Names Hands and Faces

Frank-
"I don't WANT love. I don't need it." I tell myself for the fourth time as I get undressed. Peppers yips at me and I sigh
"I know, he was pretty perfect" She yips again and gives me that knowing look "But, I don't want love, I don't need it. I can't and wont rely on it!" She yips again and I groan "I know! Why did he have to be perfect seriously?" I give up and call Ray
"Ray, the name on my hand belonged to the cute guy at the restaurant" I don't even bother with a hi.
"So?"
"I took his drunk brother home and then we had coffee and we laughed about his cat and he was really adorable and then we found out about our hands and we spat coffee at each other and then I ran out" I trail off at the end
"Oh Frankie, we're you scared?"
"Yes"
"Are you scared of commitment?"
"Yes"
"Are you scared he's gonna hurt you"
"Yes"
"Are you scared you're gonna hurt him?"
"YES!"
"Well, tell him that. The poor guy's probably heartbroken that you ran out"
"I know, now stop being right. I'm going. Bye Ray"
"Glad I could help" He yawns before shutting off the phone. I glare at it before throwing it onto the couch and going to my mattress. Falling onto it and then into a fitful sleep.

"Brian" I mumble at him as he comes in
"What have you done?"
"I messed up with Gerard!" I wail at him, going over and clutching at him
"Gerard?"
"I don't know, got a little brother named Mikey"
"Oh that Gerard! Oh I haven't seen him in ages. How is his art work coming along?"
"I dunno 'cause I messed up!"
"Come into my office and tell your Uncle Brian everything" He sighs. We go in and I sit opposite him in the comfortable leather chair
"Well, Gerard and I have the name thing right, so we found out yesterday after me taking Mikey home and then we spat coffee over each other and then I ran out and now I feel terrible!" I wail again
"Well, after your shift go tell him your sorry and you want to have his adopted babies, duh!"
"Brian"
"What? It's that simple" He chuckles. I glare at him before storming out
"I'm going to find Brendon" I mutter before stomping out.

I find Brendon eventually.
"Okay so you're going to be learning how to balance thing to make swift entrances and exits. Grab that heavy plastic plate" I do so and hold it in my hands "Okay now put it on your head and balance it"
"Brian said this wouldn't happen!" I protest and he chuckles
"Calm down kid i'm messing. But today we're learning the appropriate etiquette"
"Brian just said I had to remember my manners"
"I have this honed down to a skill, now repeat after me . . ."

It was a long day to say the least. After an hour of grueling training with Brendon I got red wine thrown over me so I had to change into one of Ray's shirts, then got dirty looks due to having my forearms and tattoo's exposed. Then I dropped a couple of glasses. Plus I couldn't stop thinking about Gerard. Today could have gone better.
"Come on girls, lets go outside. I'll walk you early tomorrow okay?" They wag their tails and I nod before taking them out to do their business. I was shattered. I just wanted sleep. I go back inside only to bump into Mikey as he leaves
"You're a fucking dick and you broke my brother" He spits before leaving with a flounce in his step.
"Mikey-"
"Fix it!" He calls back angrily. I sigh before putting my dogs back in my apartment. I take the stairs to Gerards apartment trying to prolong getting up there. I do though eventually and knock near silently on the door "Gerard?" I sigh and shake myself. He wouldn't be able to hear that. I knock louder and more confidently
"Did you forget your keys or something Mikey?" He calls before opening the door. His hair was a mess like he had just gotten out of bed and his pajama pants were slipping down his hips slightly while his over sized t-shirt was full of holes and paint stains.
"Hi?" The door is slammed in my face.
"Gerard!" I bang slightly on the door, loud enough so that it would reverberate around his apartment.
"Go away" He moans before there's the click of a lock. I bang again but there's no answer.
"Gerard" But there's no answer.

The next three days progress like that. I get worked to the bone at the restaurant, I take the dogs for a walk and then I go and bang on Gerard door a for bit. The fourth night is different. There's a sign on the door when I get there



I leave it then. This wasn't something I was going to win. It was time to go to Brian. After though, I take a picture of the piece of paper tacked to the door. Just to show him.

The next day I go straight to Brian wielding my phone at him
"He put this on his door because persistence doesn't work!" He takes the phone off me before chuckling.
"Gerard is a romantic. He likes the big gestures"
"So?"
"He has a massive art event this Saturday"
"So tomorrow?"
"Yer, and you should be there. I'm leaving here at 12 o'clock to get to New York in time. So here at 12pm"
"I can do that" I say before turning to him fearfully "What do I wear?"
"What you normally wear"
"Oh okay" I mutter before leaving the room "RAY I NEED YOU TO DOG SIT FOR ME!"

"We'll be fine" Ray says before waving me off. He had picked up the dogs and had dropped me off at the restaurant where Brian was waiting, a smirk on his face.
"Do you think this is too much?" I ask him. I had all my piercings in, but I still had my glasses on. And I had washed my hair and styled it. I was also in my Bouncing Souls t-shirt with my ripped black jeans and combat boots
"You're fine. Now c'mon it's time we talk" I get into his car and we start the drive. Judging by traffic already, we were in for a long drive.
"About what?" I ask
"Gerard"
"Go on"
"Okay, i've known Gerard for a very long time. Since his early teens. Just like you. And now while I was helping you with your music career I was helping him with his art career. I honestly don't know how you two never met but whatever. While I was helping you morally I was acting as his agent. His brother only took over when the restaurant was handed down to me. But i've always kept in touch."
"Yer go on"
"Well, he's a very fragile person. There are some things he should tell you that I can't. But he's fragile. He's been hurt so many times"
"And I didn't help huh"
"Not in the slightest. But hey, he spoke to you in note form"
"Yer to tell me to eff off"
"You can be persistent"
"But, I love him and I was stupid"
"That's why you're coming tonight. Then you're gonna take some tips from those 80's films you both love so much"
"He's that type of romantic?"
"Very much so"
"Alright, i'll do it" I grin and he nods
"Good boy"