Gerard was trying to ease up on his personality a bit but he wanted to do the cheesiest, most romantic thing to Frank.

"He's coming," Josh said, smiling happily.

The door opened and Jamia and Frank walked into the school together like they always did. Frank stopped short when he saw Gerard. Gerard was standing there with a big sign that said 'You're the best part of moving to Bellville, I need a date to the dance, can you be that spot to fill?'

"Wow, this is just..." Jamia muttered.

Gerard held out a bouquet of lilies.

"What do you say?" He asked.

Frank blushed, looking around at everyone who watched them. He nodded, taking the bouquet. Gerard smiled and gave him a hug. People clapped before going on with their daily business again.

"Is this a little overboard?" Gerard asked. "I don't care, I wanted to do something amazingly romantic for you. And we are going to have the best time at the dance. It's not too late for me to ask, is it? I know the dance is coming up pretty soon."

"No, no, it's okay, I would love to go with you," Frank said.

"Oh my god, this is the cutest thing I have ever seen," Jamia said. "It is so romantic."

"Gerard, this is seriously amazing," Debby said. "Josh, why don't you do this for me?"

"Why do you have to up the standards for every other guy here, Gerard?" Josh asked.

"Really," Brendon agreed.

"I'm just doing something for my beautiful boyfriend," Gerard said. "Something that he deserves."

"Thank you," Frank said, blushing as he looked at the flowers.

Gerard smiled and kissed his cheek. Gerard took Frank's hands, pulling him away from the group towards his locker.

"So, you didn't happen to get another note, did you?" Frank asked.

"Nope, completely note free," Gerard said with a smile. "I told you, everything is fine. There was no piano dropping on my head while walking to school. No anvil, no nothing."

"This is serious, Gerard," Frank stated.

Gerard opened his locker, getting out his textbook.

"Frank, you can keep those in here if you'd like, I don't want them to be annoying to carry them around all day," he said.

"As much as I would love to show them off to everyone, thank you," he said.

Frank set his flowers in there on the little shelf.

"You are gonna look so good in your suit," Gerard said.

"Yeah, uh, I can't really afford a suit or anything," Frank said. "I just wear some jeans with a black long sleeve and a tie."

"Well, you will look cute in that no matter what," he said.

"Thanks, Gee," Frank said before sighing. "I'm glad I don't get so nervous around you anymore."

"Me too, as cute as you are, I'm glad to see you relax a bit more," he said.

"We should get to class," Frank said. "Thank you for this, though. Thank you for everything. I am really excited to go to the dance with you."

Gerard smiled, kissing his cheek. "Alright, let's go to class."

Gerard held Frank's hand, walking with him to class. They sat at their lab station, holding hands under the table.

"Hey, Frank, you dropped your pen in class on friday and I just wanted to make sure you got it back," some girl said, handing him a pen.

"Oh, thanks, Alicia," he said.

She smiled, going to her spot in the front of the class.

"A friend?" Gerard asked.

"Acquaintance, seen her at some parties and stuff like that," Frank said.

Class started and the two took notes, Gerard kept occasionally reaching over to doodle on Frank's notebook.

"I'll see you at lunch," Frank said when the class ended.

"Yeah, see you," Gerard said, kissing his cheek.

He walked down the hall but stopped when he saw Mikey. He was talking to Kristin and actually seeming confident. Gerard smiled, wishing he could hear what they were saying as Mikey touched her elbow.

"You know, it's creepy to spy on freshman," someone said.

Gerard turned around and saw Alicia.

"Oh, it's just my brother," Gerard said and Alicia nodded. "Is there something that you needed?"

"You're standing in front of my locker," she said.

"Oh, shit, I'm sorry," Gerard said, moving to the side. "So, you've known Frank for long?"

She shrugged as she opened her locker.

"We've been going to school together since kindergarten but I wouldn't say we're the closest," she said. "We're more of just class friends but not real friends, you know."

Gerard nodded, glancing at the stack of newspapers in her locker.

"Wow, quite the collection," he remarked.

"I like to read old articles," she said with a small shrug.

"Well, that's a little odd because yesterday I--"

"Gerard, I saw you over here spying on me," Mikey interrupted. "Stop being such a weirdo."

Gerard sighed and walked away. He went to his art class where he began working at his favorite table in the corner.

By the time lunch came, his stomach was growling. He sat at the table with Jamia, sighing quietly.

"Hey, do you know Alicia?" He asked.

"Oh, yeah, she's been going to our school for a while," Jamia said. "She used to have a crush on Frank freshman year, I don't know if she still does."

Gerard nodded, biting his lip. Frank sat down with his lunch, smiling happily. The others joined too and soon the table was filled.

"You know, Alicia has a crush on you and I found a bunch of newspapers in her locker," Gerard said.

"That's...did you ask her about it?" He asked.

"She said she just likes to read 'em," Gerard mumbled with a small shrug.

"That is a little weird," Frank said. "And she is a little weird. But she's really nice, I don't think she would do that."

"Maybe it's just some coincidence," Gerard said.

Frank smiled and nodded but Gerard was a little unsure. He decided to just brush it away, pushing it under the rug.

"So, You two should run for winter kings at the dance," Jamia said. "I mean, you're two of the most popular boys in the school, I'm sure that you would win. You would be the first gay couple, the first time to have two kings."

"I-I don't think I'm comfortable enough with my sexuality to do that," Frank said nervously. "I mean, I'm out and everything but...I-I don't know. It's just too soon I think. I'm not ready. I'm not comfortable enough yet."

"It's okay, Frankie, you don't have to run," Gerard said, kissing Frank's cheek.

"Everyone knows Jamia and frank are going to win," Debby said, rolling her eyes. "They always win."

"Not always," Jamia denied.

"Just most of the time," she said.

"Of course you two would win, you two would honestly make a really cute couple," Gerard said.

Jamia and Frank both looked at each other before looking down. Nobody at the table said anything, quietly eating their lunch.

"So, Jamia, do you have a date?" Gerard asked, breaking the silence.

"Well, Pete asked me to go with him," Jamia said with a blush.

Frank practically choked. "Like, as a romantic date?"

"Yeah," Jamia said. "He told me he had feelings for me and I've had a little crush on him and oh my god we were both so nervous and awkward when he asked me."

"Finally he asked you out," Josh muttered. "He's had a crush on you since, like, eighth grade. He was so upset when you started dating your last boyfriend."

"He is so sweet, I hope you two have a good time together," Debby said.

"Hey, Frank, you can borrow my brother's suit, he's got an old one that he grew out of," Gerard said.

"Really?" He asked. "Thanks, Baby."

"So we all have dates this year, this is perfect," Jamia said. "This is going to be the most perfect winter dance yet."

"Let's go dress shopping," Gerard said.

"I can't, I've already got a dress," Debby said.

"I'm up for it," Jamia agreed. "I wish you were wearing a dress too."

"I'll maybe wear a dress to prom, I'm just feeling a suit mood," Gerard said.

"You can have matching ties," Jamia said. "You two are so cute together, I swear."

Gerard smiled and held Frank's hand.

Lunch ended and by the end of the day Gerard was exhausted. He wished he could hang out with Frank but he knew that he had to go to work. He sat at the skatepark, relieved when he saw some of his friends walking in.

"Hey, Gerard," Pete said.

"Hey, heard you asked out Jamia," Gerard said.

"Yeah, I was so nervous, I thought that she would actually say no because were friends," he said. "But I am honestly so excited, I can't believe I'm gonna actually be going on a date with her next week. I'm gonna be taking her to the dance, and not just as a friend like usual."

"We are all very proud of him for finally getting the balls to ask her," Josh said.

"How's Debby doing?" He asked.

"She's good, fighting with morning sickness and stuff but other than that she's good," He said. "She's actually been packing stuff up, she's gonna try and move in with me next month."

"Congratulations," Gerard said. "You nervous to have a kid?"

"Yeah, I really am," Josh admitted. "I don't really know anything about babies. I don't know how the hell to take care of them but I'm getting some books about parenting and babies from the library so I'm hoping that it'll help me."

"Who's gonna watch him while you two are at school?" Gerard asked.

"I'm dropping out," josh said. "I'll watch the baby while Debby's at school and then I'll work the night shifts."

"Where at?" Frank asked.

"At this factory kind of place just at the edge of town," josh said. "Not very glamorous but it pays. I already work the afternoon shifts there so it'll be perfect."

Gerard nodded, biting his lip. It really was a lot different here than in North Brunswick. Brunswick might not have been the nicest but it definitely wasn't Belleville where the teen pregnancy rates were high and the dropout rates were even higher.

"Hey, Gerard, how are things going with Frank?" Pete asked. "We've noticed that he isn't stuttering around you as much as before."

"He's definitely gotten better, a lot less nervous," he said. "He is so cute, though."

"You wanna slate with us?" Pete asked.

"I wish I could but im really not good at skating," Gerard said. "I was actually just about to head home so I guess I'll see you guys later."

"Well, maybe next time we'll get you on the board," Josh said. "See you later."

Gerard nodded before walking out. He was on his way home when he passed by the Dairy Queen. He could see Jamia behind the counter, handing some little girl an ice cream cone.

"Saw you ask Frank to the dance," someone said.

Gerard turned and saw Alicia sitting on a bench eating ice cream.

"Yeah," He said. "What are you doing here?"

"Eating an ice cream cone," she said with a shrug. "You know, Frank wasn't gay until you showed up."

"Hate to break it to you but he's still not gay," he stated.

"Well, He was never into guys," she said.

"Whatever," Gerard mumbled. "Oh, and by the way, I know you have a crush on Frank and I'm not going to be threatened by you so just back off because trust me, I am not going anywhere."

Alicia stood up, smashing her ice cream against Gerard's chest before she stormed off. Gerard sighed, walking into the Dairy Queen bathroom to clean himself up. He ran into Frank when he walked out.

"Oh, hey, I was just about to clean the bathrooms, what are you doing here?" Frank asked.

"Alicia just threw ice cream at me," Gerard said.

Frank frowned in confusion.

"It's fine, it's okay," Gerard said. "I just wanna go home and take a nap, I'll talk to you later."

"Yeah, you too," Frank said.

Gerard gave him a kiss before walking home to shower and sleep.