two: a really good idea

"Guys, I really do not think this is a good idea," Gerard said shakily as Mikey reached into his bag and pulled out the ancient ouija board.

"It'll be just fine," Ray said, smiling excitedly. "Right Mikes?"

"Fuck yeah, this is gonna be so sick," Mikey grinned and Gerard curled further in on himself.

"What if we die?" he whispered and bit his lip anxiously.

"We won't fucking die, doofus," Ray giggled and shook his head, opening the box and pulling out the planchette and the board. "I mean it, everything's gonna be fine. I'm sure we won't even find a ghost of whatever the fuck. This shit isn't real, anyway."

Gerard eased up a little bit at this, but his bottom lip was still caught in his teeth. "Okay," he squeaked. "But we gotta close it up fast if anything happens, okay guys?"

Mikey and Ray exchanged glances. "Uh... sure, Gee," Mikes said, knowing that Gerard would see straight through his lie.

"Fuck you guys."

"Please, Gerard? I promise if something gets outta hand that we'll close it, kay?" Ray pleaded.

Gerard considered what the two meant by 'out of hand' but before he could overthink it, he nodded. "Fine."

Ray and Mikey looked extremely pleased. They all shuffled so they were sitting with Gerard in the middle, Ray and Mikey on both of his sides, all of them facing the board. Mikey and Ray placed two fingers on the planchette, and after Ray gave him a look, Gerard did too. They opened the board with no problem, and when nothing happened, Gerard relaxed a little bit.

"If there are any spirits in this room with us right now," Ray began, startling Gerard. "Will you please make your presence known, knowing that we mean no harm and no offence by anything we do or say."

The planchette jolted to the 'hi' and Gerard's heart jolted with it.

"Guys," he whispered. "What the fuck."

Ray and Mikey exchanged a grin. Gerard's hands were shaking and getting clammy and his mind was racing and his lip was indented with the imprints of his teeth.

"May we know your name?" Ray asked and his tone was beyond excited.

The planchette seemed to be moving on its own, and to test this out, Mikey removed his hand. Ray followed, and then Gerard did too, curling up into a ball. To no one's surprise, the planchette kept moving on its own. It stopped at the F.

"F," Mikey called out. "R, A, N, and... K. Ooh, Frank, that's a lovely name."

The planchette moved to the T, H, N, and X. Ray snorted.

"You're pretty rad, Frank."

The planchette shook a little as if someone invisible holding it might be laughing. Gerard tensed and pressed his nose and mouth into his knees, watching the board hesitantly.

"So, what's going on, Frank?" Mikey asked. The planchette started moving and Mikey dictated. "Um... w, h... who's... the... scared... one? Oh, he's my brother. He's fucking terrified of shit like this. He didn't think it was real until today."

The planchette started moving again, and to Gerard's horror, it spelt out--

"He's cute," Ray read and then giggled. "Yeah, I guess so. Have a thing for him?"

The planchette moved towards the yes and then hovered on the ouija logo, inching towards yes every few seconds. Gerard hugged his knees closer to his chest as he watched it move again. Mikey dictated again.

"Why's... why's he scared? I dunno," Mikey said and then turned to Gerard. "Why are you scared, Gee?"

The planchette moved quickly again, spelling out 'Gee' and then making a question mark symbol.

"That's his nickname. Me, Ray, and our friends call him that."

"Mikes," Ray said smiling at Mikey. "We only have like three other friends."

"Better than nothing. Anyways, yeah, that's our name for 'im."

The planchette moved. 'Cute.'

"Aww," Ray cooed and winked at Gerard. "He thinks you're cute, Gee. But tell us, why are you scared? I wanna know too."

"Because this isn't supposed to be real," Gerard squeaked. "I just wish I could see Frank... if that's his real name."

"I'm sure it is," Mikey said. "He barely had to think about it before it moved."

Gerard shrugged and kept his arms wrapped around his knees.

"Guys! Dinner!" Ray's brother called up the stairs and Gerard immediately shifted away from the board and towards the door.

"Frank, can we come back to the board after dinner or should we close it?" Mikey asked quickly. "Here, let me make this easier to answer. Does it matter if we close it?"

The planchette moved to 'No' pretty quickly, and that was enough for Gerard and Ray, so Mikey shrugged too and said "See you in a bit," and closed the door behind himself and followed his friends downstairs.

---

"Wait, I forgot we left the board open," Mikey said and opened the door to the room, holding a tub of ice cream and three spoons. "Oh my god, who are you?"

There was a guy (who looked around eighteen or nineteen) sitting next to the ouija board and fiddling with the planchette. Ray glanced at the windows and noting they were all locked from the inside, turned pale. Gerard lingered outside the doorway behind him.

"Frank," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle for the scorpion tattooed onto his neck. "You accidentally left the board open too long and I didn't know this could happen, but I kinda got sucked back into the living world."

Mikey gave him a sceptical look and then glanced at Ray.

"The windows are all locked and we know no one came in through the front door, and he seems to know what's going on, so..." Ray replied, shrugging. "I'll be right back. We need another spoon."

Mikey just shrugged and put the ice cream tub down on the bed and sat next to Frank. "Want some?"

"Sure, thanks," Frank said, accepting a spoon from Mikey. Mikey popped the lid off and took a scoop into his mouth.

"Gerard, wanna join us?"

Frank looked up, eyes sparkling and a slight smile on his lips and Gerard felt his cheeks get hot so he instantly broke eye contact. "Uh, I dunno."

"Please?" Frank asked, patting the spot next to him. "I promise I won't steal all the ice cream."

Ray appeared at Gerard's shoulder and pushed him into his room, closing the door behind him. He was holding a spoon and grinning. "This is so exciting," he said and pushed Gerard onto the bed, forcing him to sit weirdly close to Frank. Ray plopped down next to Gerard and took a spoonful of ice cream. "So, Frank, you look as rad as you sound. I hope we're not too nerdy for you."

"You guys are cool," Frank said, actually smiling. He motioned to the guitar on its stand in the corner. "I used to play the guitar, and your comic collection is pretty sweet. And so are your CD's."

"Thanks, man," Ray smiled. Gerard took an awkward spoon of ice cream.

"Bruh, this is so cool," Mikey said and shovelled ice cream into his mouth. "We should one hundred percent play truth or dare. Frank, you know what that is, right?"

"I died like a year ago, don't underestimate me," he scoffed and then grinned. "I'd love to. How 'bout you, Gee?"

Gerard felt his cheeks flame at the nickname--it just sounded so right rolling off of Frank's tongue. He didn't let himself think about Frank's tongue. "Sure. Ray?"

"Fuck yeah, let's do it," he grinned. "Mikes, you go first since you brought it up."

Gerard sighed. This was probably a really fucking bad idea, but he just sighed and laid back against the wall that the bed was lying parallel to. Frank looked at him for a little bit too long not to be flirty and then leant back against the wall too, and their shoulders touched. And since Gerard didn't seem to mind, Frank didn't move.

"Okay, Frank, truth or dare?"

"Truth," Frank said.

"Alright," Mikey seemed to consider it for a few seconds. "What were you like before you died?"

"Um... I was like eighteen, almost nineteen, I was a tattoo junkie... I had just come out to my family as bi, and um... I played guitar and skated, but I broke like both of my ankles. Not at once, obviously. Um, and also I read comics. I worked at this comic shop, actually."

"Did you smoke?"

"Sure. Still do."

"What?"

"Ghosts can smoke, dude. I just steal a pack from stores all the time. They can't exactly tell me to stop because they can't see me. Except now..." he said, flexing his hands in front of him.

"Yeah, I guess you're visible now," Mikey said and then reached out to touch him. "And touchable too. I guess you've like... rematerialised?"

"I guess so. It's so good to be talking to real people again. How old are you guys?"

"I'm sixteen, but they're eighteen," Mikey replied and Gerard and Ray nodded.

"Wow, nice. So we're around the same age," Ray said. "Anyway, Frank, it's your turn."

"Okay," Frank said. "Uh, Gee."

Gerard willed his cheeks to stop flaring dramatically as he looked up at Frank. "Um, dare."

"Ooh, secretive, are we?" Frank poked and Gerard shrugged.

"Sure."

"Well... I dare you to talk. For like two minutes straight about anything you want."

"I'm not too good at that."

"He's good at drawing!" Mikey said excitedly.

"Okay, I'll change it. Draw me," Frank said, winking and Gerard rolled his eyes.

"Fine. Ray, can I have paper?" he smiled slightly and blushed, looking away from Frank. He couldn't really deny that Frank was attractive. It was a thing, but he had refused to acknowledge it. Now, he had to draw the fucker.

Ray got up and grabbed a random sketchbook he had from when he took art with Gerard last year and handed Gerard a pencil. Gerard thanked him.

"Okay, while I draw him, Ray, truth or dare," Gerard said, glancing at Frank and then back down at his page, starting a rough outline of the shape of Frank's face. And goddamn, that bone structure, he thought.

"Uh, dare too, I guess."

"Go get the goddamn cookies. Ice cream is too hard to eat while you're drawing."

Frank snorted and Mikey giggled. Ray sighed. "Fucking fine. But when I get back, someone better have a real dare for me."

Mikey winked. "I got you. Just get us cookies and I'll be at your service."

"Alrighty then," Ray sighed and clunked down the stairs. Gerard kept glancing at Frank, finalising the outline and then moving onto another version a few inches from the first, this time making the first sketch.

"I like your tattoo, Frank. The one on your neck, but you know it only has three legs on the one side, right?"

Frank chuckled and rubbed his neck. "Yeah, yeah. I walked in with like forty-some dollars and asked for a tattoo and they gave it to me."

"It's pretty sick," Gerard mumbled and looked up for a moment, catching Frank's eyes. His heart skipped a beat. Frank's eyes were a light brown, sparkly and flirty and beautiful. Gerard's breath hitched and then he looked back at the rough sketch. He began to draw more defined lines over it, and then Ray came in, box of mini-cookies in hand.

He plopped back down into his spot and put the cookies next to the ice cream that was being primarily worked on by Mikey. Gerard took a couple and tossed them in his mouth, crunching while he made the lines of Frank's cheekbones and jaw.

"So, Mikes, I guess it's your turn. Truth or dare," Ray said.

"Uh, truth."

"Do you like Pete?"

"Pass, you sly motherfucker."

"He does," Gerard intoned, not looking up from his sketch save for studying Frank's face periodically.

"Fuck you, Gee."

"You cannot deny it," Gerard sniggered.

"Frank, truth or dare?" Mikey sighed, scooping ice cream into his mouth.

"Dare this time," Frank smiled.

Gerard looked up and accidentally caught Mikey's eye. Mikey grinned evilly at him and then smirked at Frank.

"I dare you to kiss my brother," he pointed at Gerard.

"Gee's your brother?"

"Yup. Will you do it or use up a chicken?"

"I'll do it," Frank smiled and turned to Gee and his hand settled on Gerard's knee. "Is that okay with you, hon?"

Gerard clutched the pencil. It was just a dare, right? Right. He ignored the fact that Frank was kind of dead and shrugged. "Um, okay, I guess."

He stuck his pencil in the notebook and closed it and set it in front of him on the bed.

"Great," Frank beamed. "You're sure, right? I don't wanna weird you out or anything--"

"Dude, it's fine," Gerard brushed his worries off and felt Frank's hand tightening on his knee pleasantly.

"Just kiss already," Mikey teased and so Frank shrugged.

He brought his other hand up to take Gerard's chin between his forefinger and thumb. Gerard felt his heart racing and he saw Frank leaning in, so he closed his eyes and leant in too. Their lips met, and from the first second, Gerard could honestly say that it was the best kiss he'd had yet, and it wasn't as if he hadn't had a couple girlfriends and boyfriends in his three and a half years of high school so far.

Frank's lips were soft and gentle as if asking for his consent as they were kissing, so Gerard pressed with slightly more pressure and was pleased when Frank pressed back. Frank's hand moved to cup Gerard's cheek, and after a few seconds, the kiss ended. The two drew apart slightly and Frank smiled. Gerard pecked him once more and then pulled away, taking his pencil out of the book and continuing with his sketch, looking up to see a shocked look plastered onto Frank's face.

"Um, okay then," Mikey said, and then stifled a giggle. "Frank, it's your turn..."

"Uh, Ray, truth or dare," Frank said and Ray shrugged.

"Uh, I don't care... um... gimme a real dare this time."

"Alright. Call your eighth contact and confess your love to them," Frank grinned and Ray shrugged.

"Okay. It's my brother." Ray clicked 'call' and then put it on speaker. His brother picked up within two rings.

"Hey bro."

"Hey man. I just wanted to tell you I love you so much, and that you're the best brother ever and to thank you for making dinner tonight since mum and dad are getting home late."

"No problem. I love you too, bro. Now leave me alone, I'm tryna read."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye," Ray's brother said and then the line went dead.

"Gerard, I dare you to finish your fucking art already," Ray said.

"I'm almost done, I promise," Gerard said and poked his tongue out of the side of his mouth. "Just a few more minutes. I want truth anyways."

"Fine," Ray huffed and looked at Mikey and Frank cluelessly. Mikey raised his eyebrow as if to communicate the fact that he had a 'truth' question lying in front of him, so he just smirked. Frank just observed the interaction cluelessly, marvelling at the way the two talked without speaking.

"Come on, I know you and Mikey just did your brain infiltration thing or whatever. Gimme a truth, Raymond."

Ray rolled his eyes. "Do you like Frank?"

Gerard stopped drawing for a second, and not looking up, he blushed. "He's a good kisser, what can I say?"

"That wasn't the question, Gerard," Ray said and glanced at Frank, who seemed to be blushing just as hard as Gerard.

"Uh, yeah, maybe, I dunno yet," Gerard mumbled and then finished drawing firmer lines, completing the drawing within the next few moments. "Here's your drawing."

Frank ogled at it, and Ray and Mikey nodded.

"That's pretty good," Mikey said, glancing back and forth between Frank and the drawing of Frank. "Like I can tell it's him."

"Yeah, that's amazing for the short time you had to draw him," Ray said.

"Thanks," Gerard mumbled and then closed the notebook and tossed it and the pencil off the bed. He ate another cookie.

"Babe, that was really good," Frank breathed and Gerard felt his heart race at the nickname and the compliment. He couldn't keep the smile and blush off his face.

"Thanks," he whispered. "You're easier to draw than some other people."

"Why's that?"

"Because you're nice to look at," Gerard mumbled and laid back against the wall again.

"You're nicer to look at," Frank whispered, and Gerard smiled a little. Their shoulders were touching again. Gerard turned to Frank the same moment Frank did, and then Mikey cleared his throat.

"Um, moving on," he reminded them, but Frank pressed a quick kiss to Gerard's forehead anyway, and Gerard found himself leaning into Frank's shoulder. "It's your turn, Gee."

"Uh, Frankie," he decided.

"Dare."

"I need to know your least favourite colour before I give it to you," Gerard said and pulled puppy-dog eyes. Frank shook his head, giving in to the temptation and biting his lip.

"Fuck, okay. I hate purple, neon yellow, and teal."

"Okay, I dare you to get a teal skull tattooed onto your hip or somewhere people can't see it."

"Alright, but you get to draw it," Frank shrugged, smiling a bit.

"Even better," Gerard chuckled and pulled the notebook into his lap again. While Mikey, Frank, and Ray took more turns, Gerard drew the skull, and when he was finished, it was a little past ten. Gerard was leaning into Frank's shoulder and drawing for around twenty minutes, tweaking things where Frank told him to when he was done.

"That's really rad," Frank said, gently wrapping an arm around Gerard's waist when Gerard offered up the finished thing. He smiled at the arm around his waist and closed the notebook, tossing it to the floor again and leaning further into Frank.

"Thanks, Frankie."

Frank leant down and kissed him again, pulling him closer. Gerard's heart sped up and he kissed back softly, moving their lips together for a few seconds before they pulled away.

"I'll get it tattooed tomorrow if I don't like... disappear or something," Frank said and scratched the back of his head. "We should probably close the board in case something bad gets sucked in," he pointed out.

Ray, Mikey, and Gerard quickly huddled around it and circled goodbye three times (or however you close one of those things) and then packed it all away. Gerard settled back nestled into Frank's side and Ray and Mikey on opposite sides of the bed, leaning against the headboards.

"Well, I'm still here, so closing it didn't help. And I couldn't like... get sucked back in earlier when I tried, so..."

"Well, I guess you're stuck with us until we figure out what to do. I have an extra sleeping bag," Ray said, pulling it out from the closet. "You and Gee can have the bed and me and Mikey can take the blow-up with the sleeping bags. Sounds good for everyone?"

"Sure," Gee said, turning to kiss Frank on the cheek and making him blush a hide his face in Gerard's hair. "I can't believe that this much fun came out of a haunted piece of cardboard."

"I didn't know I could get sucked through one and meet someone so lovely," Frank whispered. "And meet two other awesome people."

Gerard smiled. "That's sweet. I didn't know ghosts could come back like this either."

Ray and Mikey switched to the floor and slipped into their sleeping bags. "Alright, you absolute saps. Time for lights out and philosophical conversations."

Gerard grinned and waited until everyone was settled to turn out the light. He felt Frank's arms wrap around him from behind and snuggled into him, twisting their fingers together at his stomach.

"I guess we'll figure out how this whole ghost thing works out tomorrow, right?" Ray said and yawned.

"I guess we'll see where this all goes," Gerard said, squeezing Frank's hand. "I dunno if I want Frank to leave."