I Drew You Once in Art Class

Seventy-Four

The Date:

- December 17th.

-7 days before the dance.

"Christmas Break! Fucking finally!" Frank collapsed on his bed, holding his phone to his ear.

"I know, right? We don't have to worry about school for a whole 9 days. Hold on, someone else is calling."

"Hello?" Frank took the silent receiver away from his face. Who else was calling? Mikey?

Frank shrugged and grabbed his Xbox controller from where it lay on the dresser. His mom wasn't home, so he could go to the basement  and play without being told his brain was turning to mush.

He opened up Minecraft and joined some random fighting server when his phone screen lit up, Gerard's name glowing at the top. His eyes still on the game, Frank hastily hit the accept button and put Gerard on speaker.

"Hey! That was Bert calling me."

Frank faltered, and a player hit him, almost making him die.

"Oh, what did he want?" said Frank distractedly, killing the person and running around and trying to find a new opponent.

"His band released a new album and they have a gig tonight. He invited us; do you wanna go?"

Frank's eyebrows furrowed, and he took his attention away from the game, where he stood in the middle of an open field, opponentless. He set his controller next to him on the couch and grabbed his phone and brought it to his ear.

"Bert has a band?"

"Yeah, he has since I've known him, they're pretty good, actu-"

"And I'd... like, meet him?"

"I mean... yeah... what's wrong, Frank? You're being weird."

"No, no! Sorry, I'm playing Minecraft." As he spoke, some random player came up to him and started hitting him. Frank just watched it, his phone still to his ear, distracted.

"Uh... yeah, yeah I'll come. Mom probably wouldn't let me, so let's just say I'm sleeping over at your house."

"Cool. I'll pick you up at eight."

"Cool."

Gerard hung up, and Frank looked back at the TV where the death screen glowed red and apprehensive, just about how Frank felt right now.