Chapter 10
They arrived before the sun peaked over the horizon.
The early morning was chilly.
Gerard was deadbeat. He had only slept troubled bits here and there, he had spent most of the time visualizing everything that could go wrong today, he probably dreamt up a couple of scenarios too.
Frank nearly slept the whole plane ride, only once did he wake up, the side of his face marked and red from the window.
He had smiled at him squinting. There was something incredible about Gerard and Frank. They just picked up on each other's thoughts and feelings like fraternal twins.
"Everything's gunna be okay Gee...promise..." he yawned, before knocking out again on Gerard's shoulder.
Frank's smell and weight made him feel safe. He was able to get a few minutes of peaceful sleep before the nightmares disturbed him again.
They un-boarded the plane, and Gerard slipped into the restroom while Frank called for a cab.
The restroom was empty. He turned on the faucet, afraid to look at his reflection.
He let the icy water run through his palms. When the water was warm enough he peeked at the mirror.
He looked worse then he thought.
There were two dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. His hair was tangled and messy, the back was plastered to his scalp, which had stained the back of his neck pink. The bruise on his face was starting to yellow around the red blood spots.
He felt sick. He couldn't do it. He couldn't face Lindsey. He couldn't face his daughter.
He held on to the sink for support from collapsing. The same familiar painful tears swam in his eyes.
He heard the bathroom door slide open and he quickly straightened wiping his tears away. It wasn't Frankie as he had hoped. Some bald guy dressed in heavy navy blue coat nodded at him in the mirror and hurried to a urinal tugging at his zipper. Gerard rinsed his face and let his hands try under the toasty drier.
The bald guy appeared next to him washing his hands slowly. Gerard felt him starring from the corner of his eye. He probably recognized who he was, but was too humble to acknowledge him.
Gerard slipped out the door without so much as glance towards the bald man.
Frank was slumped on a bench with the bags at his feet chewing something that probably came from the yellowish mess in his hand. Next to him was a brown bag with dark spots of grease staining the bottom. Food. Gerard heard his stomach gurgle.
"Hey" he said smiling, he covered his mouth to speak "I got food, hash browns and some other stuff there"
"Thanks."
Gerard sat down next to Frank and picked up the first thing in he felt in the greasy bag, which was fortunately a warm biscuit. He nibbled on it quietly while frank focused on swallowing.
"Gee everything is going to be fine"
Gerard didn't respond.
"Once you guys talk it out, I'm sure things will be okay again."
"Doubt it" Gerard mumbled under his breath.
Frank stood upm dunking the rest of whatever he was eating in the trash and stretched.
"I'm going to watch for our cab, why don't you get us some coffee? It's cold as fuck out there"
"Sure" Coffee sounded good despite his lack of appetite.
"Eat the rest of the food first, you look like shit dude."
Gerard slipped into one of Mikey's black hoodies. He shoved his bright unruly hair into the hood of the jacket. He did not want the cashier from Dunkin Doughnuts recognizing him, or anyone else for that matter.
While in line he sifted through a magazine that read "21 Top Rated Sex Positions" in big bold red letters, even though he had no interest in knowing the 21 top rated sex positions.
"Hi what can I get you?" asked a short blonde girl when he reached the counter. The girl was chubby and had a pink hue to her skin that reminded Gerard of a baby pig.
"Two white mochas one with five shots of expresso please." He was going to need it.
"Wow, uh sure! Coming right up!"
She repeated the order over her shoulder to a curly-haired scrawny looking kid who looked like he was drowning in his apron.
"Will that be cash or-"
"Cash." He avoided showing his name everywhere he went, but of course he had forgotten to take out money.
"Nevermind" he said handing over his bankcard.
"I will need ID please"
He hesitated before pulling out his license, praying that she listened to Justin Beiber and not them.
"Oh, my god!" …Fuck!
"Gerard Way! Omg it's so nice to meet you, I'm such a fan!" She squealed. The sound made his ears hurt. He felt a couple of people turn in his direction.
"Are any of the guys-"
"No just me, look I'm sorry to be rude but I really need to go…"
"Oh, sure…no problem" she blushed embarrassed as she handed him back his card with trembling hands.
When Gerard stepped out of the airport into the cold morning with both coffees in hand, Frank was already loading their bags into a yellow cab.
"Give me some of that I'm freezing my balls off"
They climbed into the cab; Frank pulled out his phone and started showing the driver the route to the Way's.
Gerard looked out the window tuning them out. He saw a little girl around the same age as Bandit waving a doll around by its pigtails. He thought about seeing his little girl running from the porch hugging his middle. He had not realized how much he missed her. Did she remember who "Daddy" was? Was there another man in his house with his daughter? The thought sent a surge a fury; he punched the passenger's seat. Both Frank and the driver jumped.
"Gee?"
"…Sorry I…got a pain." he mumbled through his clenched teeth.
The driver rolled his eyes annoyed and started up the meter. Frank was still starring at him curious and wide-eyed.
Frank's phone rang; he answered not checking the caller ID with his eyes still on Gerard.
"Hello."
"Hey Franks it's Mikey"
"Hey Mikey…" He saw Gerard flinch at his brother's name.
"Did you guys make it okay? How's Gerard?"
"Yeah we made it okay, Gerard's…good" He scrutinized Gerard's face.
"You guys on your way?"
"Yup"
"Cool. Keep me posted alright? I'll call our Mom and let her know you guys are safe"
"…You told-"
"No, but she suspected something was up anyway, you know we never travel before a show"
"I guess"
"…You goin' in with him?"
"I…don't think so"
"…Keep me posted."
Frank poked the red button.
Gerard attempted to look uninterested, though he could see Frankie was still starring at him in the reflection on the glass. He took one last look at the child outside the airport and saw the bald man from the restroom. Gerard swore he was looking in the cab's direction, his lips moving too quick for Gerard to read, to someone on the other side of his phone. Probably telling his teenage daughter how he had pissed in the same bathroom as Gerard fucking Way.