I didn't know exactly what to expect from Gerard and My Chemical Romance that night - I mean, I knew that they'd be good but what feel would their music give out onto the crowd of strangers?

But regardless whatever it was that I had really been expecting, I could never have defined exactly what their music was... Some songs were angsty, raging even with Gerard's vocals fierce and burning, whereas others were soft and mellow but with a subtle dark undertone. Needless to say, I was enthralled by everything they played and I knew their music was something different.

The thing that hit me hardest though, was that Gerard's voice had lost that element of innocence that it'd possessed when he was younger. It was as he'd decided that it was finally time to let the demons that had been growing inside of him out to play.

When the last note rang out over the cheering crowd and the set came to a close, they left the crowd, including myself, buzzing. I wondered nervously backstage and as soon as I began towards Gerard, I saw someone I hadn't seen in a very long time.

"Ray!" I couldn't help but to grin.

He mirrored it, "Frank!"

We both sort of laughed and hugged. He must be their guitarist then - they couldn't have picked a better guy for the job. Ray was the best guitarist I knew by far, he was the best in NJ without a doubt.

"What're you doing here?" He asked, picking up a red plastic cup from a side table.

I scuffed my foot on the floor, smiling nervously, "I was here with Pencey Prep"
"Aw, we missed your set," Ray frowned, "Courtesy of Mikey fucking Way"
I heard a laugh and saw Mikey, his glasses halfway down his nose, putting his bass guitar against the wall, "Shut up, Toro!"
Ray laughed and I couldn't help but to grin still. It was just so good to see some old friends, these guys were better to hang around with by far than anyone around me back then.

"Frank?"
I turned to find him next to me again, his white shirt hanging loosely from his slightly hunched shoulders, and his hands each holding a red cup. He offered one to me and I took it, with a little smile.
"Thanks, Gee," I managed, taking a swig. He smiled in reply, showing those little white teeth... damn.

Why do I pay attention to things like this?

It's normal, he's just your friend, Frank...

No it's not, it's weird. Gerard'll think-

"Alright there, Frank?"

I snapped out of my thoughts, looking back up at Gerard. He took a swig from his red cup, then pulled a crooked smile and laughed a little, "You haven't changed, Frankie"
My stomach tightened and I gripped my cup, causing it to crackle.

I managed a crooked smile and he just laughed again, then downed the rest of his drink.

"Gee, we've gotta go," Mikey called from the other side of the room, "Sorry Frank!"
My heart sank a little, but I knew that seeing Gerard for longer than a few minutes would be too good of an event to happen to me.

Thinking of getting home, I rustled around in the pockets of my beaten-up jeans for my keys. My fingers searched for the rough metal, but there was only some change and the flyer that Gerard had given me when he'd emerged from the shadows.

"Shit," I mumbled to myself. Idiot, leaving my keys god-knows-where... even better, no one was home for the weekend.

"What's up, Frank?" Gerard asked, looking genuinely concerned. Hm, that made a change from people not giving a shit.

"Oh-I-uh... I don't have my keys,"

He pulled a kind of sympathetic smile, "... you can come crash at mine for the night if you want"
My heart skipped a beat, "Oh, n-no, I don't wanna be a pain-"

"You're not! Come on, it'll be fun," He smiled and winked.

I melted inside and somehow managed an, "O-okay"

I tailed Gerard to the spray-painted van outside and I got into the back with him. Ray was at the wheel and he just smiled as if I was meant to be there anyways.

My house wasn't far away from Gerard's and I hadn't even realised. We were only a few streets apart. I hadn't seen him in so long that I was kinda under the impression that he'd have moved out by now... but we both still lived at home, still close to each other.

We passed my house first and soon after, Ray dropped us off at Gerard's. We hopped out, saying bye, then Gerard and Mikey went to the front door with me following a little behind.