We're Chasing The Sun (Frerard)

We're Chasing The Sun

"I'm happy to see you again, Gerard."

"You really should change your scripted salutations, y'know. Been saying that since fucking forever," Gerard laughed at his therapist and watched the corner of her mouth lifting, the familiar smirk recurring in his mind. "Do you still say that to everyone?"

"Not really. I usually say 'lovely to see you again,' but well, you're an exception. You never liked when I said that," Dr. Piller smiled warmly and clicked her pen before dropping her gaze down to her papers. She scratched her chin, thinking. "So, it's already...What?"

"March second," Gerard reminded her, raising an inquiring eyebrow. "A while since you've been here or what? You never forget what date it is."

Dr. Piller huffed a laugh and lifted her eyes to eye the teenager in her office once she was done jotting down the date. "It's been a while. Last time I was here was...two weeks ago, I reckon, for our appointment again. I don't check the date unless I'm at the office."

Surprised, Gerard let out a drawn-out 'ooh' and leaned in to ask, "So, you didn't see anybody else, huh? Are you selling out then? Selling out of what, though? Your psychological credentials?"

"That's close to impossible. However," she paused and pointed her pen to the side of her head, "I'm slowly losing this, so I'm finally taking a break."

"Really? Then why did you agree on seeing me?"

Dr. Piller straightened up and started playing with the pen in her hands nervously, drumming it on her desk. "I was worried about you," she replied sincerely and cleared her throat. Gerard had to block his mouth with his palm in order to keep the impending laughter in.

He gave her a once-over whilst she kept staring at him awkwardly. 

"You're wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt!" he pointed out eventually, like a toddler that's seen a unicorn, and beamed at her, causing her to groan. To Gerard's mind, it seemed that this was all too reminiscent of last year.

"Gerard," his therapist said and held her hands up, reenacting their moment from a year ago, "I'm only human!"

Gerard laughed brightly, in a way he hadn't done in a while. He only laughed and beamed like that when he saw Frank on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. 

Fucking mental institutes. Once Frank was out of there next week, Gerard would set fire to the building and, specifically, immolate that redheaded nurse that kept hitting on his boyfriend since fucking August. He'd set fire on the nurse's head, watch if his hair could be more red. And anyway, he wasn't a natural ginger and Gerard knew it.

"Anyway," Dr. Piller began, finally putting her pen down on the table. "How's the gap year going? Any plans for later?"

"Oh, come on, Piller, you know what I'm going to say," Gerard rolled his eyes, his answer being obvious: "Art school. Art school's the only choice that doesn't make me go 'and then what?' Plus, it's the one thing my mother and I can both agree on, now that she can actually speak again."

"So, you made up? That's amazing—" 

"Nuh-uh," Gerard cut her off, "we didn't make up. She just decided to unzip her lips and start grumbling again." Dr. Piller made a 'go on' gesture with her hands. Gerard sat up in his chair, clearing his throat before reiterating, "Okay. I get that she freaked out and all, but she didn't speak any words directed to me for five fucking months. And I never believed I'd say this, but sometimes, I thank God for Dad. Rarely, but I do. It's times like these, when nobody can calm my mother down but him."

A smile prevailed on Dr. Piller's face. Gerard had been confused at first, but he later noticed himself that he'd referred to his father as 'Dad' again. He waved her off and rolled his eyes, hoping they could forget that.