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This party sucks.
Now, Gerard is not a prude. Very far from it, actually. He just doesn’t find it fun to hang out with people he barely knows when he could be doing something way more useful back home. He has a project he is supposed to be working on — not that he actually has a deadline, but he really wants to get it done by the end of the year.
And besides, he sees most of these people for the first time. The only reason Gerard even decided to show up was because Mikey decided that his brother needed to go out more and wouldn't take no for an answer. Mikey, always the traitor, disappeared minutes after introducing Gerard to the host, and if Gerard had to guess, he would assume his brother is currently trying to get to second base with some girl he just met. Or a guy. Mikey really isn’t picky.
So Gerard retreats to the kitchen and mentally prepares himself to spend the rest of the night listening to drunk people discussing politics. This is what the kitchen is for, right? It was made specifically so that sad miserable assholes like Gerard didn’t ruin the mood of the entire party. And so Gerard sits in the corner, nursing his Coke and half-listening to a bunch of strangers talking about all the ways the world has turned into hell over the past year. Gerard knows it all, thank you very much. He still reads the news. The world is ending every year, and yet somehow they endure.
“Gerard?”
Gerard raises his head only to come face to face with the last person he would expect to see at this kind of social gathering.
Frank smiles at him. Gerard mumbles something resembling a greeting, still struggling to realise that Frank motherfucking Iero is standing in front of him.
“Hey,” Frank smiles. “I thought you were in New York.”
Gerard responds with a noncommittal shrug.
“I’m visiting family,” he mutters.
Frank takes the empty seat next to him. It looks like he has been frequently visiting the punch bowl, and Gerard thinks he might need to follow Frank’s example if he wants to survive this party and not go crazy with boredom.
“And here I thought you were too cool for Belleville now,” Frank says. There is no malice in his voice, just a hint of envy, and still Gerard’s body tenses. He isn’t sure where this entire conversation is going.
“I’m not,” he says. “And New York is really fucking expensive, I wouldn't recommend it.”
Frank waves at him. “Come on, man, I’m kidding.”
“And I’m not, New York is gonna suck all your savings out of you, so if you’re thinking about moving there, don’t.”
Frank lets out a short giggle.
“Duly noted,” he murmurs.
For a few moments they sit in awkward silence. Gerard fidgets with the empty Coke can in his hands as Frank is sipping his punch from the red plastic cup. A group of college students at the table is too busy smoking and trying to come up with a plan to get rid of all the evil in the world to pay attention to their surroundings. In the next room, the music is blasting to the point Gerard is almost certain he can feel the walls shaking. Someone laughs. Gerard shivers. He wants to go somewhere where it’s less crowded.
Frank seems to share the sentiment. He stretches his arms, yawns and turns to Gerard.
“Wanna go for a smoke?” he offers. and Gerard gladly takes the invitation.
The backyard is dark and quiet, with the Christmas lights in the living room window being the only source of light. Frank passes a cigarette to Gerard. Gerard accepts it with a grateful nod and lights it as Frank takes the first drag of his own cigarette.
“This party sucks ass,” Frank breaks the silence. “You’d think they would actually try to do something different this year.”
Gerard throws a quick glance at him. “So you come here often?” he smirks.
“Every year,” Frank shrugs. “Not a fan, to be honest, but hey, free booze,” he shakes his empty cup. “And it’s better than being alone.”
Gerard thinks he understands. He enjoys solitude, yes, but there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. This is why he didn’t protest too much when Mikey dragged him to this party, even if he himself would never admit it. And besides, he met Frank here again, so even if the party itself leaves a lot to be desired, Gerard can’t complain.
“And you’re here,” Frank adds. “I mean, it’s been what, ten months?”
“About three,” Gerard corrects him. “I was here for Mikey’s birthday.”
“It’s still too long,” Frank complains. “You really should visit more often.”
Gerard isn’t sure what he should say to this. He knows that unless he miraculously finds another, better paying job, he might have to move back to Belleville in spring because he really underestimated just how much money it takes to survive in New York. He doesn’t want to think about it. It’s just another one of his failures, and this evening is too nice to waste it on wallowing in misery. Gerard can do it just fine on his own.
He thinks about changing the subject but at this moment Frank points at the window.
“Do you fucking see that?” he whispers.
Gerard turns his head, and yes, just like he expected: right in the windowsill, under the Christmas lights, Mikey is passionately kissing some girl Gerard sees for the first (and probably last) time in his life. Gerard makes a fake gagging sound and turns away; he really doesn’t need to know about his brother’s latest love conquest.
“He’s always doing that,” Frank complains. “Why is Mikey always the one getting chicks anyway?”
“I don’t know,” Gerard grumbles. “And I really don’t wanna know.”
“That’s not fucking fair!”
“You’re telling me that?”
Frank lets out a strange noise and throws his cigarette in a jar filled with frozen water and cigarette butts. Gerard follows his example.
For a few moments all they do is stare at each other. Gerard licks his lips nervously and averts his gaze. His mind keeps returning to the sight in the window, and right now would have been a great moment to kiss Frank, before someone comes outside and ruins everything.
“So,” Frank mumbles, just as confused and slightly embarrassed as Gerard. “Wanna go back inside?”
It’s now or never, Gerard thinks as he steps closer and takes Frank’s hand in his. Frank looks up at him.
“Gee?”
Gerard presses his lips against Frank’s. The taste of nicotine still lingers but Gerard pays it no mind. Frank lets out a quiet moan and deepens the kiss, and just like that the evening becomes a thousand times better. Gerard doesn’t even regret coming to this party anymore.