Gerard's P.O.V.

1 Well this is awkward... I'm standing on the doorstep of my own home, alone, and nobody's here. I must have looked a fool, standing outside my own home, I could tell the people across the street were watching me. They had some fascination with me because it was very rare that I went outside at this time of day, or ever family said they would go on vacation and be back today before I got home from camp, but I guess not. I sat there for a while. Still waiting for someone to come home. It was starting to get dark out. No one was there. I sighed and stood up. I took my stuff and walked down the sidewalk, see this is why you need friends. So you can go to their houses when your family forgets about you and doesn't come home. I was never allowed outside in this crime-ridden state because they always found dead bodies in the park. I continued walking until I saw a diner with a big neon milkshake. I walked in, though I didn't have any money and I was just a little kid. I would probably get kicked out. Surprisingly not. The mood was pretty mellow, a few bikers here and there, regular Joe's, no women other than one old lady smoking in the corner. I sat on one of the stools at the counter. I rested my head in my hand and put my elbow on the counter.

"What can I get you, honey?" the woman behind the counter asked, taking out a small pad of paper and clicking her pen.

"Nothing. I have no money."

"Oh. Where's your parents?" She chewed her gum and put the pad down behind the counter.

"I don't know. They left, and they said they'd be back today but they aren't home."

"Aww..well is there anyone you can stay with? I can call them."

I thought about even though I knew for sure there wasn't anyone I knew well enough to stay with. "No," I finally said.

She clicked her tongue and inhaled through the side of her mouth. "Well... I'm sorry about that. What's your name, hun?"

"Gerard." I heard the door open, I didn't think much of it. Some guy walked over and plopped down in the seat next to me. "Hey Agnes."

"Hi Frankie. What do you want? The same as always?" She asked, already heading to the back of the kitchen.

"I already ate, but I'll take a drink." He looked at me, we made eye contact and he said hello.

"Hi," I responded.

"What's your name?" he stuck out his hand.

"Gerard..." I shook his hand.

"Cool! I'm Frank, by the way."

I nodded and gave a small smile.

Agnes, I guess that's what her name was, came back and put a coke on the counter and slid it over to Frank. She put one down in front of me too, I looked up at her, she winked and smiled warmly. "Gerard here," she gestured to me, "is all alone. His parents aren't home yet."

"Aw man that sucks," Frank frowned and sipped his coke.

"They'll be back tomorrow though," I assured.

"Ah.." he set the glass down, "Well where are you going to stay until then?" Frank asked.

"I don't know. I don't know anywhere that's safe that I could go."

"Hm. Well I got nothing to do. You could stay with me for the night."

I thought about this for a minute. I looked over him and thought 'well what if he rapes me or kills me or both?' But I was sure the lady behind the counter wouldn't let me go with some pedophile murderer.

"I've known Frankie for a very long time. He's not a bad person," she smiled again, I felt a little better. These people seemed trustworthy.

I didn't even care if he raped me or not, I had nowhere to sleep. "Alright."

So I sat and waited while the two talked on and on about things and people I didn't know. I tuned in and out of the conversation several times. They'd say something that would remind me of something else, a line in a movie or something, I'd get lost in my own mind. I picked at the dirt under my nails. Finally they said goodbye and Frank gave her a hug. I got up, waved goodbye to Agnes and followed Frank to his car. It was just a plain black car, nothing special, not like I expected him to have some pimped out ride. "You can sit in the front seat if you want to," Frank said, opening the door and pressing a button so my side opened. I sat down, threw my bag in the back seat and buckled the seat belt. Frank was digging around in his baggy pants pocket for his keys and then he finally found them, sat down and buckled his belt. He put the key in and turned it. We drove a while, passing houses and liquor stores, even a few prostitutes. Then he asked if I was cold. I was, but I didn't say anything, I didn't want to be rude. He asked how old I was. "Twelve."

"Oh. What school?"

"I'm home schooled." I prepared myself for the stupid questions about to follow.

"Cool, cool. How does that work for, like, testing?"

I sat up a little, because I was sinking in the seat, "There's a place we go and meet, it's like a classroom. We take tests there."

"Do you go to school dances too?"

"Same place."

"Aha." He pulled up to a small yellow house with green shrubs and a half dead lawn. Average houses, around here they all looked the same. I grabbed my stuff from the back seat and got out, shut the door and followed him.

"Here it is!" he said, opening the door and flicking the lights on.

I looked around, it was a small living room, conjoined with the kitchen, but separated by a counter, there was a couch, a TV, another couch, and a coffee table with various magazines and other random items strewn across the surface. The carpet was white.

"I'll get you some blankets." He walked off down the little hallway. I put my stuff down against the side of the couch closest to the door and sat down. I yawned as I bent my arms behind my head. Frank came back, "This is the comforter," he pointed to the bottom one, "and these are a couple of sheets." I nodded. "Here's the TV remote if you want to watch something," he picked it up and put it on a side table. "Um..g'night!" He went to his room and shut the door. I made my bed and went to sleep.

The next morning I woke up to the sound of running water. Frank was in the kitchen doing dishes and singing. In the morning. I sat up and wiped the crud out of my eyes. "Hey, you're up," Frank said a little monotonously.

"Yeah..." I said.

"I figured I'll drive you home in an hour, is that okay?" he turned off the sink and dried his hands on a pale pink towel.

I nodded and stood up.

"Breakfast?" He asked.

"Nah, I'll eat when I get home."

"Okay."

I sat down at the table, he sat across from me. He looked down at the table, the coffee maker gurgled and popped. I noticed his hair, I didn't notice before because I was too tired and I didn't really look at him. He had dark hair that curled behind his ears and around his neck. The way he rested his head on his hand was strange, with his index and middle finger flat against his cheek, the other two curled to support his chin. He sniffed and looked up at me. I grinned, he smiled back. "Do you drink coffee?" he asked.

"Yeah."

He went and got two mugs, he filled them both and set them on the table. I dragged mine closer and blew on it. We sat at the table for a bit and talked more about how home schooling was, he talked about his job at some café that also dealt marijuana. Then we got into a really long conversation that started with stoner metal and ended up in local punk bands. We got into the car, still continuing the argument of which was better, Michale Graves or Glen Danzig. He was on Danzig's side. I gave him directions to my house. He followed me up to the door, I tried to turn the knob, but it was locked. I knocked on the door and waited. No one came to answer it. I knocked again. Still no one came to answer it.

"How long did they say they'd be gone?" Frank asked, squinting as the sunlight hit him directly in the face.

"A week. It's been nine days," I said grimly.

He walked over to the window, "jeez you guys don't have any curtains?"

"We do." I followed him.

He peered in through the window. "Uh..." he said.

"...what?"

"The place is empty."

"That's not right."

"Is this the right house?" he looked back at me.

"I think I know what my own fucking house looks like!" I snapped and went to the back door, it was cracked open. Frank was following me. I opened the door, "Hello?" I called. No answer. I went through the laundry room into the kitchen, everything was gone. The table, the small appliances, all the cupboards were empty. Frank just stood in the doorway. I turned to face him. He looked at me for a minute, we didn't speak. He frowned and made a sympathetic face. "This isn't happening.." I said, "This isn't real! They're coming back, I know they will!"

Frank looked at the floor and shook his head.

"They will!" I ran upstairs.

"Gerard! No!" he chased after me. He grabbed my hand before I got halfway up the stairs and yanked me down into tight hug.

"They're coming back. They are. They said so." By this time I was sobbing into his green t-shirt.

"I'm sorry." He put his hand on the back of my head.

"No..no...they'll be back tonight."

"Gerard. All the furniture is gone. They wouldn't take all their furniture for just a week."

"Shut up!" I pushed him, "You don't even know me! Or my family! They're coming back. Tonight." I started up the stairs, "I know they are." I went up the stairs and looked into my mum and dad's room. All the furniture was gone there too. I sniffled and wiped the tears off my face. I heard Frank walk out. I went into my sister's room, same thing, it was empty. Only the pale green wallpaper with the little pixies on it was left. I heard Frank start his car. I thought to go and stop him, but something held me back. What if I get kidnapped? Or killed? Or raped? Or all of the above? Being alone, scared the shit out of me. I finally just gave up and ran out after him. "Wait!" I yelled, waving my arms. He didn't see me, the car kept going. I was right back where I started.