Break the Law For Me [completed]

t e n

"Is that a girl in there?"

"Bren, what the fuck?" Frank scowled, although he couldn't see him. Quickly, he pulled a hoodie over his head, unlocked the door and stepped out. He glared at Brendon, who was holding back a laugh.

"Come on, that was funny." He only received a death stare. "No? Not for you, maybe. Anyway, I was waiting for you. Come on, slowcoach, let's go."

"Go where?"

"Home?"

"I can't, I have art to do." He shrugged. They opened the double doors together, wandered in to the main hall and then began ascending the main stairs. "Wanna come with?"

Half way up the stairs, Brendon paused, biting his lip and weighing the odds. "I was going to contact Ryan. . ." He mumbled.

"Did you two make up?" Frank felt that pang of sadness again at being left out of things and the last one to know everything.

"No."

Frank almost cheered.

Brendon pouted, resisting the urge to stomp his foot. "But I want to tell him what really happened. I haven't had the chance so far and I was hoping to do it by the end of the week."

"Oh, right." Frank muttered, running his fingers through his damp hair as it was starting to stick to his face. "Go on, then. And tell me how it goes; I'm rooting for you two." Even though he missed the closeness he and Brendon had, he really was.

–

No matter how down he felt, he couldn't help but smile when he saw Gerard sitting on one of the tables, marking work with an expression so intense, it could crack stone. The denim jacket he always wore engulfed him, the sleeves going past his finger tips. Frank only just realised how big it was on him.

"Hey." Gerard murmured, not looking up. The pen he used scribbled across the page so harshly that Frank was surprised he hadn't torn a hole through it.

"Hey."

"How was. . . Your. . . Day?" He spoke slowly, too immersed in work to talk properly.

"Alright." Frank dumped his bag on the floor with a loose shrug of his shoulders. "What about you? Bad day?" He hinted at the fact Gerard's lips were tightly pressed together and his eyes were possibly going to shoot actual daggers.

The pen went through the paper and he cursed quietly, lifting it up to the light and so that Frank could see. "Will they be mad?" His expression softened in to one of defeat.

"I don't think so." Frank said as he tentatively stepped closer to Gerard, who carefully placed the books in to a pile, then glanced up. At the sight of him, Frank felt his heart do a dive. There were red rings around Gerard's eyes, which were partly covered by smudged eyeliner, and (to no surprise) his hair was tangles, falling in ringlets to framed his pale face. "What's wrong?"

"There's so much work to do and-" He took a deep breath. "And the classes are so noisy and I-I just-" His voice cracked and he ended his ramblings there, running his fingers through his hair and pulling at it as he screwed his eyes shut.

Gerard forced down the lump in his throat as he tried to calm himself. When he opened his eyes, Frank was stood directly in front of him with his arms open wide. His eyes trailed from Frank's chest up to the comforting smile on his lips and finally to his sympathetic eyes.

"Hug?"

Nodding slightly, Gerard stood up from the table, allowing Frank to wrap his arms around him as he did the same. They were more or less the same height -give or take one or two inches- so Gerard buried his head in the crook of Frank's neck. Tears threatened to spill over, but he closed his eyes and focused on Frank's heartbeat that he could ever so faintly hear.

"Don't push yourself so hard." Frank said gently, his voice barely above a whisper. His breath was warm against Gerard's skin, causing him to sigh contently. "If you're not okay now, it's fine. You will be."

These were such consoling words from someone who was usually a joker. Gerard was pleasantly surprised and felt much better than he did before.

"Thank you." He murmured in to Frank's chest.

Then it fell silent.

Eventually, Frank realised how intimate they were being and grudgingly made the decision to pull away, though his hands lingered on Gerard's hips for a moment longer. Gerard followed his lead, moving his arms from around Frank, to hold them awkwardly at his side as he hunched over, making himself seem as small as he felt.

The silence hung in the atmosphere, awkwardness in the mix somewhere. 

Frank searched for something to say, anything. "Are you okay?" Mentally, he kicked himself because it was a stupid thing to say as he already knew the answer.

Hesitantly, Gerard nodded. "I feel a bit better now." He smiled weakly, avoiding Frank's gaze while Frank was doing the exact opposite and gazing shamelessly (though he hoped it would go unnoticed) at Gerard. "I'm sorry." Gerard squeaked. 

"What for?" Frank took a step back, furrowing his brow.

Scratching the back of his neck, Gerard hung his head a little. "For being a wreck. You shouldn't see me like that. I'm your teacher."

Reality hit Frank like a ton of bricks. He'd almost forgotten that annoyingly important detail. "Well. . ." He seriously debated speaking this next. "You're my friend, too." He took a small step back again, hoping his words weren't too forward or untrue on Gerard's part. 

But Gerard only smiled as looked at him. "Really?"

Shyly, Frank nodded. 

"You're my friend, too."

[Published 14 June 2019]