Gerard

I couldn't concentrate on anything that my teachers said that next morning – my mind just kept flicking back to how good it had felt to be that close to Frank. Our relationship was growing stronger and stronger every time we saw each other. Of course, we argued, but it was mainly over silly little things and we would make up after about an hour. My maths lesson was boring as fuck and the teacher didn't seem to care that no one was listening. I began doodling in my notebook, just silly little cartoons of me and Frank kissing, holding hands and watching a sunset. Finally, the bell rang and I practically ran out of the classroom to meet Frank by my locker.

.

"Liz isn't here today," Frank said the minute he reached me.

"Hello there, boyfriend. I'm fine, thanks for asking. How are you?" I said in a sarcastic voice, scowling at him – he just rolled his eyes at me.

"I'm worried, Gee. Liz is normally here even though she obviously doesn't want to, because she's clever and she knows she can do something with her grades. Maybe something bad happened with her family or something… I don't know… maybe I should go see her."

"I'll come with you!" I volunteered, a little over enthusiastically. "I need to meet this girl. We could go now, if you wanted. I've only got biology and maths this afternoon… and I don't really give a shit about them to be honest. What do you think?"

"I think you're wasting your education, but if I don't go now there'll be no point in being in my next lessons as I'll just be worrying constantly. Let me grab my stuff out my locker and we'll go," Frank said. I could see the worry on his face and realised that this girl wasn't just a friend – she meant a lot to Frank and I would try and help as much as I could.

.

We arrived at a rundown looking house with an overgrown garden and a broken window. It looked uninhabited, but Frank was adamant that this was the correct address. The bin outside was overflowing with bottles of alcohol and take away food boxes; it was a most unattractive sight. We walked up what we assumed to be pathway, but it was covered with many different types of weeds. I clutched at Frank's hand as he knocked on the door – the paint was peeling off it in strips and the letterbox flap was no longer attached, instead it lay on the floor next to the house.

About a minute later the door creaked open and a skinny boy that looked a bit younger than Mikey appeared, squinting at us in the sunlight.

"What," he spat coldly, taking a sip from his can of lager – I gripped Frank's hand so tightly that I could feel the groves that my nails were making in his skin.

"Umm, hi," Frank opened, looking the guy square in the face. "I'm Frank… Liz's friend. Is she in?" Before the boy had time to answer a girl's voice sounded from one of the rooms.

"Conner, who's at the door? Mum's not in… oh. Hey Frank," she said quietly when she saw us in the doorway. "I've got it, Conner." The boy slurred something incoherent and walked back into the house.

"Yeah… we're not staying here. Let me grab my hoodie and we can go for a walk." She disappeared from out view again. Frank looked at me and I grimaced – Frank just looked happy that Liz was okay. I released my vice-like grip on his hand as Liz came back and turned to walk back down the path with Frank and Liz close behind me.

.

We stopped walking when we reached a park about five minutes away from Liz's house. It was just as foreboding as the rest of the neighbourhood – it contained rusty climbing frame and a few broken benches dotted around. It wasn't particularly nice. It was sunny, so we found a tree and set up camp underneath it, sitting in a circle so we could all see each other.

"I was worried," Frank said, breaking the tense silence.

"I'm sorry," Liz mumbled in response. "I didn't mean to not come. I just blacked out and when I woke up school had already started and there was no point in coming in."

"Did your brother not help you after you blacked out? Or your mum?" I asked in shock. Liz laughed nervously.

"I take it Frank hasn't told you much about me." I shook my head. "Well let's just say that my brother was probably too pissed to do anything about it and we haven't seen my mum for a few days now."

"Why did you black out?" Frank asked. Liz just hung her head and refused to answer. "Liz, please. If you tell me, I'll tell you the good news. You'll want to know… seriously." Frank grinned and Liz looked up at him.

"I stopped eating," she whispered, breaking eye contact with him. I just sat in a stunned silence, trying to take in everything that was happening.

"Liz, please don't do things like that! You're absolutely beautiful, and you need to remember that before you go scaring me again! Anyway – about that girl that you like… describe her to me."

"Oh… She has the most beautiful black hair in the world – seriously. I am so jealous of it! And her eyes," she sighed. "They're magical! They're pretty much purple and so big and cute." Frank pulled his phone out of his pocket and I smiled, knowing what he was doing.

"Is this the girl?" he asked, showing her the picture that Mikey had sent to Frank's phone. Liz's face immediately lit up.

"Yes! How do you have a picture? What's her name?" Liz asked, leaning forward right into Frank's face and smiling so wide I thought she might explode.

"Gerard's brother sent it me. And her name's Violet," Frank answered, matching Liz's smile now. Liz rocked back to sit on her heels and repeated her name.

.

"That's such a beautiful name," she breathed finally. "Anyway, what's this good news you said you had for me?"

"Well, Gerard's brother Mikey was telling us that he sits next to Violet in Biology and apparently she just wouldn't shut up about you! So… I was thinking you should ask her to hang out or something and then see how it goes from there." Frank barely had time to brace himself before Liz practically pounced on him, knocking him onto his back and hugging him tightly, her face pressed into his chest.

"I fucking love you Frank! You're amazing!" Frank giggled and I smiled at the sight, feeling quite awkward just sat on the side-lines.

"It's fine, darling. Seriously. But me and Gerard need to go now because we've skipped school to come see if you're okay and if we don't catch up on the work we're going to get fucking killed," Frank said, moving back up into a sitting position. Liz frowned but Frank just laughed, stood up and offered her his hand to pull her into a standing position too. I got up on my own accord.

.

We walked Liz back to her house where Frank kissed her on the cheek and Liz hugged him tightly again, still thanking him for the information on Violet. When Liz had shut the door we began making our way home.

"You haven't kissed me today," I grumbled, folding my arms across my chest when we arrived outside my house.

"Don't go all jealous-diva on me please, Gerard," Frank said, rolling his eyes at me. I just pouted a little more in response. Frank grabbed both my hands, intertwining our fingers. He reached up and pecked me on the lips and pulled away. I made an unhappy sound in the back of my throat and pressed my lips to his again, this time with him opening his moth. Frank let go of my hands and put his arms around my neck, deepening the kiss while I put my hands on his waist and pulled his hips in closed. Frank broke the kiss and I squeaked, saddened by the sudden loss of contact.

"Is your mum in?" Frank asked. I shook my head. "Well then let's go inside and I'll give you something that Liz will never get to experience," he said in a seductive tone, grabbing my hand and pulling me up the pathway and to my front door.

Liz

I said goodbye to Gerard, who seemed nice but I didn't think he liked me very much. Then I squeezed Frank tight; it's all thanks to him that I found out! I couldn't believe it – 'she liked me… she really did' I thought to myself. Practically bouncing off the walls, I ran into the house and gave my brother a big hug which was obviously a mistake.
"What d'ya think you are doing, man?" He exclaimed shoving me hard, but I just grinned and bounced upstairs to my room. I buzzed with excitement. I have to see her now! I thought, and with a sudden brain wave I checked the time – half an hour before the end of school, which was just enough time to have a quick shower and apply some make-up to make myself presentable. When I felt I looked almost decent, I grabbed my old hoodie and headed to the school.

.

I braced myself as I arrived at school, trying to collect my thoughts. I had no idea what I would say. Then I heard a harsh ring of the bell, giving me an automatic pang of anxiety as school life always had for me. Then, soon enough, a mass rush of people flooded out the gates. 'Shit!' I thought. What if I've missed her? What if she goes the other way? I Tried to keep my eyes peeled, but sure enough, my lack of luck proved consistent and I still hadn't seen her. I had almost decided to give up with a heavy heart, when a saw a delicate frame underneath a sweep of black curtains. It was her!

"Violet!" I called excitedly, rushing up to her.

"Liz!" she cried smiling in surprise. "You waited for me?"

"Yeah, I thought maybe you'd like to come to the park with me for a little while?" I asked shakily, nervous of her response - and just to further my nerves, she didn't say anything… just stared at me in surprise for a few minutes. Then, to my relief, she gave me a huge smile that spread from ear to ear.

"Yes! I mean, please," She breathed, still grinning.

.

So I bravely took her by the hand and we walked to the park, chatting about anything and everything on the way. I had never had such an involved, interesting conversation with anyone else except Frank. I felt as if I was really connected to her. She headed straight for the swings when we arrived at the park, just like I always did! We both agreed on how free swinging makes you feel, like you could soar high into the sky and no one could ever bring you down. I felt higher than the moon, until I reluctantly told her we should probably go home. She looked as though her heart had just sank down into her shoes, but I gave her a big hug and told her I could see her again soon; to which she beamed and practically skipped off home, and I felt better too.

.

That night I lay in bed thinking of nothing but Violet. She was so perfect in every way. I tried to think of a fault - just one tiny little thing I didn't like about her. But I couldn't. There was nothing at all. I could only think of how beautiful she looked when blue eyes sparkled when she smiled; or how her sleek, black hair shone in the sunlight; or how she laughed at all my stupid jokes or... Ok. I'd have been there all night if I tried to name everything right about her - maybe all week - no, wait...month. So I turned off the broken night light and attempted to get some sleep, vowing to go to school the next day.

A/N - both Amber and I have out GCSE exams coming up this month so an update may be hard to write for this story. We'll try though, in our free time when we're not revising haha. We hope you're enjoying the fic and obviously, reviews make our day. Thank you so much - Emily xoxox