Frank hates school. It's a common statement to make really, most kids say it. Frank hates it for a particular reason. The people were, and always would be, complete assholes. He must sound really cliché, right? The stereotyped 'gay emo', always being picked on and beaten up, but honestly, he kind of was.
At first, it's like any other day. He gets up, showers and has breakfast before leaving for school. He meets Ray halfway and they discuss the latest riff they'd come up with, he gestures wildly as he gets into it and Ray just chuckles to himself and nods his agreement. The roads are busy with morning traffic, and the feeling of fuck, school hangs over them. Whatever, he'd get by.
Frank sighs as the enter the school grounds, ignoring the sneers and mutters that begin immediately. He ignores them, no-one would ever actually say anything to his face. They knew who he was involved with, and they knew what they were capable of. He grins to himself a little, pushing the doors open. He notices the skinny frame first and makes a bee-line in that direction.
He hears a "Frank in 3-2-1," as he approaches, grinning at Mikey before he jumps onto Bob's back. Bob doesn't make a fuss, just hoists Frank up properly as he throws one arm up in triumph. Frank grins at the gruffy teenager.
Frank looks at the three infront of him. "Where's Gee?"
"Late," Mikey shrugs, but smirks as Frank sighs and buries his head in Bob's shoulder. "He'll be in class, don't worry," Frank hums from Bob's shirt and climbs down, opening his locker to stuff his bag in and grab the books he needed.
When Gerard finally gets to school, Frank's already sat through three of the five classes he has that day. He's pissed off, to say the least. He'd texted Gerard and rang him between classes, and he'd gotten no reply. Gerard always answered his phone, even if he was busy.
Frank's scribbling the notes that he missed for chemistry, focused on writing slower so that he can actually read them later when the door opens.
"Mr Way, how lovely of you to join us," Mrs Colins almost sneers, raising an eyebrow as Gerard mutters an apology and makes his way to sit next to Frank at the back. Frank frowns at him, but Gerard doesn't even notice because he's looking at the table. He looks paler, his hair is more of a mess than usual and his eyes are glazed and unfocused.
"Not even going to say hi?" Frank says, quiet so not to be heard, but enough for Gerard to hear the bitterness in his voice. The older boy glances at him with a pained look and Frank leans closer. Gerard scoots away, shrinking in on himself.
"Don't." Gerard snaps, glaring hard at the table again. Frank doesn't know whether to be upset or angry, but he knows he's somewhere inbetween. He turns back to the front.
He doesn't even look at Gerard for the rest of the lesson.
At lunch, Frank sits at the opposite end to Gerard and eats his sandwich in silence. Bob looks at Mikey, who's giving Gerard a worried stare. Gerard's looking at the table too, unable to meet his brother's eyes.
"You okay, Frank?" Ray asks, finally breaking the awkward silence.
"Fucking dandy." Frank mutters, biting into the bread between his fingers. When Frank's finished, he leaves the table quickly, walking at a fast pace to get to his locker. He shoves his books from previous lessons inside before slamming the door shut.
He needs somewhere quiet where he can just be alone and calm down. Somewhere outside, preferbly. He likes the way the cold air soothes his body, relaxing it. He likes the smell of nature, so pure and untouched. The small sounds of birds and other creatures russling through bushes and trees.
He ends up at the nurse, faking sick as he plays up to having been ill a lot in the past. He coughs a few times and that's enough for the grey-haired Miss Dewsbury to send him home. He does actually go home first, eating and then changing before heading back out. He heads towards the woods at the edge of town, breathing in the air as soon as it hits him. He sighs happily, smiling to himself.
Just a few hours of peace and quiet, then he would leave.