Bob's Point of View
Frank and I talk lightly as we walk back to his apartment.
I put my phone on silent when we left the coffee shop so that mother couldn't contact me.
"I'm not having a party anymore," I inform the shorter man by my side.
He looks up and stops walking, pulling me gently to join him.
"Why not?" he asks.
"I don't want to have one. I want to spend spring break with you," I explain, bringing a smile to his sharp features.
His hair waves a little in the breeze, his T-shirt doing the same.
"It's a little cold outside," my Italian lover comments quietly.
He wraps his arms around himself to shield his olive skin from the persistent wind.
I take his arms away and replace them with my much larger, warmer arms.
He smiles at me gratefully, snaking one of his arms around my waist.
As we near the apartment, I steal a glance at my quieted phone.
Six missed calls.
Five are from mother.
One is from Gerard.
I suck in air quickly and look down at Frank, who is blissfully unaware of the terror in my heart from the tiny mechanism in my hand.
"Go up to the apartment, I have to make a call, and you can't hear it," I poke his nose to make it seem as if I'm trying to surprise him and it works.
He nods and jumps to the tips of his toes to kiss the side of my mouth.
I smile and bend to kiss him better.
We pull apart and I watch Frank bounce up the steps and into the apartment building.
I push number three on my phone and Gerard's number pops up on the LCD screen, signaling that Gerard is being called.
"I was worried you wouldn't call," Gerard's silky smooth voice invades my ear, leaving my thoughts jumbled in my head.
"I was seeing why you called. I'm with Frank right now," I explain gently, shifting my weight from foot to foot.
Talking to Gerard is always a terrifyingly uncomfortable experience for me.
He's so sure of himself, and he talks to everyone as if he knows best for them.
I can see why Ray is so upset about Gerard's wandering eye. Anyone is powerless to Gerard's personality. And his eyes. Intense.
"I have a job for you," Gerard's voice sharpens with the cruel seriousness of the business I had fallen into.
I shake my head, aware that he can't see the gesture.
"Not tonight, please. Send Ray or Mikey. I have to be with Frank tonight, we have stuff to work out." My voice is rushed and frantic.
I push my hand into my hair and tug at the medium length blond locks in frustration, hoping he'll understand.
"It'll cost you. Five more hits to be added onto your remaining eleven," he says smoothly.
I scowl, cursing his coolness about killing people, as if they are mere animals to be exterminated.
"Okay," I say slowly. I curl my fingers into a tight fist and stare into the distance.
"Have fun." Gerard is mocking me.
"Thanks," I say through gritted teeth, pushing the end button before Gerard can add anything else to the already horrible sentence.
I walk up the stone steps to the apartment building slowly, visualizing myself this afternoon, not three hours before now.
I cast my glance sideways, towards Frank's car. My lips are still imprinted on the blood red paint.
I smile lightly to myself and continue to ascend the stairs.
I open the door to Frank's apartment and push my way into the living room.
Frank is sitting on the couch, keeping his head up by his hands on his knees.
I walk slowly behind him and look over his shoulder, a white piece of paper catching my eye.
My heart stops, restarts, stops, and then jumps to my throat.
"Bob, what is this?" he asks, turning his head to reveal a red face and tear-stained eyes.
Oh shit.
Hope you like it :D
