Anthony was right, the beds were really comfortable and Gerard did sleep well in his. It would have been perfect if he hadn'd had to wake up at 8 am everyday for 14 days. At least it was later than for regular school but still, he deserved a Sunday lie-in.

As soon as he woke up, he texted his mother to assure her that he hadn't died in a plane crash and that yes, he had thought of taking his toothbrush with him.

He also remembered texting Mikey; he knew too well what his little brother was going through, and that Mikey would need all the time and emotional support he could get to accept his sexuality.

Gerard took an important decision while having breakfast in the common room. Two important descisions, actually, which he had thought of most of the night.

Firstly, he would go and apologize to Frank. He couldn't bear the thought that Frank hated him anymore so he would do anything to make it up to him.

Secondly, Gerard would agree to do it with Anthony. Gerard wanted it and now he was ready for it. It had been a tough decision for him to make, more than one could imagine, but he knew Anthony was right for him and that he would be gentle and listen to him.

Gerard didn't want to wait. He wanted to do it tonight - if Anthony was still up for it of course.

Today, the students had visited the Cambridge university which was gigantic and beautiful, and kind of looked like Hogwarts, but without Quidditch fields and magic. It was still very impressive though, and at least twice as big as Belleville high.

To most of the students, this visit was all a big hint from the teachers saying something like 'work well and maybe you'll get to study here.' It worked well on some but not at all on others - Frank, for example, who had been yelled at twice this day for smoking when he wasn't allowed to.

All day long, Gerard had been lost in his thoughts and occasionally snapped back to reality by his friends asking him if he was okay. This went on until everyone came back to the hostel.

Gerard decided that he wouldn't visit Frank before dinner - Gerard wanted to have at least more than a vague idea of what he would say to him. So he waited. He waited patiently and right after dinner, he took a deep breath and went to Frank's door.

Gerard held his breath. He knew who was behind that door and he was sure Frank was here. Gerard could almost hear his own heartbeats in his chest getting louder and faster as his stress was leveling up. What if he messed up and made things even worse?

No, don't think about that. Everything's gonna be fine.

Gerard hesitantly put his hand on the cold metallic door handle and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. With his other hand, he shyly knocked on the wooden surface.

His heart stopped for a fraction of seconds when he heard the all too familiar voice utter 'come in' through the door. No way he could chicken out now, it was too late.

What's the worst that could happen, after all? He already hates me. Come on, let's do this.

Gerard gulped and opened the door, and went in.

Frank was casually sitting on his bed, reading a random comic book - probably the only form of litterature he had ever considered approaching.

Frank raised his gaze to see the red-haired boy he hadn't been able to keep out of his mind ever since that fight.

But it didn't mean Frank was to drop this legendary attitude of his.

Frank annoyedly dropped his comic book on his lap and rolled his eyes, not even looking at Gerard.

"You got the wrong room Gerard, go away." he said in a dull voice, not meaning to sound too mean or annoyed. Actually he wanted Gerard to stay.

"I-I wasn't looking for Anthony or anyone else, I wanted to talk to you. I came here to apologise. Frank, please listen to me. I am so, so sorry, for everything I've said."

Frank heard that and decided to, at least, look at Gerard and give him a chance. At least, Gerard was trying.

"I-I don't know what took over me. I don't want you to fuck off, I want you to stay, I want things to be like they used to because, fuck... I miss you..." Gerard's voice was growing shakier and shakier as he was trying not to get emotional, but he was doing a poor job at it.

"I know what I said was awful, and I don't expect you to forgive me for it. I know I've been mean, I know I don't deserve your forgiveness... It's- It's okay if you hate me for it, just know t-that... That you won't ever hate me as much as I do, and just know that I'm so sorry, and- and..."

Gerard's voice broke and turned into sobs. He couldn't even make another sentence as he began shaking and crying, carried away by the flow of his emotions.

That's when Frank understood how hurt Gerard was because of him, and that he had been too far with Gerard.

"Hey, slow down." Frank stood up and came closer. "Hey, hey, calm down Gee." He delicately pulled Gerard into a hug, and Gerard hid his face in Frank's neck, crying.

"I-I'm so sorry..." Gerard hiccuped.

"Shhh, don't cry Gee, please don't... I'm here, baby. I don't hate you. I don't hate you, you hear me?" Frank soothed. "Geez Gerard, don't ever put yourself down like that again, okay? Don't hate yourself, you're beautiful. Shhh..."

Gerard shyly wrapped his arms around Frank, hugging him back, and Frank gently stroke his hair in an attempt to calm him down.

"Gee, I've said and done terrible things that I regret too, we both did. How about we wipe the slate clean, huh? Forgive and forget?" Frank felt Gerard nod beneth his hand. "Wanna cuddle? Just good old cuddling, nothing more."

Gerard nodded once again and Frank led him to his own bed. The two of them laid down and Gerard rested his head on Frank's upper chest, trying to stay close to him.

Frank wrapped an arm around him to bring him even closer and began gently stroking Gerard's shoulder and side. It was silent, except for Gerard's occasional sniffling.

"Gerard?... I love you." Frank softly spoke and looked down at the boy. Gerard had fallen asleep.

It didn't matter to Frank because he wasn't afraid of saying it out loud anymore. Frank smiled and kissed the top of Gerard's head.

______

Pete knocked on Frank's door. He didn't receive any answer, so he just waltzed into the room. He was about to yell a 'hellooo', when he saw Frank and Gerard snuggled up against each other. They were both asleep in each other's arms.

"Awww" Pete exageratedly whispered to himself like he had seen the cutest kitten in the world. Well, it was true that Frank and Gerard were adorable, hugging like two otters.

Pete wished he had his phone to take a thousands pictures - possibly to blackmail his best friend.

Pete bent down and poked Frank's cheek a couple of times, making the latter frown in discontent and twitch in his sleep. Pete insisted by patting his friend's head and Frank growled and fluttered his eyes.

"Dude, wake up !" Pete whispered.

"jxfkdk..." Frank mumbled, which probably meant 'let me fucking sleep and go away, peasant'.

"Come on man, I've got the weed."

At the mention of the precious substance he had been craving, Frank decided he could make an effort and sat up, rubbing his eyes. Gerard was still asleep next to him.

"He's adorable. Did you two...?"

Frank made a face. "What? No, Pete. We didn't fuck."

"Oh..."

"Anyway, you got the weed? How did you pass it at the airport?"

"I didn't. What, you really thought I'd risk that? No, I found a supplier here." Pete shrugged as it was an easy thing to do.

"Great job, man. And Dallon?"

"He said he had stuff to do. Stuff with little Brendon, if I may add..."

"Should we wake him?" Frank asked, looking at Gerard.

"If we're gonna get stoned then yeah, we better get him in his room before the curfew; little dude might get in trouble if we don't."

Frank nodded and knelt on the floor next to Gerard. He ran a hand through his red hair. "Gee? Wake up."

"Just shake him," Pete shrugged.

"Thanks Pete, I would never have thought of that." Frank let out sarcastically and ignored his friend's advice, but raised his voice a little. "Hey Gee, wake up sunshine"

Frank obtained a groan in answer and Gerard slowly sat up, yawning and rubbing his eyes. "Oh, h-hi Pete..."

"Hey, good nap? We're gonna smoke a bit, wanna join? Careful though, Frank tends to jump on everything that moves when he's high." Pete winked.

"Yeah and careful, Pete tends to jump on everything that moves, even when he's not high." Frank glared at Pete.

"No, thanks b-but I should go."

Gerard stood up and blinked his tiredness away, coming back to his senses and more aware of the situation.

He had enjoyed - no, loved - what had just happened with Frank, but it kind of made him feel guilty towards Anthony. Gerard felt like he was cheating on him. Was cuddling cheating?

Anyway, Gerard didn't really know what he and Anthony were. Maybe they were a couple since they were acting as such. That made Anthony his boyfriend, however Gerard wasn't fully prepared to call him that yet. That made their relationship far too real for Gerard and he wasn't ready for that yet, he was too scared.

"What time is it?" Gerard asked.

"9 pm."

Oh shit... Gerard had to hurry if he wanted to have a chance to do what he wanted to do with Anthony.

"Just before I go, Pete, I heard you're dating Mikey."

"I am." Pete grinned.

"You know it's his first relationship ever, right? Well, he kissed a girl when he was in kindergarten but that doesn't really count..."

"Yeah I know, he told me that already - except for the whole 'kindergarten' part." Pete quietly chuckled. "And technically, he's my first boyfriend too since I don't usually date... but your brother is sooo fine... Anyway, I know what you mean. 'Go easy on him', I've got that, don't worry."

Gerard sighed in content. At least, Mikey was confiding in Pete and Pete was understanding; that was a good start.

"He's not out of the closet yet. I don't even think he's fully okay with himself being gay, if you could go easy on him and help him come out... Really, take care of him. He's too small to have a broken heart, he has faith in you."

Pete put a hand on Gerard's shoulder. "Don't worry, I swear I'll help him."

"Seriously, if you cheat on him, I swear I'll break your jaw." Gerard threatened. He knew very well that he wasn't going to break anything with his toothpick-shaped arms, but for his brother he would do anything, even break his knuckles on Pete's jaw.

Pete chuckled at the harmless barking puppy in front of him. "Don't worry, I won't."

Gerard mumbled a 'thanks' before leaving the room. Frank bit his nails and went out to catch up with him.

"Gerard !"

Gerard stopped and turned back.

"Hey... You know, I meant it when I said you were beautiful. You really matter to me. I... I know I'm not as perfect as Anthony and you two have a thing, but please... Tell me you'll think about it..."

Gerard didn't know what to say. He technically was with Anthony but the thing is, he was growing dangerously attached to Frank as well.

Gerard didn't want to break anyone's heart because he knew how much it hurt. Both of the Iero twins had done so much for him already, and this whole situation gave Gerard a headache. He nodded. "I will."

Frank smiled before jogging back to his room, where Pete was hysterically jumping on his mattress, giggling like a kid.

"Fuck, what are you doing?! Get the fuck down !"

"Dude, those mattresses are so rad !"

"Hey, calm down okay? You don't wanna bounce through the window and die."

Pete chuckled and stopped jumping. "We're on the second floor, you dumbass; worst case, I'll break my foot. Don't worry about me Frankie, worry about that little crush of yours."

Frank sighed and sat on he edge of the bed, followed by Pete. "Hey, it's not just a little crush, okay?"

"Yeah, I would know from all the times you ramble about how perfect he is."

"I don't ramble that much."

"Eeer, excuse me? Once, you spent five minutes describing his 'adorable upturned nose' and then five more talking about his 'cute little teeth'. His fucking teeth man, what the hell?"

Frank didn't reply and sighed again, getting lost in his thoughts and melting over how perfect Gerard Way was.

Pete snapped him out of his thoughts by patting his head, handing him a joint, which Frank gladly accepted and lit up, quickly followed by Pete himself.

"Hurry up, I wanna be done before the curfew." Frank said as he inhaled the substance.

"Mmh. Hey, you know prom's just after this trip, right?"

"Yeah I know, it's not even a week after we come back to Belleville."

"You're thinking about inviting Gee?"

Frank laughed and fell back on his mattress. "Of course. He'll go with me and nobody else, and certainly not with Anthony.

"Yeah well, careful, Gee seems pretty hooked on the guy."

Frank chuckled to himself. "Oh, don't be so sure. Something tells me that tables are turning, trust me..."

______