Day two of meeting with Frank was especially stressful. Frank had to leave early, he said he was job hunting at the moment and he had a meeting. Gerard wished him luck while Frank said "see you tomorrow" at which Gerard's stomach flipped. It looked like this was also going to become a thing that they do now. Gerard was both pleased and anxious about that.

So much and yet so little happened during their short meeting that Gerard was considering casually slipping into a coma or something to avoid ever dealing with it. At the beginning of their conversation Gerard had his shit together and was gonna go through with everything like a man. Now he was reduced to a shaking leave, devouring one cigarette after another.

There were so many loop holes in his plan that he didn't even know where to start. See, this was exactly why he shouldn't be allowed to make spontaneous decisions ever again. He thought to himself before stubbing out his fifth cigarette in the ashtray and collapsing on his bed.

He had many problems at hand that needed fixing, difficult situations which required diplomatic and subtle ways of solving. He was behind work a bit, his room looked like a war zone and a shower would do him some good too. Gerard thought over all the things that he needed to do and, naturally, started at the top of his priority list. That was to read the new released comics and forget reality existed until he passed out.

…

The next day Gerard woke up on proper time, which was about 10pm. Though, this time, as much as he wanted to put it off, he had to take a shower since he slept in his clothes.

He got to the bookshop around noon. The first thing he did while entering was scan the whole place for Frank. He wasn't there yet, so at least Gerard could have some time to work in peace. There was a different cashier behind the bar today, a young brunette, who was overly friendly with every customer. Gerard didn't really pay attention to her as his mind was already in his own fantasy world, planning out the next few scenes of the comic, trying to remember all the ideas he had yesterday. He gave a small thanks when he got his coffee and began typing and drawing away while he was still in the mood and there were no distracting thoughts.

Gerard didn't know how much time had passed since he began drawing and he probably wouldn't have gotten up for another few hours if it weren't for his stupid bladder. As much as he wanted to finish that scene, his eyes were practically burning with the need to go. So he sighed like a little child and half ran to the bathroom. Good thing it was nearby. While he had the chance he glanced at his watch and his eyebrows shot up. It was nearly 3pm. Gerard wondered why Frank didn't show up yet or if he was going to show up at all.

He walked straight towards the coffee bar to get a refill and to his surprise spotted Frank sitting at one of the tables in front of it alone. Frank must've had a pretty good reason not to sit next to him considering how excited he was yesterday. Gerard didn't need to think long to come up with a whole list of reasons, beginning with 'I'm a stalker'. So Gerard decided not to say anything to him, if he wanted to be alone then so be it, he wasn't going to be one of those people who want to know everything and butt into their personal business.

So Gerard walked past Frank without looking at him and got in line to get his coffee.

"Large black coffee please." He stated mechanically once he got to the front of the line and handed the money "The name's Gerard." He said ready to head back to his seat

"Maybe you'd like a cupcake or something to cheer you up?" she said leaning on the counter, revealing a bit too much with her low cut top

"Huh?" Gerard turned around, his brain processed what she said only a few seconds after

"You look so sad and lonely sitting there all by yourself, maybe a cupcake would put a smile on that cute face? It's on the house." She offered in a sickly sweet tone and Gerard inwardly cringed. The voice was terribly familiar to sugar voice lady who greeted him the first time he called the hotline. Remembering the first call to the hotline was like having war flashbacks.

"Uh…it's okay, thanks." He said with a small smile while backing up towards his seat. The girl batted her eyes at him once more before retreating with a slightly hurt expression on her face. Great. Now he made the cashier sad too. Gerard sighed turning around only to let out a terrified "Gah!" and jump back

"Boo!" Frank said smiling from ear to ear, his face only a few inches from Gerard's. Well at least until Gerard jumped back a few feet from being scared to death. Gerard was standing there trying to regain his breath while Frank was laughing hysterically holding his stomach and damn it, it was contagious. A few seconds later Gerard couldn't keep it in any longer and started to giggle from his own reaction or maybe from Frank's laugh as well

"You fucker." He said finally clutching on to the nearest chair for support. Gerard straightened himself up and walked to his seat still giggling, Frank following right behind.

"Man, you're just too easy." He said shaking his head, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

"Oh screw you." he replied playfully to which Frank started laughing again. Frank glanced towards the bar and stated

"Oh and your coffee's ready." While still giggling from time to time. Gerard was about to stand up but Frank spoke over him "Nah grandpa you sit tight, wouldn't want to put more stress on your weak little heart." He said getting up and walking towards the bar while still slightly laughing. Gerard calmed down and stopped hysterically laughing, though there was still a huge smile fixed on his face.

Frank came back, pushed the cup towards him and sat down looking a bit different. He suddenly looked around as if checking if anyone could hear them and leaned forward, a mysterious look on his face, like he was about to share a secret.

Gerard closed his laptop and leaned a bit forward as well having caught the interest

"What?" he asked curiously

"I think someone has a crush on you." he said in a hushed breathy voice while smirking. Gerard's face went red in a matter of seconds. Frank had his perfect heavy lidded eyes fixed on him with a mischievous look, waiting for Gerard to say something but he didn't want to. The stare was like his voice, it was intoxicating. If he answered it meant that it would be over. Their faces were pretty close together too, maybe not close enough for them to kiss, but enough that Gerard could feel the warmth of his body. Gerard could make some cheesy poetic remark in his head about how he felt close to Frank and felt himself falling for this man, but this wasn't the case. He was just turned on.

Gerard swallowed a bit too loud before deciding that he had been quiet long enough

"Who?" he asked, wishing in the back of his mind that Frank would answer "me" and just fucking kiss him already, but Frank slightly smirked again and leaned back in his chair. Just as Gerard thought he would. He turned his eyes to the new cashier for a swift moment to give Gerard the hint. Gerard's eyebrows shot up suddenly

"What? Her?" he asked incredulously

"Dude, she couldn't make it more obvious if she wanted to." Frank said rolling his eyes while still smiling "I mean look" he said taking Gerard's cup of coffee "she even drew a tiny heart right by your name." he said pointing it out to Gerard. He took the cup from Frank's hand and there really was a sloppy little heart next to his name "and all the flirting she did before that, I was getting a little jealous." He added playfully.

Gerard was a bit surprised at that. He thought Frank had no interest in women. Either way, he shook his head saying

"Oh, you can have her or whatever if you want, I'm not really interested." He said in a reassuring voice. Though, he was the one feeling a slight pang of jealousy now.

Frank was the one who was shaking his head now

"That's not what I meant." He said calmly and a bit more seriously than before and took his own cup in his hands.

"Oh…" Gerard realized after a few seconds and raised his eyebrows and this time he couldn't help but smile just a little. But this was Frank being Frank, it was just what he did. No reason to get worked up about it.

"So how's the comic going along? You were so completely into it when I came in, I didn't want to disturb you." Frank said explaining why he sat at a different table. Gerard heaved a sigh of relief. At least it wasn't the stalking thing or anything on his list for that matter.

"It's going pretty good I guess. It would have gone better if I had brought my headphones though. I always work better with some music on." That was an unnecessary thing to say, but it was already out of Gerard's mouth so what the hell.

"Oh cool so what music are you into?" Frank asked leaning forward "For the record, I actually used to do music." He added proudly. He hadn't lost his passion for music, Gerard could see it in his eyes.

For some reason Gerard didn't expect this question. Perhaps because they had already discussed it over the phone and now he'll be just repeating himself. Frank knew quite a lot about Gerard, but he knew basically nothing about 'Mikey'. Gerard wondered how long it would take him to see the pattern.

"Mostly heavier sort of stuff like Misfits or Metallica, though I enjoy an occasional Queen or The Smiths song too." He said narrowing it down and added a bit uncertainly "What about you? what kind of music did you make?"

"I gotta hand it to you Mikey, you have an awesome taste in music." He said admirably "I'm actually into similar type of music and I was in a few punk rock bands just fooling around and stuff. It was fun for a while, but in the end it never really worked out for me." Frank said with a shrug like he didn't mind, though Gerard knew pretty well that he did.

"Why don't you give it a try again? Maybe just as a hobby or something, who knows, maybe something will work out." Gerard said trying to encourage him. Over the phone from time to time Frank would slip in just how lucky Gerard was to do something he loved for a living and that he wished he had that chance. He just couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Frank.

"Yeah maybe." He said with a genuine smile while nodding to himself "You're probably the only person who's encouraged me to do music again." He said looking at Gerard fondly "Pretty much everyone else is saying that I should get a real job and all that other bullshit."

"But what's the point in doing something that means shit to you?" Gerard asked rhetorically "So what if you'll make crappy living and barely afford rent. As long as you're happy doing it isn't that all that matters?" Gerard started using hand gestures again, getting a bit too heated in the conversation. But honestly, he just wanted Frank to be happy.

"I like the way you think Mikes." Frank noted while squinting his eyes and smiling mysteriously. Suddenly he glanced at his watch and his eyebrows went up "I have to get going I'm sorry." he said looking genuinely apologetic, which was yet again a bit unusual for him "I need to take my dog to the vet and stuff, he's been vomiting all over the place for the last few days." He said a bit annoyed but soon his face turned worried. He got up to put on his jacket and quickly drank what was left of his coffee

"Shit, I hope he's gonna be alright." Gerard said standing up as well "I'll walk you out, I wanted to go out for a smoke anyway." He said making quite a shitty excuse but he thought it came out pretty casual. Because of his working, which he could've done when he got back home, he got only little time to spend with Frank. Though on the other hand, he'd really go for a smoke too.

"I'd kill for a smoke right now too, but I really want to get all the vet business over as soon as I can." It was Frank's way of saying 'I want to keep you company too, I really do, but I can't'.

"I understand man don't worry." Gerard reassured him while they were walking out. Frank pulled the glass door open and let Gerard through first and then they were standing outside, in a dull autumn's mist which made them shiver.

Gerard was starting to fear this would get awkward or uncomfortable but Frank had no intention of lingering around.

"I'll see you tomorrow then." He said with a playful wink, lightly putting his hand on Gerard's back and walked off with a quick step not looking back.