They Say Opposites Attract

They say opposites attract. You see it all the time in stories and movies. The lowly peasant girl is matched with the rich prince charming. They are complete opposites in everything, yet they magically fall in love. You don’t think that it would apply to real life, not until you actually see it happening. You always think logically, thinking that they would fight or disagree too much. You don’t think that they could possibly love each other as much as they would, being so different. After all, people don’t like change. They reject things that are different.

But there are some few that don’t reject what they don’t understand. There are some daring enough to tolerate it, and some even courageous enough to embrace it.
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Frank had waited for this moment his whole life, ever since he was a child. Marriage, usually a girl’s greatest dream and fantasy. A thing that young girls’ plan for far before they can even comprehend what love is. Frank was no different. Actually, he was always more like a girl than a boy. Even when he was young he liked wearing make-up and girls’ clothes. He often wished that he had been born a girl, as he liked things that sparkled and pretty things, like glitter and china dolls. He never wanted to play outside, and didn’t really enjoy getting dirty or sick.

Gerard on the other hand, had only recently started thinking about the concept. Marriage hadn’t even crossed his mind until Frankie had proposed to him two months ago. Of course he had said yes, but before that, he had never even imagined what his wedding would be like. Nor did he care for the actual ceremony all that much. He only wanted Frankie. He only wanted Frankie to be his forever, and now this would make it more real, more official. Gerard had never been the stereotypical boy. He didn’t like sports and other things boys usually liked, but he certainly was not anything like Frankie. He loved playing outside with his younger brother, and he often tried to coax Frankie out to at least watch them play. The younger boy who reminded him so much of a girl even now as a grown adult.

Now, marriage was the only thing on their minds. Marrying one another.

Gerard waited at the far edge of the open silk tent. He seemed patient on the outside, but on the inside his spine was tightening. He was nervous and anxious, eager to get married. He didn’t like formal ceremonies like this; they made him uneasy. If it weren’t for Frank, he would have had a legal marriage, a simple binding in a courtroom and nothing more. Gerard didn’t like extravagance. He would have loved to live his life simply and cheap. It didn’t matter really, as long as the people he loved were with him. Frank, however, was a different matter.

Frankie had insisted on a big wedding, he wanted this day to be special. Gerard knew he would thank Frankie later for such a wonderful day and a priceless memory. At the moment, though, Gerard wasn’t too happy about the idea. He wasn’t happy about having to wait in the back of the silk tent that opened up so you could see the million twinkling stars. He wanted to be with Frank. It had been twenty-four hours since he had seen his lover, his Frankie. A whole day, and he was about to be driven mad. He hadn’t really had a choice, nor did he really know what he was getting into when he agreed to have a real, full-length wedding. He hadn’t thought that they would go through the traditions, like this one for example, and he didn’t think Frankie would go to these measures.

They had rented beautiful silk tents, had rented a caterer, and sent out the invitations- a hundred or so at least. Frankie wanted everyone that was special to them there. It really wasn’t that many people, but he had included specific family members, giving each an invitation of their own. The tents were large, white and black silk decorated the whole thing. Black and white were Frankie’s favorite colours, and he had to have them in his wedding somewhere. Frankie always loved those two colours together, loved how they were complete opposites. Just like Gerard and him.

Gerard simply let everything be planned without him. He didn’t mind what happened or how anything looked or what food he ate. As long as he was with the man he loved, nothing else mattered. He was happy that Frankie had chosen black as one of the main colours, as that was his. He adored pure black, because when you mixed every colour of paint that would be your outcome. You could even mix two or three of the colours and get the same results. White on the other hand, reminded him of Frankie, his angel. He hadn’t really liked white until he found the similarities between them. After that, he couldn’t help but adore the colour.

Frankie still wore the yin and yang necklace that Gerard had bought for him on their first date. It had caught his eye at first, simply because of the colouring. He had begged Gerard with his famous puppy-dog eyes so much that Gerard couldn’t help but smile and buy it for him. When Frankie actually stood back and admired it, he could tell how much the yin and yang symbol was like them. Gerard, always so black and dark; Frankie, so white and pure. Well, at least Gerard believed he was pure. Frankie hadn’t believed he was pure since he was old enough to realize what had happened to him as a young child.

Gerard’s nostalgia was interrupted when he noticed the Wedding March had started up, signaling that he was about to see the love of his life for the first time in twenty-four hours. Gerard stood up straighter, eyes on the opening of the tent. He was so eager to see his Frankie emerge, so eager to hold his Frankie close to him again. His heart sped up, racing in anticipation. Then all of a sudden, there he was.

Gerard had dressed in a traditional black tux, a black dress shirt, and a white tie to go with the colour scheme. He didn’t know what Frankie was going to wear. After all, it was bad luck for them to see each other’s clothes before the wedding. What Frankie did wear, shocked the older man. Though Gerard knew he should have seen it coming. After all, he knew Frankie better than anyone else could have dreamed. He didn’t expect Frankie would be strong enough to do such a thing so soon after being freed from his fathers’ wrath.

Frank was a sparkling angel. Frankie’s long, wavy brown hair was pulled back in diamond clips, only allowing some of the strands freedom to hang down along his neck. His make-up consisted of a light dusting of glitter, white eye shadow, and soft blush. A tight and elegant sequined corset hugged Frankie’s skinny waist and a white silk skirt with a train that flowed softly after him finished the image.

He looked to his lover for a moment, noticing his shock, before turning away and flushing. He had worried that Gerard wouldn’t like his choice. That Gerard would be upset and angry with him, a boy, wearing a dress to their wedding. After all, who would want a boy who was such a fruit that he liked to wear dresses? He couldn’t imagine anyone liking that, and his father’s evil words ran through his head. You aren’t good enough you little queer. They hissed and jabbed at his mind, making him want to run away to a dark place and curl into a ball.

Frankie had loved the dress the moment he had seen it. He had altered it, changed it around and made it his own. Gerard’s mother had gone shopping with him, helped him pay for the dress, and even helped him fit it to his size and add his own flair to it. She had helped him make it perfect, had reassured Frankie that Gerard would love it. Frankie couldn’t help but doubt it. After all, his father still had a strong grip on him, even though the old man was sitting in a jail cell all the way across the country. His voice still crept in, sneaking up on the poor boy at the worst times.

He fidgeted, looking as if he would never look up, let alone walk down the aisle. He could feel the eyes of the people he loved on him, waiting for him to start making his way to his lover. He could feel them getting heavier every second he stood still. Finally, though, Gerard’s father, Don, took Frank’s arm in his. Frankie hadn’t been able to perfect that tradition, the Bride’s father walking the bride down the aisle, as he had a restraining order against his father. Don, who was like a second father to Frankie, had gladly offered to play the part. Frankie’s eyes trained on the white rose petal covered ground, refusing to look up. His heart was beating quickly and he wanted to cry from fear of rejection.

Gerard couldn’t believe how beautiful his fiancé looked. Frankie looked like he had been sent down from heaven, no cliché intended. Frankie was Gerard’s angel, even without the white dress. Frankie literally had saved Gerard from the world of depression and drugs, but Frankie would never know that. Gerard knew that Frankie already had so much more to worry about and he didn’t want to overload the small man. That load seemed to be crushing his lover now, as he walked slowly down the aisle with Don’s help.

Gerard was distraught at how nervous and scared his angel looked. Frankie should know by now that Gerard loved him through and through, that they were meant to be together. Gerard knew that Frankie was nervous of what Gerard thought of his dress; after all he could read Frankie better than anyone could dream of being able to. He wished that Frankie wouldn’t doubt him like that, but really didn’t blame him. After everything Frankie had gone through, Gerard really didn’t see how he could trust anyone.

Frankie had finally reached his lover, but still hadn’t looked up. The audience all suspected him of wedding jitters, but wedding jitters wouldn’t explain it completely. Frankie was down right terrified. Only he and Gerard knew what was wrong. Frank squeezed his eyes closed tightly, expecting a shove or some form of rejection. Gerard didn’t hesitate.

He wrapped his arms tightly around his soon to be husband, pressing his lips into the younger mans hair. Frank jumped in shock, not expecting the kind and gentle touch. He should have, though. He should have known that Gerard would have adored the dress, that Gerard loved him more than anything and wouldn’t throw him away for wearing a dress. After all, Gerard had seen Frankie in a dress before. It wasn’t a new thing. He felt really stupid for thinking against his lover and leaned into the older man’s touch.

“I love you Frankie.” Gerard whispered in his ear, stroking his back comfortingly and trying to calm the younger man’s tense muscles. Frankie relaxed almost instantly, just letting Gerard soothe and hold him. “You are beautiful, angelbabe.” Gerard kissed his Frankie’s head while the audience awed. Frankie flushed and buried himself in Gerard’s safe arms. They felt so much nicer, warmer and more comforting than they had been the last time he had hugged Gerard. Maybe it was because they hadn’t seen each other in such a long time.

Gerard and Frank didn’t move from their embrace, Gerard held onto his Frankie and they both didn’t seem to ever want to let go of each other. The woman standing next to them holding a bible had already started the service. Gerard had told her over and over that there would be nothing stopping the two from holding each other during the ceremony. He had told her that they wanted her to continue on with the wedding and to act like nothing was happening. After all, Gerard didn’t think he could go very long without Frankie in his arms, especially not during their wedding.

Frankie was content in Gerard’s arms, so relieved that Gerard loved him and wanted to continue with this, so relieved that he hadn’t ruined the day. He listened to the women in front of them speak; after all he was the one that was even remotely religious. He had wanted the wedding to have a priest and to read from the bible. He had grown up Catholic, but as he grew older he grew less devout. It wasn’t really his fault, but he had stopped having complete faith. No one could really blame him.

Gerard and Frankie had been best friends, even before Frankie had been born. Their mothers, Donna and Linda, had been high-school friends, and had never grown apart. So it was natural that the two would spend a lot of time together as children. Gerard had been three when Frankie was born. Gerard’s brother, Mikey had been born around two months before Frankie had. They were at a closer age, but their relationship didn’t blossom as well as it did with Gerard. Both adored Gerard, and Gerard adored both, but it was clear that he favored Frankie slightly more.

Mikey wasn’t jealous, though. No one minded it because it was obvious nothing could be done to change the boy’s feelings. Mikey was happy to simply be included. He loved playing outside the most; Frankie didn’t like playing outside with Gerard and Mikey if he could help it. Mikey loved the fact that Gerard would favor him then. Would play with him, his attention unwavering. Mikey also liked it when Gerard wasn’t around so he could play alone with Frankie, because if he ever played altogether, Gerard and Frankie would only ever focus on each other and not poor Mikey who often became the third wheel.

Frankie was four when things went down hill. For the longest time, life was perfect. Gerard and him were inseparable, he loved his parents and his parents loved him. Three months after his fourth birthday, though, things changed for the worst. His mother had gotten cancer. At that age, Frankie didn’t know what was going on, just that it was bad. His mother, so lively and happy, was slowly loosing that spark. She didn’t play with Frankie anymore; instead she stayed in bed or the hospital. She was getting weaker and weaker with every day that passed. But the Iero Family was strong. She battled the lung cancer for two years, but the sickness consumed her in the end.

It didn’t help that Frankie was now in school. Frankie was starting first grade with Mikey, though they were both in different classes, and Gerard was starting third grade. Frankie had been excited for school, but once he had gotten there, he couldn’t wait to get out. The little kids were mean and picked on the little boy. He was small, and especially weak now that his mother wasn’t able to care for him. His father was too busy mourning over the loss of his mother to feed the boy, and Frankie didn’t know how to make food. He had never been allowed to before.

The other boys picked on Frankie because he was so girly, and the girls were too convinced that boys had cooties to ever even think of befriending Frankie. That wasn’t the half of it; Frankie’s father blamed him for his mother’s passing. Ever since she had died, he hadn’t gone a day without reminding Frankie that it was his fault and he should be punished for it. And punished he was, for something he didn’t even do. He’d come to school with many injuries cuts, and a white lie to the teacher. The other boys of course used this as an advantage.

Frankie’s life had gone from sparkling white and pure, to this vile and black darkness he called a life. He believed what his father had told him, had beaten into him, after all, he was only six and very venerable. He still loved his father, only hated himself for upsetting his father and making his mother go away. Everything was his fault, it was his fault that the kids at school were mean to him, it was his fault that he made his father angry, and it was his fault his mother had died. He didn’t tell anyone this, and tried to act as if nothing was wrong. Gerard believed everything the younger boy told him, but still couldn’t help but feel something was wrong.

Then Gerard found out about the boys in his younger friend’s class. Gerard figured that this was what had bothered Frankie, and so he had snuck into the class when the teacher had been out for a moment. The teacher had been distracted by Mikey’s class, which had a substitute at the time. So Gerard thought this would be the perfect time to show those younger boys not to mess with his best friend.

Gerard was nothing like the meek and girlish boy, he was strong and usually scared people. He didn’t mind that he didn’t have many friends; after all he had his brother and Frankie. He used that to his advantage, scaring people he didn’t want to bother with. And ever since his visit to Frankie’s classroom, Frankie’s classmates couldn’t even look at Frankie without almost running away in terror.

Frank made sure to never let anyone find out about his home life. The threats his father fed him were unbreakable. He couldn’t go against them. Even as he learned how wrong everything his father was doing to him was. Even though he knew his father would go to jail and get into trouble and wouldn’t see Frankie ever again. He couldn’t turn him in though, no matter what his father had done, raping him when he was seven, or breaking his arm two months later, he just couldn’t do it. He was the picture of innocence, still loving and wanting to please his father.

Gerard had his suspicions, but he never dared to ask. Frankie only spent a limited amount over at his house anymore, never spending the night. He missed the closeness that they had shared. He wished Frankie would tell him what was going on. Frankie never did though, so Gerard pulled away, thinking that Frankie didn’t want him around. By the time Gerard was headed to college, Gerard was an alcoholic and Frankie never knew. Frankie and Gerard were still friends, still interacted and were still warm to each other but the both kept secrets from each other.

Frankie was jealous of Gerard, with the loving father and mother. Gerard was perfect, and Frankie was broken. He felt Gerard pulling away and knew it was his fault. He never knew about the alcohol, but if he ever found out he would blame himself too. Frankie wasn’t mad at Gerard, he only admired the older boy, loved him more than anything in the world. Gerard was Frankie’s god, and he prayed everyday that Gerard would find out somehow and save him, but at the same time hoped he wouldn’t.

They were opposites after all. Gerard had the lousy grades, but he had talent, a loving family, and everything else Frankie didn’t. He was everything Frankie wasn’t. Frankie on the other hand, strived for good grades to please his father. His mother was dead and his father hated him. He was ruined and broken whereas Gerard was strong and perfect.

Frankie would go to Gerard’s to run away from his father for a few short hours. Frankie didn’t realize that Gerard was baked out of his mind, and Gerard didn’t notice the limp or how Frankie would flinch at almost every movement either of them made. They didn’t notice each other’s problems, to interested on believing what they wanted to believe.

Frankie’s father realized that Frank was gay first. His father had realized how in love with the older boy he was. It took Frankie longer to realize it. Mikey knew next. Gerard had already been in love with Frankie years ago, so it was no surprise to him. Only months after Mikey found out, did Frankie realize his infatuation with Gerard. By that time, Gerard was in Art College and trying to get by in life with a drug and alcohol addiction.

Only when Gerard had gotten out of Art College, did either of them confess. The day that Gerard had come home, they had started dating. They still knew hardly anything about their real selves; after all they had been hiding so much from each other. Gerard still thought Frankie was so innocent and perfect, and Frankie thought that Gerard was so clean and strong.

Two months had passed, and both were in complete and utter bliss. Gerard had stopped the drugs and alcohol, but Frankie’s father had still continued the abuse, maybe worse now than ever. Their relationship was blooming and they were learning everything about each other. Everything but their greatest secrets. Finally though, Gerard found out.

Frankie’s father had come home early from work and the bar. He had thrown the helpless seventeen year old to the ground of his room, kicking and beating him until he was coughing up blood. Then the drunken man had pulled his pants down and plunged deep inside of his son. Frankie had learned to just take it quietly, and he did. Gerard had burst in, wanting to tell Frankie some wonderful news he had learned about getting Green Day tickets. One of the few things they had in common was music taste. Gerard had been so excited to tell Frankie the news but he had opened the door only to find the broken boy being raped by his father.

That day Gerard had freed Frankie. Frankie had begun living with them, and the two were closer than ever. Gerard was Frankie’s protector, and he clung to Gerard. He was scared that the moment Gerard left; his father would come back and kill him.

They were complete opposites, but now they were getting married.

They were torn from the past and the woman in front of them asked for their vows. Gerard started first, hugging his lover to him and pressing a kiss to the brown hair before starting his vow. “Frankie, from the moment we met I knew I would love you forever. As we grew older, I knew I wanted to be yours. I knew I wanted you to be mine. I love you more than words could ever express, but I know you know exactly what I mean, because you feel the same. I vow to protect you forever, I vow to be there forever, and most of all, I vow to love you forever. I love you my Yang.” He smiled, wanting to seal his words with a kiss, but knew that that time would come up in just a moment.

Frankie flushed, looking down at the floor and staring at his pretty white and sequined shoes. Gerard made him feel so good inside, so happy. He wanted to do the same to the man staring lovingly down at him. He wanted to make his heart pound and his face flush in happiness. “Gerard, I love you more than words can possibly say. I love you for being you, my Yin. I love you for saving me and loving me even after everything we have gone through. I’ll love you forever and ever, no matter what.” Gerard had pressed gentle fingers to Frankie’s jaw and lifted his chin so that they could stare into each other’s eyes as Frankie said his vows.

They paid only half of their attention on the women next to them, just staring into each other’s eyes as she continued the ceremony binding them together forever. They wouldn’t have paid any attention at all to her, but they had to wait for their cue to continue the wedding and to finally bind themselves to each other for the rest of their lives. Finally the cue came, and they both said the sealing words “I do.” And then kissed.

Applause erupted from the audience as the two lovers kissed. Gerard held Frankie tightly in his arms and Frankie pressed himself to Gerard. They held each other tightly, black silk contouring into white. The two, so different but sharing some similarities were so much like yin and yang. One could not live without the other; they needed each other to survive. One could not live without the other; they needed each other to live. Gerard smiled at his younger lover, his husband, and picked him up bridal style. He kissed his husband again and began walking back up the aisle together. Joined together more than they had been earlier that day, because after all, opposites attract.