Popsicles Are The New Black: a Love Story (Part 4 of 4)

The forst thing I'm aware of when I wake up is Gerard's arms around me. I burrow deeper into his embrace, and I feel him stir and sigh into my hair.
"Hi," he murmurs, kissing my neck, my collarbone, and my shoulder. I roll over and kiss him gently.
"Hi."
We both smile and Gerard opens his mouth to speak, but is interrupted by a knock at his front door.
"Shit," he says under his breath, then, "What time is it?"
I look over his shoulder. The digital clock on his dresser says 1 pm, and I tell him this.
"Shit," he says again. He climbs out of bed and tugs on a pair of boxers and some blue jeans.
"That'l;l be Frank. Do you want to, um, get dressed before you leave the room?" You don'y have to leave or anything but if Frank's here-"
"Yeah, of course," I say quickly. He nods and goes to answer the door. I find my jeans and bra, but I don't know where my shirt is so I just grab the first one I see. It happens to be a white button down with bloodstains on it, and I begin the task of doing up the ubuttons as I eavesdrop on his conversation.
"Frank!" I hear him says. "You're, um, early?"
"Actually, I'm two hours late," he replies. "I tried to call you this morning but there was no answer."
"Yeah, I was-" Gerard pauses as I enter the room, still doing up the endless line of buttons.
"-Busy," he finishes.
"I see," says Frank. He grins at me. "Hey, I'm Frank. Nice to meet you."
I finish doing up the last button and look up (well, down) at him.
"I'm Mary. And I know who you are. I couldn't find my shirt," I continue, turning to Gerard, "so I borrowed yours. You don't mind, do you?"
"No, its fine. We'll look for it later," Gerard replies. Frank's grin widens as he says to gerard, "Nice!"
"Why don't you put your shit in the spare room?" Gerard says, ignoring the comment. "I'll show you where it is. Wait here, love." I nod and they go down the hall.
"dude, she's gorgeous!" I hear Frank exclaim. "How'd you score her?"
"It's not like that." Gerard is quieter than Frank, and I have to strain my ears to listen. "She's...amazing. In every way. I feel so lucky to be with her."
"You're totally falling hard, man."
"Yeah, I guess I am."
They return to the living room, and I pretend I'm engrossed in examining my fingernails.
"I'm going for a coffee run," Gerard announces. "The Starbucks downstairs knows me, so I get it for free," he adds, as Frank begins t object. "Orders?"
"You know what I like," Frank and I say in unison. We look at each other in surprise, then start laughing. Gerard smiles and leaves, shutting the door behind him.
"He's really into you, you know," Frank says after a moment.
"I know," I reply. "I'm really into him, too."
"Yeah, well just don't be breaking his heart, you hear? He's my best friend, and I don't want to have to pick up the pieces if he gets all depressed again."
"I'd never-"
"I know," Frank interjects. "I'm just saying, is all."
I smile and we start talking about random shit, like the origins of kindersex and why popsicles should be the new black.
"But seriously, think about it," he says eagerly. "If we spread the word that popsicles are the new black, people would quit being so image obsessed and just be happy because they'd be eating popsicles!"
"Strangely enough, that makes complete sense," I concede.
"Yeah, you'll be saying that alot talking to him." Gerard is already closing the door and kicking off his shoes when he says this. He hands Frank and I our drinks before sitting next to me and taking a sip of his own chocolate mocha. We chat, play video games (Frank brought his Xbox, and drink more coffee until my phone rings at 6:00 for the first time that day. Of course, its my roommate.
"Where the fuck are you? I haven't seen oyu in like three days and we owe rent!"
"I'm fine," I reply.
"Yeah, well I need your rent money so i can give our landlord the cheque. He wants it tonight since we're already 2 weeks late."
I sigh.
"Tell him to shut the fuck up and I'll be there in half an hour. Or something. Bye." I hang up the phone before she can protest and turn to Gerard, who asks if I need a ride.
"Yeah, I'd love one. apparently my landlord's being a fuck so I have to give him my half of the rent or he's evicting us."
i say goodbye to Frank, with the promise that I'll kick his ass next time we play Guitar Hero, and Gerard drives me home. In 20 minutes, we're in front of my house and I'm undoing my seatbelt. I kiss him goodbye, intending to be brief, but he puts an arm around me and pulls me closer, so the kiss lasts for much longer. When he finally pulls away, I smile and say, "Call me tomorrow?"
"Of course."
I get out of the car and turn backm poking my head thought the open window on the passenger's side.
"This isn't goodbye, so I won't say it."
"I wouldn't want it any other way."
He grins and I run up the stairs to my front door. When I look back, he's already driving away. My roommate is waiting for me at the door.
"Was that Gerard? Did he drive you home? Why didn't you invite him in? I want to meet him!"
"All in good time," I reply, closing the door behind me.