"Frank, we've been walking for hours !" Gerard whined and Frank chuckled.

"It's only been a few minutes Gee... Don't worry, we're almost there."

They were now getting out of town. In fact, they had come closer to Frank's house, but they were now further in a higher ground, with much more grass and trees.

"Okay I need you to close your eyes."

"I'm not gonna close my eyes? I'm gonna fall !" Gerard protested.

"Fine." Frank went behind him and out his hands on Gerard's eyes. "I'll lead you. No peeking."

Gerard nodded and carefully stepped forward. He could feel himself climbing up a light slope. He had now reached something that was some kind of a mount. He could sense the sun through Frank's hands that was piercing them, making the blood in his fingers obvious, and reddening them from where Gerard saw them.

"You ready?"

Gerard nodded and held his breath.
Frank took his hands off. Gerard gasped.

They were on a bald hill, overhanging the whole town, before an amazing sunset. There was a single huge tree behind them.

"Frank... That's beautiful..."

Gerard was speechless, he had never seen such a breathtaking sight. He didn't even know this place existed.

Frank sat down, and Gerard imitated him, still silently staring at the view.

The huge luminary in front of them was coating both of them in warm light, making their eyes bright and golden.

The majestuous old oak behind them seemed to protect their backs like a wooden shield. Its foliage, linked to a large rusty pillar, was in this season a beautiful mess of copper, topaz, bronze and ruby leaves, matching the aflame sky.

Shadows were chased away by the celestial body and the flames that were dancing around it, and everything was just bright and golden.

"I come here sometimes, when I need to think."

Gerard looked at him. "It's- it's an amazing spot !"

Frank turned to him, smiling. "It is, glad you like it."

Gerard faced him.
"Really, I don't know what to say..."

"Don't say anything then..."
Frank suddenly leaned forward but Gerard jerked back by reflex, surprised by the unexpected motion.

His heart was pounding in his chest and his breath quickened as he was peering at Frank's golden eyes which were hooked on him.

Frank leaned again, slower that time, to reach Gerard's lips and connect their lips. Gerard relaxed into the kiss, closing his eyes, and he began breathing normally again.
He moved his lips along with Frank's in harmony and his whole body was crossed by a shiver of excitement.

Frank cupped his cheeks. Gerard didn't really know what to do with his own hands so he put them on Frank's shoulders. As the kiss lasted, they trailed up to the punk's neck, then to his head, and he tangled his fingers in Frank's hair.

He opened his mouth and Frank slid his tongue in it. Frank did the same to also let an opening for Gerard's.

One of Frank's hands left the boy's cheek to go to the back of his neck, and pushed on it to deepen the kiss. Frank's hand was now basically sustaining Gerard's head which tilted back from the force of the kiss.

They were tasting each others mouths, their tongues swirling together.
Gerard tasted like coffee, and Frank like cigarettes. They both silently enjoyed the addicting flavor of each other's drug.

Frank eventually pulled back, leaving Gerard eyes closed and secretly hoping for a little more.

Frank put a hand on his soft cheek, making Gerard open his big hazel eyes, and Frank nibbled his lip ring. He thought for a second about God knows what then stood up.

"We should go, school must be over. Our parents are gonna be pissed."

Gerard nodded and Frank helped him up. He showed Gerard the way back to his house, then went back to his own.

______

Gerard went home and entered by the front door, and tried to creep to his room silently.

"Gerard Arthur Way !"

Oh crap...
His mother caught him in the middle of the living room on his tip toes, her arms folded. She was scowling at him. That can't be good...

He would almost find the situation funny if he wasn't the actual one getting caught skipping class.

"How was school today?" she approached him, still frowning. She obviously knew everything.

You can imagine the size of the metaphorical drip of sweat on Gerard's forehead at the moment.

"It-it was- it was... Instructive."

His mother smiled. "That's weird... I've been called this morning, and I've been told that you weren't in class today..."

"That's- that's weird... There must've been a mistake..." Gerard tried to fake an innocent smile.

"Yeah, that's what I thought!" Mrs Way smiled.

Gerard eased up a little. Maybe he would get out of here alive, after all.

"...that's why I asked Mikey to check if you were there. After all, you two went to school together. And guess what? He hasn't seen you in all day." Mrs Way kept smiling.

Gerard mentally noted to yell at Mikey next time he saw him.
His scrawny ass definitely can't keep his mouth shut... Damn you Mom for being so clever.

"That- b-because... Probably we-"

"-Save your breath young man. Gerard, skipping school is one thing, lying to me is another."
She was now dead serious, and Gerard gulped and looked down, not daring to look at her in the eyes.

"I'm sorry, mama..."
Gerard felt stupid. First he skipped school, now he was lying to his mother, who had probably worried for him all day long. What and aweful son he was.

Seeing that his boy was about to cry, Mrs. Way pulled him in a hug.
"Hey. I hope that you had great time, at least. But don't do it again okay? I'm worried about you, I don't want you to take the wrong path."

"I know mama, I know..." Gerard sniffeled in her shoulder.

"So, are you gonna tell me who you were with?"

Gerard pulled away, frowning at her. How did she know?

Mrs Way chuckled.
"I was once young too, you know? It was a long time ago, yes, but I remember what it's like to do stupid things for pretty eyes. So who was it?"

Gerard looked down. "I was with Frank..."

"Gerard, I understand that you wanna spend time with him, but next time do it at school, okay? If Frank is your friend, if he cares about you, he'll accept that you don't wanna skip with him. You don't need to beak rules to look cool to others, you can shine by yourself. You're an amazing person !"

Gerard nodded again. He was still full of shame and regret. His mother hugged him again and stroked his hair.
"Shh, I'm so proud of you Gerard, you're doing well. Don't worry, it's all forgotten."

Gerard hugger her back, thanking whoever is up there for having such a comprehensive mother.

______

Everybody wasn't as lucky as Gerard. As soon as he got home, Frank got sermonized by his parents.

He couldn't blame them for yelling at him, it really wasn't his first time and they were worried for him, Frank understood. Then he got the good old 'take an example from your brother' that made him want to punch walls.

He apologized and promised - once again - that he wouldn't do it again, and got to his room, but crossed Anthony's path in the way. Could he ever get a break, for God's sake?

"Where were you? Skipping again?" Anthony sighed. "When will you grow up and get your ass to work? It's not by sucking dicks that you'll get good grades, that won't work forever. One day you'll have to wake up. And that day I'll be here, dropping the good old 'I told you so'."

Frank rolled his eyes. None of your damn business what I do with my life, he wanted to say. But he ignored Anthony's insulting speech and his own comeback, because he had so much better to say to make Anthony sad.

"Save it, the parents already told me. Yeah, I was skipping. And you know who I was with?"

"I don't know why I should care but anyway I get the feeling that you're gonna tell me, so I'm just gonna get out of here before you do."

"I was with Gerard." Frank smiled widely, enjoying his brother's bewildered look that appeared on his face just before he regained composure.

Anthony scoffed.
"You almost got me, but no way Gerard could've skipped, not even with you."

"And that's where you're wrong, little brother."
Anthony turned red, and Frank continued amusedly. "You really underestimate me. You see, Gee and I have spent the whole day together, while you were learning math formulas. You know what's best? I showed him the spot."

Anthony frowned. Why? Frank used to keep that place a secret to everyone.

"I showed him the spot, and we kissed in the sunset!" Frank cooed mockingly with an exaggerately cheesy voice ; he knew nothing would piss off his brother more.

And indeed, Anthony was mad. More than mad, he was utterly shocked and crushed, because he could tell Frank wasn't lying.

"He likes me a lot, you know? The kiss was just so sweet, so passionate..." Frank smirked.

He knew how much of a romantic his brother was, and showing Anthony that he could beat him at his own game was for him the best possible victory. He could tell that Anthony would have killed to be in his shoes at that moment.
He left, proud of seeing Anthony agape - for once.

Frank landed on his bed, thinking about this day. And about one detail in particular.

He had shown Gerard his spot.

The twins would come there as kids to talk, laugh and watch the stars ; they used to love doing that. It was their spot.

But as they grew up, they just weren't seeing things the same way and they grew jealous of each others qualities, and despiseful, rejecting all kinds of comparaisons between them.
Anthony stopped going.
It became Frank's spot, and the latter did everything to keep others away, especially Anthony.

Frank wondered, why did he show it now? Why to Gerard? He was just supposed to make Anthony jealous - which he was succeeding so far. So why?

He thought about what had happened before, when Gerard had asked him about him and Anthony. Nobody ever did, probably because nobody really cared - except Gerard.

It hadn't vexed Frank that Gerard had asked about it as much as he thought it would have. Was it... Was it because it was Gerard who had asked?

Frank felt like he could open up to him. Was that why he had shown him the hill? He felt like he could talk to Gerard, because he knew Gerard would listen without judging, that he just wanted to help because he cared.

Yes, Gerard cared, regardless to whatever people said about Frank, regardless to his fuckboy reputation ; and to Frank, that felt really good.

Somehow, Frank felt that Gerard had been through so much worse... That kind of comforted Frank, in a way. That reminded him that he wasn't the only one with problems to deal with. And honestly, Frank wanted to help Gerard with his.

Frank also thought about what had happened afterward.
The kiss. He had loved it.

He had enjoyed many kisses in his life, but generally it was during sex. That one was different. Frank couldn't tell how so, but it was.

One thing was for sure, Frank could have gone further, much further with Gerard that evening.

He could have kissed Gerard deeper, pulling his neck and down-throat him even more.
He could have laid the boy on the grass, pinning his hands on each sides of his head.
He could have spread kissed on his neck, making Gerard whimper beneath him.
He could have ripped Gerard's shirt off, touch and kiss every inch of his pale chest, see him squirm and ask for more.
He could have taken him to the stars above them, and so much more.

However, Frank hadn't.

He was the one to pull back. Why?
He asked himself this question again and again, until the answer hit him.

He just hadn't wanted to.

Sure, he still wanted Gerard - maybe even more than before - but everything would have been meaningless to him if they had had sex then. He had actually enjoyed this emotional moment with Gerard, he hadn't wanted to ruin it, to turn it into a simple hooking up session.

He had grown attached for Gerard. He didn't want just to use him for revenge and then break his heart. Gerard was making a real difference in his life. With him, all the masks were off and Frank was discovering a new side of his own personality that he wasn't sure he could show to anybody else than Gerard.

Frank felt his heart squeeze and beat faster at all those thoughts that made him somewhat nervous.
No, it couldn't be... Could it?

Could Frank Iero be in love?

______