Chapter Text
The phone alarm rings through out the room, disrupting the ones quiet, almost peaceful atmosphere of the room.
"Morning already...?" Mikey Mumbled sleepily, rolling onto his side before grabbing his phone from the nightstand
6:30
A long tired sigh escape from his lips as he reluctantly sat up, his hair was the disheveled. his skin so pale he almost looked corpse like, his eyes were heavy with dark prominent circles beneath them. he hadn't had proper rest in days. how could he sleep peacefully knowing his big brother Gerard was slowly dying and there's nothing he could do about it?
Mikey reached for his glasses and slid them on before grudgingly climbing out of bed. He gathered his scattered school uniform from the messy floor along with whatever socks and underwear looked the least dirty.
Time seemed to blur after that by the time he was fully dressed. His backpack slung loosely over one shoulder, the sky outside had lightened to a dull grey. Minutes ticked by unnoticed as He moved on autopilot tying his shoes- shoving random homework assignments into his backpack-barely registering the quiet home of the dark gloomy house.
A small shape was curled up near the hallway wall. Gerard's furry, grey cat missy. The fluffy feline barley lifted its head when Mikey approached. Her blue eyes dull and heavy. She let out a low miserable sound that wasn't quite a meow, it sounded more like a sigh.
Mikey stopped in his tracks, staring at her for a moment longer than necessary. He knew that look by heart. He crouched down and reached his hand out, gently petting her soft fur. The cat slightly leaned into his touch, letting out a weak purr.
"I'm sorry Missy, I know you miss him.." he murmured softly.
The clock on the microwave blinked 6:58 when he stood back up
He adjusted the straps of his backpack and headed for the door. With a soft click it shut behind him. Outside, the morning air felt cold and thick, Mikey started to head to school without a glance back. The street stretching ahead of him in a long, empty line. Mikey could already tell this day was gonna be as dull as the others.
School felt more lively than usual. Laughter echoed through the halls, lockers slamming, voices bouncing off the walls. Mikey moved through the chaos like a ghost. Shoulders hunched, head held low, he kept his eyes on the floor, counting cracks in the worn out tiles, anything to distract himself from the envy he felt seeing all his classmates so cheerful while he was left to drown in his own sorrow.
Suddenly..a familiar voice catches his attention, making him stop dead in his tracks.
"Hey Mikey wait up!"
Mikey slowly turns around, a few steps behind him was frank with his usual stupid grin, the kind that usually meant trouble.
"Oh uhh hey frank" Mikey replied akwardly, clearly not expecting to see him " "I thought you were still suspended-"
"Frank shrugged "well they let me back in sadly, kinda sucks, I was quite enjoying my vacation." Mikey let's out a snort. "Also" frank added, eyeing up Mikeys tired, disheveled looks appearance "you look like absolute shit, did you get any sleep last night?"
"Wow thanks" Mikey scoffed "and barley. I haven't had good sleep in months."
"I can tell, you look like a fucking zombie, by the way..." Franks grin fades a bit, his voice lowering into that of a whisper. "How's gerard doing..?"
Mikey looked down at the floor, his chest tightening as if someone was trying to squeeze the air out of his lungs. "Terrible.." he mumbles "treatment has been harsh on his body, expensive too." He hesitated for a moment before adding "mom and dad can barley afford rent, much less his treatments, I've been having to work two jobs just to be able to afford them.."
Franks grin vanishes completely, Mikey continues, his voice now begining to crack as if he's seconds away from a breakdown. "After school I always go straight to work, I haven't had a day off in months..No matter how many hours I pick up or how hard I work it still isn't enough, I'm always one bill away from losing my brother forever.."
Frank slowly nods, a look of pity plastered onto his face "I'm so sorry man, I really am" he lets out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his head. "Hey, After your shift tonight..your gonna go see Gerard right?"
Mikey nods. "yeah, I always do"
Frank hesitates for a moment before continuing. "Tonight..could I come with you? It's been awhile since I've seen him."
"I don't know, I usually don't bring people with me.." Mikey begins to fidget with his tie nervously. "He doesn't look like his you last saw him, he looks really bad frank, like REALLY bad." Franks expression begins to falter as Mikey continues "some days he barley talks, on the worse ones he cries for hours because of how bad the pain is, it gets so bad to the point not even his pain killers will help, I don't think Gerard would want anyone to see him like this.."
"Mikey..you shouldn't get to decide that for him" frank replies, his voice low.
Mikey frowns deeply, he knows frank isn't gonna let this go, he's too stubborn for his own good. "But frank-"
"I'm serious Mikey!" Frank cuts in, his voice raised and filled with irritation "he's my friend and I should be able to see him before...before it's too late-"
"Don't say that!" Mikey snaps, making frank stiffen up, realizing the mistake he just made
"S-shit thats not what I meant I swear!-"
"It's exactly what you meant don't play dumb with me!" Mikey angrily cuts in, voice loud enough to catch a few glances down the hall. "Do you know how fucking awful it is listening to my own big brother sob every night because of his own damn body turning against him!? I already have to sit there and watch him fade more and more every day! I don't need you of all people reminding me I might lose my own brother!"
Franks mouth opens, then closes again, for once, he didn't try to joke his way out of an argument. "I'm sorry..I just wanna see my friend before anything happens.." he says quietly "I don't wanna find out one day Gerard passed, passed without ever hearing his friend say goodbye.."
Hearing that last comment stopped Mikey cold, he turns away, his breath heavy, anger and grief tangle together within his heart until he can't tell which one hurts worse. "Fine...you can come tonight, but if Gerard wants you to leave, then you'll leave, no questions, no arguing."
Frank nods with enthusiasm. "Of course! I'll be on my best behavior I promise!-" mid sentence the bell suddenly shrieks throughout the hallway, signaling class is about to begin. "Well, don't wanna be late for class, I'm already failing most of my classes." frank says with a slight chuckle, "text me when your shift ends"
Mikey nods "I will, see you later.." he then watches as frank I walks away, melting into the crowd of students rushing to their own classes. With a small sigh he adjusted his backpack before heading into the opposite direction towards his own class, heart heavy but steady enough to keep moving...for now.