Skin and Bones

I open my eyes just as a pair of pale lips moves closer and closer to me. They softly meet mine.

“Morning,” I say. Our lips buzz and we both pull away giggling.

“I didn’t know you were awake.” I smile up at him and notice he’s fully dressed.

“I guess I sensed you were leaving.” I sit up in the bed while Gerard sits down.
“Where’re you going?” Gerard giggles and kisses my forehead.

“School, sleepyhead.” My eyes fly open and I pull away from Gerard’s lips.

“What time is it?” I turn my head and see that it’s 7:35. I have less than half an hour.

“It’s seven thirty,” Gerard answers confused. I quickly move to get out of bed.
“Where’re you going?” Gerard asks and moves back to let me out from underneath the sheets.

“With you. I’m late!” I’m finally out of the mess of sheets and is on my way to the bathroom, when Gerard grabs my wrist and pulls me back. I fall backwards halfway onto his lap, halfway onto the bed.
I look up at him, panicked and confused.

“Frank, it’s Monday,” Gerard says softly – almost sadly.
He doesn’t say anything more, and it takes me a few seconds of staring at his sad expression before my memory seems to wake up fully.

When I realize things, it must be obvious, because Gerard leans down and kisses the top of my head forcefully.

“I have to go now. Mikey’s waiting,” he mumbles into my hair, before he kisses me again.
“I put a shirt and a pair of Mikey’s dress pants on the chair. Mom is coming with you and said you had to look nice.” He pulls back and looks down at me, smiling.
“I think you look nice now, but I’m sure mom wouldn’t fully agree.” I look down blushing and start picking at Gerard’s t-shirt.

“You look nice too,” I mumble and blush a whole lot more – my cheeks prickling and burning.
“I love you.” My voice isn’t much clearer, but it is a bit.

“I love you too,” Gerard whispers back while he moves closer and closer to me. When I look up, his lips meet mine.

“Gerard! We’re gonna be late!” Mikey yells from upstairs.
Gerard pulls away and growls.

“See you when you get back,” I say with a smile on my face. I like not having to go to school. There are two bad things – worse things – about not going, but I focus on the good thing. Because it’s good.
Gerard gets up and throws his backpack onto his shoulder.

“Bye.” He waves before he disappears out the door and run up the stairs.
The front door slams.

-----

The door slams.
I flinch.
Both men on the other side of the table get up and I sit up straight, unsure whether to get up as well.

“Hello,” a woman says and walks over to shake hands with both men.
She turns to me, smiling.
“Hi Frank. I’m Mira Bells, the judge for this case.” She holds her hand out towards me and I quickly reach up to shake it.
All three sit down and Ms. Bells opens up a file in front of her.
I try to swallow down my nerves.