Classes were getting a little busy and recently I've found myself holed up in my studio as I worked. I stared at the diagrams on my screen when the door opened. I looked up and looked at Bert with a small smile. He sat down at his desk with a small, defeated sigh. I took off my headphones.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Stress," he replied.

"Wanna talk about it?" I asked.

"It's just family stuff," he said. "How's it going with you? How's Andy? I don't think I've seen him around."

"He moved away," I said. "I'm dating this other guy now, Frank Iero. I think. I know we said we want to be exclusive but I'm just nervous and I haven't really seen him since we kissed even though I live with him because I've just been working a lot and getting rides a lot from another friend."

Bert looked a little overwhelmed from all the info as he looked at me.

"So, how's this Frank guy?" He asked.

I blushed. "He's really nice."

"I'm glad you found someone new, I kind of hated Andy," he said.

I shrugged. It almost feels like I'm starting to understand what Andy did. Sometimes it makes my head spin. I know it wasn't good but it's hard to blame him for it instead of myself. Maybe I've been holed up in the studio because I've been unknowingly avoiding Frank because I've been so confused.

"Does Frank go here?" He asked.

"Yeah, yeah, he's a freshman," I said.

Bert nodded, powering up his computer.

"Did you get dinner already?" He asked and I shook my head. "I can get us pizza delivered."

"No, you don't have to do that," I said.

"It's chill," he said, typing something on his computer.

I bit my lip as I looked back at my screen. My phone buzzed and I looked down at the text.

Frank: hey, did you need a ride home today or were you gonna get one from Jamia?

I sighed.

Gerard: I'll probably get one from Jamia, working on a project right now

Frank: no worries, I'll see you later

There was a pang of guilt in the pit of my stomach. Frank sounded mad at me. Is he mad at me? Maybe I should text him and tell him I can go with him. No, it's okay. Frank wouldn't hurt me. Would he? No. But I deserve it. I tapped my middle finger to my thumb as I worked.

"You okay?" Bert asked.

I nodded, biting my lip. There was a small hiss as he opened up a can of soda but that was quickly diminished when the door burst open. I flinched, looking over at Lindsey who had her arms full and had most likely kicked the door open. Bert hurried to help her carry everything in.

"What is that?" I asked.

"We are having a Halloween party," she said. "Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year so my party is the Saturday after."

"We?" Bert asked.

"Yes," she said. "Other majors throw parties for their majors but we're such a small major. So this year graphic will also be throwing a party and everyone is invited so it is gonna be huge and the best party this campus has ever seen."

"Where are you throwing the party?" Bert asked.

"Did I mention my parents are away that weekend?" She asked.

"How convenient, did you murder them?" Bert asked.

"It's gonna be fun and costumes are required," she said. "You should be sure to bring your new friends, Gee."

"Wait, wait, wait, hold up," Bert said. "By 'we' throwing a party is it just you wanting to throw a party but not wanting to pay for everything or help set up and clean up by yourself?"

"No, why would you think so low of me?" She asked. "But it's thirty bucks for the food and alcohol and if you could be at my house an hour before that would be great."

Bert laughed and threw a ball of paper at her.

"So, Gee, you in?" Lindsey asked.

"I should probably ask Frank permission first," I said.

"Frank? What happened to Andy?" She asked.

"Gee found himself a new hottie," Bert said.

Lindsey smiled and high fived Bert.

"Oh, this is gonna be the best Halloween party yet if that asshole doesn't come," she said. "I've been hearing weird rumors from his frat brothers. Apparently they think it's all freaky that he just fell off the face of the Earth. He's not answering any form of contact, can't use find my iPhone or snap maps or anything."

"He went to military school," I said. "He doesn't have his phone so it's probably shut off so the location services wouldn't work."

"And this, my good friends, is why we don't gossip because that makes perfect sense," she said.

"He deserves it, hope he gets his ass kicked by some drill sergeants," Bert said. "You look a lot better, Gee."

My bruises have started to fade so they don't look nearly as bad anymore.

"Do you know if Frank and his friend could make it to the party?" She asked.

"I would have to ask, I'm not sure," I said.

"Okay but you have to dress super cute," she said. "I know sometimes people only do half-ass costumes because it might seem lame to fully dress up or something but this is all out costumes."

"I dig that," Bert said. "Or is that your excuse to dress slutty?"

"Hey, I'll have you know I always dress slutty," Lindsey said. "I'm thinking about being a fireman. Or firewoman, I suppose. Fuck it, get rid of the gender alltogether and call them firepeople."

"Where do we even get costumes?" Bert asked. "You're giving us pretty last minute options."

"The Halloween store down the street, obviously," she said. "You guys wanna see mine?"

She reached into her box of supplies and pulled out a costume, which consisted of very short black dress with reflective yellow strips on it and a plastic fireman helmet.

"Wow, where's the rest of it?" Bert asked.

Lindsey smiled proudly, setting it down. She seemed too excited to sit down as she fiddled with items on her desk.

"You should wear something cute too, Gee," she said. "Something sexy for your new man."

"Oh, I don't know," I mumbled. "We aren't really at that point yet."

"Oh, have you two not talked about boundaries yet?" She asked.

"We've only ever had one kiss," I said.

"Oh, so you're in that phase," she muttered. "It's okay, Gee. I know things are awkward and scary but you'll both fall into rhythm with each other eventually."

Bert's phone dinged and he mentioned going to meet the delivery guy before he left. He came back with a large pizza, setting it onto one of the empty desks with some napkins. We all circled around and took a slice of the pizza, trying to cut through the gooey cheese.

"Thanks for this," I said.

"Of course, Gee," Bert said. "You can take as much as you want."

I gave him a small smile before sinking down into my seat to eat. I continued doing some work when I heard some muffled laughing. I looked at the door and saw Bob and Brendon in the window. They were talking and laughing, pointing over at me. Bert and Lindsey quickly took wind of what was happening. Lindsey came to my side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders while Bert went to the door.

"You better fucking leave," he said. "I'll beat the fucking shit out of you both."

Bert opened the door and shoved them back. There was muffled arguing before they left our wing and Bert came back.

"I-I think I should go," I said, sending a text to Jamia that I was ready to head back home.

"Gee, they are the absolute most shit stains on this Earth, they don't deserve shit," Lindsey said. "Nothing they say actually means anything, they'll say anything just to make you feel worse because they just want to feel a little power to compensate for their small dicks. You're perfect, Gee."

"Don't listen to them, they're disgusting," Bert said. "Like Lindsey said, nothing they say is true at all."

"I'm gonna go," I mumbled, setting down my half-eaten pizza.

"I'll walk you," Bert said.

I nodded as I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulders. We walked out to Jamia's car where she was waiting. I gave Bert a hug before getting into the passenger seat.

"Hey, how's everything going?" She asked.

I shrugged, looking out the window as she drove. She took the silence as a cue for me not wanting to talk as she turned the music on. The whole time it felt like there was a hard lump in my throat and my face was hot as I tried my hardest not to cry. I fumbled for the door handle when we got home and I went up to my room. Frank must've heard me walking past his room because he was standing in my doorway in a minute.

"You okay?" He said quietly.

I looked up at him from where I sat on the couch and nodded, but I could feel my lip quivering.

"Can I sit with you?" He asked.

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. Frank sat down and the way he looked at me with complete sincere, kind eyes made me break down crying. I fell into his arms and he held me tight. Within moments, the stress and anxiety I had been holding it felt like it was all being released after breaking down a dam.

"It's okay," Frank whispered softly as he ran his fingers through my hair. "What happened?"

"I-It's just...I..." I paused to take a deep breath. "A-Andy's brothers..."

"Did they bother you?" He asked.

I shrugged. "Th-they mocked me from m-my studio door... maybe I-I'm just overreacting."

"No, you're not," he said. "You're feeling what you're feeling, it's not an overreaction."

I sniffled, nodding my head. I sat up, wiping my eyes. Frank went to the bathroom before coming back with a tissue box.

"Do you want to talk about it more?" He asked and I shook my head. "Do you want to be alone?" I shook my head again. "Do you want to watch a movie?"

I hesitated before nodding my head. Frank grabbed the remote and turned on a movie. It was a cute Pixar movie. I curled up next to him and he smiled as he kissed my cheek.

"Frank, a-are we, like, dating?" I asked.

"I would like to," he said. "Will you be my boyfriend?"

I sniffled as I nodded.

"Hey, Frank, my friends are throwing a Halloween party and I was wondering if I could go," I mumbled.

"Gee, you don't need my permission, you can do whatever you want," he said.

"Okay," I mumbled. "Do you want to go with me?"

"I would love to go with you, Gee," he said.

The tears made my eyelids feel heavy and the crying tired me out, causing me to quickly fall asleep in his arms.

~~

Should Frank and Gerard wear matching costumes? What should they wear?