped both out of their trances. Gerard quickly packed up his things and headed for the door. Frank seized this opportunity and hurried to catch up to him. “Hey, Gerard right?” He called out. Gerard was startled, people don’t usually talk to him unless it’s a joke. “Yeah.. that’s right,” he replied, “and you’re… Frank?” Frank grinned. “Yep! I noticed your drawings, those are awesome. Gerard blushed slightly. “Thanks, it’s just something I do to pass the time I guess.” Franks eyes lit up. “Well, they’re cool as hell. Have you considered doing something with them? Like, starting a comic or something?” “I’ve thought about it, but I’m not sure if I’m good enough for that.” Gerard shrugged. “You totally are, trust me. And hey, if you ever need a partner in crime, I’ve been thinking about starting a band. I play guitar. Maybe we could combine our talents somehow.” Frank said with enthusiasm. Gerard smiled. “I’d like that.”
Over the next few weeks, the two grew closer. They spent every minute they could together. They discovered a quiet corner in the school library where they could brainstorm ideas for their comic and share their love for music and art. Gerard grew more confident and his drawings more detailed with Frank’s encouragement, and Frank started to write song lyrics based on Gerard’s work. One afternoon, they decided to skip their usual library session and go to Frank’s garage instead. It was cluttered and filled with band posters, but it felt like sanctuary. It was a reflection of Frank’s mind. Comforting to both of them. Frank picked up his guitar and tuned it for a moment. “I’ve been working on this song.. I think it would go great with the theme of our story.” Gerard nodded, intrigued. “Let me hear it.” Frank began to play, his fingers dancing along the strings of the Ephiphone Les Paul guitar. Gerard was mesmerized. The sound was haunting and beautiful, and you could hear the emotion in each note. As Frank sang the words, Gerard began visualizing his characters, their hardships, their triumphs. After Frank was done, there was a moment of silence. “Well?” Asked Frank, out of breath. Gerard spoke. “That was.. incredible. I can really feel our story coming to life with that song.” Frank grinned. “I’m glad you like it.” They spent the rest of the afternoon working on their project, rain tapping softly on the roof above them. With Frank, Gerard was no longer the quiet kid in the back of the class. He was a part of something, something that made him feel alive. Days turned to weeks, and one day while they were packing up their things in Frank’s garage, Gerard turned to Frank. “You know, I didn’t think I’d ever find someone who understands me like you do.” Frank became flustered. “Y-yeah. Same to you. I think we make a pretty good team.”
Gerard walked himself home, and Frank ran inside to his room, his mind and heart racing. He couldn’t stop thinking about his new friend whom he had admired for so long. His awkward yet expressive demeanor, the way he spoke with his hands, how his heart seemed to beat in time with his own. As he got ready for bed and lied down, he started to imagine what they could be. He pictured them sharing quiet moments together, away from the noise of the world. Just the two of them. Gazing into each others eyes. Creating their art together. He thought about the moments they had shared the last few weeks. The way Gerard would seem to get lost in his own head whenever Frank played guitar, watching him longingly. If Frank would happen to ask, “What? What is it?” he’d just lightly smile and reply “Nothing” with a shrug. He thought about their late night conversations, talking about anything and everything, laughing until their sides hurt. Soon, the doubt began to creep in. He sat up in bed. What if he was reading too much into their interactions? What if those little moments were all just things “friends” do? What if Gerard didn’t feel the same? The thought of losing him was almost too much. He sighed and threw his head back onto his pillow and stared at the ceiling. Frank wished he could just ask Gerard how he felt, but fear of rejection held him back. As if it would be that simple anyway. But despite the doubt in his mind gnawing at him, he couldn’t seem to let go of the feeling that maybe, just maybe… these were more than just friendly gestures. He closed his eyes, and until he fell asleep, his mind seemed to fixate on Gerard. In his head, they were happy together. In love. It was a beautiful dream. And for now, that was enough for him.
Gerard was something of a night owl. While Frank had been asleep for hours now, he was still wide awake. He too had things on his mind. As he sat in his dimly lit room, the light from his computer shining against the wall, he ran a hand through his hair, trying to focus on his project. He had work to do. But his mind kept going back Frank. Frank, with his infectious energy and the same passion for creating as Gerard, had become so important to him in such a short amount of time. I mean, just months ago Gerard was still a “loner”. He kept to himself and scribbled quietly in his book most of the time. Still does. But now he has someone to consider a friend. Frank had a way of making him feel valued and understood, which didn’t come easy. Not to Gerard. Despite this, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was an imbalance. He could sense something from Frank, something that ran deeper than platonic feelings. But he couldn’t quite pinpoint why that was. No matter the reason, he hoped whatever was going on wouldn’t complicated their friendship, for he valued their bond. He took a breath, pushed those thoughts aside, and returned to his work. Maybe time would bring clarity.
A few days had passed and Frank and Gerard were hanging out in Gerard’s living room, the familiar comfort of their friendship filling the space. Frank brought his guitar along, eager to share his new song. More of a personal project, but worth sharing. He began to strum the first few chords, and Gerard immediately picked up on the softer and seemingly more emotional tone of the melody. Frank began to sing, and Gerard listened and watched intently, as he always did. The lyrics told of longing, unspoken feelings. They wove a tale of deep affection and vulnerability. Gerard couldn’t help but feel moved by the piece, but he could also feel a growing unease. The song ended, and Gerard stared at Frank with a look on his face, a mix of curiosity and concern. “That was beautiful, Frank. What inspired it?” Frank hesitated, his fingers still lightly grazing the strings of his guitar. The room grew painfully quiet, the silence stretching out as Gerard anticipated an answer. Their eyes met, and for a moment, it seemed like time had stopped. That familiar comfort that had once filled the room was replaced by a palpable tension, each second felt heavier than the last. Finally, Frank looked away, his face felt hot. After a moment, he finally mustered up something, his voice just above a whisper. “Just… someone important to me.” The weight of his unspoken feelings hung in the air. Gerard slowly nodded, sensing the complexity of the emotions between them, unsure of what to say next.
Gerard felt a wave of emotions at once, thrown off guard by the intensity of the moment. He wanted so badly to dig deeper into what Frank meant, ask questions.. but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he just nodded. Frank shifted in his seat, the tension still thick between them. “I guess I just wanted to capture how it feels to care about someone. Ya know, the kind of feelings that make you feel alive but also.. scared?” Gerard’s heart raced. He just couldn’t shake the thought, the burning feeling, that Frank was talking about more than just a song. “Yeah, for sure,” he replied, trying to keep a casual tone.” “It’s a powerful thing, definitely.” Gerard looked up, facing Frank, and for a moment, their eyes locked. Both of them could feel the weight of words unspoken.