For the Last Night I Lie, Could I Lie With You?

In four and a half weeks time, just like the doctors said, Gerard was healed back to his normal…quiet self. The one difference was that he was slightly more open about things. He talked to David, my parents and Ericka and Elena (on some occasions) and me.

Once I had made absolutely sure that he was feeling perfectly normal again, I fulfilled my promise of taking him somewhere we could run around and act stupid together.

“Come on, let’s go.” I urged Gerard, tugging on his hand.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” He laughed.

He looked a little nervous as we walked out the door and began walking down the street.

“Don’t worry.” I assured him, swinging our linked hands back and forth. “You’ll love where I’m taking you.”

After I said that his tense facial expression relaxed into a small smile. We walked, and at one point ran, together until we reached our destination. It was a playground, wedged between the busy streets and dismal residential sections of our suburban city.

“Ah, this is awesome!” Gerard exclaimed.

“I thought you’d like it.” I said cheerfully. “Race you to the curly slide!!”

Gerard and I took off for the slide. I beat him there just barely, but he lifted me up and placed me behind him. Gerard is really strong for a quiet artsy guy who just recovered from broken ribs.

So Gerard and I ran around, climbing all over the play set for about an hour before we decided to take a break on the bench that was placed a few yards from the monkey bars. While Gerard was still catching his breath I hopped up and walked over to the monkey bars. I started at one platform and wriggled my way across. Around the halfway point I felt something warm under me.

I looked down. Gerard had walked underneath me and I was now kind of sitting on his shoulders. He stepped forward, letting me hold onto the bars letting me go across like a little kid.

“I appreciate the concern, but I could have made it across alone, you know.” I joked.

Gerard said nothing and let me go, my legs falling beneath me. Thankfully I held onto the bar with one hand and kicked me feet up onto the little ladder at the end. I sat on the top rung and Gerard stood in front of me. I looked deep into his hazel eyes. He stared back at me, his eyelids fluttering closed. He leaned into me slowly, but before his lips met mine I jumped to the side.

Gerard fell forward and caught himself on the ladder. He looked disappointed, but smiled anyway.

“Gotta catch me first!” I teased, running up another ladder to the top of the play set.

Gerard followed right behind me and caught me just as I was about to sit on the curly slide to go down. He tripped and fell on top of me, but managed to latch his lips onto mine in a passionate, but unique kiss. We swirled down the slide slowly as we continued to make out. We were then dumped onto the pebbles.

“I caught you.” Gerard breathed, picking me up off the ground.

“Yes you did.” I sighed. “I think we should get going now. The sun is starting to go down.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Gerard picked up my hand and we left the playground. I led Gerard away from my house and started walking towards his.

“Why are we going this way?” Gerard wondered.

“I’m sorry, Gee. Mum said I need to take you home. You’re all healed now and David’s getting annoyed with you wearing his clothes. I don’t want you to leave, but you have to.” I explained reluctantly, gripping Gerard’s hand tighter.

“I understand.” Gerard mumbled.

He removed his hand from mine and instead wrapped his arm around my waist. Relieved by his acceptance, I put my arm around his waist as well.

“I really don’t want to face my dad.” Gerard sighed.

“I’m sure, but don’t worry. I’ll try to talk to him if I need to. I won’t let you get hurt or anything.”

“Thank you, Bridgette.”

After a few moments of silent walking, Gerard and I made it to his house. We walked up the front path and stood on the ransacked porch. We faced each other. I held onto Gerard’s elbows, unwilling to let him go. Gerard bent at his shoulders slightly and placed his lips lightly on mine. My hands ran up his arms. One stopped on his neck and the other twisted itself amidst his soft black hair. Gerard simply placed his hands on my hips, motionless.

Our moment didn’t last nearly as long as I’d have liked because we heard the front door of Gerard’s house swing open. Frightened, we pulled away. Standing in the doorway was Gerard’s dad, angry and very drunk.

“Get away from my son, you whore!” He shrieked, yanking Gerard into the house by his arm.

“Take that back!” Gerard yelled louder than I’d ever heard him.

His eyes were filled with flames of pure anger. I wanted to take a few steps back, but I promised Gerard I wouldn’t bail on him.

“I’m not takin’ it back!” Mr. Way continued, turning to me. “Don’t you know my son is gay?
He’s just using you so he won’t get beat up in school!!!”

“He’s not gay!” I responded furiously, reaching into the house and pulling Gerard back out.

“Yes he is. I’ve heard him doing a guy in his bedroom. He screams like a little girl!”

“That wasn’t me, dad. That was mum before she got arrested!”

“You shut your mouth!!! Why do you want my son, Blondie?”

“Because he’s my best friend and I love him. I just want to be with him!”

Mr. Way growled and took something from inside the house. Then he grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. Something cold and hard collided with the side of my skull. My eyes rolled around a bit, but when they stopped I saw that I was being held at gunpoint.

“Well, you can’t have him.” Mr. Way spat.

I glanced at Gerard. He looked absolutely mortified. Our eyes met. I tried to ask him to help me, but he shrugged and I could tell he was trying to figure something out.

“Don’t make a move, Jerry or your little girlfriend gets it.” Mr. Way threatened in all seriousness.

“Let her go, dad.” Gerard ordered steadily, surprising himself with how stern his voice was.

“I will if you just tell me something.”

“What?”

“Do you really love her?”

I swallowed and looked at Gerard’s face. Tears filled his eyes as well as mine. I bit my lip and waited for whatever was going to happen next. I felt a bruise forming under the barrel of the gun where it had hit me earlier. Gerard looked at me longingly, knowing his answer, but not knowing what it would do to me…or him for that matter.

“Yes.” He whispered.

“I can’t here you.” His dad replied quickly.

“Yes.” Gerard repeated himself a little louder.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, I really love her!!!”

“WRONG ANSWER!”

My eyes widened and Gerard started crying more and began to lunge towards me, but Mr. Way was too fast. He took the gun away, threw me at Gerard, reached inside the house again and threw a big duffel bag at us. I clung to Gerard’s shirt and buried my face in his chest.

“Get out!” Mr. Way screamed.

He turned, walked into the house and slammed the door. I heard a few locks and deadbolts move into place and then there was silence. I silently sobbed into Gerard’s chest as he held me tightly. After some time we decided to move to the corner we used to drop Gerard off at.
I sat on the concrete and called my mum. Gerard sat next to me with the duffel bag filled with his things. Mum picked up the phone.

“Mum.” I whimpered, my voice wavering.

“What’s wrong, Bri?”

“I’ll tell you later. Gerard and I need you to pick us up.”

“At the corner?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“Thank you.”