FRANK'S POV

I stood outside Willow's biology room, tapping my foot impatiently. Most of the other students had gone and she was talking to the teacher. I could see her anxiously trying to get away but the teacher was refusing to let her go. Eventually the door opened and she breathed a sigh of relief, though she jumped when she saw me standing there.

"Oh! Frank!" She breathed. "Sorry, you scared me. Why are you here?"

"You said you wanted to see us practice didn't you?" I asked, smiling. Her eyes widened as she remembered and her face lit up.

"Oh yeah! Of course!" she replied excitedly.

"Well come on then!" I laughed and took her hand, aiding her through the crowded corridor. When we neared a group of jocks, I felt her hand tighten around mine. They wolf-whistled at her and I shot them a look. Vince, the cock – sorry, "jock" captain who had whistled glared at me.

"Got a problem, midget?" he sneered, and his other jock buddies sneered along with him.

"Yeah, you!" I growled back. I pulled Willow through the crowd and Vince shouted something back at me which I didn't hear. Still grumbling, we finally passed through the front door and I spotted the guys sitting on the steps. We darted over and they all looked up and waved.

"Hey!" Gee chirped happily. Then he glanced down at my hands. Willows fingers were entwined with mine still. Giggling, we both let go, embarrassed.

"Erm, so, yeah. I invited Willow to come to band practice!"

"Oh cool! Well, we've been waiting long enough for you guys. Let's go!"

WILLOW'S POV

We all piled into Ray's car. Mikey sat in the front and I sat squashed between Gee and Frank. I quickly text my mum telling her what I was doing, and she gave me the 'a-ok'. Mikey flicked on the stereo and Misfits came blaring out.

"Oh my God! I love these guys!" I squealed and the others looked shocked.

"No way, really? I didn't think girls would dig this shit," Gee gasped. I frowned.

"That's a bit sexist don't you think?" I grumbled.
"Yeah Gee…" Frank agreed.

"Oh shut up Iero! You were all god damn thinking it too!" he growled. "Sorry Will, I guess it was a bit sexist…" On hearing 'Will' I snapped back to a memory from weeks before…

'Will, I don't want you to go," Jared managed, tears forming in his brown eyes. I wiped them away with my sleeve and pulled him into a huge hug.

"I don't want to go either, honey," I sniffled. Then I just couldn't hold it in any longer. Tears jerked from my eyes and ran down my face. Jared pulled my face back to his and I saw his face wet with tears too. I kissed his lips softly and then buried my face into his chest. He stroked my hair.

"W-what am I gonna d-do with-hout you?" he stammered. I felt his chest heaving up and down with sobs. I looked back into his eyes.

"I love you so much Jay," I whispered.
"I love you too, my little Willow tree," he choked. He kissed the top of my head. We crumpled into a heap on the grass and he cradled me in his lap. We were there for what seemed like hours, in a moment which I wanted to go on for ever, which meant never leaving him.

"Willow, are you ok?" someone asked worriedly. I snapped back into reality and saw the guys all looking at me anxiously. I felt something on my face. I touched it and my fingertips got wet. I was crying.

"Oh my..Oh I'm sorry, I just had a flash back…" I replied quietly, feeling a lump in my throat. Oh Jared. My dear, sweet Jared. Another tear trickled down my face. Gee caught it and pulled me into a hug.

"What's up, hon?" he asked sympathetically.

"When you said Will, you reminded me of someone I left behind back in PA," I sniffled.

"Someone you loved?" Gee guessed, stroking my hair softly.

"Yes, someone I loved very much," I sighed.

"Your boyfriend?" I heard a hint of flatness in his tone.

"No, my best friend. He was my best best friend," and with that I broke down. My tears stained Gee's shirt but he didn't seem to care.

"Shhh," Gee cooed. Being in his arms felt good, but not as good as when I was in Jared's arms. "He meant a lot to you didn't he?" Gee asked gently. I nodded.

"He meant the world."

"Then why did you never get together?" His response made me giggle. Then chuckle. Then laugh right out loud. They all wore the same confused expression on their faces.

"I didn't get together with him because he was gay!" I managed through my laughter. I knew that they hadn't known this, but the thought of getting with Jay made me crack up. I had replaced my tears of sorrow with tears of laughter.

"He was gay? Oh now that explains why you two never got together!" Gee chuckled. "You ok now?" he asked more seriously. I nodded, still laughing a little. He smiled and hugged me tight.

"We're here," informed Ray, and I looked out to see we were driving down my street.

"Why are you taking me home?" I asked, confused. The others looked back, just as confused.

"What? We're going to the Way house!" Frank replied. "Do you live down this street then?"

"Yeah, just there." I pointed to the house at the end of the street. We stopped then and piled out of the car.

"No way! You live near all of us! Ray lives around the corner, and I live opposite Gee and Mikey." Frank waved his hand at the house on the other side of the street.
"Cool!" I grinned.

"Right, let's go inside," Gee ordered and he ushered us into his house. An elderly woman opened the door and smiled.

"Why hello boys," she said happily and Gee wrapped his arms around her, as did Mikey.

"Hey Grandma," they replied sweetly, and she kissed them on their cheeks. She spotted me.

"Oh, and who's this?" she asked. I smiled when she smiled at me.
"I'm Willow Rush," I replied nervously. Her eyes lit up.

"Rush is it dear? Why, we share a surname! Come in, come in!" And we all paraded into the house. It was small inside, but not as small as my new house. Everything was higgledy piggeldey – nothing had a specific place. I loved it.

"Right guys, let's do this!" Gee called and we packed into the garage. Inside was a drum kit, a microphone, a bass guitar and two electric guitars. Suddenly my hand started twitching. I was so desperate to play again but I just couldn't.
"Hey where's Bob?" Mikey said as he picked up his bass.

"I just got a text from him. He's gonna be a little late," Ray groaned.

"Dammit Bob," Gee muttered. I was still staring at the guitars. Frank picked up his and strummed a few chords perfectly. Jealousy ripped through me. Guitar had been my life before my fucking father decided to fuck my life up. I perched myself on an unused amplifier and watched them as they tested their instruments. Gee stood there aimlessly and kept checking his watch. Then the door to the garage opened.

"Sorry, sorry, so-ah shit!" came an unfamiliar voice. A boy around my age fell over a cable and landed on his face. The entire room cracked up laughing and I found myself giggling too.

"Nice way to make an entrance, Bob!" Mikey managed through his roaring laughter. Ah, so this was Bob. I rushed over and helped him up.

"Aw, thanks! Wait – who are you?" Bob asked in surprise when he saw my face.

"I'm Willow. I started at your old high school today," I said introducing myself.

"Ah I see. You're the one Mikey's been texting me about." We all looked at Mikey, who blushed a deep shade of red.

"Yeah well I just wanted to let Bob know about her, that's all…" he mumbled and gulped.

"What did he say about her Bob?" Frank giggled. Bob giggled too.

"He said she was beautiful and angelic and would die for her…" Bob put one hand in the air, one hand on his heart and acted like he was talking to the heavens. "Oh Bob, how would I survive if she were to leave us?" He put his the back of his raised hand on his forehead dramatically and sighed. "Oh Bob, I think I'm in love! Oh Bo-" He was cut off by Mikey jumping on him. "Help me!" Bob cried sarcastically.
"You know I didn't say that!" Mikey growled and jumped off.

"Nah I know mate. You just said she was hot," Bob said nonchalantly as he sat down at his kit. Both Mikey and I flushed a deep shade of red at the same time. He looked at me and smiled weakly, and I smiled weakly back. The others were all laughing again. Finally they began to play and I sat there and watched in awe. But it was when Gee started singing that my mouth truly fell open.

Late dawns and early sunsets, just like my favourite scenes
Then holding hands and life was perfect, just like up on the screen
And the whole time while always giving
Counting your face among the living

His voice was…amazing. He caught every note perfectly.

Up and down escalators, pennies and colder fountains
Elevators and half price sales, trapped in by all these mountains
Running away and hiding with you
I never thought they'd get me here
Not knowing you'd change from just one bite
I fought them all off just to hold you close and tight

They finished their song off and I just sat there, speechless. The all smiled hopefully and eagerly awaited my verdict.

"We were that shit, huh?" Gee asked, laughing when words failed to leave my lips. Finally I managed to speak.

"No! You weren't shit! You were fucking AMAZING!" I cried and jumped onto my feet. They cheered.

"Aw, thanks Will-ow" Gee smiled sympathetically as he went to call me by the nickname but then thought otherwise. Suddenly Frank appeared in front of me.
"Here," he said plainly, holding out his white Les Paul. I stared at it, then at him.

"What? You want me to hold it for you or something?" But he shook his head.

"No, I want you to fucking play it for me!" He grinned. I frowned.

"No! I've told you. No way." But he stood there. Defiantly.

"This isn't your guitar is it? So it doesn't have the same meaning behind it. You can't give up on your instruments; that's what I always say."

"When do you ever say that Frank?" Gee asked, but Frank ignored him.

"Please? For me?" He then gave me the largest, most pleading puppy dog eyes I had ever seen. I had to give in.

"FINE. For you. And you will only ever hear this once!" Angry at myself for giving in, I took the guitar. Suddenly I felt complete again. Electricity shot through my veins. I held it as though it were the most precious thing on earth. I touched the strings with my fingers and plucked at one. The sound. Oh my God, the familiar sound that I loved. I reached inside my bag and pulled out my pick.

"Only once remember?" I reminded them, and they all nodded, watching. Very slowly, I began to play. I decided to do 'Don't Stop Me Now' by Queen. I loved playing the guitar like the lyrics were being sung, rather than just playing the guitar part. So I went for it. The feel of a guitar back in my hands felt so good. Suddenly I heard Mikey begin to play the bass along with the song. Ray started strumming the guitar backings. I heard Bob start drumming and Gee begin to sing. I looked up at Frank who was grinning widely. He put his thumbs up at me and smiled wider. I grinned back. I'd have to find a way to thank him for getting me back into guitar. I then realised that the main guitar solo was nearing and Ray nodded at me to take it. So I did. Damn playing never felt so good! I couldn't believe I'd let myself stop playing! When the song ended the guys stood there gawping.

"You-you're fucking incredible!" Frank exclaimed, bewildered. The others nodded in agreement. I blushed (again) and rubbed the back of my neck.

"I'm not as good as you," I told him.

"Well you come up fucking close!" Gee said. I laughed at their faces.

"Really guys, I'm shit compared to you…"

"Don't put yourself down, Willow!" Mikey chirped up. "You're amazing, and don't you deny it!" I blushed (AGAIN) and handed the guitar back to Frank.

"Remember – that was a one time show – never again," I reminded them. Their faces dropped.

"Awww…" Frank sniffed.