Delinquent (8/24)
Delinquent [8/24] by all_tattooed
Frank/Gerard [NC-17 - language, violence, crime, mentions of drugs & alcohol, sex ...etc.]
RPS. Don't know. Don't own. No harm intended.
~3331 words.
Summary: When Frank goes to Juvy, his counselor reforms him in a questionable manner.
Thanks to skelterellax for beta'ing. xo
Con-Crit welcome. Comments are nice.
Chapter 7
***
Chapter 8
Early Saturday morning, Frank was being escorted downstairs to the center’s front office. The attending officer had woken him rather abruptly, swinging open his bedroom door, flicking the light on and off and bellowing at him to ‘Hurry up. Mr. Ways’ waiting for you.’ After his little breakdown yesterday, Frank had practically passed out in bed, overwhelmed, worn out and completely forgetful of the next day’s events. The reminder that he was going to be spending the weekend with his counselor had put Frank on edge for a while, although he knew in the moment just how childish his tantrum was, now, in the cool breath of the morning, he felt down right stupid. It was as if he had simply had a bad dream and woken up in the middle of the night, knowing that it was just a dream, that there really wasn’t a need to worry but he could help the panic anyway and now that the sun was up, it seemed all his hurt and worried feelings had detached his mind on their own, without resolution, he was pretty much over it and now all he had to concern himself with was how he was going to act toward Gerard.
A small part of him was still going to feel uncomfortable around the man, whether a need for it existed or not. Even though there was no possible way Gerard could know of what went on last night, Frank was embarrassed with himself and he just knew his counselor would notice that something wasn’t right.
Once downstairs, Frank saw Gerard already outside in the parking lot, lent up again his car and smoking. He had sent Frank a little wave through the glass doors just as the boy was finishing up signing the last piece of paperwork that permitted his absence, but Frank never noticed. He thanked, Rosie, the center’s receptionist and walked outside, over to his counselor.
“Hey.” He half-smiled, tucking his hands into his pockets and looking over his counselor’s car. Not what he was expecting if he had to be honest. The man was a lucky owner of a Mercedes, she was like brand new, perfect black paint; not a mark on her, he couldn’t even see through the windows, they appeared to be mirrors more than regular glass. Frank envied Gerard right now, fingers twitching at the sight in front of him, he noticed how much work had been done on it and wondered how the hell his counselor managed to pay for all the extras. Suddenly he was looking forward to their car trip very much.
“I’m guessing you like it then?” Gerard smiled, noticing Frank’s adoration for his car.
Frank looked up at him, completely stunned, his mouth opened and closed a few times as he walked around to the back of the Mercedes, running a finger over the sliver sticker that read ‘C-CLASS’ on the boot. “It’s amazing. Really. I love it.” He finally choked, stopping in front of the passenger door as Gerard auto-unlocked it.
“I knew you would.” He smiled again, both of them getting into the car.
Frank wiggled himself around in the seat a bit, taking in it’s comfort and scanning his eyes over all the near on needless, yet maybe convenient gadgets the car possessed. He was pretty excited, smiling wildly and taking in that strong ‘new car’ scent, he wondered how long his counselor had had the car for.
“How old is this? It smells really new.” He asked, turning in his seat and checking out the back interior.
“Had it for about a year and a half. I don’t usually drive it though. It’s Mikey’s. Just thought you’d want to check it out.” He winked.
Frank just kept grinning. Gerard turned the car on and revved the engine a couple times; the clean hungry sound indicating to Frank just how much power the little queen he was sitting in contained.
“That was really tough of me hey?” Gerard said as he reversed out.
Frank scoffed lightly. “Yeah, you’re so awesome Gee. I hate that I’m not as cool as you.” He watched the elder man’s face from the corner of his eye, a smirk creeping to his lips.
“You’re a bit cool Frank. Not like me, obviously but I could always give you lessons.”
Frank was hardly paying attention to what Gerard had said, he was too busy taking in the way his counselors body moved as he changed gears and turned the wheel, pulling out of the center and onto the main road. Gerard noted the boy’s silence, giving him a double take and smiling at the fact that it seemed Frank’s attraction for the car and quickly shifted to something else. Or so he liked to think.
“What?” He asked, pushing he foot down hard on the clutch and pulling into fourth gear.
Frank sighed. His hand looks good on a gearstick, he randomly thought before answering. “I really love seeing you like this.”
He hadn’t even realized, but it seemed that the uncomfortable feeling Frank thought he was going to have to deal with was non-existent. He didn’t know if it was the thrill he got from the car or simply being in Gerard’s company again that caused him not to care so much. Either way, his lack of concern was making him consider to just question the man later on about what had happened with Pete; let the enquiry just flow out him, because naturally he was still a little curious.
“Like what?” Gerard asked, his eyebrows stitching together and a smile playing on his face.
“Driving. Concentrating on what you’re doing. You do this thing where you scrunch your nose up when you take a turn, mostly I love that.”
Gerard let out an amused breath. With his mouth hung open slightly and his lids looking heavy through his long fringe, he leant back on the head rest and let his eyes flick over the teen beside him while they were stopped at a set of lights. For a second Frank had made him feel a little unsure of himself, he knew the boy was rather outspoken; their few sessions together had made that clear almost immediately, but his suggestive comment had come as a bit of a surprise and Gerard struggled to find the perfect response. It wasn’t that he didn’t have anything to say; he punched himself mentally, because oh, he had plenty to say, but with very good reason he deemed them all inappropriate. The lights had turned green and the two were still simply staring at each other, not even looking for any kind of emotion, just plain staring. At a lack of a better idea, Gerard flowed back into the traffic, half shook his head and simply smiled in a way that made Frank’s stomach race to his throat, he thought that was a good enough response.
***
After half an hour of driving in silence filled with stolen glances, sweaty palms and a smirk on Gerard’s face that Frank noticed just never seemed to falter, the elder suggested they take a break to grab a coffee and some breakfast.
They pulled into a twenty-four hour diner and Gerard parked the car close to the entry, mumbling to Frank about how he was worried about anything happening to it so he needed to keep a close eye. The pair made their way inside, Gerard inhaling the strong scent that was coffee, Frank simply admiring the smell of something other than a gritty cell room and field dirt, he’d only been in Juvy for three weeks now, but still, it felt painstakingly longer with everything that had happened. Taking a seat at one of the booths, Frank stared out of the window beside him and momentarily wondered about how the hell he was going to get through the next five months…
“Okay Frankie, what d’you want?”
…he looked to Gerard, peering over a menu card at him and smiled, deciding it probably wouldn’t be as hard as he had first thought.
“Umm, I’ll have…” He tapped a finger on his lips. “…a coffee and a cigarette.”
“You don’t want anything to eat?”
Frank shook his head. “Nah, I’m not really a breakfast person. Unless I’m asleep and someone brings me breakfast in bed, that’s always nice, but I still don’t usually eat it.”
Gerard put the menu down and just laughed. “Random.” He stated getting up, taking his smokes out of his jacket pocket and chucking one on the table along with a lighter. “There, I’ll get coffee if you wanna go wait outside.”
Frank took the cigarette and lighter, got up and went outside. So far, the day had turned out nothing like he had expected, he really wanted to just pretend nothing was bothering him, that what Pete had said about Gerard being a pervert didn’t make him suspicious, because it had, but it seemed he didn’t have to pretend now, he just didn’t care if it was true or not. So what if Gerard liked to see naked boys, he thought, that doesn’t make him a horrible person, just maybe a little weird, and besides, he continued talking to himself silently, shrugging at his own thoughts when he agreed with what he was thinking, who wouldn’t want that man to want to see them naked? He laughed quietly and assumed the people near-by thought he was a little crazy before muttering to himself, ‘I sure as hell would.’
“…not this weekend, I can’t…” Frank turned around upon hearing Gerard’s voice and noticed he was on the phone. He passed Frank his coffee and held up a finger to indicate he wouldn’t be much longer and took a couple steps back. “…no, because I’m busy…” Frank half turned away from his counselor, trying hard not to listen in on a conversation that was none of his business, but plain curiosity got the better of him and he managed to hear every word the man said. “…look, I’ll come see you next weekend I promise, okay?” He paused, listening in to the other end, looking back at Frank again and rolling his eyes. “I love you, too…bye. Bye.”
Frank adverted his eyes away from his counselor fully; suddenly he didn’t even feel like drinking his coffee anymore and that feeling of being pulled in and pushed away returned. He couldn’t believe how sick he had instantly felt from simply hearing his counselor utter those words, his jealousy felt like a burden and as if it was forever going to haunt him. He hated what this man was doing to him, although he probably didn’t know that he was even doing anything, so he only had himself to blame. He argued with himself in his head for a moment, screaming as loud as his mind would let him, asking if he would be happy if Gerard never spoke to anyone except him again? What do you want from him? What the fuck do you want?
“Sorry about that.” Gerard sighed, taking a seat in the gutter next to his brother’s car and smiling up at Frank.
The smaller boy shrugged. “s’okay.” Was all he could manage, because really, he couldn’t help but think it wasn’t.
The two finished their cigarettes and coffee in silence, Frank’s finished coffee being full and sneakily thrown into the bin behind him. Gerard stood up, stretching his arms out and unlocking the car.
“Ready to go?” He asked, turning to look at Frank again.
He nodded. “Just gonna go to the bathroom." He put out his cigarette and went back inside.
***
In the men’s room, the fusion of feelings coursing though Frank had suddenly become too much. Leaning over the toilet bowl, his mind forced him to empty his stomach, though already having an empty stomach meant all he managed was acids and wrenching. His body ached and his eyes started to well up from the pain in his muscles, he groaned out loud to himself in frustration before flushing the toilet and washing his hands and face at one of the basins.
Staring at his own reflection for a moment, a sudden wave of realization washed over him, he wasn’t upset because of what Gerard had done or said to anyone other than him, he was upset because he was falling for him, in ways he never knew existed. The fact that he’d only known his counselor for a little over two weeks was irrelevant, he knew the man had a hold of him and he hated that he wasn’t in control of himself. His eyes dried up and he took a deep breath, he wouldn’t feel better until he knew what the hell was going on and he stepped back out of the bathrooms with a great intention of finding out.
***
Back outside, Frank found Gerard sitting in the car and on the phone again. Both the passenger door and driver’s door were wide open, but once more, Frank didn’t want to be listening in on Gerard’s private conversations again. He waited, rested up against the diner’s wall, glancing in the car at his counselor every now and then before seeing him motion Frank over to him.
He walked over to the car, lent through the driver’s side door and raised his eyebrows.
“…I’m asking now, shut up.” Gerard put his hand over the receiver. “When are you eighteen?” He asked.
“October. Thirty-first.”
“In October…” Gerard spoke back into the phone. “…No! You’ll talk to him when we get there. I’ve got to go, he’s waiting.”
Gerard hung the phone up, took a deep breath and looked to Frank.
“Who was that?” He asked, straight out. He figured if whoever it was knew him that he should know who they were.
“Mikey. He’s eager for the two of you to exchange ideas.” Gerard winked. Frank just stepped back from the car, he was sick of Gerard’s little cryptic clues, why he couldn’t just say where the fuck his brother was and why they were visiting? He stood in the empty car space for a moment, hesitant to even get back in the car.
“Frank? You okay?” Gerard asked, stepping out of the Mercedes and dipping his head to try a catch of glimpse of the boys face.
Frank didn’t answer; the things he wanted to say and ask had all of a sudden deserted him. He took a step back and pulled himself together before looking almost cruelly at his counselor and asking.
“What the hell is your game?”
Gerard looked stunned. He just stared blankly at Frank for a moment before his eyes searched the area around him for absolutely no reason. “What?” He spat, he didn’t mean to sound nasty; he was just so confused.
“I just...” Frank started, the sound of his own worried voice riling him up even more. “I just don’t understand. I don’t get you. These little secrets you have, the way you look at me and then the things I hear about what you’ve done. You’re, like …I just wanna know! I don’t know you Gerard and I just want to know you.” His voice raised before abruptly breaking somewhere in his throat. He buried his face in his hands and turned away from the man in front of him; terrified of what this was going to lead to.
“Frankie…” Gerard walked over to him, reaching for his hands, but Frank only moved further away. “…I don’t know what you’re talking about. What. What did I do? What did you hear about me?” He sounded almost lost, completely genuine and if there were ever a time Gerard need to lie to Frank it would be now, so the boy wasn’t going to let himself be sucked in so easily.
“Oh, don’t give me that shit!” He turned back around, and if looks could kill. “You know, you fucking know. You, telling my friends to take of their clothes and do little fag dances for you. What is wrong with you? Are you seriously that sick in the head?”
Gerard’s mouth opened and closed speechlessly, he thought Frank was being forward in the car, but this, this was something else. “Frank I was kidding around with him-”
“-oh so you did it then?”
“What? Yeah I did, I was mucking around, being an idiot. Of all people I thought you would know that.”
Frank felt that sick feeling become stronger; he couldn’t believe Gerard had just said that to him, as if he knew the man inside out. “Of all people? Of all people? Gerard, I don’t fucking know you. I know that you like to have a joke and smile at me a lot, not every fucking boy you have sessions with. Is that how it is?” Everything he had came pouring out, Frank was so upset, so incensed and frustrated that he didn’t even give his counselor the time to answer or make an excuse, he just turned around and began walking across to the other side of the parking lot.
“Frank!” Gerard called, unsure of whether he should go after him or not, he knew he had to; the kid was under his supervision, but it seemed he need some air. “Frank, I’m sorry…I didn’t know…” He kept calling after him, though was silenced for a second when the boy turned around from meters away and childishly gave him the finger.
Something about that made Gerard smile on the inside and he gave in, deciding to follow after him. “…Frank, don’t be stupid. This is so silly. I didn’t know you’d get upset…” He finally caught up to Frank and forced the boy to look at him. “…I’m sorry. Please, don’t be like this. I didn’t even think about it, I swear I was only kidding with him, I didn’t think the moron would actually do it.” He lifted the boys face with a single finger and wiped a stray tear off his cheek. “Why are you so upset? I did-”
Frank pulled his face away from the elder man’s hand, taking a step away from him again and his eyes filling with what Gerard could only describe as crushed. “-because I fucking like you, okay?” He screamed, not even caring about the stares the two of them were receiving from those sat outside the diner. “That’s why I’m upset. I. Like. You.” He paused for a moment to swallow, relieving his dry throat before continuing. “So much, I can’t even say it. And for some stupid reason something told me that just maybe, you liked me too.” His voice shallowed as he hung is head and walked back toward the car with a saddened mumble of, ‘Guess I was wrong.’ under his breath as he walked past Gerard.
Gerard stayed planted on the spot for a moment; the sound of Frank’s defiance echoing through his mind. This wasn’t how he wanted it to be, he had never had any intentions of hurting Frank. Clearly words weren’t going to show him that and Gerard felt he was left with only one option. He turned on his heel and raced after the boy, grabbing at his shoulder upon reaching him. He spun Frank around, held his tear stricken face in two hands and without hesitation, crashed their lips together.
It was slow and needy and Frank instantly gave in, needing everything that Gerard would possibly give him at that very moment. Gerard ran his tongue along the boys bottom lip, scraping the cool metal that was his lip ring as if asking for a desperate invitation inside his mouth. Frank complied, wrapping his arms tightly around his counselor’s waist, kissing with a forced backed up by torment. He could have never found the words for how much he was waiting for this moment and the situation only made him all the more smitten with the man in his arms.
Chapter 9
Frank/Gerard [NC-17 - language, violence, crime, mentions of drugs & alcohol, sex ...etc.]
RPS. Don't know. Don't own. No harm intended.
~3331 words.
Summary: When Frank goes to Juvy, his counselor reforms him in a questionable manner.
Thanks to skelterellax for beta'ing. xo
Con-Crit welcome. Comments are nice.
Chapter 7
***
Chapter 8
Early Saturday morning, Frank was being escorted downstairs to the center’s front office. The attending officer had woken him rather abruptly, swinging open his bedroom door, flicking the light on and off and bellowing at him to ‘Hurry up. Mr. Ways’ waiting for you.’ After his little breakdown yesterday, Frank had practically passed out in bed, overwhelmed, worn out and completely forgetful of the next day’s events. The reminder that he was going to be spending the weekend with his counselor had put Frank on edge for a while, although he knew in the moment just how childish his tantrum was, now, in the cool breath of the morning, he felt down right stupid. It was as if he had simply had a bad dream and woken up in the middle of the night, knowing that it was just a dream, that there really wasn’t a need to worry but he could help the panic anyway and now that the sun was up, it seemed all his hurt and worried feelings had detached his mind on their own, without resolution, he was pretty much over it and now all he had to concern himself with was how he was going to act toward Gerard.
A small part of him was still going to feel uncomfortable around the man, whether a need for it existed or not. Even though there was no possible way Gerard could know of what went on last night, Frank was embarrassed with himself and he just knew his counselor would notice that something wasn’t right.
Once downstairs, Frank saw Gerard already outside in the parking lot, lent up again his car and smoking. He had sent Frank a little wave through the glass doors just as the boy was finishing up signing the last piece of paperwork that permitted his absence, but Frank never noticed. He thanked, Rosie, the center’s receptionist and walked outside, over to his counselor.
“Hey.” He half-smiled, tucking his hands into his pockets and looking over his counselor’s car. Not what he was expecting if he had to be honest. The man was a lucky owner of a Mercedes, she was like brand new, perfect black paint; not a mark on her, he couldn’t even see through the windows, they appeared to be mirrors more than regular glass. Frank envied Gerard right now, fingers twitching at the sight in front of him, he noticed how much work had been done on it and wondered how the hell his counselor managed to pay for all the extras. Suddenly he was looking forward to their car trip very much.
“I’m guessing you like it then?” Gerard smiled, noticing Frank’s adoration for his car.
Frank looked up at him, completely stunned, his mouth opened and closed a few times as he walked around to the back of the Mercedes, running a finger over the sliver sticker that read ‘C-CLASS’ on the boot. “It’s amazing. Really. I love it.” He finally choked, stopping in front of the passenger door as Gerard auto-unlocked it.
“I knew you would.” He smiled again, both of them getting into the car.
Frank wiggled himself around in the seat a bit, taking in it’s comfort and scanning his eyes over all the near on needless, yet maybe convenient gadgets the car possessed. He was pretty excited, smiling wildly and taking in that strong ‘new car’ scent, he wondered how long his counselor had had the car for.
“How old is this? It smells really new.” He asked, turning in his seat and checking out the back interior.
“Had it for about a year and a half. I don’t usually drive it though. It’s Mikey’s. Just thought you’d want to check it out.” He winked.
Frank just kept grinning. Gerard turned the car on and revved the engine a couple times; the clean hungry sound indicating to Frank just how much power the little queen he was sitting in contained.
“That was really tough of me hey?” Gerard said as he reversed out.
Frank scoffed lightly. “Yeah, you’re so awesome Gee. I hate that I’m not as cool as you.” He watched the elder man’s face from the corner of his eye, a smirk creeping to his lips.
“You’re a bit cool Frank. Not like me, obviously but I could always give you lessons.”
Frank was hardly paying attention to what Gerard had said, he was too busy taking in the way his counselors body moved as he changed gears and turned the wheel, pulling out of the center and onto the main road. Gerard noted the boy’s silence, giving him a double take and smiling at the fact that it seemed Frank’s attraction for the car and quickly shifted to something else. Or so he liked to think.
“What?” He asked, pushing he foot down hard on the clutch and pulling into fourth gear.
Frank sighed. His hand looks good on a gearstick, he randomly thought before answering. “I really love seeing you like this.”
He hadn’t even realized, but it seemed that the uncomfortable feeling Frank thought he was going to have to deal with was non-existent. He didn’t know if it was the thrill he got from the car or simply being in Gerard’s company again that caused him not to care so much. Either way, his lack of concern was making him consider to just question the man later on about what had happened with Pete; let the enquiry just flow out him, because naturally he was still a little curious.
“Like what?” Gerard asked, his eyebrows stitching together and a smile playing on his face.
“Driving. Concentrating on what you’re doing. You do this thing where you scrunch your nose up when you take a turn, mostly I love that.”
Gerard let out an amused breath. With his mouth hung open slightly and his lids looking heavy through his long fringe, he leant back on the head rest and let his eyes flick over the teen beside him while they were stopped at a set of lights. For a second Frank had made him feel a little unsure of himself, he knew the boy was rather outspoken; their few sessions together had made that clear almost immediately, but his suggestive comment had come as a bit of a surprise and Gerard struggled to find the perfect response. It wasn’t that he didn’t have anything to say; he punched himself mentally, because oh, he had plenty to say, but with very good reason he deemed them all inappropriate. The lights had turned green and the two were still simply staring at each other, not even looking for any kind of emotion, just plain staring. At a lack of a better idea, Gerard flowed back into the traffic, half shook his head and simply smiled in a way that made Frank’s stomach race to his throat, he thought that was a good enough response.
***
After half an hour of driving in silence filled with stolen glances, sweaty palms and a smirk on Gerard’s face that Frank noticed just never seemed to falter, the elder suggested they take a break to grab a coffee and some breakfast.
They pulled into a twenty-four hour diner and Gerard parked the car close to the entry, mumbling to Frank about how he was worried about anything happening to it so he needed to keep a close eye. The pair made their way inside, Gerard inhaling the strong scent that was coffee, Frank simply admiring the smell of something other than a gritty cell room and field dirt, he’d only been in Juvy for three weeks now, but still, it felt painstakingly longer with everything that had happened. Taking a seat at one of the booths, Frank stared out of the window beside him and momentarily wondered about how the hell he was going to get through the next five months…
“Okay Frankie, what d’you want?”
…he looked to Gerard, peering over a menu card at him and smiled, deciding it probably wouldn’t be as hard as he had first thought.
“Umm, I’ll have…” He tapped a finger on his lips. “…a coffee and a cigarette.”
“You don’t want anything to eat?”
Frank shook his head. “Nah, I’m not really a breakfast person. Unless I’m asleep and someone brings me breakfast in bed, that’s always nice, but I still don’t usually eat it.”
Gerard put the menu down and just laughed. “Random.” He stated getting up, taking his smokes out of his jacket pocket and chucking one on the table along with a lighter. “There, I’ll get coffee if you wanna go wait outside.”
Frank took the cigarette and lighter, got up and went outside. So far, the day had turned out nothing like he had expected, he really wanted to just pretend nothing was bothering him, that what Pete had said about Gerard being a pervert didn’t make him suspicious, because it had, but it seemed he didn’t have to pretend now, he just didn’t care if it was true or not. So what if Gerard liked to see naked boys, he thought, that doesn’t make him a horrible person, just maybe a little weird, and besides, he continued talking to himself silently, shrugging at his own thoughts when he agreed with what he was thinking, who wouldn’t want that man to want to see them naked? He laughed quietly and assumed the people near-by thought he was a little crazy before muttering to himself, ‘I sure as hell would.’
“…not this weekend, I can’t…” Frank turned around upon hearing Gerard’s voice and noticed he was on the phone. He passed Frank his coffee and held up a finger to indicate he wouldn’t be much longer and took a couple steps back. “…no, because I’m busy…” Frank half turned away from his counselor, trying hard not to listen in on a conversation that was none of his business, but plain curiosity got the better of him and he managed to hear every word the man said. “…look, I’ll come see you next weekend I promise, okay?” He paused, listening in to the other end, looking back at Frank again and rolling his eyes. “I love you, too…bye. Bye.”
Frank adverted his eyes away from his counselor fully; suddenly he didn’t even feel like drinking his coffee anymore and that feeling of being pulled in and pushed away returned. He couldn’t believe how sick he had instantly felt from simply hearing his counselor utter those words, his jealousy felt like a burden and as if it was forever going to haunt him. He hated what this man was doing to him, although he probably didn’t know that he was even doing anything, so he only had himself to blame. He argued with himself in his head for a moment, screaming as loud as his mind would let him, asking if he would be happy if Gerard never spoke to anyone except him again? What do you want from him? What the fuck do you want?
“Sorry about that.” Gerard sighed, taking a seat in the gutter next to his brother’s car and smiling up at Frank.
The smaller boy shrugged. “s’okay.” Was all he could manage, because really, he couldn’t help but think it wasn’t.
The two finished their cigarettes and coffee in silence, Frank’s finished coffee being full and sneakily thrown into the bin behind him. Gerard stood up, stretching his arms out and unlocking the car.
“Ready to go?” He asked, turning to look at Frank again.
He nodded. “Just gonna go to the bathroom." He put out his cigarette and went back inside.
***
In the men’s room, the fusion of feelings coursing though Frank had suddenly become too much. Leaning over the toilet bowl, his mind forced him to empty his stomach, though already having an empty stomach meant all he managed was acids and wrenching. His body ached and his eyes started to well up from the pain in his muscles, he groaned out loud to himself in frustration before flushing the toilet and washing his hands and face at one of the basins.
Staring at his own reflection for a moment, a sudden wave of realization washed over him, he wasn’t upset because of what Gerard had done or said to anyone other than him, he was upset because he was falling for him, in ways he never knew existed. The fact that he’d only known his counselor for a little over two weeks was irrelevant, he knew the man had a hold of him and he hated that he wasn’t in control of himself. His eyes dried up and he took a deep breath, he wouldn’t feel better until he knew what the hell was going on and he stepped back out of the bathrooms with a great intention of finding out.
***
Back outside, Frank found Gerard sitting in the car and on the phone again. Both the passenger door and driver’s door were wide open, but once more, Frank didn’t want to be listening in on Gerard’s private conversations again. He waited, rested up against the diner’s wall, glancing in the car at his counselor every now and then before seeing him motion Frank over to him.
He walked over to the car, lent through the driver’s side door and raised his eyebrows.
“…I’m asking now, shut up.” Gerard put his hand over the receiver. “When are you eighteen?” He asked.
“October. Thirty-first.”
“In October…” Gerard spoke back into the phone. “…No! You’ll talk to him when we get there. I’ve got to go, he’s waiting.”
Gerard hung the phone up, took a deep breath and looked to Frank.
“Who was that?” He asked, straight out. He figured if whoever it was knew him that he should know who they were.
“Mikey. He’s eager for the two of you to exchange ideas.” Gerard winked. Frank just stepped back from the car, he was sick of Gerard’s little cryptic clues, why he couldn’t just say where the fuck his brother was and why they were visiting? He stood in the empty car space for a moment, hesitant to even get back in the car.
“Frank? You okay?” Gerard asked, stepping out of the Mercedes and dipping his head to try a catch of glimpse of the boys face.
Frank didn’t answer; the things he wanted to say and ask had all of a sudden deserted him. He took a step back and pulled himself together before looking almost cruelly at his counselor and asking.
“What the hell is your game?”
Gerard looked stunned. He just stared blankly at Frank for a moment before his eyes searched the area around him for absolutely no reason. “What?” He spat, he didn’t mean to sound nasty; he was just so confused.
“I just...” Frank started, the sound of his own worried voice riling him up even more. “I just don’t understand. I don’t get you. These little secrets you have, the way you look at me and then the things I hear about what you’ve done. You’re, like …I just wanna know! I don’t know you Gerard and I just want to know you.” His voice raised before abruptly breaking somewhere in his throat. He buried his face in his hands and turned away from the man in front of him; terrified of what this was going to lead to.
“Frankie…” Gerard walked over to him, reaching for his hands, but Frank only moved further away. “…I don’t know what you’re talking about. What. What did I do? What did you hear about me?” He sounded almost lost, completely genuine and if there were ever a time Gerard need to lie to Frank it would be now, so the boy wasn’t going to let himself be sucked in so easily.
“Oh, don’t give me that shit!” He turned back around, and if looks could kill. “You know, you fucking know. You, telling my friends to take of their clothes and do little fag dances for you. What is wrong with you? Are you seriously that sick in the head?”
Gerard’s mouth opened and closed speechlessly, he thought Frank was being forward in the car, but this, this was something else. “Frank I was kidding around with him-”
“-oh so you did it then?”
“What? Yeah I did, I was mucking around, being an idiot. Of all people I thought you would know that.”
Frank felt that sick feeling become stronger; he couldn’t believe Gerard had just said that to him, as if he knew the man inside out. “Of all people? Of all people? Gerard, I don’t fucking know you. I know that you like to have a joke and smile at me a lot, not every fucking boy you have sessions with. Is that how it is?” Everything he had came pouring out, Frank was so upset, so incensed and frustrated that he didn’t even give his counselor the time to answer or make an excuse, he just turned around and began walking across to the other side of the parking lot.
“Frank!” Gerard called, unsure of whether he should go after him or not, he knew he had to; the kid was under his supervision, but it seemed he need some air. “Frank, I’m sorry…I didn’t know…” He kept calling after him, though was silenced for a second when the boy turned around from meters away and childishly gave him the finger.
Something about that made Gerard smile on the inside and he gave in, deciding to follow after him. “…Frank, don’t be stupid. This is so silly. I didn’t know you’d get upset…” He finally caught up to Frank and forced the boy to look at him. “…I’m sorry. Please, don’t be like this. I didn’t even think about it, I swear I was only kidding with him, I didn’t think the moron would actually do it.” He lifted the boys face with a single finger and wiped a stray tear off his cheek. “Why are you so upset? I did-”
Frank pulled his face away from the elder man’s hand, taking a step away from him again and his eyes filling with what Gerard could only describe as crushed. “-because I fucking like you, okay?” He screamed, not even caring about the stares the two of them were receiving from those sat outside the diner. “That’s why I’m upset. I. Like. You.” He paused for a moment to swallow, relieving his dry throat before continuing. “So much, I can’t even say it. And for some stupid reason something told me that just maybe, you liked me too.” His voice shallowed as he hung is head and walked back toward the car with a saddened mumble of, ‘Guess I was wrong.’ under his breath as he walked past Gerard.
Gerard stayed planted on the spot for a moment; the sound of Frank’s defiance echoing through his mind. This wasn’t how he wanted it to be, he had never had any intentions of hurting Frank. Clearly words weren’t going to show him that and Gerard felt he was left with only one option. He turned on his heel and raced after the boy, grabbing at his shoulder upon reaching him. He spun Frank around, held his tear stricken face in two hands and without hesitation, crashed their lips together.
It was slow and needy and Frank instantly gave in, needing everything that Gerard would possibly give him at that very moment. Gerard ran his tongue along the boys bottom lip, scraping the cool metal that was his lip ring as if asking for a desperate invitation inside his mouth. Frank complied, wrapping his arms tightly around his counselor’s waist, kissing with a forced backed up by torment. He could have never found the words for how much he was waiting for this moment and the situation only made him all the more smitten with the man in his arms.
Chapter 9