Frank's POV :

I woke up and stirred in my bed. A few weeks had passed since Gerard and I had our talk, and even though it was a bit hard to muffle my evident infatuation for him, I managed to look at him like I used to, like a mentor.

I walked in the kitchen and prepared myself a toast and some cereals. I felt Gerard ruffle my hair affectuously from behind.

I turned around and saw he was about to go to work. "Bye Gee, have a nice day!" I waved at him.

"You too, Pumpkin."

And then, he left. Well, another quiet Sunday ahead of me.

I grabbed the cereal box and hopped on the couch. I turned the TV on - I know I'm not supposed to watch TV in the morning but eh. Shush.

I started watching Ninja Turtles but after I tried to move my fatass on the couch, I accidently sat on the remote.

Hey, it happens, okay? It happens even more often in the author's books, so you see, this is really not my fault.

Anyway, that turned on the news.
Oh, that's my face ! Well, it's not like I'm not used to seeing my face in the news, but that hadn't happened in quite a lot of time.

What I read on the screen made my heart stop.

'Abducted child Frank Iero found dead this morning.'

Excuse me? Last time I checked, I was very much alive. What is that malarkey?

The reporter said that a petite body was found burnt beyond recognition not so far from here.

No analysis of the corpse was possible, but according to the forensics, it was someone my age and my built. Besides, the body was wearing slightly burnt clothes covered in my DNA. No doubt for them. That dead body was Frank Iero's.

I looked closer at the screen. That hoodie... Hey, that's mine !

I stood up from the couch and bolted to my bedroom. I opened my closet and threw around all my clothes, looking for the hoodie on screen.

Gone.

This felt like a cold shower. The only person who has access to my closet and therefore my clothes is...

Oh God... Gerard is the only one who knows what I wear and who could have taken that hoodie with my DNA on it.

Why on Earth would Gerard take my hoodie Obviously, he had placed the hoodie on the corpse. And he had probably placed the corpse there as well. But then...

Oh my God.

All the dots connected fast in my head. The police stopped all investigations after the discovery. Of course they did. They all think they found me. Gerard staged my death.

Is Gerard really capable of doing that just to get rid of the police? It wasn't even so much of a problem for us !

Oh God, what is happening? Gerard didn't do that, he couldn't have. Not the sweet, compassionate, loving Gerard I know. He is a human teddy bear !

And yet, all the evidences were there. I could try and convince myself of the contrary, but Gerard had probably burnt a corpse.

Or at least I very much hoped that is was already a corpse before being burnt. Oh God, I want to throw up...

It was someone my age. Last thing I know, in a parallel universe, this corpse could have been mine or one of my friends' - if I had any, of course.

Then a question popped in my mind : whose body was that?

I fell on my bed in a thud. What am I gonna do? Oh God... I have to... I have to talk to Gerard about that.

Isn't it a bad idea to confront him about it though? Probably. Am I still gonna do it? I'll try. Am I going to get killed for it? I really hope not.

•••
My heart started beating faster and I felt my palms grow sweaty when I heard the keys turn in the frontdoor's lock.

Gerard's smiling face appeared. It was the same as this morning and yet, it now appeared so much more threatening. I sensed a lump in my throat. I was potentially in front of a psychopath, either a grave digger or an actual murderer.

I know Gerard is very clever, but I think I've never quite understood how dangerous he could be.

"Evening, Frank."

Gerard tried to ruffle my hair but I flinched away, startled by him. He frowned and I hugged him so he wouldn't grow suspicious.

"Gerard I... I need to... We need to talk."

Gerard frowned and then burst out in laughter. "Wow, Frank, you're scaring me. What did you do? This must be serious, you look as pale as a ghost."

"I, um..."

Oh boy, what am I doing? Who knows how he might react? He probably didn't want me to find out. What if he immolates me to silence me?

"Frank, what is is?" Gerard's smile slowly faded away and he put a hand on my shoulder. Gasp.

"I, um... I might have watched TV this morning and..."

Gerard frowned. "And?"

His eyes felt like they were reading my soul. "Ahem, I... I finished the cereal box." I looked down at my feet.

I'm stupid.

"That's it?"

"Y-yeah, I mean, I disobeyed. I... I'm sorry," I said, trying to make this as credible as possible to save my ass.

Gerard chuckled. "Oh, Frankie. I'm glad you told me. It's okay, I thought for a second you had broken a windown or something."

I chortled nervously. "Yeah, silly me !"

•••
Weeks. Weeks had passed since I learnt about the 'incident' and I still hadn't grown the balls to face Gerard.

For weeks I had been wondering if Gerard had actually killed a teenager. For weeks, I had been getting startled by him, his staring, his demeanor. I had started over-interpreting his words, looking for clues, trying to take hints.

So I decided that the next day, I was going to talk to him. Tomorrow sounded good. It always sounded good until the d-day came.

Gerard and I were having dinner quietly, which was unusual for us. We generally talked a lot, but I was too nervous tonight.

He didn't give me homework for the following days and we had nothing planned, which was even weirder.

I looked up from my plate and eyed Gerard. He seemed grave, somber. He was spiffy as usual, but I could see dark rings under his eyes, hidden behind a few black bangs. He looked like he hadn't slept at all in days.

We finished eating without a word and I went to my bedroom. After a while, Gerard knocked on the door and came in. He was holfind a glass of milk and a little napkin. Gerard had taken a habit of bringing me some milk the past few weeks. Nothing unusual there.

"Hey Frankie," he softly spoke out, wearing a somewhat shy and bothered smile. I sat up and he sat next to me. He handed me the two items. I drank the milk he gave me.

"I think there's something we need to talk about." he stated. That's odd ; he seems almost sad.

"I know you found out about what happened. The burnt corpse," he said softly and I almost choked on air.

My heart immediately started hammering faster and a lump formed in my troat.

"Was that you?" I had the guts to ask.
I didn't even ask him how he knew I found out. Gerard always knew. He wasn't quite omniscient if you got to know him, but he just couldn't be lied to.

Gerard didn't answer me. But I needed those answers and I would seek them all night long if needed. He and I both can play mind games and read the truth on the other.

"Gerard." I mark every word I uttered. "Did you murder a teenage boy?"

"I know you by heart, boy. Like you were my own son. The way you acted, it was obvious that you had seen the news. I really wish you never did." Gerard was smiling down at his lap, dismissing my question by answering the one I didn't bother to ask. He seemed to be dissociating from the situation. His little, nostalgic smile was the best proof of that.

His perceptiveness would always surprise me, even though I never doubted how clever he was. He could look into your eyes and read you like a book. I didn't mind until I started having things to hide.

"You won't have you worry about it, though. Soon, it will all be over." Gerard said sadly.

I frowned. What does he mean by that? What will be over?

Gerard glanced down and I followed his gaze. He was looking at the glass I was holding.

My heart stopped. Oh my God.

"Gerard... No..." I whispered out and tears welled in the eyes of the one I admired so much.

I looked back at my empty glass, then at Gerard, utterly horrified.

Did Gerard poison my drink?
Did Gerard kill me?

No, that can't be, it's not possible!
...And yet I felt myseft grow weary. I felt my body shut down.

My eyes widened and tears spilled from his.
So.. it's true...

The glass slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor. I slowly grew limp and laid my head on Gerard's lap. I felt a tear fall down and roll on my cheek. Not my tear. Gerard's.

I reached out for his hand. He took mine and squeezed it gently as to comfort me.
He petted my hand gently. A dark veil fell upon my sight. I closed my eyes, probably for the last time.

Goodbye Gerard, I loved you.

______