Chapter Twenty One

I woke up the next day with a hangover that wasn't too bad considering how good last night had been. I remembered dancing with Gerard, him probably leaving around midnight and then the party continuing till about 2am, which was when Kellin turned down the music and people started to either book a taxi home or shotgun a sofa.

I was lying in my bed, and when I opened my eyes I saw Ray was passed out on the floor, a pillow propping up his head.

"Morning" I groaned.

"Mppf" was the response I got as he squinted up at me "why the hell did I decide to sleep on the floor? My back kills."

"You were pretty drunk" I giggled, "I seem to remember you singing the whole of bohemian rhapsody at about 1am".

"You can't talk - you couldn't walk up the stairs properly so it's a miracle you made it to your bed. I think you and Jimmy were drinking tequila after Gerard went home." His words triggered a vague memory of downing shots.

"Sounds about right."

"Oh here" he passed me a stack of Polaroid photos "I put these up here for you for safekeeping."

I thumbed through them, looking at all the various photos of my friends before coming to the ones of me and Gerard. I traced his outline with my finger, loving how he was looking at me in them and how happy I looked to be there. I placed them down gently on the bedside table, figuring I'd raid Kellin's kitchen for some blue tack later to stick them up with.

"Come on" I stretched "lets go find some breakfast before the others eat it all."

When we got downstairs Kellin, Vic, Oli, Lynz and Kitty had already started clearing up the mess. Kellin was mopping, Vic was hoovering, and the others were collecting up any plastic cups and cans into bin bags. Jimmy was awake too, but he didn't really seem to be contributing much to the clean up.

"Need a hand with anything?" I offered.

"I think we're all good" Kellin replied "there's coffee on the side and toast on the dining table."

"You ready my mind" I grinned, jumping over the patch he was mopping to grab a slice. "Did everyone else go home?"

"I hope so."

"Any damage?"

"Nothing that can't be fixed or cleaned before my parents next get home" he shrugged as I ate "besides, it was worth it - that was one of the best parties I've had."

"It was nice to finally meet Gee too" Vic added "you guys seem really happy together."

"Thanks, we are" I grinned.

"So how did you guys meet?" Kitty asked, not noticing Ray gulp beside her and catch my eye.

"Oh, we just er, met.." I could feel my mind going blank.

"Through me" Ray quickly jumped in "I know Gee through my job at the record store, he comes in and lot and one time him and Frank got talking and the rest is history."

"Yeah, I'm a sucker for a guy with good taste in music" I added, shooting him a grateful smile.

"Cute" she turned back to cleaning the sofa, and luckily the conversation swiftly moved onto a debate over who everyone thought had been the drunkest at the party, and well away from my relationship.

I excused myself and walked out the back door into the garden, lighting up a cigarette and leaning against the garden table. The November air was cold but refreshing, definitely helping to clear my head but also making me wish I had grabbed my jacket on the way out instead of just throwing on a hoodie.

When my phone started to buzz I groaned, assuming it would be Ian with another errand to run. I highly doubted he'd care that it had been my birthday, in fact it was a blessing he hadn't called the day before. I wouldn't have put it past him.

So I was pleasantly surprised to see Ryan Ross' number on my screen.

"Hello?"

"Frank! Hey! Thanks for the party last night!" I could vaguely remember him calling in for a bit, but I don't think he stayed late.

"No problem, thank Kellin though - he's the one that organised it."

"Will do. I was actually calling for another reason though."

"Oh?" I stubbed out my cigarette "everything okay?"

"Great - it's about that competition. You, well, you won." I seemed to freeze for a moment, probably looking like some sort of rabbit in the headlights. "Frank? You still there?"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I am. My uncle loved your stuff, says he has all these ideas of how you could exhibit it - a mix of photography of your work and some new huge murals. He wants to come meet you soon and talk it all through properly."

"Fuck, I can't believe it" I gulped "that's amazing."

"I know, I'm so happy you won! You'll finally start getting some of the recognition you deserve!"

"Ryan, I seriously cannot thank you enough." I couldn't quite believe this was happening. I'd won something. For the first time ever.

"No problem Frank, as I said before - you seem like a guy in need of a break. I hope this is the one you need."

"I better go tell my friends" I laughed aloud as the realisation hit me.

"Go for it - I'll see you real soon." He hung up then, and I pinched myself lightly on the arm just to make doubly sure that this wasn't some sort of weird vivid dream I was having thanks to all the alcohol I consumed the night before.

I guess my disbelief was obvious, because as soon as I stepped inside Lynz looked at me with concern.

"What's happened? Are you okay?" She frowned, immediately putting down the mop.

"Better than okay actually" by now I had everyone's attention "Ryan just phoned. I won the art competition. My works going to be exhibited in London."

Before I knew what was happening, Jimmy, Oli and Kellin had all jumped ontop of me in an attempt to all hug me at the same time, whilst the others all cheered. We all fell backwards onto the sofa in a heap.

"Fuck yes!" Oli all but shouted.

"They couldn't have picked a more well deserved winner" Kitty laughed, looking down at us.

"Wish he'd told you yesterday, now we need another party" Kellin chuckled "but seriously - that's amazing Frank."

"It's better than amazing" Jimmy interjected, finally climbing off me "it's spectacular. It's perfect."

"Do you think you'll get a fancy gallery opening?" Lynz mused "we could all dress up and come as friends of the artist. And the critics will all come along and start calling you the next Banksy. Maybe you could be anonymous like him. Adds to the mystery...."

"I hadn't thought that far ahead" I admitted "but as soon as I know more I'll let you know."

"You should go tell Gee" Vic offered a hand to help me up "we've got enough people helping clean up here as it is."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes" Kellin confirmed from behind him "go tell him the good news Frank." I knew from the look in his eyes he was holding back on saying how much me and Gerard probably needed this.

*

Gerard was pleasantly surprised when he opened the door to me, and to my surprise instead of pulling me inside he stepped outside and kissed me.

"Stop asking to get caught" I giggled, moving past him to get inside.

"Don't care anymore" he just grinned "besides, nobody's around."

"Let's at least try to make this look like it started after I turned Eighteen. And not a matter of hours after."

"Hours, days, weeks, it's all legal from here onwards, who cares about the details?" He shut the front door and followed me into the kitchen "anyway, I wasn't expecting to see you here so soon. How's your head?"

"Not too bad" I was all but bouncing with excitement at this point.

"Well, you certainly have more energy than I thought you would."

"That's because I have some news."

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow "what sort of news?"

"Good for once" I couldn't hold it in for any longer "I won the art competition! They're going to put my work in a gallery! In London!"

"Holy shit!" He crossed the room within seconds and pinned me to the countertop, lips fiercely moulding against mine for a matter of moments before he pulled away enough that he could still hold my face in his hands "this is amazing Frankie. I knew you'd do it. I just knew."

"I actually have a chance to make something of myself Gee. Someone out there saw my work and thinks it's good enough to be in a gallery."

"Told you I wasn't the only one that had faith in you" he ran his thumb over my cheek "this is only the beginning too. Just you wait. You're amazing and now the world is finally going to see it."

I kissed him again, letting it last longer this time as I enjoyed the addictive feeling of his body pressed against mine, hands travelling up to tangle themselves in my hair,

"I love you" I gasped against his lips.

"I love you too" he mumbled, teeth closing around my lip ring and tugging it so that I couldn't help but moan.

I felt like perhaps I'd finally found a way out for us. If I could find a wake to shake Ian off my tail, perhaps there was something out there in the world of art waiting for me. I smiled, feeling Gerard's hand in mine as he pulled me upstairs, allowing myself to dream about a future together where nothing could penetrate our little bubble anymore.

*

I woke up a few hours later in Gerard's bed, sheets tangled around my legs and a warm patch in the bed next to me telling me that he'd probably only just woken up too. Sure enough, as I stretched and sat up he walked back into the room, coffee in hand and his hair all messed up from napping. 

"How long have I been asleep for?" I asked groggily. 

"A good hour or so I think. Here" he handed me one of the coffee mugs "do you wanna order a takeaway? Because I'd much rather stay here with you than cook."

"Sounds perfect" I grinned as he sunk back down into bed next to me "I'm starving now."

"Pizza?" 

"Always" He picked up his phone and started to order, knowing me well enough by now to know which toppings i'd want. "Don't get me wrong, the party last night was amazing. But celebrating by eating pizza with my boyfriend in bed is even better."

"I agree" he set down his mug and scooted closer to me so that he could wrap an arm around my waist and pull me to his chest "besides, better spend time with you now before you become a famous artist." 

"I'll always have time for you Gee."

"Yeah?" He asked softly. 

"Of course, why would you think otherwise?" 

"I dunno Frankie. It just hit me earlier, you winning this competition and getting the recognition you deserve, well, what if you do end up making it as an artist and there's no room for me in your life anymore?" 

"It wouldn't be my life without you" I rolled my eyes and climbed onto his lap, titling his chin so he had to look up at me "we're the real deal, okay?"

"Even if you end up meeting some super attractive artist, with some sort of exotic name and amazing tattoos?"

"Then i'll tell him my type of guys wear priest collars" I pushed his hair away from his face "and blush really easily when I remind him of it." 

"You should make me sound a bit more intimidating than that" he frowned "tell them I'll condemn them to hell or something if they flirt with you." 

"You have nothing to worry about. I wanna be with you forever" I kissed him. 

"Deal."