It was a week after Gerard's birthday and everyone was excited; they had decided that since they were out of school, they would do more things together. Everyone had piled into Wayne's old Chevy truck and driven to Camden to see a local band. They all felt about as excited as they were when they graduated; it was a big deal for young adults to go to the big city, and they weren't the exception. Everyone had put on their very best lax clothing despite the fact that they didn't have much in the way of clothing and kept their individual styles simple, they did try and put their best foot forward.

Gerard smiled warmly when everyone met up at his house. He, himself, had decided to go with a darker pair of jeans and a slightly newer, less musty, button-up shirt with his boots. Instead of losing another pair of glasses to make Donna shit in her pants, he opted for his scratchy contact lenses. He didn't have to wear his glasses as much anymore since he had presented, his eyesight seemed to slowly be correcting itself like Tyler's stutter that was also fading over time.

Speaking of Tyler, he and Josh were next to arrive. Tyler was in his usual black jeans and tank top but Gerard burst out laughing when he saw that Josh was dressed in his tan corduroy slacks and a maroon cardigan over a baby blue button-up - he had even matched his white yarmulke to his white sneakers. Tyler gave Gerard a 'shuddup' and a small growl for laughing at his best friend, and it wasn't the first time that Gerard suspected something between the two of them despite the incompatibility of their wolf class; he didn't want to bring it up.

The three of them waited outside on the porch when Frank came riding along on his bicycle, dressed in a pair of denim short overalls and a black polo, and his usual long socks and trainers. Gerard smiled brightly and got up, pulling his best friend into a hug, the sickly honey scent instantly invading his nostrils. He tried not to take a deep sniff of the omega as Frank's head pressed comfortably on his shoulder. He didn't realize how tall he had grown over the week now that he was an Alpha, but in comparison to Frank, it was noticeable.

Wayne arrived only five minutes thereafter with Awsten and Sam sitting in the bed of the truck. They all climbed out to regroup and go into the Way's kitchen. Awsten was just in jeans and a blue t-shirt and hoodie like always, with Wayne in his own black jeans and a white t-shirt as always. Gerard leaned in, giving Sam a kiss and a wide smile; they had become impossibly close since his birthday, their platonic relationship had been shifted and, even though there weren't any more sexual feelings between them, Gerard still felt closer to her. She was in a tight pair of black jeans, boots, and a flimsy white blouse with a black bra peeking underneath. Her platinum hair had grown out to push behind her ears and even when Gerard knew she hated her longer hair, it did suit her.

They chatted for a little while in the kitchen before they climbed into Wayne's truck - Tyler and Josh squeezed into the front with Wayne while the rest of the group sat in the flatbed. Awsten and Sam sat against the back window with Gerard and Frank sitting across from them against the side. Awsten slid his arm around Sam and held her close to him, so naturally, Gerard grinned at Frank before he did the same, making them all laugh. Tyler opened the window between them so that they could all talk and joke around on the hour-long drive out of town.

They got to the venue and everyone could sense the excitement in the air around the small outdoor entrance. There were people milling around, a lot of them around the same age or older. It was a local band in Jersey that was jumping around from town to town on tour before touring across the country. Because Clinton was as small as it was, and because Clinton was the type of town that it was, the genre of the music wasn't going to be welcome.

The genre of music would be about as welcome in Clinton as my sexuality, Gerard mused.

Everyone walked to the gate of the Waterfront Music Pavilion in Camden, pulled out their collective wads of cash for their tickets, and handed it to Tyler, who then handed it to the bulky man in the tight shirt. They were all given their tickets that were stubbed and their hands were stamped. Almost everyone in the group had been let in and they turned to see Wayne, who had been taken aside.

"Hey, you. Negro. What's in the bag?" The security guard asked and held out his hand for the backpack that Wayne had slung over his shoulder.

"Oh." Wayne smiled, "It's my friend's bag."

"Let me see." He stepped aside to let a group of people with backpacks go past without checking them, and it was easy to spot the fact that the small group of concert-goers was white.

"You didn't check their bags?" Wayne gestured to the teenagers that were already let into the grounds and looked at the guard again, "Why me?"

"Don't make me ask again. Give me the bag, negroid." The guard spat and Gerard could hear Tyler growl under his breath and clench his fists.

Wayne shrunk back and away from the beta guard and shrugged the backpack from his shoulder when Tyler stepped in and put his arm out in front of Wayne to stop him.

"What are you doing?" Wayne whispered to Tyler as he clutched the bag in his hand, "It's fine, Big Ty."

"N-No. It isn't. He's buh-being racist." Tyler scowled up at the bald-headed guard.

"Don't intervene." The guard looked at Tyler and took the bag from Wayne's hand, "I have nothing against you."

"But you have something against Wayne." Sam stomped over to stand by Tyler, her pixie face contorted with unbridled anger, "That's fucking awful."

The guard looked at them incredulously, "Stay out of this."

"It's a goddamn blanket and some fruit." Sam snatched the bag from the guard and put it over her own shoulder, "If I walked in here like this, would you check me?"

"I- Well, I-" The guard stammered before he squared his shoulders, "Don't make me throw you out."

"Do it then." Awsten went to stand by his girlfriend, "Then we want a refund and an apology."

"An apology? For what? Doing my damn job?"

"For being a racist," Josh called out but stayed by Gerard and Frank. The bulky guard adjusted the cap on his head and eyed Wayne again, to which Gerard instinctively let out a small snarl. He could tell that the guard was a beta, and immediately looked uncomfortable with the confrontation from a young Alpha. Tyler glared at him, and it was the last push that had the guard submit, he turned to look at Josh and pursed his lips. He muttered under his breath and brushed them off, wheeling around to help some impatient people who wanted to finally get in.

They all entered the grounds and looked around in awe at the large green field. There were people everywhere, sitting or standing on the grass in small clusters, Tyler pointed to a small spot in the middle of the grass before they all made the trek. Gerard looked around, squinting into the bright sun before Frank dug into his fanny pack and gave him a pair of sunglasses. Gerard took them and then realized, as he put them on, that they were his old spare pair. He smiled at Frank gratefully and they continued to walk behind Awsten and Sam who were holding hands contentedly.

Gerard's hand twitched to instinctively hold Frank's as they used to when they were younger but there were so many people around. He knew they were in a bigger town and people were probably a little bit more understanding about sexuality than they were in Clinton, but the last thing he wanted to do was ruin everyone's day because he wanted to hold his best friend's hand.

"Yuh-You okay, Wayne?" Tyler asked as they got to the spot where they had chosen to sit. Wayne just gave Big Ty a small smile as he and Sam unfurled the blanket that had been in the backpack. Sure, it wasn't going to be a sit-down type of concert but the show only started much later and they had gotten there early to get a good spot.

Everyone sat down on the blanket: Joshua was sat between Tyler and Awsten, who opened his long legs and allowed Sam to sit between them with her back against his chest. Gerard chose to sit next to Sam and gave her head a small kiss before he turned to Frank, who had just sat down beside him. Wayne perched between Frank and Tyler, completing the circle of friends on the old plaid blanket.

"Hey, Frankie." Gerard smiled as he watched Wayne start to unpack the snacks and place them in the middle of their circle, meticulously plating some fresh fruit that Sam and Frank had cut up for everyone - much to Gerard's dismay.

"Yeah?" Frank asked as he fiddled with his fanny pack and opened it, grabbing a small bottle of hand sanitizer.

"I, uh..." Gerard watched as Frank slathered his hands in sanitizer, his train of thought still on the right track, but his mouth refused to cooperate and he chickened out at the last minute, "...I dig your socks."

"Smooth," Sam commented before biting into a strawberry that Awsten was holding out to her.

"Thanks, Gee." Frank smiled as he reached out to grab a peach from the small pile and bit into it. Gerard immediately blushed and looked elsewhere. His eyes zoned in on a couple not too far away. Two men were sitting in the same way as Awsten and Sam. They were sitting openly, unashamed of their public affection. Gerard's eyes were almost burning a hole into their heads. He couldn't fathom their brazen display or why no one was punching them or calling them 'fags'. But was it because they were young and attractive, in an open-minded group, or because they weren't in Clinton? That sounded the same to anyone else, but to someone from the tiny town of three thousand people, there was a distinct difference. Frank turned to see what Gerard was looking at and smiled at the sight as he chewed on his fruit, looking up at Gerard, "Nice, huh?"

"Weird..." Gerard muttered under his breath, he looked at Frank to see a frown on his brows, "I mean, uh..."

"What is it?"

"Nothing." Gerard set down the apple he was about to bite into and got up, his hands shaking as everyone looked at him, "What? Never seen a grown man have a heart attack before? Well, then you've seen it here first, folks!" He spat in a British accent before he turned and almost ran for the gates.

He pushed out past some of the people trying to get in and went out to the gravel car park, climbing onto the back of Wayne's truck to sit down gingerly. The sun had been baking the fiberglass and it was definitely felt through the back of Gerard's shirt but he didn't care. It was the least of his worries. His heart was racing and his brain had started to short out. He couldn't understand why it had bugged him so much when he saw those two men sitting together like that. So what?

"Gee?"

"Please don't, Roberto." Gerard sighed and looked up to see Tyler standing beside the truck with a look of concern on his face.

"The guh-guys sent muh-me to come and luh-look for you." He explained, "We were wuh-worried."

"About me?" Gerard feigned shock and put a hand to his chest, "I say, good man, no mortal fellow need worry about good ol' Greaseball!"

Tyler smiled but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes, he could see right through Gerard's attempts at changing the subject and making himself look better than how he really was.

Gerard sighed again and dropped his head back down, "Was I that obvious? They sent you right away? The big guns straight outta the gate. Not even Wayne first?"

"Wuh-Wayne has his own thuh-things to deal with. What huh-happened back there?" Tyler asked as he climbed onto the truck and sat across from Gerard.

"Fucked if I know, Big Ty." Gerard shrugged and began fiddling uncomfortably with his shirt hem, his hands still desperate to touch anything when his mind was so active.

"Frank suh-seems to think he did suh-something wrong," Tyler added in and Gerard looked up in surprise.

"Cranky? Never!" He almost seemed appalled, "How could something so small upset me so much?"

"You'd buh-be surprised. Ruh-Remember when he buh-broke your Atari?" Tyler commented with a laugh and Gerard scowled.

"Damn, Iero."

"I thuh-thought you'd be guh-grateful to get out of Kuh-Clinton for a while," Tyler commented after a few moments of silence and Gerard looked up at the blue sky, noting how it was slowly turning orange as the day began to dwindle.

"I did too. It's nothing. I'm fine." Gerard shrugged, "You should go."

"I've nuh-known you since we were fuh-four, Way. You're n-not fine. If you could tuh-talk to anyone, it's me."

"Tyler..."

"Arthur."

"Don't 'middle name' me, sir." Gerard scowled at his longtime friend.

"Don't guh-give me a ruh-reason to, Greaseball."

"Go back to the group. I'll be fine, Big Ty." Gerard waved a hand, "Just needed some fuckin' air."

"Oh-Only if you tuh-tell me why you luh-left like that. I can accept your ruh-reason but you huh-have to have a beh-better reason to tell Frank or he'll buh-blow a guh-gasket." Tyler chuckled and Gerard automatically winced, thinking of his best friend and how he'd explode on Gerard in the angry and snippy way that he always did.

"I'm not used to the big city life." Gerard shrugged, "It's weird to see people being so open."

"How s-so?" Tyler frowned as he scooted closer. Gerard grimaced, hating how he felt about sharing his thoughts and feelings even just slightly, the thought of opening up made him feel seasick and clammy. Talking about how he felt without trying to be funny always made him feel like a nuisance or way too vulnerable. Everyone else in the group was able to talk so freely with one another on topics that troubled them, even Josh, who was usually so studious and introverted. And yet, it was something with which Gerard always struggled.

"I... Wow, is it hot in here? Maybe we should get some drinks or-" Gerard adjusted his gangly legs to get up when Tyler put a hand to his shoulder gently, but it had that Alpha undertone that made Gerard freeze instantly and submit, "God damn it."

"Talk to me," Tyler ordered in a soft voice and Gerard instantly balked. Even though he and Tyler were both Alphas, they both knew that Tyler was in charge. He was the Alpha male of the two and they were both perfectly okay with that; Gerard would never think to challenge Big Ty like that. And when Tyler told him to do something, he instinctively would.

"Those guys I saw, sitting so close, like Awsten and Sammy. It... It's so unnatural." Gerard whispered out and looked at Tyler to see a wide flash of shock across his face.

"Uh-Unnatural?" Tyler repeated, "For tuh-two men to have fuh-feelings for each other?"

Gerard looked away, instantly regretting his decision to try and explain his feelings. It never ended well when he tried to talk about his emotions or what was on his mind. He wasn't good at explaining.

"No. Not-..."

"Juh-Gerard." Tyler looked at him, his voice etching on a level of rigidity that had the latter grimacing again, "What the huh-hell is wrong with you? You have a puh-problem with people shuh-showing their love? Since fuh-fucking when?"

"T-Tyler. No. I-"

"Gerard, w-what the fuck?"

Gerard's heart was beating violently in his chest, his brain was screaming at Tyler to stop because it was getting out of hand and Tyler was not understanding. And yet, Gerard couldn't bring himself to say it no matter how much he tried. He stammered awkwardly to get any words out, but all that he managed was a small, strangled, "Tyler."

"That's aw-awful, Gerard. Why wuh-would you be so awful about puh-people loving who they want to love? W-Why would it mah-matter, Gee?"

Gerard's eyes were blurred with salty tears, his mouth open as he tried to breathe. He didn't mean to start whimpering, his body didn't usually react this way. But Tyler was angry with him for the wrong reasons, angry at him about being homophobic where he wasn't - or maybe he was? He didn't mean to be, but it had been so drilled into him for nineteen years that even if it was something about which he was envious, there was still his father's voice in his head muttering angrily about 'the fairies can't keep to themselves these days'. He didn't really care about the men and how they wanted to express their affection, but he couldn't shake the visceral reaction that made his skin crawl, and yet it was mixed with this sunken feeling of shame and longing. None of this came out of his mouth, even when he was floundering like a goldfish, trying to tell Tyler exactly what was happening and yet, he couldn't bring himself to express himself adequately.

"Are you kuh-crying?"

"No. Never," Gerard sat straighter and looked up, pushing his tears back as he clenched his fists tightly, digging his nails into his palms just as he always did when he found himself losing control of his emotions. He sniffed and whispered a defiant, "No."

"Gee..." Tyler's voice dropped, the softened sympathy that laced his voice was a clear indication that he suddenly understood, "I'm suh-sorry. I didn't know."

"Didn't know what?" Gerard laughed dryly, "That I'm a homophobe?"

"Gee, thuh-that's not- I didn't muh-mean..." Tyler sat up on his knees, "I know you're nuh-not. That's wuh-why I was surprised. Why were you kuh-crying?"

"I'm not gonna say it." Gerard looked up simply, putting that classic casual façade back in place, his voice a lot steadier than it had been.

"Okay." Tyler ceded, putting his hands up in surrender.

"Go back and tell them I'm not dead or anything. I'll come back when the show starts."

"I'll stay wuh-with you." Tyler smiled gently, "You're my buh-best fruh-friend, Gee."

"But what about Josh?" Gerard asked and Tyler looked up in surprise at the mention of the name, his eyes widening for a split second before he returned to his nonchalance.

"What about Josh?"

"Nothing..." Gerard shrugged, "You guys seem real close, is all. I mean, if I didn't know any better I'd say-"

"Gee, please don't." Tyler suddenly interrupted him, his eyes filled with worry, "Don't say anything. I can't- You don't understand-"

Gerard's eyes widened when he heard the panic first, watching as it spread all over Tyler's face. He didn't quite understand what Ty and Josh had between them, but it was clear that no one was meant to know. And if anyone knew what that was like, it was Gerard. He took Ty's hand and gave it a small squeeze, "Hey, it's fine, Tyler. I have no idea what I'm talkin' about." Gerard comforted his friend by patting him on the shoulder. Tyler looked slightly green in the face but nodded anyway, exhaling shakily as he patted Gerard's hand gratefully. Tyler let out a small chuckle and looked down, the golden sun turning his hair from its usual plain brunette to a brilliant warm brown that was tinted with shades of burgundy and onyx, an exquisite mixture that seemed to be made up of his parent's genes. It was almost blindingly beautiful to look at, so nondescript in the natural light that you wouldn't look twice; it was such a comforting color. Gerard reached out, running his fingertips over the neatly trimmed strands near his temple. Tyler glanced up with his brown eyes alight but didn't move, the smile still on his lips. Gerard smiled in return, he couldn't help himself - it was so contagious to look at Tyler for too long. It wasn't just Tyler being Tyler, it was his Alpha energy that was so intoxicating to everyone around him. Gerard was so lost as to how he and Tyler were even comparable in class. How was he an Alpha?

No one gravitated to him as they did to Tyler, no one threw themselves at him or touched him in the same way as they did with Tyler. It was astounding. Although, in Gerard's personal opinion, you had to be attractive beforehand for that to be a factor; something that Gerard knew he was sorely lacking. Even when he wasn't being labored by his enormously thick glasses, his posture was shit, his body was too skinny and too long, and his features were normal. Not like Tyler. He still had had a year to go to fully develop as an Alpha, both mentally and physically, but Tyler had the advantage, he was almost six-foot-four now, his body filling in with lean muscle and toning, and his features were also fuller in the face. He was still skinny and still lanky but it wasn't as obvious as Gerard's biological mess.

"I know thuh-that luh-look." Tyler interjected, breaking Gerard's thoughts like a pin to a bubble, "Stop thuh-thinking so loud."

"Stop analyzing me, Mr. Sex God." Gerard narrowed his eyes as Tyler's ears went bright red.

"I am nuh-not."

"Tell that to Joshua Dun." Gerard snickered and Tyler reached out to punch him hard in the shoulder. Gerard grunted, wincing at the powerful blow to his socket, his hand going up to hold his aching arm, "Jesus, Tyler. That fucking smarts, dude."

"Your muh-mouth is too fucking suh-smart, Way." Tyler flapped him with the back of his hand before grinning, "Just shut up."

"No can do, señor. Your lies, they smell like caca to me, Beeg Ty." Gerard put on his old Pancho Villa voice and Tyler let out a spitting laugh, falling back against the inner wheel-well of the flatbed, a hand on his stomach.

"God, I fuh-fuh-fucking hate thah-thah-that one." Tyler cackled as Gerard grinned with pride and sat back, putting his legs out in front of him.

"Ees true, señor Ty. Ees true." Gerard said gravely before he cleared his throat, "Tyler?"

"Yuh-Yeah?"

"If... If you did have something going on with someone, anyone, you'd tell me, right?"

"Gee, " Tyler frowned, "That's a huh-huge question. I mean, you're my buh-best friend but what if you tuh-tell someone? Even if it's by muh-muh-mistake. And the puh-person I'm with isn't ruh-ready for people to know. That's..."

"You don't trust me?"

"You're a buh-bad liar, Gee."

"Oh."

~

It was the loud sound of the band on stage that alerted Gerard to the start of the show, and the fact that he should probably go back to his pack, now that the situation had been rectified. He could hear the sound of the opening song; the local band, The Misfits, was one of Gerard's current favorites thanks to one of their crumpled posters he had found outside of Greene's pharmacy. Someone had clearly taken a look at Manny Martinez and had torn the poster down out of fear of the Devil himself. He and Tyler hopped out of the truck after being in there for about two hours. They showed their stamped hands to the guard at the gate and walked in. It was a lot darker now, just after sunset, and everyone was standing and cheering.

There were a lot more people in the venue now, the grass was covered in a large crowd of people that had shown up since he was last there. He was suddenly so worried about Frank being in such a large crowd; it wasn't even that Frank had anxiety in crowds, but he was a small omega and Gerard knew how people could be. He and Tyler wormed their way through the yelling and screaming throng, glad that they were both taller than most, and got to their small group. Gerard instantly noticed the lack of fannypack and leaned in close to Wayne, who was standing near to Awsten and Sam, "Where's Frankie?!"

Wayne turned to him and then scanned the area, punctuating his surveyance with a small shrug. "Last I saw him," Sam answered instead, "He had gone over to talk to some guy over there!"

Gerard followed the general direction in which she was pointing and squinted - Sure enough, he saw Frank. The crowd was still large but not immense enough that people were on top of each other, and there were still breaks in between the clusters of fans. Frank was standing and smiling, talking to a taller man with red hair and a Bowie t-shirt. Gerard raised an eyebrow when he saw Frank's hands clasped in front of him, his one foot back and pointed as though he were leaning closer, his eyes batted by his long lashes. He was flirting.

"What the flying fuck?" Gerard muttered to himself and then looked at Tyler, who seemed to have espied the scene, too.

"Wuh-Well then, didn't suh-see that kuh-coming."

"I don't think so." Gerard started towards Frank when Tyler put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

"Luh-Leave them be."

"But what if he hurts him?" Gerard looked between his pack Alpha and their only omega with a painful jolt ticking at his heart, "I swear to God-"

"Fuh-Frank is fine. And uh-until he isn't, you stuh-stay here." Tyler warned. Gerard scowled, glaring at Frank as the small omega laughed. Clearly, whatever the guy had said was very funny, and Gerard was seething with jealousy; he was the only one allowed to make Frank laugh like that.

"Come and enjoy the show." Sam called to Gerard, "I'll flash you."

Gerard turned to look at her and walked back into their small group to try and enjoy the music. Sam lifted her shirt, showing him one of her boobs that was nestled in a black bra, "Thanks, Sammy." Gerard smiled, appreciating the thought, "That means a lot."

She merely returned to watching the show with Awsten who had wrapped his arms around her and put his head on her shoulder. Awsten stood behind her and swayed to the music, his arms around Sam's waist. Gerard looked up at the four men playing on the stage before he closed his eyes, leaning his head against Awsten's arm as he listened to the sound of the music.

He was lost in his own world for at least two songs before he opened his eyes again, blinking a couple of times. He looked up sheepishly at Awsten, who gave him a kind smile, and then looked over to see Frank curled up in the taller man's strong arms, the two of them way too close for Gerard's liking. He watched as the beta whispered in Frank's ear and made him giggle. Gerard felt a low snarl in his chest and he looked at Tyler, his eyes flashing bright green with fury before he turned and marched over to Frank. He tapped the guy on the shoulder and was immediately ignored, earning a small frown from Frank that only made him angrier. Gerard then forcibly pried Frank from the beta's grip and let out a snarl, and it immediately made Frank's eyes flash bright purple.

"Gerard, what the fuck are you doing?"

"You leave him alone!" Gerard seethed heatedly when Frank slapped him in the arm.

"Hey! You leave him alone." Frank scowled at the Alpha; he was absolutely furious, "Go away, Gee."

"You know this loser?" The beta asked and Gerard let out a snarl again. He brought his arm back, he was about to punch the hell out of the guy when his fist was stopped, and he turned to see Wayne and Josh behind him, both their faces a mixture between confused and annoyed.

"C'mon, Gee. Leave them. Frank's making friends."

"The hell he is." Gerard dropped his arm but squirmed out of Wayne's grasp, "Why does he need more friends? There are seven of us, for God's sake. It's bullshit."

"Go away." Frank scowled again as he stepped into the beta's arms and was wrapped up against his broad chest.

"Yeah, Gerard. You heard Frankie-bear. Go away." The beta crooned as he pulled Frank closer and eyed the Alpha victoriously. Gerard turned on his heel and stormed off past Josh and Wayne, walking to his friends where he spun around a couple of times, unable to find an outlet for his pent-up energy. He was panting, furious, and unable to comprehend what had happened.

"Gee. Gerard- Gerard!" Sam grabbed him by the shoulder, "Calm down."

"What the- What just..." Gerard breathed, "Why? And who? I just... Sam-"

Sam gave Awsten a small glance before he let her go and took Gerard by the arm. They walked through the crowd and stood right at the back of the venue and out of earshot. "Relax." She gave his shoulders a gentle squeeze as they locked eyes, "Frank's never been to a big city. He's never gotten to experience open sexuality before. He's exploring and finding himself. And besides... It's Frank. He can take care of himself. We aren't going anywhere without him."

"Sure. I just..." Gerard scowled back in that direction, "Don't like the way he was holding him."

"But Frank likes it. Do you want Frank to be happy?"

"Of course, Sammy."

"Then let him be happy." Sam urged, "If he makes mistakes then we'll be here to help him."

"Fine." Gerard sighed, "He's so lucky. He's braver than I am."

"Do you want to be in that guy's arms?" Sam asked with an eyebrow raised. It was that simple question that had Gerard realizing this was going downhill fast, and at the bottom of that hill was a pit. In that pit was a festering pool of miasma that Gerard wanted to ignore. "That pool" was also another name for his feelings.

"Sam, no. I- Well, yes. No." Gerard ran his hand through his greasy hair and blew out a breath of fresh air. She handed him a cigarette and a lighter, he gladly took it, his hands shaking. He put the cigarette in his mouth and lit the end of it, inhaling as deep as he could, hoping it would reach his very soul. The smoke burned his throat and he closed his eyes, exhaling the plume as he instantly took another drag. Sam plucked the cigarette from him and sucked in her own inhalation.

"I don't know what I want, I don't know anything right now. I just know that I don't like what was happening there." Gerard scowled as he toed the grass with his shoe.

"It's not your call to make, Gee."

He nodded, "Fucking asshole kid."

"Who? Frank?"

"Yeah."

"Just let him have his moment, he can't do that in Clinton at all. It's probably so exciting for him."

Gerard was about to answer when he heard a familiar squeal of laughter and he turned to see Frank being pulled out of the crowd by the same beta, both of them running in the direction of the closed snack shack. Gerard's eyes widened as Frank and the beta disappeared into the dark alleyway, he didn't want to think about the possibilities.

"Why are you so protective?" Sam frowned as she took one last drag, squashing the stump under her shoe, "Do you like him?"

"No more than I ever did. He's my best friend, but he's an omega. And he's just running off with a beta, some unworthy piece of shit. He doesn't deserve-"

"I'm a beta." Sam folded her arms and stared at Gerard with cold looming in her peridot eyes, "Am I not worthy, either?"

"God, no. Sam, you're priceless. And your status means nothing to me. None of yours do. But... Frank can do so much better than that."

"Just because Frank can do better, doesn't mean that that's what he wants. He's his own person. You should take care to remember that."

"Alright, alright, Collins. Go easy on me." Gerard held his hands up and then sighed, "I don't wanna know what he's up to."

"You don't. Keep it that way." She looked at him, "I'm going back, okay?"

"I'll follow you in a minute." Gerard stated and then added on when he saw her dubious glare, "I won't follow him, I just want some air."

"Fine." She narrowed her eyes before she turned and walked off into the crowd.

"Won't follow him but I can walk until he comes into view. Smart plan, ol' Way." Gerard put his hands in his pockets and began trudging along the grass until he passed the snack shack. The closer he got, the more in-tune his Alpha ears were becoming. There were huffs of breath and soft sounds of pleasure that had Gerard's hands feeling clammy. He stopped, peering into the alleyway when he saw what he had hoped to be untrue - Frank was pressed up against the side of the wall, his legs wrapped around his new friend, knees in the crooks of the betas elbows. His overalls lay discarded on the ground as well as his fannypack. He was in just a t-shirt and his trainers, his head cast back in the crisp moonlight, his mouth open as he was pushed into repeatedly. Gerard's eyes widened at the realization, feeling completely idiotic that it took him so long to realize what was happening. He scrambled back before he ran into the crowd, pushing brutishly through everyone before he came into contact with Tyler's back. The pack Alpha turned, about to lecture the rude person who shoved him, when he saw it was Gerard - and a very flustered Gerard at that.

"Wuh-Where were you?"

"Went for a walk." Gerard waved both hands in a flapping motion, "This gig is boring, man."

"It's not ee-even three-quarters fuh-finished, Gee." Tyler frowned, "And I thuh-thought you luh-loved The Muh-Misfits? This was yuh-your idea."

"They're better on cassette." Gerard shrugged coolly, "I wanna get outta here."

"And guh-go where?"

"We should go and grab a milkshake." Gerard forced a smile, "What do you think?"

"It's not juh-just up to me. There are seh-seven of us after all." Tyler reminded his friend, who looked crestfallen when he saw how everyone was enjoying themselves. Tyler looked back at Gerard, "We can get a muh-milkshake when it's oh-over. I saw a duh-diner back d-down the road."

"Right."

~

An hour later and everyone was sitting squished into a red leather booth in a small retro-style diner off of the highway. Maybe it wasn't even retro. Maybe the checkerboard floor, red leather seats, and chrome tables were all from the 50s anyway. And usually, it would have been a gimmick that Gerard could enjoy, make a joke about, or even try and hit on the waitress in her teal dress and apron, but not today. Not after witnessing a true crime to human nature. Gerard was sitting right on the end beside Tyler, next to him was Josh who was next to Wayne. Beside Wayne was Awsten and then Sam, and right across from Gerard on the other end was Frank. Gerard stared at him for ages, unable to get the mental image out of his brain of Frank pressed between the wall and the beta, his knees to his chest with his head thrown back. He couldn't see Frank the same way and it was burned into his head forever.

"What, Gee?"

"Nothing, Frankie. Nothing."

"Don't call me that." Frank scowled as he took a sip of his chocolate shake. Gerard didn't respond for once, his nose still able to pick up on the smell of the beta on Frank. He caught sight of Sam giving him a pointed look, and he grimaced and looked away, his own caramel shake discarded as his appetite dwindled.

"So, Greaseball..."

"Yeah, Beanpole?" Gerard looked over at Awsten, who was smiling back at him.

"Enjoy the concert?"

"It was... Sublime." Everyone stared at Gerard in anticipation, waiting for him to break out into a voice or a joke but he remained silent.

"And now, Way?" Josh asked, his voice in a playful sneer, "Cat got your tongue?"

"No, I wish I swallowed it. Although, I'm not the best at swallowing tongues. That title belongs to Cranky over here." Gerard announced, "Right, Frankie?"

Frank's eyes went wide, "Wh-What the fuck are you talking about right now?"

"Shuddup, Gee," Josh muttered under his breath and Tyler nodded in approval.

"Oh, don't act dumb. I saw you and your precious beta going at it behind the snack shack. 'Oh, oh, harder. Harder, Shaun'." Gerard scowled and Frank went red in the face, pulling out his inhaler to puff on it.

"Gerard!" Sam seemed horrified that he had dropped such a huge bomb in front of everyone.

"So, it's not like you didn't know?" Gerard snorted, "Puh-lease. He didn't have to say a damn thing. We can smell it a mile off, that omega smell. Was I the only one who was going to say something?"

"Yes." Every one of them replied in unison besides Frank, and Gerard recoiled.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, jerk?" Frank leaned in, "Who gives a crap what I do? I'm allowed to do what I want."

"Or who you want." Gerard added in, fist curling on the table, "Although, you weren't the one who was doing anything."

Frank let out a snarl at Gerard, who let out an even louder, dominant growl that had everyone in the group recoil and stiffen except for Tyler, their natural instincts kicking in. Tyler looked around, speaking calmly, "Now eh-everyone just kuh-calm down-"

"I will not fucking calm down!" Frank hit his two hands on the linoleum table and stood up, planting his feet on the tile next to Gerard to peer over him angrily, "Not until this fucking dipshit apologizes for being the world's biggest perverted moron! Fucking bullshit!"

"Excuse me?" Gerard then stood up, towering over Frank, his inner Alpha suddenly bristling at being challenged by one of his own. He bared his teeth, "What the fuck did you just say to me, omega?"

"You- You heard me." Frank spat, his mouth moving fast as he spewed his anger, his face turning a brilliant shade of salmon pink, his eyes on the verge of glowing that surprisingly intimidating shade of lavender, "Fucking- Fucking spying on me. Fucking- Being a total asshole."

"At least I'm not being a slut." Gerard quipped back. Frank and Sam both let out an aghast gasp before the entire table fell silent. Frank's eyes were welling with tears as he stared up at Gerard incredulously, the sight instantly had Gerard regretting every single life decision up until that point. He hated seeing Frank cry, and he hated it, even more, when he was the cause. He slowly sat back down, letting out a shaky breath, "Frankie, I'm sorry. I wasn't-"

"No." Frank held up a hand, his lips curling into his mouth as he closed his eyes and looked back up at Gerard, "Save it. I don't want to hear about it." He looked at Tyler as he put his share of money on the table, "I'll be in the truck."

"Frank, wait-" Sam called out as he walked to the door and out into the parking lot. Then all eyes turned to look at a sheepish Gerard, who was staring down at his own hands with intense interest. He flinched when he heard the truck door slam shut from outside, and tried to ignore all five pairs of eyes glowering at him with utter disappointment and chagrin.

"What the huh-hell is your pruh-problem, Way?"

"I'm just a perverted moron, remember?" Gerard stated simply, turning to get out of the booth, "Or a greaseball. Or a loser. It's the only way anyone sees me. Good ol' good for nothing except for the jokes."

Gerard walked out of the diner and went to the truck where he saw Frank sitting in the passenger seat, turned to the side and away from anyone. He was drawing small shapes in his own fogged breath on the window whilst Gerard walked over and opened the driver's side door.

"Get the fuck out." Frank murmured quietly, "I don't wanna talk to you."

"Then don't talk." Gerard shrugged as he climbed into the cab of the truck, flinching at the lack of space for his mile-long legs, "I'm sorry for what I said, I don't know why I said it. I don't know why I've acted like this all day. It's not like me at all. I just... I don't know, Frank. I never know anymore."

"Well, you were being a giant dick for no reason. That guy was perfectly polite and he made me laugh and he didn't hurt me once." Frank turned to look at his jaded companion, "Why were you trying to protect me? I'm not yours to protect."

"You're still my best friend, Frank." Gerard scoffed, reiterating his main thought, "And it upset me so much to see you with some guy. You deserve so much better. Better than a king. Better than a giant ten inch-"

"I was just having fun, Gee." Frank scowled and folded his arms, "And you just ruined everything."

"I did..." Gerard trailed off. He could see the gang inside still sitting at the booth, they were smiling and laughing and telling jokes without him.

"What the fuck gives, Way?"

"I have no idea. I think... I just... I was being too protective because I'm not used to us being in a big city where anything could happen to you. You could have been hurt or..." Gerard grimaced at the thought and couldn't even bring himself to say it.

"But I wasn't. So why are you still being an asshole when everything was fine? What did I do to make you so fucking infantile?"

Gerard recoiled again as Frank's voice rose, "You're an omega, Frank. You're..."

"What? What exactly am I? What about my status has changed me so drastically from the person you know? Does being an omega change the fact that I stood up to my mom? Does it change the fact that I was fine even after breaking my arm that summer? Even though it was my own fault because I thought it was fine to climb a tree? I'm still fucking fine, Gerard. All that time I was an omega. I have always been. How the fuck is it different now?"

"Because... Because now we know you are. And everyone does. They can smell it on you. And some people have a twisted sense of what an omega is, Frankie. We read the paper in Clinton. You know what happens to omegas who trust too easily."

"Well..." Frank trailed off, losing his steam when he realized that what Gerard was saying made sense, "I understand that, Gee. I get it. But you made me feel like shit for having fun. What if that was us? What if that was you and me in that alley? Would I still be a slut for having fun?"

Gerard's head was bombarded with mental images and he yelped in fright, "Wh- No! No, of course not. Never ever, Frank."

"Then explain it to me."

"Frank, I said I was sorry. I said it was an accident. I got mad and it just slipped out, I wasn't thinking. I never think."

"No, you don't." Frank scowled, slapping Gerard hard on the leg, "Fucking Alpha. Idiot."

"I'm sorry, cranky-head."

"Yeah."

"So..." Gerard sighed out and closed his eyes for a second before he turned to look at Frank, "Since I'm your best friend and you can tell me. How was it?"

Frank tried to hide his smile but a small laugh escaped, he looked out of the window and went pink, avoiding the Alpha's prying gaze and stupid grin, "It was... Nice."

"Is that all? You had a dick in you and it was 'nice'."

"Well, it's hard to follow up after having sex with an Alpha. Even though it was a year ago, it leaves quite an impression."

"Oh, is there a difference?"

"About a five-inch difference." Frank chuckled, "But he knew how to use it so I wasn't complaining. It was good."

"So, then why did you say it was only 'nice'? Did he do something weird? Was he too quick?"

"Because it was... Well, dirty." Frank scrunched his nose up, "Not the dirty that sex should be but... It was outdoors and rushed. And I was against a fucking wall for shit's sake."

Gerard snorted at Frank's disgusted face and watched as he pulled his inhaler out again, giving himself two pumps of it at the mere thought of the dirty space, "Same ol' Frankie."