GERARD'S POV

I stepped out of the shower and into freezing air as I blindly searched for my towel, "God dammit, where's my freaking towel," Soon my hand grazed a soft, scruffy surface and I gripped it. I cleared up my drenched eyes and drenched body, soaking up all the clean water.

Clean water.

It hit me: This was my first actual shower in a month… All the grime and soot collected in the past weeks are washed away. A sign of a new beginning.

Or am I just being too deep? It's just a shower, after all. But I did feel less alien then I did thirty minutes ago. I scrunched the towel over my head and rubbed my soaking black hair that is now in every which direction. As I pulled the towel off of me and inspected my reflection in the wall mirror, I grimaced.

I looked horribly skinny; well, skinnier than I have ever been. Not nearly as bony as Mikey though. But that is just the way he was built. I'm supposed to be a bit meatier, buffer than I am now. Now that I realize it, my clothes did seem to bag much more than skinny jeans and slim fit shirts should.

Looking over to my right, I spotted a scale. Last time I weighed myself was six months before, so I wanted to see how I had changed. But at the same time, I didn't want to. The temptation and curiosity plagued me, but I refused.

I knew I was just going to get obsessed with my weight again like I used to be. I knew I was going to like the result that came up on the scale, and want to starve myself again to remain this way.

I turned away from the piece of plastic and looked back at the large hanging glass on the wall. Horrible. Yet I liked the way I could see a lot of my bones…

No. I couldn't afford to think that way. Not again. I've always hated my reflection and I wasn't going to start liking the way I looked now, especially that I'm dangerously underweight.

I'm supposed to be on the road to recovery, not going even further down.

I wrapped the towel around my waist and turned the doorknob, swinging the door open slowly. Waiting in his room, an eager Frank jumped up and down, excited.

"You're such a kid…" I giggled at him, still shaking like a Chihuahua.

"Good news, she said you could stay, on some conditions," His smile was large and hopeful.

"So, what are they?"

Frank sat me down on his bed and started, "Well, you have to find a job as soon as possible so you could help pay rent each month. She said I could help you out at first just to kick you off. I work down at the guitar shop, and we're always looking for help there. They pay good bucks! So what do you think?"

"Frank that's a great idea! But…" I looked down, "What about Mikey?"

"Don't worry about that, my mom said she will work it out with the court and get Mikey back for you," He smiled with one corner of his mouth this time as I looked up at him.

"You don't have to do this you know. It's too much. Plus… I don't want to let you down. How am I gonna get sober, Frank? You know how I am with alcohol!"

"Gerard, it will be okay! Right now you don't have money for alcohol, so that's a start. And don't think I'm going to lend you any, either. When you do get the job, I want you to be in control of your own money, so I'm trusting you. Do the right thing, okay?" He looked at me with a concerned face and I had to start laughing.

"Okay, Dr. Phil!" I threw myself back on his bed and started giggling like a child.

Frank them crossed his arms over his chest and pouted, "It's not funny, I want you to be safe!"

I sat back up and smiled at his beautiful face. "You can trust me, okay? I will be fine. It will be hard, but I'm doing this for you, alright?" I leaned in and peck his lips shortly before grinning at his perfect features.

He smiled back at me, "Alright. I trust you. Now get some pajamas on, it's getting late,"

"Um, homeless? No clean clothes?" I raised my arms out to the sides to remind him.

"Oh, right, here," I waited as he got up and rummaged through his drawers and pulled out a misfits shirt and large flannel pajama pants. 'The Frank Iero usual' we used to call it. He seemed to remember it, too. "The Frank Iero usual," he said as he tossed the lump of cotton at me.

"Cool, thanks!"

"Shut up and get dressed," he chuckled.

"Dinner's ready, boys!" Frank's mom shouted as we played guitar hero in the living room.

"Sure, one second, mom, we gotta finish this last song!" Frank yelled back over his shoulder.

The lyrics to Livin' On A Prayer boomed over the expensive entertainment system, as we both strummed and batted at our plastic guitars. The ending soon came up and Frank and I were feeling at our numbed fingers. "Damn, you beat me," I said.

He didn't hear me, as he was fully interested in the dinner laid out on the wooden table. I could clearly point out where Frank was sitting, since there was only one spot with tofu soup in front of it.

"Aw cool, thanks mom!" He said, lowering himself into a chair.

I sat down next to him, in front of a large plate filled with lasagna, green beans, and a small piece of garlic bread. "Hope you like Italian food, Gerard," Frank's mother shot me a smile.

"Are you kidding? It's New Jersey, isn't it?" I laughed a bit with Frank as he got back into slurping his noodles.

"Ha, I suppose you're right," she takes a forkful of beans into her mouth, "Looks like you're coming out of your shell quickly, huh? It's good to have you back, Gerard."

I finish chewing my bite of AMAZING cheesy, pasta-y, meaty goodness and respond, "It's so nice of you guys to take me in like this, including my brother. I could never repay you for what you've done for us. It means so much," I sip my iced tea, "By the way, dinner is absolutely delicious!"

"It's no problem, really. We're happy we could do this for you and Mikey. We love you like our own. And after hearing what you've gone through, you shouldn't have to live that way. Oh, and uh… Gerard? Frank?"

We both stopped fiddling with our food and looked at her. Frank still had some white noodles dangling from his lips, and awkwardly and noisily slurped them into his mouth. "Yes?' We both asked, nervous.

"Your dad took the night shift tonight at the jail, and since it's only us for now…" she leaned in closer to us, "I need to ask you both a favor…"

Both of us nodded, still scared of what was coming up.

She lowered her voice to a whisper and stuck her head in between ours, "If you are going to have sex tonight, do it in the upstairs bedroom so you can both make sure that I can't hear you,"

Frank then flailed away from the table, his chair projected backwards, and screamed, "MOOOM OH MY GOSH,"

I sat and tried to conceal my giggles that were threatening to spill out as I peered at an exasperated Frank, still blushing in embarrassment. "What, I'm just trying to save you guys from embarrassment in case I do hear you!"

By then, I started laughing, tears flowing out my eyes as the back and forth continued. "Great job trying not to embarrass me, mom!" His cheeks were pinker than ever and he flailed his arms along with his words.

"Hey, I'm sorry okay! But the offer still stands… Upstairs. Okay?" She cracked a smile and I calmed down as well as Frank.

Frank huffed, and exhaled, "Okay, fine." He picked up his chair and gingerly left the room, leaving me alone with Ms. Iero.

"Gerard, can you please make sure-" she started.

I cut her off, smiled, and held my hand up in front of me, "It's okay. I got it." I chuckled as I slid my plate into the sink.

"Okay, thanks," she sighed.

I insisted that I helped with the dishes, and she finally let me do them. After that was over, I went into bed with an already sleeping Frank.

I slid in, trying not to wake him up. I felt bad when he started to stir next to me. Frank faced me and I could still see his gleaming teeth in the dark. He was smiling sinisterly, and made me come closer. I put my ear next to his head.

"Want to go upstairs?" He whispered.

I smiled back at him with the same mischief he had, "Hell yeah,"