Ready For Your Love

Christine sighed. How come there are no fucking cabs at 5AM? She was at an airport, for god’s sake, and NO CABS? Seriously. New Jersey must hate her already or something. In a short moment of feeling lost she already missed her home.
She immediately felt ashamed for calling Belgium her home. No, that was the past. Too much had happened. Getting on that plane was “Exit Old Life” and getting off should have been “Yay New Life”. It seems new life is stuck in heavy traffic or something.

Christine took a deep breath. She’ll manage, she’s been through worse. The only problem right now, she told herself, is finding that goddamn hotel. She decided to just start walking and chose a random direction. Thank god she always put her luggage in a hiking backpack.

“A cab better comes along soon” Christine muttered to herself.

After about an hour of walking in no particular direction, a car slowed down to drive next to her. The window opened and a head peeked out.

“Hey,” the guy said.

“Uuuh, hello?” Christine said carefully. Those two guys didn’t exactly look innocent.

“Why is a pretty pretty girl like you walking on this god forgotten road in the middle of the night?” Woah, the smell coming from that car! They’re drunk and stoned as hell.

“Because your god forgotten airport didn’t have any cabs outside and I want to sleep.”

“What hotel are you staying in?” This kid is used to being this drunk, his voice doesn’t slur at all.

“Uh, some cheap ass hotel.” Christine said as she started looking for the paper with the name of the hotel.
“It’s called, uh, ‘Jersey Heaven’, something cheesy like that.”

“Oh,” Is al he said. A silence followed, but the guys didn’t seem to have the intention to leave.

“What’s your name?” The second guy asked after a while.

“I’m Christine, you two?” The guys giggled, god knows why.

“Well, his name is Gerard, but I don’t remember my name.” The first kid answered.

“Frank, dumbass.” The driver giggled as he hit Frank.

“Well, Gerard, I wouldn’t drive if I were you, you’re drunk as hell and most likely going to kill yourself like that.’ Christine said.

“Nah, I’m doing just fine,” Gerard slurred. “WOAH! FUCK!” Christine jumped aside as the car drove onto the sidewalk nearly killing her. Frank screamed like a girl.

“Nope, you’re not. Park your car over there, on that parking lot.”

“No way, I’m not going to walk. I can’t stand on my feet.” A giggle fit erupted from the car as Frank confessed. That was obvious. They’re not getting out of that car.

“Let me drive then.” Shit. What did she just get herself into? Let’s hope not too much trouble, with those two drunk guys she didn’t even know.

“Oh well, why not? Get in!” Christine got in the driver’s seat as Gerard struggled to get on the back seat.
She turned to Frank to asked wherever he lived. Her answer was a wide-eyed Frank.

“Great, you don’t remember, d’you?” Frank shook his head, clearly embarrassed.

“Okay, I’ll drop you both off at Gerard’s then” Christine sighed, waiting for Gerard to answer.

“Gee?” Frank prodded him. “He passed out, that drunk fuck.” He giggled.

“Do you remember how to get to his house?” Christine mumbled. This would be a long night for sure, she thought to herself, as Frank turned red. “And I bet you don’t know where Jersey Heaven is either?” She asked, although she already knew the answer.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it until we met you…”

“Or you’re just too drunk to remember.” Christine remarked. “I’ll just look for a place to rest and maybe eat, I’m getting hungry.” Frank nodded in reply, as did his stomach. Christine laughed as Frank mumbled a ‘sorry’. The rest of the ride followed in silence. They passed a gas station with a parking lot and a shop.

“Is this okay for you, Frank?” Christine looked at him, but he’d already passed out as well.

Christine thought for a while. Should she go into the shop and buy some food and drinks, or should she rest a bit as well? What if the guys woke up and she wasn’t here, or asleep? They probably wouldn’t remember her. She looked at the guys, they looked peaceful while sleeping. She decided to get food and drinks to surprise them, they wouldn’t wake up while she was gone. She hoped. She went into the shop and bought three sandwiches and three bottles of water.

When she got back in the car, Gerard had fallen off the bench on the floor. Christine tried pulling him back on the couch, but she accidentally woke him up while struggling with it.

“Huh? What the fuck? Where am I?” Gerard mumbled. Then he noticed Christine. ” Woah!” He yelled, crawling back on the couch.

“Why thank you,” Christine answered sarcastically.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I’m just not used to waking up with a strange girl pulling my sleeve or what-so-ever.” He stuttered, then continued in silence, “especially not if it’s a gorgeous girl.”

Christine blushed as she heard him, and turned around trying to hide it. She gave him a bottle of water. “Here. If you’re hungry, I got you a sandwich as well.” She said. Gerard nodded.

“Looks like I’ve been asleep for a long time.” He pondered out loud.

“Yeah, pretty long.” Christine answered as Gerard sipped his water.

“Jesus fucking Christ, that’s cold!” He gasped.

“Yeah, it was in some sort of cooler in the shop, sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Suddenly he turned a bit red again. “Uh, I can’t seem to remember your name?” He asked.

“I’m Christine, nice to meet you again,” She smiled. He was actually kind of cute.
“Now, can you tell me the way to your home?”

“Yeah, sure.” Gerard paused, thinking about something. “Uhm, I know it’s kind of weird, since we don’t know each other and all, but would you like to stay with us for a while?” Gerard turned a darker shade of red. Actually, his head almost seemed as if it would explode, it was that red. He shyly looked down, letting his hair drop in front of his face and drank some more water.

“I’d love to,” Christine said, blushing a bit as well. She turned around to see if Frank was still asleep.
“You two were pretty damn drunk, and stoned, last night. You’re pretty lucky you didn’t get into an accident or something.” She chid.

“Yeah, I know. I shouldn’t be driving, but when the alcohol takes over my system, my brains don’t have anything to say anymore about my actions… Lately I’ve been drunk every day.” Gerard answered, ashamed of himself.

“Want to tell me why? Talking could help,” Christine instantly felt worried.

“I’ll tell you later… It started on high school, and it never stopped. It only got worse.” Gerard looked sad, and Christine couldn’t help but want to embrace him and tell him it’d be okay. She wished she could say something that mattered and that would make him feel better, but she couldn’t find anything to say.

“Oh my god, my headd…” Frank whined. “How much did I drink last night? … Woah!” He backed away as he saw Christine.

“How come both of you reacted that way when you saw me?” Christine remarked, slightly upset.

“I’m sorry, I’m not used to waking up with strange, pretty girls in cars,” He apologized, slightly confused.

“That’s exactly what Gerard said!”

“Yeah, whatever, I’m thirsty,” Frank mumbled. Christine threw a water bottle at him, but Frank didn’t catch it and the bottle hit him square in the face, followed by a bewildered ‘auch!’. Christine laughed and apologized.

“Anyways, you guys want a sandwich?” Christine asked, after Frank finally found his bottle again. Both guys nodded. “There were only sandwiches left with cheese, I hope you don’t mind.” They ate in silence. Suddenly Frank started laughing. Gerard and Christine gave him a weird look.

“I can’t stand silence, it always makes me crack up,” He grinned, receiving another weird look from Gerard and Christine.

After they finished their breakfast, they drove to Gerard’s house. The front door opened even before they could get out. “Gerard! Where the hell have you been? I was so damn worried, you know I want you to come home. You could have been hurt, or even worse, dead, for all I knew!” A man shouted. The man was definitely younger than Gerard. He had brown-blondish hair and he wore glasses, yet I could see some resemblance with Gerard. He seemed to be taller, too.

“Long story, long story. I don’t feel like explaining it.” Gerard answered, slightly annoyed by the man’s tone.

“You probably don’t even remember,” The guy snapped.

“Mikey, I’m not in the mood to fight, just leave me, us, alone for a sec, okay?’ Gerard sighed.

The Mikey-guy then noticed Frank. “Never mind, I already know what happened” As he saw me as well, his irritated tone changed into curiosity. “Who’s that girl?”

“I- I’m Christine” She answered shyly.

“I’m Mikey, Gerard’s brother. Nice to meet you.” His mood changed to happy and friendly. “Now what are you waiting for? Come in, I don’t bite, you know,” He smiled and winked at her. She mumbled a happy ‘thanks, and nice to meet you too’, as Gerard pretty much dragged her to his room. Frank stayed a bit behind to talk to Mikey.

“Don’t mind my brother,” Gerard said. “He’s just overprotective about me. And weird.”

“Nah, he’s cool. Like you,” Christine grinned. Gerard smiled sweetly and watched his feet, obviously uncomfortable. A long silence followed, with Gerard’s eyes fixed on the floor, and Christine’s on Gerard.

“You know, in high school, I was a loner, an outcast. Everyone seemed to hate me, so I hated the world. After school I went to pubs and bars, to drink my loneliness away. Whenever I poured alcohol into my system, all my problems seemed to fade away. It got me getting drunk everyday. I got drunk by myself every single day. And it just never stopped…” Gerard mumbled in an uneasy confession.

Christine just stared at him. “Holy shit, that’s heavy” She blurted out. “Ah, fuck, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that.” She turned a dark shade of red as she felt like she just screwed things up. She didn’t know what to say, and her mind just made her blurt out something she better hadn’t said.

“It’s okay. To be honest, it’s one of the better reactions I’ve seen, and I don’t tell many people, only those I trust. Some have let me down though, but whatever.” He said.

‘Wow, did he just really say he trusts me? He doesn’t even know me.’ Christine thought to herself, and she couldn’t help but glow a bit inside. “Ehm, wow, thank you, I think.” She stuttered. She noticed Gerard blushing.

“So, anyway” Gerard started, only now with a completely different tone in his voice. “Did you just come back from holiday, or what are you doing here?”

Christine hesitated, unsure if she wanted to tell him about it.
---

“I don’t know, Frank…” I say hesitantly.

“Pleaseee ? Lynn, you know I could use your company. I missed you so damn much, and I know you missed me like crazy, too! I also happen to know you miss being on the road. Please come on tour with meeee!” Frank whines.

“But, Frank, what about Kayla. I don’t know if touring’s healthy for her,” I say.

“She’ll be just fine! There are so many celebs taking their babies on tour!” He pleads.

“Yeah, but those same celebs name their baby ‘Rainbow’, or ‘Audio’, something like that. They’re not right in the head!” I remark.

“Their babies are healthy as can be, and happy!” He retorted.

I sigh, “I can’t pay for the costs of being on tour, you know. I can barely pay for this shithole apartment!”

“I don’t care. I’ll pay,” Frank’s determined to get me on the road with him. Honestly, it’s what I need, but I can’t. It’s too complicated right now.
“Please Lynn. I really want you near me. You want to hang out with me as well, and you want to tour and stuff. I know you well enough. Don’t let your head make up all these kinds of problems that aren’t really there." He’s unstoppable now.

“Frank…” I whimper. I wish I didn’t have to mention this, but he won’t see the undercover ‘hints’.
“Gerard’s there.”

“You don’t have to be around him. I pretty much avoid him as much as possible as well.” He answers. His voice turned softer, letting me know he cared, but still wanted me to join him.

“Yeah, as much as possible. I won’t be able to avoid him forever if I’m on the same damn tour as him! I can’t even look at him anymore, Frank,” I silently squeak.

“I know, babe, but I’ll make sure he stays away from you. I can’t let him hurt you again.”

“Frank honey, I’m sorry. I really am,” I whisper.
“I can’t.”

His mouth stops pleading, but his eyes don’t.
Frank has set his mind on this, and he’s too determined, too stubborn, to give me up.