Running Like Forever [Frank Iero][1]

Part 9

*

It was still dark when I woke up the next morning. I guess it was hard to sleep when my thoughts where being invaded by a certain neighbor of mine. The only thing that was heard through the house was the light shuffling of my parents downstairs as they both got ready for work. It wasn't that I was happy that my parents worked on weekends now, but it was nice to be able to wake up in the morning and have the whole entire house to myself. My eyes fluttered shut once again as I drifted back into a dreamless sleep.

It was light when I woke again. I looked at my clock and it read 9:13am. I smiled and stretched as I got out of bed and ran for the shower. With my parents out of the house, that meant I could turn the speakers up as loud as I wanted to on the radio I had in my bathroom, letting The Kooks blast through them at full volume. I got into the shower and proceeded to wash my hair in bliss, singing along to the lyrics as best I could. As I stepped out of the shower I could hear the sound of my ringtone coming from my room, still dripping wet I padded into the room as quickly as I could to try and catch it.

"Hello," I didn't even bother to check the id.

"Good morning, Darlin'." It was Gerard.

I smiled lazily. "Good morning, Gee!"

"So everyone's coming over this morning for pancakes and bacon, you in?"

"Yeah, definitely." I bounce on my toes, feeling hungry all of a sudden.

"Good, because I already called Frank and he's going to be over to get you in like 30 minutes."

I checked the clock. 9:47am.

"Could you have given me a little bit more of a heads up, geez! I just got out of the shower." I pouted even though he couldn't see me.

"Don't care, girlie, be ready or be... square?"

I laughed at his horrible attempt to be intimidating. "I'll be ready."

"Great! See you soon."

"Yeah." With that I hung up and bolted for the bathroom to dry my hair.

There was a knock on the door just as I came bounding down the stairs. "Come in, Frank!"

I heard the door open and a loud 'hey' sounded through the house. I looked at myself in the full-length mirror that hung conveniently on the outside of the hall closet door. Old ripped jeans, chuck tylor's, faded black and white stripped shirt. I looked okay.

"You look nice."

I turned and smiled at Frank. "Why thank you, Mr. Iero. Shall we go?"

He nodded and led me out the front door. We walked and talked and laughed all the way to the Way's household. I hopped up the front steps and opened the door without even knocking.

I grinned. "Honey, I'm home!"

Mikey's head popped out from a doorway. "Good morning, Dear."

I laughed, happy with the fact that everyone was already so comfortable with me. "Morning, Michael."

He made a face as his full name left my lips. "Ew."

I pushed him back into the kitchen as Frank followed behind us, an amused smile on his face. All the guys sat around the small kitchen, Bob in one of the kitchen table chairs, Ray on the counter and Gerard in front of the stove. I couldn't help myself as I laughed at Gerard's appearance. He wore plaid pajama pants and a black shirt, but what got me was the cute pastel pink apron he had on. It must have been his mother's. It was most defiantly a sight to see.

"Lookin' good, Gee."

He turned and whistled at me. "Looking quite fine yourself, Lenny."

I blushed. "Shut up."

"Sexy mama!" Bob chimed in, trying to be funny.

Everyone laughed as I glared daggers as the both of them.

After what felt like ages and Gerard screwing up the ratio of pancake mix to water three times, we all sat around the kitchen table stuffing our faces with the copious amounts of food that had been made.

"Party, party this weekend!"

I looked up at Gerard, still chewing my food. "Whaaa?"

"Yes?"

I swallowed. "When have you ever been in the mood to be social, much less throw a party?"

He laughed at me sarcastically. "Since our parents will be gone from Friday afternoon to Monday night."

"Hmm. Sounds like a plan then." I actually quite liked the idea of a party.

"Hell yeah it does," Frank smack his hand against the table excitedly. "Lets get drunk!"

"Now Frank, what makes you think there will be drinks at this party?" Gerard looked at him like he meant what he was saying.

Everyone was quiet for a moment just looking at Gerard. "Na." He laughed loudly. "I'm just fucking with you! It's not a party unless everyone is shitfaced."

It wasn't that I hadn't been drunk before. I had tried many times when I lived back in California to be social and go to parties. But normally it just ended up with me getting drunk and then trying to walk it off before I got home. But maybe this time would be different, because this time I had friends to party with.