I Drew You Once in Art Class

Sixty-Three

Gerard was humiliated.

This is why he'd never invited Frank over. He didn't want him to see how dysfunctional his family was, that his mom was broken and his little brother was a twat. But he'd told them to shut up, so hopefully, they would. Frank was opening up one of the AV albums.

"I haven't heard them all," he said. "So hopefully this one is good."

He clicked play and there was the sound of the disk spinning before a slow melody came out. Frank walked over to Gerard and placed his arms around his shoulders.

"Stop stressing out. Me and my mom fight too." Frank swayed a little, his arms hooked around Gerard's neck. Nerd.

"I know you like to dance." Frank moved closer. "So dance with me."

Gerard smiled and put his arms around Frank's waist, feeling Frank lean on his shoulder. They moved slowly back and forth, and Gerard couldn't help but find it funny that they were slow dancing to a band with the stupidest fucking name of all time, but he wasn't complaining. He set his chin on Frank's hair, knowing the song would end soon, and taking advantage of the time he had left.

Gerard was right.

Of course he was, he'd listened to this album a million times.

The next song was faster-paced, and Frank laughed, spinning Gerard under his arm before he walked to the CD player and paused it.

"Feel any better?"

"Definitely."

**

"I don't know... sometimes it feels like all she sees me as is my success. Like, as long as she can tell people she did a good job raising her kid, I don't matter."

"I mean, have you tried just talking with her? Not yelling?"

"Yeah, but it always makes her mad at me, like I've accused her of murdering Millie or something. Sometimes I wish she had another kid. That way it won't be such a blow when I inevitably fail life."

"Careful what you wish for. Siblings are ass."

"Did you ever figure out what happened with Mystery Boyfriend?"

"Nope. Just hoping Mikey'll bring him around the house again, which he probably won't. Asshole. Enjoy your siblinglessness, trust me."

"Millie can be my sibling."

"I miss Millie."

"She misses you too."

**

It was about 8 o'clock now, the late Autumn sky outside a dusky black-purple. The only light in the room was from a little lamp by Gerard's bed, lighting up the room with its yellow glow.

"Ow, shit! That one hurt!" Frank shook his hand, red from where Gerard had slapped it, the Jack laying face up on the covers. "Why are you so aggressive? It's just Slapjack," Frank whined as Gerard cackled and took the cards.

"Because it's fun? You're just sensitive,"  he responded.

A Bad Moves album was playing in the back, and a new song had just started. Gerard knew it was the last song on the record, and it was one of his favorites.

"Maybe you're just bitter that I'm winning," Frank smirked, holding most of the deck. Gerard scowled, sitting up straighter. Frank suddenly shifted his eyes from the cards to Gerard's eyes, staring right through them and making Gerard's stomach flip a little.

"What?" he asked. "Do I have something on my face?"

"If I win," Frank said, still looking into his eyes before leaning back confidently. "you have to kiss me."

Gerard raised his eyebrows. "Oh, do I?" he said, straightening his cards. "Game on, then."

They slapped cards down faster and faster until Gerard had just one left in his hand, which just happened to be a Jack. Frank smacked his hand down on it. "Boom," he said, leaning toward Gerard and putting his lips to his.

Something different happened this time. Normally by now, their kiss would have ended.

But it didn't.

Frank wrapped a hand around the back of Gerard's head, bringing him closer. Gerard shifted to be in a better position, and Frank set the cards down and wrapped his other arm around Gerard's waist. What the fuck exactly was even happening right now?

Neither of them cared to wonder.

Gerard didn't know when it happened, exactly, but they had fallen to the comforter, lips still together and arms still wrapped around the other. The song ended, but neither of them noticed or cared. Frank moved so he was on top of Gerard, lightly sat upon his abdomen, and switched from Gerard's lips to his neck, igniting little sparks of electricity in Gerard's stomach. It was when Frank reached a spot right under his jaw that Gerard let out a completely involuntary noise, a noise he wished more than anything he could take back. Frank burst out laughing.

"Did you just moan?"

Frank rolled off Gerard and lay on his back, giggling like a little kid. Gerard put his hands over his face, hiding in embarrassment. Every few minutes, Frank would stop laughing for a second, and then pick it up again, clutching his stomach and giggling, even snorting a few times. Gerard groaned, his face burning an embarrassed crimson.

"It's okay!" Frank reassured him before breaking out into laughter again. He laid his head on Gerard's chest and was still for a moment before Gerard felt his body shake, and heard Frank's stupid fucking giggle again. Gerard put his hands back to his face, caught between jumping out the window and giggling at Frank's dumb laugh.

Giggles won. It was too cold out to commit suicide, anyway.