The rest of the evening passed far too quickly for Gerard's liking, but there was a limit to how slowly Gerard could eat, especially when the food was this good, and it seemed that the old saying "time flies when you are having fun" was true after all, actually, it seemed to move at warp speed when he was with Frank.

Before Gerard knew it, both of their plates were empty, and he was fighting the urge to release the top button of his pants to try and accommodate all the food he had devoured; Frank probably wouldn't notice, and Gerard was really regretting wearing his tightest pair of jeans right now, but just then, the waiter came by with their check, successfully distracting Gerard from his constricting waistband for the moment.

"Let me get it," Gerard whined, but Frank was too fast for him, grabbing the piece of paper in his tattooed hands before Gerard could make a move for it.

"No way, this is me thanking you - remember, so I'm paying, end of story."

Gerard briefly debated snatching the check away from Frank, but knowing his luck, it would probably rip in half, or something else just as embarrassing, so he stayed still, even though he didn't feel entirely comfortable letting someone else pay for his meal.

"If you are sure," Gerard sighed out, still eyeing the bill in an attempt to read the total price, because if it was too much, maybe Gerard could convince Frank to split it with him.

"No peeking," Frank giggled, and Gerard blushed at the fact that his body language had been so easy to read, either that, or Frank was psychic, but if he was, he would probably have already run for the hills as soon as he got a glimpse of Gerard's thoughts about him, so Gerard quickly dismissed that option from his mind.

"I'm sorry, I'm just not used to people paying for me, and I feel bad," Gerard admitted softly.

"Hey - why would you feel bad? I wanted to treat you, if I hadn't, I never would have invited you out, and after everything you did for me, you deserve a hell of a lot more than one meal," Frank smiled genuinely, the expression causing those damn butterflies to awaken once again, seriously - Gerard was getting slightly annoyed with the creatures, and their presence in his full stomach wasn't entirely pleasant.

"I didn't really do anything though, you just needed some help, and it was no big deal," Gerard shrugged, resigning himself to the fact that he was going to have to get over his discomfort with Frank paying for him, because he had already placed his money in the billfold, and Gerard wasn't going to make a scene by continuing to persist now.

"No big deal...Gerard - you fucking carried me home, watched over me while I was puking my guts out, stayed the entire night with me, even though I'm sure you had better things to do, and then made me breakfast. If that is no big deal, then you are the nicest person in the fucking world - actually, I'm pretty convinced that you are," Frank chuckled, and Gerard could see his point now, it sounded much better laid out in words than in Gerard's head, but he still didn't feel like Frank owed him for his actions, especially since he couldn't think of anything that would beat spending the night with Frank, even if he had been sick.

"No - I'm really not, but thank you I guess, I just...I couldn't leave you like that," Gerard mumbled, trying his best not to mention his year long crush on Frank, and how it really hadn't been any burden at all to him, because Frank really didn't need to know about that.

"But anyone else would, and you didn't, and that meant a lot to me, and just...I don't know - you are special Gerard."

"I..." Gerard trailed off awkwardly, because he couldn't think of anything to say when Frank was looking at him like that, his eyes wide and honest with his lips curled upward in a soft smile. Gerard's brain was practically short circuiting right now, because every instinct in his body was screaming at him to lean across the table and kiss Frank, but his mind wouldn't let him.

Frank wouldn't want to kiss Gerard anyway, because even if he didn't have a boyfriend, there was no way he would be attracted to someone like Gerard; he was just grateful - that was all it was, and all it would ever be, so with a monumental amount of effort, Gerard shoved down his irrational urges, forcing his lips to form into a weak grin to hide his internal struggle.

"Come on, it's getting late, and I should probably get you home." Frank stood up suddenly, holding his hand out to Gerard, and it took Gerard longer than it should have to lace their fingers together and allow Frank to pull him to his feet, his legs shaking slightly underneath him before he regained control of his body.

The drive home passed just as rapidly as the rest of the evening, with the time spent listening to a cd from some band Frank was currently in love called The 1975, and even though they weren't really Gerard's taste, he found himself nodding his head to the beat of a few of their songs, his heart fluttering erratically as Frank began singing along enthusiastically, grinning over at Gerard every now and then with a look of pure joy on his face.

When Frank pulled up in front of Gerard's apartment complex, Gerard sighed softly, because he really didn't want this night to end, but he had work in the morning, and it wasn't as if he could ask Frank to come in for a bit; that would be way too forward, and Gerard didn't want Frank to think Gerard wanted something more out of this evening...even though he actually did, but he had been too terrified to even kiss Frank, so there was no way he could convince himself to make a move on the gorgeous man sitting beside him.

But when Gerard glanced to his left, Frank was no longer in the driver's seat, and Gerard had a slight moment of panic, trying to figure out where the fuck Frank had gone, but he quickly got his answer when his door was pulled open, his gaze snapping to Frank's short figure standing outside the car, once again holding his hand out to Gerard.

"Come on cutie," Frank giggled, and Gerard had to hold back a hysterical laugh of his own, because no one had ever opened a car door for him, and even though it was such a simple thing, it meant so much to him, and it was making him fall for Frank that much harder, which probably wasn't a good thing, because Gerard was ninety-nine percent sure that Frank didn't feel the same way, even if he had just called him cutie again.

"Sorry, I sort of spaced out there," Gerard apologized, allowing Frank to tug him from the car gently before they began walking up the rickety stairs which led to Gerard's floor, their hands falling apart a few steps in, much to Gerard's disappointment.

"I noticed," Frank teased, nudging Gerard's side in a friendly manner that had Gerard stumbling slightly. "What were you thinking about?" Frank asked curiously, his feet coming to a halt when they reached Gerard's door.

"Um...just you, and tonight, and how amazing this was, and how I want to do it again sometime soon," Gerard mumbled, ending on a whisper that was so quiet, he wasn't sure if Frank had heard him or not.

"I had a really great time too, and of course we are going to do this again, I have to take you out to all the best restaurants in New York after all," Frank smirked, his hands twitching slightly at his sides, and somehow, Gerard found the courage to grab them with his own, rubbing his thumb lightly over Frank's knuckles, trying his best to still the small tremors shaking his body before Frank noticed.

"I'm paying next time though," Gerard demanded, earning himself a playful eye roll from Frank.

"Fine...you can pay, but you might have to wrestle me for the check." Frank arched one eyebrow suggestively, and Gerard swore his entire body erupted in a fierce blush, not just his cheeks.

"First you tackle me to the floor, then you want to wrestle me, I think you have some pent up aggression in there Frank," Gerard teased, doing his best to ignore how his heart was beating painfully loud in his chest at the thought of having Frank pinned on the ground in a 'playful' wrestling match.

"Maybe I do, it's the leftover angry punk in me," Frank shrugged, taking a step closer so his body was almost pressed against Gerard's.

"So...uh...I guess just call me whenever you are free, I get home by five usually, and weekends are always good for me, uh - or you can text me whenever, like if you are feeling sick, or bored, or whatever - oh and let me know what you want me to paint you," Gerard rambled nervously, the close proximity to Frank's warm skin was making him seriously jittery, and that dammed urge to lean down and kiss him was back, but it was even stronger than it had been before.

Maybe Frank wanted to as well; he hadn't pulled away from Gerard's hold on his hands after all, and he was standing so close to him, but what if he didn't, and Gerard ruined everything by being too forward? Gerard wasn't even if sure if this was a date, and his experience with guys was limited to the club, where it was very obvious if someone wanted you or not, but here, in this situation, Gerard was lost and confused, and one wrong move could cause him to lose Frank forever.

"Yeah, I will, and don't be surprised if you hear from me soon - I really want to see you again," Frank smiled, stepping back a few paces as he spoke, which allowed Gerard to breathe properly once again, but it also caused his heart to twinge painfully, because Frank was distancing himself from Gerard, which meant he probably didn't want to kiss him after all.

"Seriously, text me whenever you want, or call me - whatever," Gerard shrugged, shifting back and forth on his feet slightly as he waited for Frank to either leave, or move closer to him once again.

"I will, and I will see you at my show right?" Frank asked, and he seemed nervous too, even though it wasn't like Gerard had ever missed one of his shows, so the question didn't even need to be asked.

"Definitely," Gerard assured him.

"Okay then...well I guess I will see you Wednesday, if not sooner," Frank smiled, his eyes darting around, landing on everything but Gerard.

"Yeah...so, um - thanks again," Gerard mumbled when Frank continued to stand there awkwardly.

Then Frank moved, only slightly, but it was enough to have Gerard's heart doubling in speed, because he thought that Frank was going to kiss him, but he didn't - of course he didn't; instead, he simply wrapped his arms around Gerard, engulfing him in a friendly embrace, and although it wasn't exactly what Gerard wanted, it was still really fucking nice, and Gerard found himself nuzzling into the crook of Frank's neck, breathing in deeply as Frank tightened his hold the smallest bit.

Gerard wasn't sure how much time had passed while they maintained that position, but it wasn't long enough, and it never would be. Frank was a really good hugger, and this was much better than their previous embrace which had ended up with Gerard on the floor, not that Gerard would mind if that happened again, but maybe a bed would be more preferable, but no - Frank was hugging him, not kissing him, and friends hugged, which meant Frank probably wanted them to stay that way, which was fine with Gerard, not ideal, but definitely better than nothing.

"Goodnight," Frank whispered as they pulled apart, and maybe Gerard imagined it, but it seemed like Frank's lips brushed his cheek in passing, but it was just a slight touch, not a proper kiss, and it was probably just an accident, if it had even happened at all that is.

"Goodnight," Gerard responded when he finally got his thick tongue to form words once more, but Frank was already gone, his back turned away from Gerard as he descend the stairs which led down to the parking lot, leaving Gerard alone again, with only his thoughts and regrets for company.

So I disappeared for a while - sorry about that, but I'm back now, and even though this is short af, it's something right?

I have been taking forever on updating everything lately, so idk when I will have the next chapter up...I have to go back to work tomorrow, so I am pretty much just playing it by ear right now.

And one a random side note, I have been listening to The 1975 all day, and I am in such a good mood, I freaking love you Kieren for making me literal trash for them omg.

Oh and I also saw FOB last night, and they were amazing, and Patrick is a literal angel, and Pete was so cute and he kept screaming like a dork, and he crowd surfed, and Joe popped one of the giant balloon they threw in the crowd when it bounced on stage, and he looked so sad, and Andy had such a good resting bitch face, and idk it was so good, and then my mom asked me to explain Petekey to her, and she thought Frank was Mikey, it was so hilarious, I can't even explain it.

Okay, I'm done rambling, and kudos to whoever actually reads these pointless author notes.

((((happy vibes))))

<3 starr