Twenty Five

I was discharged from hospital the next day and sent back to Kellin's on strict orders to rest up and give my body a chance to heal. My ribs were pretty painful, but I had enough painkillers to fade them out to a dull ache that was soon forgotten about amongst all the visitors I had. I may have been resting, but that didn't stop streams of people coming to the house. All our friends wanted to call round and see me, armed with chocolate and magazines and all wanting to tell me how glad they were I was okay.

"Stop making my life look boring as hell in comparison" Jimmy had teased as he took in my bruises "seriously dude, a bust up with a drug kingpin trying to kill you?"

"Technically he was more interested in killing Dewees, but yes" I chuckled.

"Still, and then being saved by Lynz's crackhead boyfriend, your cousin and your boyfriend? I can't believe I was just sat chilling at home whilst that shit was going down."

"I thought it was a priest that drove Ray to save you?" Oli frowned from behind him "that's what I heard on the news anyway." Amongst everything else going on Kellin was having to shoo reporters away from the house, all wanting a statement from the eighteen year old that was almost murdered by thugs in such a sleepy town. I was ignoring them of course, and they seemed to finally be backing off, now more concerned with some fraud scandal going on in the next town over.

"Nah, Ray said it was him and Gee that came" Jimmy turned to me, and they both look expectantly "well Frank, which was it?"

"Erm..." I glanced at Kellin, who was biting his lip in an attempt not to laugh. "It er, well it was sort of both."

Thinking I was going to die had definitely made me care even less what people would have to say about my relationship when they found out, and it seemed to have done the same to Gerard and finally given him the confidence to be ready to tell people. He hadn't yet, but we were planning on it soon.

"I don't get it" Vic looked at Kellin "why are you giggling?"

"Because we already know" Lynz interjected. Jimmy, Oli and Vic were the only ones in the room that didn't know, and I could see them all trying to process my words.

"But we've met your boyfriend-" Oli started, and then Kellin couldn't take it any longer.

"For god's sake guys, his boyfriend is the priest!" He giggled, and Jimmy's eyes went wider then I'd ever seen.

"You're shitting me, right Frank?" He gaped, and I shook my head.

"Gee is a nickname I used when I introduced him to you all, but his name is actually Gerard. Or, er, Father Way to those at church."

"You mean all this time, the hickeys, the nights staying over at your mystery mans...." Vic trailed off "all that time you were in an illegal relationship?"

"Technically, but if anyone else asks I'd really appreciate you telling them we didn't get together until after my birthday."

"Of course" Vic nodded.

"Just when we thought you'd told us your biggest secret you come out with this" Oli chuckled, whilst Jimmy still seemed in a state of shock.

"I promise this is the last big secret I ever drop on you. I've come completely clean now."

"I think you've broken Jimmy" Lynz waved a hand in front of his face "come on Urine, say something!"

"I'm trying to process the sheer amount of priest jokes I could make right now" he muttered, making us all laugh "but there's just so many options. I mean the daddy kink alone is gunna last me forever.... you are never living this down Frank. Never."

"I took forward to it" I leaned back into the sofa, so happy everyone finally knew everything. I had no more secrets from any of my friends, and it felt amazing.

"What is he going to do about his job?" Oli spoke up.

"We're working on it, but I think he's going to hand his notice in soon" I sighed "he knows he's broken too many rules to ever be an honest priest again, and lied to way too many people. He's better off leaving quietly and finding a new job, once the opportunity comes."

"He didn't seem like a priest at all" Vic reminisced back to my party "he seemed so normal."

"I know, he's pretty unique."

"You can say that again."

"Wait" Jimmy stood up "I dressed up as a priest for halloween, didn't I? And he was here!"

"Yeah that was pretty spectacular" I chuckled "even without knowing you still managed to make a joke of it."

"All the one-liners I could've used if I'd known that night... okay, i'm going to have to recycle that costume now just so I can wind you up properly. This is gold Frank. You and the local priest. And we were none the wiser, even when we met him...." he seemed to finally be fully processing it "I mean, I'm happy you're all loved up too, but this is so much better than I expected."

"Me too" I admitted, more to myself than to him.

*

After everyone else left it was just me, Lynz and Kellin eating dinner that night, and as Kellin cooked me and Lynz sat at the dining table, the conversation quickly turning to Bert.

"I spoke to him" she admitted "he's out of police custody now and staying in temporary accommodation because his home is still a crime scene. He says he should get off all charges due to self defence."

"That's great news."

"Yeah it is, but then he started talking about how he wants to move away as soon as this is all done, and then he asked me if I could still see a future with him, and I had to be honest Frank, I couldn't. And it's not just because of what happened at the flat, because I had my doubts before that too, but every time I look at him now all I can see is him stabbing Ian, and the memories of that day, and I don't feel anything else. I mean, I'm grateful obviously, and I've told him that, but I think our fling is over."

"Was he okay about it?"

"Yeah" She sighed, running a hand through her hair "I think he saw it coming too, but he wanted to check before he assumed. He told me he'd of still killed Ian for trying to hurt me even if I'd dumped him that day, and he wished me all the best for the future."

"Do you think any of us will see him again?" my feelings towards Bert were certainly a mixed bag, but now that we all owed him our lives it would've been nice to thank him properly.

"I doubt it somehow. He knows you're grateful though Frank."

"I guess. I'm glad you're alright though."

"Yeah, sounds like you did the right thing" Kellin joined in as he started placing food down on the table "I mean, you can't stay with him out of gratitude. Some things are only meant to be short term, y'know? Lust not love, that kinda thing."

"Fun for a while but not forever" she nodded "otherwise it just starts to drain you."

"Exactly, it's gotta be healthy. Like for me and Vic, things aren't necessarily always exciting and wild, but we don't need it to be anymore. We're comfy in each other's company" he said between mouthfuls of noodles.

"Me and Gerard are comfortable round each other, but I think we've got a little while to go before everyone feels the same."

"Oh that reminds me" Kellin jumped a little "your parents rang earlier, said they're at the airport in New Jersey and are hoping to be here tomorrow lunchtime. They wanted you to meet him at your aunt and uncle's for lunch."

"Ughhhh" I rolled my eyes "just what I need when I'm supposed to be resting up; family drama."

"Come on" Lynz went to give me a playful smack, but remembering my injuries instead went for a nudge "it might not be that bad. If nearly dying doesn't cut you some slack I don't know what will."

"We'll see" I hummed, not yet convinced.

*

Ray picked me up the next day, as I still wasn't fully recovered enough to walk over to my aunt and uncles house, and spent most of the journey there reassuring me that it was going to be okay.

"Honestly Frank, ever since what happened my dad hasn't said a bad word about you. I mean, I've been constantly lectured about how stupid I was going into the apartment and not waiting for the police, but they were genuinely scared for you too when the found out how bad you were."

"Yeah probably because if I died they'd have to have explained why they kicked me out of their home to both my parents and the police" I rolled my eyes, not convinced they genuinely cared yet.

"Suit yourself, but I know my parents and I think they were worried because they genuinely cared, somewhere deep down inside them."

"Well you're too nice."

"Maybe, but we're here now and so are your parents, so you better go in with an open mind" he stopped the car in the driveway and jumped out, leaving me to groan for a moment, really not wanting to get out but also kind of wanting to get this over with. After a moment I followed him inside.

As soon as I stepped into the living room I found myself being hugged by my mother.

"Oh Frank" she sighed "I was so worried when I found out what had happened, and being so far away too..."

"Erm, I've still got those broken ribs mom" I wheezed, and she immediately stepped back "but er, thanks."

"Hey son" my dad nodded at me from the sofa "you healing up okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine" I nodded, catching Isabel's eye from where her and James were stood in the corner of the room.

"Frank, we're so sorry about what happened to you. If we'd had any idea that you were being blackmailed like that-"

"It's okay Isabel" I cut her off "I was still in the wrong for having those drugs here, and we all knew me living here wasn't working out for anyone. Me moving out was a good thing, it still is."

"Well, as much as you drive me insane sometimes you can always come back if you need to" James sighed "I mean, preferably not to live, but if you need a place to go or stay, well, we are family at the end of the day."

"Thanks" I noticed Ray was giving me a total I-told-you-so look from where he was sat.

"You can always come home too" my dad nodded "I mean, I know you've probably got college to finish here now, but maybe we were too harsh sending you over here. We thought it would be the best thing for you, but I guess we were wrong."

"Actually, it still has been a good thing" I admitted "I've made a lot of friends, and, well, a boyfriend too actually." I decided there was no time like the present to try and test the water. I glanced at James, and he just gave a small nod. It wasn't much, but it was all the approval I needed for now.

"Really?" my mother smiled warmly "maybe we could meet him whilst we're over?"

"Maybe next time" I reassured her, seeing Ray visibly relax at the prospect of his parents finding out about Gerard being delayed. "But hey! I have other news too - my art work is going to be in a gallery exhibition in a couple of months time."

"Where?" my dad sat up "that's amazing."

"In London" I nodded "I won a competition, they loved my graffiti and they want to find a way to put it into an exhibition space, with some new pieces too. I've meeting with the curator soon to discuss it."

"That's great news" Isabel smiled "we'll have to all come up and see it." It was weird to have her and James being civil with me, but oddly nice too. I mean, I wasn't exactly jumping at the thought of us all spending Christmas together, but it was a start.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of talk about my art show and general catching up between my parents and my aunt and uncle. Once we'd been there a few hours Ray suggested he drive me home so I could continue to rest up properly. I was grateful for the excuse, and quickly endured the various hugs and apologies of my parents before we left.

"See? Not so bad really" He chuckled once we were out the door "if I didn't know any better I'd say we almost all got on pretty well in there."

"Don't hold your breath - once the novelty of me being alive wears off I'm sure they'll be yelling at me again."

"Suits me" He grinned "then I get to be the golden child again."

"Piss off" I giggled as he started to drive "although you probably definitely will be once they find out about Gerard, which has kind of got to be before the art show because he's going to be there, and so are some kinda sexually frustrated artworks that feature priests. So you know, they'd probably put two and two together."

"You should tell them soon" he nodded "it's about time you get it over with, preferably whilst you're in the good books."

"True, I'll talk to Gee about it later."

*

As a matter of fact, it was Gerard that brought up the subject later that evening.

He was round visiting me at Kellin's, which was something I was still getting used to him being able to do. We were curled up on the sofa downstairs, his hands running through my hair when he spoke.

"I handed in my notice to Brian today."

"What?!" I sat up a little too fast and winced at the pain in my chest "since when did you decide to do that?"

"The ambulance ride" he sighed "it put a lot of things into perspective for me, and I realised that if I waited for the right time to leave i'd be waiting forever. I'll get another job, I don't care what or where, as long as I'm free to be with you then I'll be okay. Sure, I'll try my luck with my comics, but even if that doesn't work out I could try a counselling course or something like that. The point is I'm cutting ties to this place, and now we can go whenever we want to."

"Are you really okay about leaving the priesthood?"

"You know what, I am" He gave a small smile "it felt like I'd finally lifted a weight off my shoulders. Once i've left I won't be breaking any rules anymore. I'll always hold my religion close to my heart, but it doesn't have to rule it anymore. I can just be Gerard with no strings attached."

"Except for me."

"Of course" He kissed me "and everyone will finally know about us."

"How did Brian take it?'

"Alright, he was a bit confused as to why I was going but I just said I was struggling with some personal reasons and that I'd tell him more in the future, but right now I just needed some time away from the church" he hummed "it was all very professional, but I'll have to tell the congregation at church tomorrow."

"What will you tell them?"

"I'm not sure yet" he mused, looking down at me "but I think I should tell Brian the full truth before he hears it from anyone else. What do you reckon? Wanna come finally break it to him?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world" I grinned, and leaned up to kiss him properly.

*

I stood near the back of the church the next day, nervously watching on as everyone sang the hymns and listened to the readings that Brian was delivering. I could spot the familiar afro of Ray a few rows in front, but I didn't want to have to speak to his parents right now when I knew Gerard was about to announce he was leaving. I didn't want my face to give anything away. His eyes found me all the same when he stood up though, scanning row after row until they finally settled on me, and his expression seemed to turn more confident.

"I have an announcement to make" he smiled sadly at the congregation gathered "unfortunately I've handed in my notice to father Schetcher, and this is the last Sunday I will be serving as a minister here." Shocked murmurs and whispers resonated around the room, but he continued anyway "I know this is a big shock to quite a few of you, and I'm so sorry to have to leave. I've loved this job, and owe it more than you can imagine" his eyes met mine again "but in the process I've fallen in love with someone." Audible gasps could be heard at that.

"Now" he continued, eyes moving on to take in other people "when a Priest falls in love, it causes a fair few obstacles to arise" a few laughed at that "and although it's hard to say goodbye, I know I'm making the right decision in deciding to move away to start a new life with my partner. Jesus always talked about love, and I found it in the most unexpected of places, but I'm starting to think that perhaps I was meant to find it that way, and that my entire journey has in fact been leading up to it."

It took everything I had to stay where I was and not run up and kiss him right there and then, but at the same time I was desperate to hear what else he was going to say.

"So I'm going to put love first, above everything else, and I'm going to enjoy every second of it. I hope you all too find or hold onto the people that make you feel the same way, because I sure am." He finished then, and a few people gave claps or nods of encouragement, whilst others contained to whisper and wonder as to who the mysterious person could be. I could hear people around me trying to recall if they'd ever seen Gerard with any of the female members of the congregation, and had to laugh to myself when they came up blank.

He had made sure to disappear quickly once the service was done, probably to avoid any further questions, so I immediately slipped out the back and up to the office, where I could hear him and Brian were talking.

"I just had no idea" Brian was saying, his back to the door so he didn't see me stood there like Gerard did. "I mean, you never mentioned any girls that had caught your interest, let alone caused you to question your job."

"Brian" Gerard took a deep breath, and I realised he was about to finally do it "turn around."

Brian turned, and looked puzzled when he found himself staring at me. "Frank, what are you doing up here?"

"I came to see Gerard" I hinted, but it flew right over his head.

"Well, if Gerard wanted to answer further questions he would come downstairs to do so."

"Brian" Gerard crossed the room so that he was stood next to me "the person I've fallen in love with.... is not a woman. Quite the opposite actually." He leaned down then and interlocked my fingers with his, giving me a sheepish smile.

Brian stared down at our hands before snapping his head up to gape from me to Gerard and then back to me again.

"But-" he trailed off "but you... and you! How could it... when did it..."

"After I turned Eighteen" I contributed, seemingly causing him to actually snap.

"Lord give me strength" He cried, turning to Gerard "you were supposed to be watching over him! And instead you... you... you gave into temptation Way!"

"Maybe" Gerard nodded "but we're not saints Brian. We can't help it sometimes. Frank is a legal adult now, and I'm quitting my job, so it's not your responsibility anymore. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but I knew how you'd react."

"I think my reaction is completely justified given the circumstances!" He all but shrieked, looking like he was about to explode "how the hell could I let this happen! I knew you were trouble Iero but-"

"Hey" Gerard interjected "you can leave him out of this. This was my decision. I wasn't happy here and Frank showed me that, but it was always down to me at the end of the day."

"I think you need to clear out your stuff now" he gulped "get him to help you carry it, I don't care anymore, just get out of my church."

"I understand" Gee nodded "all my stuff will be gone by the end of the day."

"Don't you dare tell anyone else from the congregation Gerard" he then gasped "if anyone else knows the reputation of this church will be in tatters, you hear me?"

"We weren't planning on shouting it from the rooftops" I rolled my eyes, earning a myself a glare "so if you keep quiet then I'm sure we will too."

"Don't make it sound like I'm in on some dirty little secret here" he spat "because I'm not - I just care about my reputation and this church and what a scandal like this would do to it. I certainly don't care about either of you."

"The feelings mutual" I bit back the overwhelming urge I had to tell him exactly what we'd been up to on the sofa he was leaning against, and instead settled for leaning up and kissing Gerard on the cheek, much to his horror "come on babe, let's pack up your stuff."

I guess that was the final straw, because Brian stormed out of the room, muttering away to himself and probably trying not to faint.

"You're terrible" Gerard giggled, wrapping an arm around my waist "and I fucking love it."

"I know you do" I kissed him properly, his hands supporting my waist as I leaned up and let my tongue move against his own, lingering for a moment on his lips. "I can't believe we're finally free to do this in public."

"Well start believing it sugar" He murmured against my mouth. 

"We should get out of here you know" I'd been thinking about it for the past day or so "after Christmas maybe, just move away somewhere new. All my friends are talking about going to Uni or moving out anyway, and I don't think there's much for either of us round here." 

"That does sound good" he nodded, biting his lip as he thought "but what about your exams?" 

"It's not like I was ever going to do that well in them anyway" I shrugged "but if it made you feel better I could always come back and sit them or something, stay with Kellin."

"We'll wait till after Christmas" he nodded "that's only another month or so here, and that will give me time to search for a new job." 

"Deal" I turned, taking one last look at the office where we first met "I guess it's time to say goodbye to this room then?" 

"Probably for the best" he giggled "if these walls could talk I can't imagine they'd be too happy with us."

"Eh, it's the only action they'll probably ever see" I winked, watching him start to pack up his belongings. It didn't take long - he only had a few books and some stationary that he actually kept there. 

"It's so weird to be walking out of here and never coming back" He sighed, picking up his boxed belongings and taking his time to look round the room. 

"It's a huge change" I nodded, placing a hand on his back "but you're not doing it alone. We're going to be happier away from here Gee. We can just be us, no strings attached, no priesthood, no angry relatives." 

"No collar too?" he raised an eyebrow. 

"Oh no, you're definitely keeping that" he gave a bark of laughter and picked up his keys. 

"Come on then, let's get out of here before we scar Brian even more." 

And with that we left the church, him carrying his box, me walking beside him as we passed the few remaining members of the congregation. Neither of us looked back, because we didn't need to anymore. 

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Just the epilogue left now!