Three Cheers

"Do you know the way?" I asked him in the car.

He nodded, "Yeah, calm down."

"How can I calm down? My store is fucked." I stressed to him angrily.

"It may not be so bad." Gerard looked over at me, "Just take a few breaths."

I furrowed my brows at him, trying to breathe, but in my head, I could just see my dreams up in smoke. I could only imagine what the hell happened to my place. It was killing my thoughts of positivity.

Any positive thoughts I had went out the window when I saw police cars and broken glass and a few people crowded around. I got out the car immediately after Gerard parked, then I went up to the first police officer.

"I'm the owner," I said quickly before he could tell me to go away, "What happened?"

I looked over at my store; the front window was smashed out, there was spray paint and the clothes all over the place. My heart fell straight into my stomach; "Come with me," The officer said quickly.

I gave a quick wave to Gerard, then I followed the cop. I stomach was in tight knots as he led me toward the back. There was spray paint all over the place, I couldn't read what the fuck it said at all. I kept tugging at my hair, feeling sick, dread. I looked at the other police officer who showed up; "Do you have any idea would have done this?"

I shook my head, "No. I'm not... I have no clue! I'm pretty nice everyone, and I'm rarely here... I have a daughter, so she takes up all my time."

"We think it may have to be someone in your personal life... Rivals, old friends, fired employees, maybe?" The officer spoke swiftly.

I shook my head again, "I haven't fired anyone, and only three girls work for me."

The police asked for the names and I gave them to him. They let me go inside to assess the damage inside.

The entire place was mucked up in water and spray paint. My jaw slacked at how fucked up it looked, "Jesus Christ." I muttered, placing a hand over my mouth.

I couldn't stop cursing every time I turned my head. Everything was ruined; tears began to form into my eyes. The damage was beyond repair. "Holy fuck."

"Ms. Fredrick, we'll give a number to a contractor." A officer offered.

I exhaled heavily, "Thank you." I mustered, "I... I need to get out of here."

"Come with us, we have some things for you to sign."

The policemen escorted me outside; I followed them to a police cruiser and signed my name wherever they told me to. After that, I walked back over to my car, where Gerard was leaning against the door with a cigarette. His cool demeanor seemed to piss me off and I didn't know why. I started to cry, placing my palms to my face and knelt by the passenger side door. I heard Gerard come over, he knelt beside me, placing his hand on my back, "What happened?"

"I don't fucking know." I sputtered, "It's all... It's fucked up in there!"

Gerard stood and helped me up, "Get in the car, you and yell and scream all you want in there."

Gerard opened the passenger side  door and I got in. Again, I buried my face in my hands and sobbed; He got in the driver side and started the car quickly, driving off.

"October, let it out." He said softly.

I shot a look at him, "What does it look like I'm doing, you dummy?!" I snapped at him, "Don't give me some psychological shit just because your enlightened and don't drink or do drugs anymore! You're such an asshole!" 

I lent over, unable to look at him, and started to sob. I hadn't cried like this in ages, and my heart hurt worse than anything. It just baffled me how someone could be so cruel.

A few moments later, Gerard parked, I felt his hand on my back, he rubbed it gently, "I know you're mad, Sugar. I can fix all that shit for you, money ain't a thing--"

I sat up, "I'm not broke, I can pay for it to get fixed!" I shot at him, wiping my eyes, "I shouldn't have to get it fixed! Do you know how hard I worked to get half of what it is? I did it all while taking care of Busy, I went a lot of days without sleep and eating properly. I sacrificed a lot just to give my daughter a little bit normalcy, but some asshole--"

Gerard cut me off by placing his lips on mine. I shoved him away, tears stained and wet my face, "Don't try and kiss me! I'm all ugly and crying, leave me alone."

"If you don't calm down and take a breather, you're gonna have the worst headache of the year." Gerard smiled slightly at me.

I shook my head, coursing my hair back, "Take me home, please."

Gerard sighed, "Whatever you want."

"Don't tell Busy." I added quickly.

"I won't." He said softly, "But, uh, do you want me to like take her off your hands for a few hours?"

I shook my head, "Fran will do that," I sniffled, "Fuck, I can't believe this."

"I'll help, you know, whatever you need me to do, I'll do it." 

As pissed as I was, I bit my tongue and smiled, "Thank you, Gee."

"No problem."


As soon as I opened the front door, Busy squealed and jumped into my arms. "Mama! Mama! Franny here!"

I chuckled, "I know baby."

"Where you go?" She asked as I carried her in.

"I had to go somewhere really fast. I'm sorry, B."

She kissed my cheek, "I miss you."

I awed at her, "I missed you, too, B."

Busy looked over my shoulder, "Daddy! Daddy! I miss you!"

Gerard came over and took her, "I missed you, too, Biz." He kissed her head, "I think it's time for you to take a bath."

She frowned, "No way!"

I went over to the couch and sat, along with Gerard and Busy. Fran came in from the kitchen, "So, what happened?"

I looked at Gerard, he nodded, "Biz, let's go take a bath. Frank wants to you to come play."

Busy gasped dramatically, "Oh my gosh! I play with Frankie!"

Gerard chuckled, as did I, "Yep, and he just got a new puppy."

"Mama, mama!" Busy ran to me, "I go play with the puppy? Please? Pretty please?"

I smiled, kissing the top of her head, "Let daddy give you a bath and you can."

She frowned, "Why?"

"Because, B, you got to." I told her.

Finally she relented, "'Kay." She turned to Gerard, "You play Ken." She told him, running towards the bathroom.

Gerard raised a brow, "Play Ken?"

"Barbie and Ken, dumbass." I muttered.

He smirked at me, "Keep it up, October."

I just rolled my eyes, then sat back once Fran sat. She smiled at me, "It's like a real family in here."

I shrugged, "B loves him."

"So," she began, "What's going on?"

I took in a deep breath, then sighed. I began to tell Fran all that happened and her emotions ranged quite a bit. I wanted to just get it over with a didn't stop until I was finished.

"That's so fucked up." She muttered, "They don't know who did it?"

I shook my head, "No, and since I never put those fancy security cameras in, we won't know unless the person outright confess."

Fran leaned over and hugged me, "I'm so sorry."

"It's... It sucks." I mumbled, letting her go, "I had so much merchandise in there..." I pinched the bridge of my nose, "I have to start all over."

"Hey, you can do it. Before, you came here with nothing and were successful the first year. You're like halfway there." Fran always seemed to look on the bright side.

"I guess you're right." I exhaled, "The only thing I got to do now is clean that shit up and get to the manufacturers."

"I'll help you, anything you need." Fran offered, just like Gerard had done.

"Thanks, a lot." I said sincerely, "It's gonna be a lot."

"Whatever you need, I'm here."


Fran had gone to check in with her job, while Busy got ready to go with Gerard. I helped her get dressed; the kid fought me about the dress.

"Busy, it's warm outside and you're gonna be playing with a puppy," I knelt on my knees; she had her arms crossed in a huff, "Remember Kruger? What did he do to your pretty flower dress?"

She frowned, "He rip it."

"Now, we don't want that happening again, do we? You'll have more fun in shorts and a shirt."

She nodded, while I went to her dresser. She stood beside me, holding up her towel, "Mama, I want daddy's shirt."

I furrowed my brows, "His shirt?"

"From when we see them." She told me.

I instantly remembered, "Okay."

I grabbed her t-shirt from the show and handed it to her. Gerard came in a moment later, "Yeah, Frank got too excited about seeing Busy." Gerard said with a small laugh, "He can't wait to show her his puppy."

"What it name?" Busy asked him.

"He wants you to help him name it." 

Busy giggled happily, "Really?"

"Yeah, B." Gerard helped by getting her pamper and dressing her, "We're gonna go to the park and play, too."

"Mama come?" Busy asked.

I tossed Gerard her shorts, "Uh, I'm not sure..."

"Yeah, mama is gonna come." Gerard smiled at me.

I shook my head, "I have a lot of work..." I trailed again.

Busy huffed, "You work always!" She whined.

I sighed, "I'm working for you."

"Don't worry, B, mama is gonna play with us today." Gerard winked at her.

I rolled my eyes, at the sheer fact that he knew the ton of shit I had to do. He set Busy down so she could go to the closet and get her sneakers, then he came over to me, "Sugar, that shit can wait until tomorrow, stressin' about it now ain't gonna put it off. Just hang out with us, alright?"

I looked at Gerard, his eyes just ate at me and I couldn't help but to feel an overwhelming feeling of calm take over. I nodded, "Alright." 

He leaned forward and kissed my lips softly. I lingered for more and was about to kiss him again when I heard Busy giggle. We both looked over at her, "Mama kissin' daddy."

Gerard chuckled, while I felt my cheeks get hot, "That's because I love mama."

I fanned myself, trying to control myself. Busy looked at me quizzically, "You 'kay?"

I nodded, "Just fine, baby."