Smoke. That's all it was. Frank was out for a smoke, and he knew why, and he didn't quite want to admit that to himself yet, but if he could admit one thing to himself, it was that he needed a smoke.

So that's what had lead him out behind the college campus, where not even the teachers knew existed. And he smoked. And that's all he did, because that's all he cared to do in that moment. Really he had come to sort his emotions out and all that shit, but obviously that's not what he found himself doing as he tried to avoid his emotions as much as humanly possible instead.

Rather, opting for a peaceful smoke, one that wasn't clouded with thinking, because Frank reckoned that he had probably just been thinking too much.

And the topic of his thoughts nowadays were of one particular person: Gerard Way, Frank's roommate who had far too much charisma for his own good. And Frank never intended to fall for him, because he knew Gerard only saw him as a friend, but somehow he still found himself falling, and he fell hard.

Perhaps it was strange to smoke alone, because Gerard had been the one to show Frank this smoking spot in the first place, and they had always come here together whenever they wanted a break from everything. And that, unfortunately, lead to them making some sort of more-than-platonic comments and remarks, and neither of them really thought about it then, but now, it was all Frank thought about.

Because it was the way that Gerard told him that he looked pretty in the dim light so casually, and how Frank would've been lost for words if he didn't have a high from smoking to boost his confidence. Gerard hadn't only told him that, but plenty of other things, like how his hair fell in front of his face in just the right way, or how he really should've thought before getting a scorpion tattoo on his neck that he still couldn't manage to hide. It was little things like those, that no one else had payed attention to, but Gerard had somehow, and Frank had no idea what to think of that.

Maybe Gerard was just a really forward and nice person. It's not like friends didn't flirt with each other sometimes, and Gerard was so charismatic that Frank wouldn't doubt if it was built into his bloodstream to be a flirt.

And Frank would've been concerned, had the dark figure approaching him caught him off guard. But it didn't. Because Frank knew that figure from anywhere, and he had spent the last four years with that red-haired boy. And of course, Gerard was everything Frank should've avoided in that moment, but Gerard was all he wanted to see right now.

"Smoking without me, Frankie?" Gerard spoke up, leaning against the same wall Frank was stood up against. "The least you can do is give me a cigarette as well."

"And why is that?" Frank turned to him, a small smile adorning his face. He would never miss the opportunity to lend Gerard a cigarette, but he liked making conversation with him. Asking him questions. Just to see what his response would be.

"Well I reckon I deserve something in return for showing you this place, don't you think? Besides, I didn't bring mine because I was too busy looking for you, so it would be really nice if you could just kindly give me one as like, a gift or something."

"A gift?" Frank chuckled, pulling a cigarette out from the box he was holding in his hand, giving it to Gerard. "You act likes it's Christmas Day or something."

"Might as well be," Gerard muttered, lighting the cigarette and putting it between his lips to take a drag from it. Frank took a drag of his own, mimicking Gerard's actions. "So why'd you take off here? You were in the dorm one minute and then the next you weren't. I had no idea where you went, you know."

"I just had to take my mind off some things," Frank replied. Specifically I had to take my mind off of you, but I guess that's not really going to happen, he thought to himself.

"Oh," Gerard said blankly. "Well if you need a distraction or something, I'm here now. So you can just talk to me." And really Gerard would hardly work as a distraction, considering Gerard is what Frank was trying to distract himself from.

Frank shrugged, inhaling the smoke and letting out a shaky breath. He hadn't realized how cold it was outside before. He had only worn a cardigan, but he didn't think to bring anything heavier like a jacket or something.

"Cold?" Gerard ask, noticing Frank shiver all of a sudden. Frank nodded, taking the cigarette out of his mouth and stomping it out on the ground. Gerard copied his actions, putting his own cigarette out and stepping closer to Frank. "We should probably go inside y'know? You'll get sick if you stay out in the cold."

"Sure," Frank said quietly, accepting that he wouldn't be able to get any time alone. He began walking back when Gerard caught up with him and put his arm around Frank, pulling him close so they were walking together. And oh boy, that really wasn't helping Frank take his mind of things.

Frank looked over at his best friend and raised an eyebrow, curious as to just what he was doing. Gerard noticed and just smiled. "Oh what? Is it really that bad that I'm trying to keep my best friend warm?"

"No I'm just wondering why you're holding me that close..." because their waists were pressed right up against each other and that was really messing with Frank's mind. He was falling deeper in love with Gerard everyday, and it was all because of small things like this.

"To keep you warm duh," he replied, rolling his eyes playfully. "Plus you don't mind because you love me," he teased. Well, he wasn't wrong per say, but he definitely didn't mean it like that, and oh god he had no idea just how true that statement could hold up.

They stumbled into the dorm, heading up the stairs and down the hallway when some random kid that Frank had seen around a few times spoke up. "Aw well isn't that cute! The household gays finally got together." He mocked, and Frank was about to step in but-

"And what's it to you?" Gerard spoke loudly, a pissed off tone in his voice. "Are you jealous or something? Just fuck off." And he brought Frank into their room and slammed the door shut in front of the kid outside.

Frank scrambled to his bed and laid down on his stomach in an attempt to hide his blush. Ugh why the fuck does he have to say stuff like that? He thought to himself, very much annoyed that he had to have these types of emotions.

He wanted to just lay there and fall asleep and maybe just never wake up, because then at least he wouldn't have to face his feelings. He groaned, still practically freezing, and still fed up with the entire world up into this point. And in that moment he felt extremely like an angsty teen and far too punk for his own good.

Soon he felt something being draped over him, and he recognized the soft material as a blanket. The bed sinked next to him and Gerard laid down beside him so that the blanket was over the both of them.

"Warm yet?" He giggled. His giggle was another thing that Frank almost died from. It was too much for him.

"I guess I'm getting there. Not quite though," he mumbled against the bed sheets. And he tensed up as soon as Gerard pulled Frank towards him, placing him on top of his chest.

Frank looked up at him curiously, and Gerard just smiled. "This ought to help you warm up, Frankie." He put his arms around Frank and held his waist.

Frank sighed and buried his face in the crook of Gerard's neck. "I don't understand you," he muttered, resting his hands on Gerard's shoulders. Gerard's shirt smelled nice. It must've been washed recently, because Frank could still smell the lavender on them.

Gerard giggled and ran his fingers through Frank's hair. "So are you going to talk to me about what's been on your mind lately?" Frank internally groaned. He didn't want to talk about that right now.

"You," he stated plainly, simply. Maybe Gerard would just leave it. No that was stupid, if someone said they were thinking about you, you would want to know what they were thinking about! How stupid.

"Me?" He asked again, and Frank sighed, nodding his head against Gerard's neck. "What about? Good things? Bad things? Talk to me, Frankie."

"I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing," he admitted. "That would be up to you. And I don't know how to feel and it's all messed up and I feel liked I'll be absolutely fucked if I tell you what it is, and I don't want you to hate me, so I really don't know what I should do."

"You can tell me Frank, I won't judge you or be mad. I promise." Gerard smiled at Frank, even though Frank couldn't see him because his face was still buried in Gerard's shirt.

Frank began fishing for something out of the pocket of his cardigan. When he finally found it, he handed it to Gerard hesitantly, not removing his face from Gerard's shirt. He couldn't bare to look him in the eyes right now. He was too nervous.

Gerard took the piece of folded up paper in his hand, and observed it carefully before unfolding it. He looked over the words written on it carefully.

It looked like a note that Frank and someone else had been passing in a previous class.

"Hey dude, do you want to come over to my room after class? Me and the guys are probably going to play video games or something."

"No thanks.
Im probably just going to go for a smoke afterwards. You have fun with that though."

"With Gerard? What is it, do you have a crush on him or something?" Gerard's heart raced as he read that line over again. No, surely not, he thought to himself. Frank couldn't like me... could he?

"I'd rather not talk about this right now. Just leave it alone."

"You totally have a crush on him."

"Ok, maybe, but what does it matter? It's not like I know what to do about it. That's the whole reason why I'm going for a smoke. I have no idea what the fuck to do." Gerard's eyes widened when he read it, and he looked at Frank who still didn't bother looking back at him.

And that was the end of the note, and Gerard folded it back up and placed it back into Frank's cardigan. He just sat in silence for a few seconds, trying to gather enough courage to say something.

"Please speak," Frank broke the silence. "You're just making me even more nervous." Hesitantly, he looked up at Gerard, just peeking his eyes to see Gerard staring back at him, with a look in his eyes he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Gerard slowly moved his hand up to Frank's cheek, stroking it with his thumb while continuing to stare into his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me before?" He spoke softly. "I would've understood."

"I- I was scared..." he replied. "I didn't know how you would react. I didn't want to lose you as a friend."

Gerard shook his head, messing with a few strands of Frank's hair. Eventually, he pulled Frank up to where his face was directly over Gerard's. He blushed, looking at Gerard's face and taking in every detail.

Gerard could feel Frank's breath hot on his face. He glanced down at his lips for a split second. They were slightly parted, practically begging to be kissed. Gerard knew that Frank wanted to kiss him as well, so he grabbed the back of Frank's neck and pulled him towards him urgently, their lips meeting in one quick movement.

Frank made an 'mmph' noise, not expecting Gerard to kiss him like that, but he immediately kissed back, grabbing Gerard's hair to have somewhere to put his hands.

Gerard took the opportunity to flip them over on the bed, pinning Frank's wrists against the mattress with his hands and deepening the kiss. Frank moved his tongue forcefully to Gerard's lips, and Gerard obliged, moving his own tongue out to meet Frank's.

It was probably the burning passion they had for each other that led them to kiss so much, because it definitely wasn't a normal kiss. But Frank finally had gotten what he wanted, and he was going to make it last.

And he did until they finally separated for breath, both awestruck and staring lovingly at each other.

"Woah," Frank said, making Gerard laugh breathlessly.

"Yeah," he responded. "Woah." Frank just smiled as if he had won the lottery, before Gerard pecked him on the lips once again and rolled off of him, laying beside him instead.

Frank shuffled closer to him, resting his head on Gerard's chest. Gerard put his arm around Frank's torso and held him close. "Y'know, I'm pretty warm now," Frank said.

Gerard chuckled. "Yeah, I'm sure you are, Frankie."