Chapter 1: Coffee and Cigarettes
I screamed into the mic before pulling back to play. All I had to do was sing back up and play the rhythm. I jumped around and then looked at Thorn. She was singing beautifully, like she usually did. We were singing a song at a local club. I loved our band! We were the Violent Bloody Valentines. The members were Alexandria Elizabeth Caldwell, the drummer, Frankie Valentine Blood or me which I am the Rhythm guitarist, Annalynne Abigail Hartley the bassist, Scarlett or Scar Ann Mustang whom is the lead guitarist, and Mary Beth Johnson or Thorn who is the frontwoman .
"How you doing Frankie?" Thorn, the lead singer, asked.
"Pretty Good." I smiled.
"Yeah, we're fine, Mary." Scar, the lead guitarist ,smiled.
"It's Thorn." Thorn hissed back.
"Yeah, yeah." Anna said.
"Um, how bout we play…I'm Not Okay?" I suggested.
"You think you can scream this time?" Thorn asked. I nodded. She smiled and announced the song to the club. I licked my lip ring and grabbed a sip of water. I ran up to the mic.
"Ready!" I called. She nodded.
"Well if you wanted honesty that's all you had to say. I'd never wanted to let you down or have you go but it's better off this way!" Thorn sung. I screamed, 'but it's better off this way' like Frank Iero. I smiled, he was my influence. Anyway, I sung with her.
"I'm not WOAH-KAY! I'M NOT WOAH-KAY! I'M NOT WOAH-KAY!" I screamed into the mic. I sung the whole song.
"We're Violent Bloody Valentines! GOODNIGHT!" Thorn yelled. I sighed and chugged my water. I took my guitar and walked backstage, strumming the chords to 'The Ghost of You'
"I never said I'd lie in wait forever. If I did we'd be together…" I sung as I played. The band left me and mingled throughout the bar. I just sat on a stool, playing my guitar. I saw a man in a grey beret looking at me. He had a black trench coat over a Black Flag tee-shirt. He had black skinny jeans and jet-black hair. I smiled up at him.
"Is that the Ghost of You by My Chemical Romance?" He asked, his voice silky smooth.
"Why, yes it is." I said with a smile.
"Ah and what's your name?" He sat on a stool in front of me.
"Frankie." I smiled.
"Sounds like Frank Iero…"
"Hah! I wish. He's my idol though. My dad named me Frank but he changed it to Frankie. So…I'm Frankie." I giggled, "Now, who are you?"
"I'm…uhh… Griffin, it's a pleasure to meet you." He shook my hand.
"Hey, don't take this personally but….you look like Gerard Way." I laughed.
"I get that a lot." He laughed in return. We talked for a while about comics and music. We discovered that we had a lot in common. We sung to some songs that we made up before laughing. He agreed to buy me a Pina` Colada. We walked over to the bar.
"HHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEYYYYYYY FRANNNNKKKKIIIIIEEEE!" Thorn's head lolled back on her shoulders.
"What'll it be?" The bartender asked.
"One virgin Pina`-"
"Two virgin Pina` Coladas." I corrected Griffin. He nodded and sat next to me. The bartender gave us our drinks and we turned to see the band that was performing. They sounded awful.
"You wanna dance?" Griffin asked me. I blushed a dark pink.
"Uh…no, no, no, no." I shook my head feverishly. His smile turned into a smirk.
"Don't be ashamed if you can't dance." He smiled.
"I-I'm not!" I crossed my arms and looked away, my blush darkened.
"You are." He laughed.
"Fwankie, d-dance with him!" Thorn slurred and pushed me into Griffin's lap. I blushed even darker when our hips touched. He let out a gasp and bit his lip. I blushed even darker, if possible, and started to get off him.
"I am so sorry Griffin!" I apologized.
"G-GET LLLLLLUCCCCKKKKYYYY!" Thorn pushed me back down, my face going into his groin. He gasped again. I stood up and stormed out.
"Woah, wait Frankie-"
"Shut up, Anna!" I grabbed Razor, my guitar, and hoisted her case onto my back. I stormed out of the club. I had a blush on my face as I walked down the street. I walked towards my house but then I remembered, my parents had kicked me out last night and I was rooming with Thorn. My phone vibrated and I looked at the text message.
Come back, Thorn's sorry.-S
If they think I'm going back tonight, they're crazy. I walked towards a hotel, knowing that I'd have to make up a name. I walked faster, due to the cold. 'Why is Jersey always cold?' I rubbed my fingerless skeleton gloves together. I shivered and hugged my arms. I had forgotten my jacket at the club. Screw it, I had more. I heard footsteps and I turned to see Griffin.
"Look buddy, if you think you're getting something…." I growled.
"N-No…" He panted. He handed me my Revenge guitar pick. He then took his jacket off and handed it to me, "You dropped this. And you looked cold."
"T-Thanks." I shivered and slipped it over my arms. He blushed and covered his arms. I laughed and opened one side. He nodded and got in with me. We had to have looked like a couple, "You can leave now."
"I'm not letting a young girl wander the streets of New Jersey alone." He persisted.
"Seriously, leave." I stepped out in front of him.
"No." He crossed his arms.
"I'm through being nice, Griffin." I growled, "Leave me alone or you'll regret it." I turned to walk away.
"No I won't." He followed me, fixing his jacket.
"Damn it! Leave me be!" I stormed forward.
"Not a chance girly." He walked up to catch me.
"Look, I have a gun."
"Yeah right."
"I know Karate!" I threatened.
"I don't care."
"I'll murder you in your sleep."
"Go ahead and try."
"You're so infuriating!" I growled.
"Hey look a Starbucks. Want to grab a coffee?" He smiled. Coffee did sound good…but I'm broke.
"Umm…no." I started to walk past it.
"You're broke and you don't want to admit it." He laughed.
"Maybe." I crossed my arms, shivering.
"I'll pay, it's no trouble." He grabbed my wrist and lead me inside. I smiled at the warmth and smell of coffee. I saw a smoking section and made it a point to sit there. I looked at Griffin and he smiled back at me.
"Um…thanks but-"
"What coffee do you want?" He pointed to the menu.
"Erm…you don't have to do-"
"I want to. Now which coffee?" He asked again.
"Caramel Macchiato." I whispered.
"With extra foam and chocolate drizzle?" He smirked.
"How did you…." He shrugged.
"Lucky guess. Go grab us a seat." He smiled. I nodded and ran over to the smoking section. I pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a long drag from it. I sat in a booth and propped my feet up on a chair.
"I could so live here." I crossed my arms behind my head and leaned back against the seat. I began to nod off. I was just about asleep when someone cleared their throat. I opened one eye and glared up at Griffin.
"Hey, here's your coffee." Griffin set my coffee down. I quickly sat up in my seat and flicked the ashes off my cigarette into the ash tray. He lit one himself and stuck his tongue out.
"Thanks." I sipped on it, "Starbucks is so damn good!" I moaned. People stared.
"I know! People must hate me-er my band for it." He laughed.
"So tell me, what's your band called?" I stirred my coffee.
"The New London Fire." He gulped and choked on his coffee.
"You okay man-"
"Y-Yeah." He drunk more coffee and coughed more.
"Like that'll help." I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah." He giggled.
"So, tell me about your self, Griffin." I smiled.
"I'd much rather hear about your life." He smiled.
"Oh, okay. Let's see…I went to the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. I have my degree. I'm nineteen. My parents cut me off when I learned to play guitar instead of violin. I can draw-that's what I got my degree for. They kicked me out because I was broke but they're rich. They bought me an apartment, but I wasn't making enough for the rent. So I live with Thorn-and the boys she brings home…I colored my hair, as you can see, and got my tongue pierced. Then my parents really freaked out when I got my first tattoo…despite my fear of needles. And that's my life. Now tell me yours." I lit another cigarette.
"Well, I have a degree in…cosmetology, I sing, I hate needles, my favorite band is Black Flag, no piercings, no tattoos, coffee is a must have, and I smoke. My parents haven't cut me out even though-"
"You're gay?" I asked.
"What? No, I'm bisexual." Griffin laughed.
"Oh, that's cool. Is that who I think it is?" I looked at the person walking in. The guy walked over to us.
"There you are, Gerard. Mikey's been worried sick." Frank Iero crossed his arms.
"I'm sorry what? You have the wrong guy." Griffin smiled.
"Gee, you're-OW!" Frank held his ankle.
"I'm not Gerard Way. I am Griffin Robinson." Griffin rolled his eyes and sipped on his coffee.
"Y-Yo-You're…." I tried to get out.
"I'm Frank Iero, yes. Now Gee, quit f-" A employee coughed, "quit messing around and get your ass to the hotel. We have a concert tomorrow." He corrected himself.
"I'm not Gerard! My name's Griffin." Griffin stood up and met gazes with Frank.
"You are-"
"W-Wow…it's an honor Mr. Iero!" I shook his hand.
"Alright, what do you want me to sign?" He asked. I offered him my guitar. He signed it, "What's your name, sweetie?"
"Umm…Frankie." I smiled. He laughed.
"You're serious?" He shook his head and signed it. I put her back in her case and smiled.
"Look, guy-"
"You know good and well its Frank, you bastard." Frank hissed.
"Look, Frank, I'm sorry but you got the wrong person." Griffin sat back down.
"No I don't! Gerard-"
"I am not Gerard." Griffin looked at Frank.
"You calling me a liar, Way?" He glared Griffin down.
"Well I'm not calling you a truther!" Griffin stood up.
"You want to go? I'm not scared to go down on my best friend!"
"Bring it on Iero!" Griffin hissed.
"Okay stop!" I pushed between them.
Frank glared at Griffin once more, "See you at the hotel 'Griffin'." He scoffed before grabbing a coffee and leaving. Griffin and I sat back down,
"What was that about?" I asked.
"I dunno…" He looked at his coffee.
"Are you…Gerard Way?"
"What? No."
"Frank seemed to know you pretty well." I sipped on my coffee.
"I've never met him before in my life…"
xXx
"Thanks." I kissed Griffin's cheek and ran into the hotel and up to the front desk. I smiled at the guy. He scowled back and typed on his keyboard, "Um…Frankie Blood."
"Did you reserve under a different name?" He asked.
"I DON'T KNOW MY DAMN NAME! TRY ZIPPITY DO DA!" I yelled.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but no reservation means-"
"She's with me. Griffin Robinson." Griffin smiled.
"Ah Mr. Robinson. Here ya go." He handed us room keys.
"Thanks." Griffin led me to the elevator. Someone got in with us.
"GERARD!" Someone flung their arms around Griffin.
"HEY! You got the wrong guy! I'm Griffin-didn't I just go over this?" He growled.
"Gerard? What's up? You drunk again?" Mikey asked. I nearly fainted.
"MIKEY!" I hugged him.
"Hey girl I do not know…" Mikey hugged me back.
"I'm Frankie…" I smiled.
"You got a sex change?" Mikey blushed.
"No…I'm Frankie Valentine Blood." I giggled.
"Anyway, Gee, where have you been?"
"Who's Gee?" Griffin stared at Mikey.
"You're drunk?!" The elevator dinged on the correct floor.
"Nope." Griffin grabbed my hand and ran to his room. He opened the door and threw me in. He slammed the door shut and locked it.
"Alright. Give up the act. Who are you, really?" I crossed my arms. He gulped.
"I'm…Griffin."
"Sure you are."
"Fine, I'm Gerard Way."
"Okay." I sat down on the couch.
"Okay? Just 'okay'? You don't care?" Gerard asked, sitting next to me.
"I kinda expected it…."
"Oh…hah ha." He unenthusiastically laughed.
"So I get the couch. And if anyone asks, you're Griffin and I'm your sister Stella." I lay down on the couch, pulling a blanket over me.
"Okay…night." He kissed my cheek and walked down the hallway towards the bedroom.
My life cannot get any better. I sighed and slowly closed my eyes. This was the best day ever….