Frerard :This Is Reality: 11

GERARD'S POV


I didn't even remember the rest of winter passing. I remember getting back to school with Brian. Fuck, Brian. Frankie and I were sitting outside eating lunch. Our hands were clasped and he was rambling on about this story he was working on. I was partially listening. He didn't have my full attention because I was on the lookout for jocks.
   When I wasn't looking someone threw something at Frankie while he was taking a sip of his veggie soup. He jumped. I turned to look at him, startled and making sure he was alright. He was lifting up a bologna sandwich. I shook my head and looked over at the table with cheerleaders and football players.
   "Gerard, baby, what's wrong?" he asked. I looked at my boyfriend. He had had that label for about four months.
   I shook my head. "I'm gonna kick some ass."
   Frank shook his head. "No, Gerard. You'll get detention."
   "They threw a sandwich at you!" I cried.
   "It's fine, really." Frank tossed the sandwich in the trash. "See? Just a sandwich. Not like it was a nuclear war head." He looked at me hopefully. Finally I sighed and gave in. I looked away at the trees. Clouds were forming over the mountains, but the worst they could do was rain. It was too warm for snow. "Hey, after school do you want to come to the comic book store?" Frank asked. I turned to him, hand still in his.
   I frowned. "I can't."
   Frankie pouted. "Why not?"
   "My mom's away… again… and I have to take Mikey to his doctor appointment."
   "What happened?"
   "Oh, he's been coughing and he's had trouble breathing. We are all worried and all so she asked me to get him checked out." We got up and walked toward our lockers as the bell rang. My heavy messenger back thumped against my thigh while Frank's thumped between his shoulders.
   "Oh, Gerard, I'm so sorry." Frankie wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his head on my shoulder.
   I hugged him back, kissing his hair. "He'll be fine. Most it could be the flu or a cold. Maybe he has asthma we never knew about."
   Frankie was about to answer but was cut off by a whistle. The principal, Mr. Slaught, was walking toward us angrily yelling, "PDA!"
   I sighed and ended my embrace with Frankie. "Sorry, Mr. Slaught. Frank was giving me his condolences."
   The old man folded his arms over his chest. "Explain."
   Frank perked up. "Oh, well, you see, Gerard's younger brother Mikey is sick. He's coughing and can't breathe. I was just giving my friend my support."
   Mr. Slaught frowned. He knew we were a couple. EVERYONE knew. He didn't believe us.
   "I have to take him to the doctor's office today after school," I added quickly.
   He was determined to prove us wrong. I smiled. "Dr. Emilia Philips. She works at the clinic. You could call and ask and confirm our appointment."
   "Very well. Follow me." The principal turned and walked toward his office. "The number?" he asked, bending over his phone.
   I gave him the number. We waited.
   "Ah yes. May I speak to Dr. Emilia Philips, please?" He paused. "Yes. Do you have an appointment to meet Gerard and Mikey Way?" Another pause. "What do you mean you cannot tell me?" Another pause. "Oh, yes. I-I am their uncle. I was just calling to make sure it was today." He smiled. "Thank you."
   He turned to us. "Humph! Very well then. Get to class, Boys."
   Frank and I turned and left the room. "I don't want to go to class. Ditch with me?" I asked.
   Frank nodded, taking my hand. We picked our bags up from where we left them by the lockers and ran. The halls were empty and silent. It was, in a way, perfect.
   The warmer Jersey air hit us like a wave. We were used to freezing, snowy weather. The fact that the sun was out and the wind wasn't blowing was nice.
   We went to my house where we checked on Mikey. I hated to admit it, but Frank had to go. I turned to him, my hand still on Mikey's forehead. "I think you should go home. I have to get Mikey to the clinic."
   Frank nodded and turned.
   "And Frank?" I asked.
   He turned. "Yeah?"
   "I love you."
   He smiled. "I love you, too."



FRANK'S POV


I left Gerard's house and went home. I was so glad my mother wasn't home. She'd give me the whole bad choices speech that I hated. I ate a salad while watching some TV. I was quickly bored and messed around with my guitars, practicing songs I had written. My voice wasn't as amazing as I was sure Gerard's was, but it was decent. After a while I left my house and walked toward the comic book store. I pulled out my phone and dialed my friend Eth's number. I pressed it to my ear. She was one of the Goth kids Gerard and I hung out with. Her older sister Delilah used to hang out with Gee until she... left. She went off to France for some extravagant music tour. We were happy for her, but we all missed her.
   "Hello?" she asked. I was glad school was out. Didn't want to get her in trouble.
   "Hey, Eth, it's Frank. You free?" I wondered.
   I heard a smile in her voice. "Yeah! Sure! What did you plan on doing?"
   I switched the phone to my other ear. I was headed for Tiffany's. Best food in town. "I dunno. Late lunch, comic book store?"
   Eth laughed. "Yeah. Sounds great. Can Daniel come?"
   Daniel was Eth's younger cousin. He was staying with her while his parents settled their divorce. "Yeah. I don't mind."
   "Thanks. Tiffany's?"
   "You know it."
   "Which comic book store?"
   "The one that doubles as a record store."
   "Dead End?"
   "Yeah! That one."
   "Okay. Meet you at the diner. See ya."
   I snapped my phone shut. I wished Gerard could come but I knew he had to care for Mikey. I slipped my iPod out of my pocket and jammed the earbuds into my ears. Green Day played and I slapped my thigh gently to the beat.
   I saw Eth and Daniel scurrying across the street to Tiffany's. Eth was leaning down slightly to hold Daniel's hand. He was only seven so he was pretty damn short. I wasn't one to run so I just quickened my pace. I pulled the headphones out of my ears and shoved them into my pocket. I walked across the street. "Eth! Baby Eth!" I called, knowing that nickname annoyed her, but she was the baby of the group. Everyone else was either a junior or a sophomore. She was a little freshman. Eth turned, a frown on her face.
   I hugged her. We were the same height usually, except she had on wedge heals. She towered over me. "Hey!" she said.
   "Hey Daniel," I said, smiling.
   "Where's Gee?" Daniel wondered. He had taken a liking to Gee ever since Gee had shown him bands like Green Day, Slipknot, Black Flag, Misfits, and Iron Maiden.
   I frowned. "Mikey's sick."
   Eth gasped, her hand grasping my arm in a sorry gesture. "Oh my gosh! Frank, is he okay?"
   "Yeah." Over the months I was dating Gerard, Mikey and I became friends. We enjoyed each other's company. He was the little brother I always wanted but never got. "Gee says it's just a cold, or the flu."
   Daniel nodded. He also seemed to like Mikey because Mikey would play action figures with him or Legos. "Well I hope he's going to be okay."
   I smiled. "Oh, yeah. He will. Mikes is a little trooper!" But I wasn't so sure...



GERARD'S POV


"Mikey, you ready to go to the hospital?" I watched my little brother nod. I didn't want him to fall or get hurt in any way so I carried him to the car. I buckled him in, a loopy smile on his face. "It's okay, Mikey. You're okay."
   "Gerard?" he wondered. I hopped in the front seat and started the car.
   "Yeah?" I asked, backing onto the street.
   "I... I can't-" he murmured. We were at the stop sign.
   "You can't what?" I looked over at him. His head was resting on his shoulder. His chest barely rose with the intake of breath. "Mikey?" I reached over and grabbed his arm. He didn't stir. "Mikey!" I cried, tears stinging my eyes.
   I got out of the car and raced to his door. I opened it. I cupped his face in my hands. "Mikey!" I cried again. "Mikey can you hear me?"
   Nothing. He didn't respond to anything. I scrambled for my cell phone. I was shaking so bad it took me a while to dial 9-1-1.
   "911, what's you're emergency?" a girl asked.
   "I'm at the corner of Sparrow Drive and Johnson Avenue. My little brother has been sick for a while and we were going to the clinic, but he passed out and he's barely breathing. Please! Help me!" I cried into the phone.
   "Okay, calm down sir. You are where?" she asked.
   "The corner of Sparrow Drive and Johnson Avenue, damn it! Send a fucking ambulance!" I screamed.
   "Calm down sir! There is no need to scream."
   "My brother could die! I have every right to scream!"
   "Yes. I understand. I've sent an ambulance. Now, just remain calm and check your brother's pulse."
   I put my fingers to Mikey's neck. There was a faint, irregular heartbeat. "It's faint and erratic. Where is the ambulance?!" I was crying now. I couldn't let Mikey die. He was my little brother.
   "It's on its way, sir. May I ask your brother's name?"
   "My brother is Mikey Way."
   "Okay. Thank you, sir."
   "God damn it!"
   "What?"
   "That stupid ambulance needs to get here. NOW! Do you not understand my little fourteen year old brother could die?"
   "I understand, sir."
   "Then where is the ambulance? I thought you sent one?"
   "I did. It should be there soon."
   I hung up. I was not going to argue with some stranger on the phone about my little brother's life.  I heard ambulance sirens wail in the distance. Damn it, they were too far away.
   I turned back to Mikey. I unbuckled his seatbelt and pulled him from the car. I shook him. "Mikey! Mikey! Hang in there! You're going to be alright!"
   The ambulance pulled up and paramedics swarmed out. They took Mikey and placed him on a gurney, attaching him to IVs and respirators. I ran my hands through my hair before hopping in the back of the ambulance. I took Mikey's hand and kissed his forehead. "You're gonna be okay, Mikey. I promise. I promise. Please… Just wake up."
   My tears fell from my face and landed on Mikey's shirt. A violent sob ripped from my throat as I held a scream at bay. The paramedics took a second to look at me with sympathy. Their eyes were glassy and they looked as if they almost knew what it was like. Almost.



FRANK'S POV


I threw the front doors of the hospital open. I slammed my fist down on the receptionist's desk. "Mikey Way's room. Now, damn it!"
   "Are you family?"
   I growled. "I am his fucking brother. Now let me see him!"
   She told me he was on level six and his room number. I punched the 'up' button on the elevator. I waited, curling my hands in and out of fists. My nails bit my skin and it hurt. But I still did it.
   The elevator finally opened and I jumped in. I pressed '6' impatiently.
   Eth, Daniel, and I were just sitting down at our table at Tiffany's when my cell phone buzzed. Gerard had sent me a text message. It read, 'MIKEY IS IN THE HOSPITAL. COME QUICK!'
   I left Daniel and Eth in confusion. Eth had called after me and even went as far to race after me. Daniel wanted to follow but she said no. While she was arguing with him I left.
   The elevator opened and I leaped out. I ran down the hall to Mikey's room. I ran into several nurses, pushing passed them in a desperate attempt to get to the room.
   I stood in the doorway. Mikey was connected to a bunch of tubes and respirators. The heart monitor beeped softly. Tears blurred my vision. Gerard was sitting in the seat beside the bed. His head rested beside Mikey, his hands clasping his. I sobbed. I couldn't imagine the pain of sitting there unable to help your little brother. I walked over and pulled and seat up beside Gerard.
   "Hey," I whispered quietly.
   Gerard looked up. His eyes were puffy and red. He broke down crying again. He collapsed on me, crying into my hoodie. I wrapped him tightly in my arms. I rocked back and forth, tears flooding from my own eyes.
   I brought Gerard's face to mine. My lips brushed his softly. His hands knotted in my hair and he kissed back. His mouth was salty with his tears. I didn't mind. I kissed him anyway. He needed the comfort. We both did. We pulled away and looked at each other's shadowed eyes. I could almost see the impossible agony in his glossy eyes. "Frank, what am I going to do?"
   I buried my face in his shoulder. "I… I don't know…," I murmured. Gerard brought my face to his. He Kissed my cheek before his lips brushed mine.
   "Gerard?" Mikey asked, his voice quivering with shock. We both turned.