The engine of Frank's car purred as if it were old. He was a little mad at me for not bringing Ava, especially since she was watching me from her window. He's not touching her, I told myself over and over again, tapping my bony fingers against my legs. My jeans were old and worn, they didn't look as black as they did when I had bought them years ago. Sighing, I leaned against the window of the car. The scenery was decent enough for me to lose myself in it, so I ended up daydreaming. About being far away from this town. About how happy I could be without having Frank as a succubus, sucking the life and energy from my already lifeless body.

He was saying things to me, but I wasn't listening. Instead, I nodded, staring ahead of me. It was still bright outside, and the weather was gruelling. But, that's summer. It wasn't like I could show off my body to everybody. Nobody would find exposed ribs and cut up skin attractive- even I didn't find myself attractive. I knew that I needed to take care of myself, but I didn't have the energy to do so. All I did was smoke, drink, clean up after Frank, then sleep. And the cycle went on and on and on- so there was no wonder why I looked like the living dead. "Hey, Gerard, are you even listening to me?" He asked, a hit of bitterness in his tone. He hated it when people didn't hang onto every single one of his words. I was always the one to pretend to enjoy what he was talking about.

"Sorry, I zoned out. What were you saying?" I asked, rubbing my eyes, turning myself to face him so he knew that I was engaged in conversation with him this time.

"So, as I was saying, there are going to be lots of people here. Mainly girls, I wanted to know if you were going to try and pull one?"He asked with his usual misogynistic grin. I mentally stabbed myself in the stomach, unable to bear his constant girl obsession. Instead, I put on a fake smile, tapping my legs.

"I don't know Frank, I never really like anybody I see." I said with a forced laugh, he joined in. At the parties that Frank forced me into going to, I never liked anybody. There were no smart, individual girls there. Similarly, there were no cute gay guys either. Not that any people of the above would've gone for me anyway, especially in the state that I was in. I looked like I was wasting away, but I just couldn't kick my cigarette habit.

"Gee, you don't go to parties to find a soulmate. You go to parties to drink, smoke, and fuck girls that just want a good time." He said, feeling strongly about the random shit that he was talking about. I nodded along with him, pretending that I agreed with him and his barbaric reasonings. He liked to feel that he was right, and that everything he said made perfect sense. Unless you wanted a bloody nose and all of his rage, it was wise to just agree with him.

"You're right." I said quietly, staring out of the window again, finding comfort in the blurred surroundings.
~>•<~

Making sure to pour my own drinks, I tried to enjoy myself the best that I could. I hated the noise, the drunken singing and screaming. I stuck to water, the clichè red cup managing to mask the fact that I was trying to stay sober. I didn't want to drink again, not until I was completely alone. I couldn't complete my rituals in the middle of a rented mansion- not without being cheered, or being carted off in a comforting ambulance to a white sanctuary. Huffing, I stood in a doorway, watching people come and go. Sipping my lukewarm water, I tried to look out for Frank. As usual, he had disappeared pretty much as soon as we had stepped through the door. That left me responsible for whatever he was going to do- or who he was going to do. Closing my eyes, tensing my arms, I hoped that he wasn't being his usual reckless self. It was a long shot, I knew it, because I knew that he was upstairs having sex with some random bimbo.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, I frowned, turning around. A small, familiar girl stood there. She smiled brightly, waving at me. "Ava, what the hell are you doing here? If he knows he'll harass you-"

"Relax Gerard. I was already invited. A friend of a friend, you know." Her voice was so innocent. A trashy party like this was no place for somebody like her. Sure, we were the same age, but her face and her mannerisms- so caring and uncorrupted by regular teen activities- there was something so beautiful about her. "Besides. I kind of came here to support you. I can tell by the way you stared at his car as you left your house that you don't completely enjoy his company."

Looking around, I sighed, grabbing her wrist. I didn't want to stand in a loud doorway, somewhere where Frank could easily find us. My eyes scanned for a quiet place to sit, I wanted to be able to hear our conversation. Her voice was so delicate that I could barely hear it over the generic music. Eventually finding an empty bedroom, I locked us inside.

"I really suggest that you go home, Ava. I don't want him using you like he does with everyone else." I said quickly, trying not to throw my arms in the air in protest.

"I'm not drinking, neither are you. We could just sit here, smoke a cigarette." She suggested, climbing onto the bed. I rolled my eyes as I reached into my back pocket, pulling them out along with my matches. Handing one to her, balancing one between my lips, I swiped a match along the expensive floral wallpaper.
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Song Of The Chapter- Come As You Are (1992 Live At Reading) by Nirvana

A.N
I have a feeling that this story is gonna be sadder than I thought XD it probably reflects a lot of things I guess :3

Hope you guys are enjoying it so far, don't forget to comment and vote (: