Frerard :This Is Reality: 25

GERARD'S POV

I stood on the stage behind the thick red curtain. The boys were setting up their instruments behind me. I stood, nervous as all hell. My knees shook and I couldn't take in a decent breath.
   Ray and Matt agreed to playing as long as Mikey played with Ray when his turn came and Matt got twenty bucks. We practiced for hours on end. We finally got it and even after that we practiced until we couldn't stand the song.
   I turned to Frank. "I can't do this!"
   Frank set his white Les Paul on its stand and raced over to me. Ray groaned. He really was looking forward to playing. Matt pursed his lips. Frank looked over his shoulder and held up a finger. "Shut up guys." He turned back to me. He set his hands on my shoulder as he looked into my eyes. "Gerard, baby, you can do this. Sing for all you're worth… which is a lot by the way."
   "Really?" I wondered, biting my bottom lip.
   "Yes… Give these mono-cultured pieces of shit a taste of something real, Baby." Frank pecked my cheek with a sweet grin. I smiled, leaning down quickly to kiss him. Frank laughed against my lips for a second before kissing back. I reached up and took Frankie's hand which was still on my shoulder. I pulled away to kiss his nose. "Love you."
   "I love you, too," Frankie said. He nuzzled the tip of his nose to mine. He stepped away and picked up his guitar, still smiling like an idiot. I sighed… My idiot.
   "Up next!" the principal called into the microphone. "We have… My Chemical Romance… with uh… Demolition Lovers… An original song written by the band's very own Gerard Way."
   The crowd laughed, doubting my ability to do… well, anything.
   I turned to Mikey and gave him a thumbs up with a huge smile. He came up with the name when he was in the library. A book about the relationship between an addict and ecstasy.
   The curtain rose, all too quickly for my comfort. As if they weren't as nervous as hell, the band started playing. They never missed a beat. Damn it! Was I the only one nervous in here?
   The part where my voice was supposed to come in inched closer.
   …and closer…
   …and closer…
   Just seconds away…
   I opened my mouth.
   Here goes nothing…
   I sucked in a breath…
   …
   And let that damn crowd have it…




FRANK'S POV

I couldn't hear Gerard over the roar of the crowd. The song had ended and the crowd was on their feet leaping and howling. Gerard slung his arm around my waist and laughed hysterically.
   Surprisingly, everyone loved the song. I mean… it was an amazing song but the crowd was so lame! I didn't expect this outcome at all.
   "I think it's evident that My Chemical Romance has won this talent show!" the principal cried into the mike.
   Gerard took the microphone out of the principal's hand. "Alright, alright, alright! Even if we supposedly 'won', I still want Ray Toro to perform his song!"
   The crowd ignored him and continued to cheer, to ramble on about the song and their favorite parts. I snatched the mike away from Gerard. "HEY. SIT THE FUCK DOWN." The crowd stopped dead and sat. "Our guitarist Ray Toro has a song he would like to perform!"
   I gave the mike to Ray and he smiled. He set it in the microphone stand and did exactly as Gerard had told him. He stared right at the girl he loved, Christa, and began. Mikey stood beside him, strumming his bass with a smile.
   The principal narrowed his eyes at me. "Detention."
   "Only if I get to go," Gerard said with his lopsided grin.
   "What?" the principal wondered, baffled. "You want detention with Mr. Iero?"
   "If it means more time with him," Gerard said grinning down at me. I blushed and held back the urge to cry out, 'AWWWWW!'
   "Oh… Never mind…" the principal said, waving his hand in defeat. Gerard turned to me with a lazy grin. I rolled my eyes and pecked his lips.
   "You're a nut job, you know that?" I asked, leading him out into the parking lot.
   "But I'm YOUR nut job," he said, nuzzling my neck.
   I laughed, holding up my hand to admire my engagement ring. "Damn straight. And absolutely no one else's."
   "Never."