Modern Love?

Still that night

“Hey guys” Gerard said to the band
“This is Winter” he introduced me, I gave a small wave, I was feeling so self conscience at that moment, I could only imagine what I looked like
“Hey Winter, oh why are you crying?” Frank came up and asked me
“I… it… um…” I stuttered
“Best friend with guy who ripped out her heart and jumped on it” Gerard said as he put an arm around my shoulders
“Oh… that’s shit, you need a hug” Frank said as his arms encircled me in a huge bear hug. I put my arms around his back, tears started flowing from my eyes once more, for the first time in a while I felt safe, it sounds really sad and pathetic that I meet one of my favourite bands and felt safe, plus the fact that I feel even more pathetic being 17 and acting like a 15 year old doesn’t help.
“You’re going to be alright,” Frank whispered in my ear then pulled away
“Oh and by the way I’m Frank” he said, I smiled
“You’re smiling” he quietly said to me, I nodded my head Frank turned around
“She’s mine” he announced and with one arm pulled me into his chest, for a short guy he’s pretty strong, I laughed a little and looked up at him
“That’s not fair” I heard someone to my right say
“You didn’t give us a chance” I looked up as he finished, it was Mikey
“You snooze you lose” Frank replied
“Well if it works that way, then really she’s mine” Gerard said as he turned around from getting coffee
“You never said she was yours” Frank retaliated
“Hey, hey, hey” I started saying stepping away from Frank and Mikey
“I’m not a thing, I’m a person,” I continued saying, they looked a bit taken aback by this then I added
“If you want me you have to catch me” I finished and then started running straight down the nearest corridor, I didn’t know where I was going but I was enjoying myself. I ran down a corridor and around a few corners then ended up where I started; I jumped behind the couch and hid. After a few minutes I heard them come back
“Where’d she go?” Mikey asked
“I have no idea” Frank replied
“Has anyone seen Winter” Gerard asked someone
“Who?” they replied
“A beautiful pale girl who’s about Frank’s height” Gerard responded, I grinned to myself
“Yeah she went that way,” they said but I couldn’t see where they pointed, I heard them run off again and then I stood up slowly and looked around the room, Ray and Matt were getting coffee, they turned around and saw me
“Winter?” Matt asked
“Yeah” I answered
“I see” Ray smiled
“Coffee?” Matt offered
“Love some,” I responded as I walked around the couch towards them, bad move.
I looked down the hall and saw Gerard, Mikey and Frank walking towards me, when they saw me all three started running at me, I stood like a possum memorised by headlights. 10 seconds later I was knocked to the ground
“I won” Frank yelled and hugged me
“No I won” Gerard said
“No it was me” All three of them were hugging me now
“I need – to – breathe,” I said pretending to gasp, they all cracked up and let go. Gerard stood up first and offered his hand once again to help me stand
“Thank you” I said
“So who won?” Mikey asked standing to my right
“I did” I replied smiling
“You did?” They all asked in unison looking confused, I laughed
“Yeap, you’re all mine” they all smiled and laughed
“Yay” said Mikey
“Oh and by the way I’m Mikey” he offered his hand, I hugged him instead
“Yay I get a hug,” he said as I released him
“Aw I want a hug,” Frank said
“You can have one too” I replied to his pouting
“That’s not fair you’ve given Frank two hugs,” Gerard said acting like a child
“Group hug” Mikey shouted out and once again I was surrounded by three pairs of arms, I tried to hug them all but it was a bit hard with only 2 arms.

After many introductions to everyone the guys could find we sat on the couch and talked, most of it was random talk about different cities and funny things that had happened when they were there, stupid things Mikey had done, Frank and his cleanliness obsession and Gerard when he was a kid, it was all really funny but I was getting tired, I wish I didn’t have to sleep.

Mikey had gone to the bathroom and Frank was attending to his guitar, which left Gerard and I sitting on the couch. I yawned
“Are you tired?” Gerard asked as he looked at me
“Just a bit” I said as I smiled a little
“Come here” he said as he opened his arms, I lay down and curled up in his arms resting my head on his chest
“Are you okay now?” he asked as he stroked my hair
“Yeah thanks to you” I replied
“No problem, anytime” he said and pulled me deeper into his embrace, I snuggled in and closed my eyes.
5 minutes later Frank came in and told Gerard they were leaving in 10 minutes
“Do you need a lift home?” he asked, I nodded I hadn’t bother to bring my car because of the traffic
“Okay, come with me I need to gather a few of my things,” he said as I stood up
“Okay” I replied quietly, I was really tired it was around about 1 am. I followed Gerard to the dressing room and then to the back door to their tour bus, it was rather small and messy but for a band of their age it was pretty good.
“Is Winter coming home with us?” Mikey asked as he got in the bus and sat on the other side of me
“No, I don’t think she would want to, we’re dropping her home” Gerard replied to Mikey’s question, I would love to go home with them but that’s a bit weird
“Have you asked her?” Mikey asked looking as me
“No, Winter do you want to come home with us?” Gerard turned and asked me
“I think I better be getting home, I told my parents I would be home by 11, and I think they might be getting a bit worried that I haven’t come home yet” I lied, my parents didn’t care when I came home but it would sound weird if I said I wanted to go home with the guys
“Maybe another time” I added looking towards Mikey
“Yeah that’s a deal we have a month in Jersey so maybe many times” he smiled
“I would love that,” I agreed and he hugged me
“Now what’s your number?” he asked getting a pen and piece of paper off the floor, I wrote down my number and handed it to him
“It’s mine and no one can see it but me” he announced to the whole bus
“Oh…” Frank wined from the seat in front
“Can’t I have your number too?” he asked as he turned around to face me
“Nope you have to ask Mikey” I smiled as he pulled a sad face
“What about me?” Gerard asked pouting
“Same goes for you too, you have to ask Mikey” I replied again
“Oh Mikey” Gerard sang as he sat forward and looked at Mikey
“I’ll think about it,” Mikey said looking smug
“I think Mikey’s having fun, finally having something his brother wants” Ray said as he got in the bus
“I sure am” Mikey replied and everyone laughed
“Where to young lady?” asked the person I couldn’t quite recognise
“Um… 9 Benton Place” I said loudly so he could hear me
“Okay, next stop Benton Place” he said like a train conductor
“Oh now we know where you live” Frank said
“Stalker” I cried out sarcastically, everyone laughed
“Oh only you Winter” Gerard said as he ceased laughing
“Christian Ricci” Mikey coughed so as to be subtle
“Shut up Mikey” Gerard said defensively
“Who was that again Mikey?” I asked him
“Don’t say a word Mikey, or else” Gerard threatened him
“Come on Mikey you know you want to” I said
“Mikey!” Gerard raised his voice and I smiled sweetly
“Gerard wins on this one, I’m more scared of him,” Mikey said and I sighed
“Oh well I’ll find out sometime” I said as I noticed we were nearly at my house
“Great” Gerard said sarcastically and smiled
“Well this is my street,” I announced as I could start saying my goodbyes early, the whole bus erupted in ‘aw’s, I laughed
“I’ll miss you all too” I said to everyone and then turned to Gerard
“I’ll see you soon, I hope” he nodded as I hugged him, he kissed my forehead
“Everything will be fine” he said, I then turned to Mikey
“You better call” I said and hugged him as well
“Oh, I will” he smiled. The car came to a stop I climbed out to the front
“Come here Frankie,” I said giving him a nickname without realising
“It’d be my pleasure” Frankie said as he climbed over Matt towards me, he hugged me and then said
“I like the nickname” smiling I stepped onto my driveway, I waved as they drove off.
I breathed in deeply and turned back to reality, I walked through the house as quickly as I could, when I got into my room and shut the door I collapsed in my bed and slept.