Dawn hit me in what felt like minutes, even though I knew it was actually hours. I looked up at Gerard, who was staring vacantly into space.

I snapped my fingers in front of his face, and he jumped and smiled down at me. "Sorry. Lost in thought, I guess."

"S'ok. Good morning," I beamed.

"Morning," he replied, bending down to kiss my forehead. "How'd you 'sleep'?"

"Good," I laughed. "You?"

"Great."

I thought about what I had been…thinking about, and decided to ask. "Gerard?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we go find that Thalia chick today? She knows something important. I can just…tell."

He pursed his lips, and then nodded. "I thought so, too. We can track her down, I suppose. I know what she smells like, if that's not weird," he laughed.

"No. I probably would, too, if I had met her as a vampire more than once. You lead the way, Gerard."

He laughed at that. I narrowed my eyes. "What?"

"You know what?"

"What?" I said again.

He smiled. "I never told you. My last name is Way."

I looked at him. "You're kidding!"

"Dead serious."

I burst out laughing at that, and he looked confused for a minute before he caught on and laughed, too.

"The vampire is dead serious. Hilarious. And my last name is Iero, by the way."

He smiled. "Frank Iero. I like that."

"Anyway," I said, hopping up. "Let's go."

"Uh, Frank?"

"What?" How many times was I going to say "what" in one day?

"It's like, 5 AM."

"Oh."

He stood up, grinning evilly. "You thirsty?"

"Kind of," I admitted, even though my throat was suddenly on fire.

"Let's hunt, then."

Not ten minutes later, I was going to try to seduce my first guy.

I took a deep breath. "So, you're saying it doesn't matter if they're gay or not?"

He shook his head. "Usually it's just a vampire's charm. It's natural."

"And you're sure it's okay?"

He half-smiled. "Yes, Frankie. It's fine."

"Okay, here's my line: my dead heart belongs to you, remember?"

He pursed his lips. "I'll think of my own while you're gone."

I pinched his cheek and walked into the all-night coffee shop where I saw the man alone through the window.

I walked up to the counter and ordered a latte, and then sat at a table next to the guy's.

He looked up.

I smiled. "Hi."

He blushed and turned back to his coffee.

"Mind if I join you? Kind of lonely."

He nodded nervously.

I flopped down opposite him, pretending to sip my drink. "What's your name?"

"Alec."

"Alec," I grinned. "I like that."

He smiled. "Thanks. And what's yours?"

"Frank."

"Nice name."

I laughed lightly. "Thanks."

He took a drink before speaking again. "Why are you here alone? Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No," I answered honestly. Last time I checked, Gerard wasn't a girl. I hope. "And I could say the same for you…?"

"Nah."

"Well, then," I grinned. "Maybe we can take this home."

His eyes widened, and he seemed to be having an internal debate. "But…I don't swing that way…"

"Well, I do. And does it really matter? Love shouldn't be based on gender."

I knew Gerard was right about the natural attraction. Looks like the forced-gay side of him was winning.

"Just this once, baby," I purred. "For me."

"How do I know I really feel this way, though?" he asked uncertainly.

I leaned over and planted my lips against his for a brief moment before pulling away. "You ready?"

"Absolutely," he breathed.

I pulled him by the hand and led him out the door.

We walked for a while before we came to Murder Alley, as I so cleverly named it.

"Can you do me a favor?" I asked him.

"Sure."

I pinned him up against the wall. "Tell me if this feels good," I said seductively.

He nodded weakly, eyes wide.

I pressed my lips to his. I could feel the pulse in his neck quicken, and he gasped and opened his mouth.

I mimed I love you with my free hand. I guess that was kind of our thing now.

Did you expect me to forget Gerard?

Eventually, I pulled away. "So…?"

"Yes," he gasped breathlessly.

I grinned and kissed him again. Right as he was about to pull away to take another breath, I clamped my teeth down on his pulse and drank deeply. Gerard was right; a boy's blood was far more appealing than a girl's to me.

When the flames in my throat flickered out, I watched as his white figure fell to the ground, eyes still wide in shock.

"Fabulous. Great job, Frankie."

Holy shit. I hadn't expected him to be so close. I hadn't even heard him arrive.

I exhaled. "Thanks, Gee."

He wrapped his arms around my waist after I dumped the body in the dumpster, wrinkling my nose at the decomposing bodies of the sluts we had previously…eaten. Gerard rested his head on my shoulder, and I could feel him smile as he spoke. "I thought of my own…line, I guess."

"Really?" I beamed. "What is it?"

"My silent heart almost beats for you."

My breath caught in my throat. "Gerard…"

I felt him kiss my shoulder. "I love you, Frank."

"I love you, too."

We were silent for a minute, until I remembered what my original plans for the day were.

"So, should we check out that Thalia chick and see what she knows?" I asked him.

He nodded. "I already found her scent. I'll lead the way, I guess."

We walked for about ten minutes before Gerard stopped in front of a nice, tan house.

He knocked on the door. I was about to suggest that maybe she wasn't home or maybe she was asleep when suddenly the door opened and a sleepy voice asked, "What is it? And who the hell knocks on the door at six in the morning?" and we were face-to-face with Thalia.

"Remember us?" Gerard greeted, grinning.

Her eyes widened, but then she grinned back. "Oh, hey guys. Didn't expect to see you…ever again, really."

"We told you everything about us," I told her. "Did you really think you could get rid of us that easily?"

She laughed. "I hoped not."

"But," Gerard added, "we have to talk to you. Well, Frank does. What did you want to see her for, anyway?"

"That's what I'm getting to. Thalia, may we come in?"

She shrugged. "Sure. It's a mess, though."

I laughed sarcastically. "If this is a mess, then what was my house last night?"

"A minefield?"

"Correct," I grinned, stepping inside with Gerard following suit.

She motioned for us to sit on the couch, and as we sat she tied her tangled brown hair up in a messy bun.

"So Frank," she asked, fixing her tank top over her grey sweatpants, "what was it you wanted to talk to me about."

"It's not absolutely…certain, I guess. But Gerard told me he feels like he knows you from somewhere. And I can kind of pinpoint it. I don't have any siblings, but maybe you know one of Gerard's…?"

She looked at him. "What's your last name?"

"Way," he answered.

She froze. No, froze is the wrong word. It was more like every muscle in her body tensed.

"Do you have a brother?" she whispered.

Gerard's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

I looked from one to the other. "I'm missing something, aren't I?"

"But…he went missing a year ago."

She shook her head. "He can't have. I saw him just last week."

"Can you bring him here?" Gerard asked, anticipation and hope clear in his voice.

"I think so."

"Wait. Wait," I interrupted. "What's his name?"

Gerard looked me straight in the eyes.

"My brother's name was…is Mikey."