The Latest Plague [Chap. 30 - End.]

[decay;;]

Thirty.

“How romantic!” Gerard giggled in a high voice, fluttering his dark eyelashes. Mikey glared up from the floor as he laced his fingers with Zoe.
We all grinned at one another. It had taken a good hour or so, but finally, we had managed to force the pair to confess their feelings. And even though it was Mikey who Zoe was being unwittingly roped into dating, we were happy nonetheless. Relieved, in Gerard’s case, in the hopes that his brother would actually be distracted enough to stop tormenting him.

“You know what I feel like doing?” Ray declared.
“What?” Gerard asked.
“Sleeping,” he said, and grabbed a cushion off the sofa me and Gerard were sat on.
“I second that,” I yawned with a smile, drawing my knees up to my chin, “the caffeine high ran out long ago. Gerard’s even built up a tolerance.”
“One day I’ll be injecting myself with coffee just to stay alive,” he grinned.
I laughed and watched as everyone began to curl up to sleep. Reaching over his shoulder, Ray switched off the light.

---

It must have been 2am, I suppose. We’d all crashed out in the living room for a good few hours, sleeping on eachother, when I woke up suddenly, feeling something next to me moving. Turning over groggily, I realised Gerard was tiredly standing up. Allie was stood in front of him with the phone in her hand. I sat up and she looked at me with a weak smile.

“What’s happened?” I murmured croakily.
“It’s Frank,” Allie whispered, so as not to wake any of the others up, “he’s in the hospital.”
“What?” both Gerard and I said.
“I dunno, the hospital just called, so I answered Mikey’s phone… they said he jumped from a window…” she sobbed.
“A window?” Gerard repeated quietly, “An escape…”

“What do you mean?” I asked, pulling my hoody off my waist and putting it on.
“I need to get out of here,” he said hurriedly, pulling on his own jacket, “I’ll be at the hospital.”
“Not on your own, you’re not,” Allie interrupted, “I’ll go too.”
“Fine. Come on, I’ll drive.” Gerard said, motioning for her to go to my car and wait, and turned to me. He gripped me by the shoulders, his face etched with concern.
“Yazz, you stay here please. When everyone wakes up, tell them what happened. I’ll come pick you up on the morning.”

I nodded, and he pulled me into a hug. I hadn’t really wanted to go visit Frank anyway. I figured that it would be best if his closest friends went to see him first. And I wasn’t one of them.
“See you in a bit.” He broke the hug and rushed out the door. In his hasty exit, I could of sworn I heard him choke on a tear.

[ricegrains&rosesxo.]

=[
Gerards finally realised whats happened hasn't he =[
Frank shall be saved!
By none other than Superway and Lindy =]

Just out of curiostiy,
How can Gerard go to the hospital...?
If he's meant to be dead and all.

MOREE.

Xoxoxox *SxPxF*

[decay;;]

Thirty-one.
Allie’s POV

I waited in the passenger seat of Yazz’s car whilst Gerard lingered in the flat. It was a chilling night, a sense of foreboding drifting over the rooftops of the NJ houses, the clouds low and dark. I was frightened. I was frightened about Frank, and the state he was in. I was frightened about Gerard, and the way he didn’t understand how this plague worked; nobody did. And I was frightened for Yazz.

The car sank a few inches as Gerard vaulted over the side, landing with his hand on the gearstick. He thrust the car into drive and sped off in the direction of the hospital.
“I can’t believe this,” he said once we’d reached a straight road, “he should of known better...”
“What do you mean?” I asked, watching the cars on the other side of the road rush past in coloured blurs.
“He should of tried to be happy,” he muttered, “he knew this was all about depression.”
I flinched, my mind racing, “you mean... Frankie had the plague?”
“Not had,” Gerard said thoughtfully, “caught... it came for him, that’s why he jumped out of that window... to escape it...”

“Why didn’t you try to escape?” I asked. He stayed silent for a few moments, only moving to look before making a turn. Once we’d reached traffic, he turned to look at me.
“Because I accepted it.” he said solemnly, “I wanted to die, so it came as a relief to be honest.”
‘Oh’ was the only reply I could think of.

We sat in silence a little while longer.
“Gerard...” I said finally.
“Yeah?”
“What do you think of Yazz?”
“Yazz...” he repeated slowly, “it’s complicated.”
“We have time.”

“Well...I really, really like her. But I don’t really know what this plague is likely to do to her if anything happens...” he said quietly, tapping his hands on the steering wheel as we waited for the lights to change.
“So you won’t let anything happen.” I finished, nodding.
“It’s just so difficult, it doesn’t even make sense!” he continued with a hint of exasperation in his voice, “I don’t even know why I’m alive right now. I don’t understand why I have to live with this curse.”
“I know Gee,” I answered, “I know.”

We made small talk after that, just chatting about the new developments between Mikey and Zoe, and my old job. Finally, we pulled up at the hospital. Gerard manoeuvred the car into a space shrouded in shadows, and turned off the engine.
“So how are we going to do this?” he said.
“What do you mean? We just go in, right?” I said, surprised.
“It’s not that simple. I’ve been here a ton of times. They’ll recognise me, and I’m meanna be dead, remember?”
“Oh yeah.” I said, realising the dilemma we were in. Whilst Gerard set about thinking of a solution, I started looking around the car. I pulled open the glove compartment, taking out Yazz’s morgue tools and the magazines stashed inside. Beneath all the food wrappers and papers, I felt fabric.

“What’s this...” I grinned, pulling out a white lab coat and surgery mask. Gerard’s eyes lit up.
“Perfect!”

[ricegrains&rosesxo.]

Is Gerard gunna pretend to be Franks doctor.
'Cuz Ray might get annoyed 'cuz he can't tend more wounds... badly.
Or Mikey might perform voodoo on them via crystal ball.
Wayhey, I'm feared for.
I do believe this is turning into the famous phrase of "Is Yazz dead yet." again =P
As you said someone, or two people, are gunna die.
But not Frank for once =O

Moore. Now.
Or I'll set rabid postmen on you =]

Xoxoxo *SxPxF*

[decay;;]

Thirty-two.
Gerard’s POV.

I hate hospitals. There’s always this weird aura around them, this sense of darkness lurking under the pristine white. I hated the sterile cleanliness, the imposing white corridors, and the phony smiles of every nurse, doctor and psychiatrist sent to visit me during my many stays back when I was ‘alive’. So this is what my brother must have felt like visiting me every day. I felt sorry for him, almost.

Allie was walking slightly ahead of me in a panic, looking through the blinds of every room searching for Frank. The receptionist hadn’t been much help at all, and had left me, the ‘doctor’ to find the room myself. How was I supposed to know where the ‘neurology and spinal’ ward was? At least it gave me a little time to continue taking in the many details of the last six days since I’d become the living dead.

Finally, Allie came to a halt. She placed a hand on the door knob - and then withdrew it.
“You first,” she whispered, as though the deathly silence of the ward required low voices. I nodded and adjusted my white lab coat, the mask in the pocket, as she stepped aside, and pushed open the door.
The first thing I noticed was the nurse stood right in front of us with clipboard, eyeing me suspiciously as she moved to block my view of the bed.
“We’ve got this patient under control,” she said silkily, her eyes searching my chest for some kind of identification, “and you are...?”
“I... I’m Mr Iero’s psychiatrist,” I said quickly, “I’m here to analyse him about the cause of his accident.”

“O-oh,” said the nurse, blushing, “I didn’t realise, Mr...”
“Way-,” I smiled as fake as I could, then cursed myself for my lack of attention, “Wayston, PhD. Pleasure meeting you.”
“You too,” she nodded, and stepped aside for me to go past. I turned towards Allie, who was lingering in the doorway still.
“And you...” the nurse began, looking at her closely, “what are you here for? Visiting hours are over...”
“No, I... err...” Allie began, looking to me for help.
“This is Alison,” I said calmly, “she’s a friend of Mr Iero’s. She’s helping me to get some facts out of him.”
“Alright...” the nurse sighed, defeated, “but she’ll need to leave in an hours time, Sir. Hospital rules.”
“Okay madam. Now please, leave us in peace.” I said in a monotone. She complied, closing the door behind her. As soon as silence had been restored, I pulled off my coat and flung myself into one of the seats next to the bed that a small figure was sleeping in.
“Nice acting,” Allie grinned as she followed suit, scooting closer so that she could lean over him.
“I think she was intimidated,” I grinned, “should we wake him?”

“Frankie...” she cooed, shaking his shoulder.
“Frankie?” I repeated dubiously, “he never lets anyone call him Frankie.”
“Well now he’s going to have to,” she smirked, shaking his shoulder again, “Frankie... wake up, sugar...”
He began to stir.
“I think you’re turning him on with all this sweet talk,” I grinned, nudging her out of the way, “FRANK!”

He leapt out of the covers of the bed, instantly flopping back down on his back as he winced, dark circle beneath his eyes illuminating their hazel tint. He blinked, bewildered, at me and Allie in turn, a weak smile spreading across his paper-thin lips, dry blood protruding from their corners. His black hair a mess, he was a state - but he was okay. And that was what mattered.

“I didn’t know what happened,” he began, smiling, “I woke up here. I thought I was a goner.”
“It’s alright,” Allie smiled, pushing his fringe back into place, falling lightly into his eyes, “you might wanna tell us what happened, though. Everyone’s been worried sick.”
“Oh,” Frank said lightly, his smile fading, “I think I’d better talk to Gerard about that. Sorry, Allie.”
“Why do you want to talk to me about it, Frank?” I asked curiously. He propped his head back on his pillow, looking at the ceiling and then me.
“I just need to talk to you ‘bout something,” he said, giving me an unreadable look before turning to Allie, grabbing her hand, “sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Allie smiled, standing up but keeping a hold of Frank’s hand, “I’ll go get the others. We said we would anyway, Gee.”
“Yeah...”I said absent-mindedly, watching Frank release Allie and allow her to grab her bag. What did Frank need to talk to me about? Was it about the plague? Was it about why he ended up here, in this damned hospital?

With a wave, Allie shut the door, throwing the room into silence. Only the steady beeping of the machinery provided backing music as me and Frank stared at one another, waiting for answers to the many questions we had.

[ricegrains&rosesxo.]

Oooohhh.
I get the feeling Franks about to give Gerard a lecture about how rude it is to bite people in the neck.
And also about how rude it is to shout at him when Allie's steadily waking him up via turning him on.
Or how he loves being called Frankie ^_^
Or he wants coffee or something.
Speaking of coffee,
Yes I have only just woken up.
And I would''ve stayed asleep for a little while longer if my dad hadn't come in and shouted at me that my grandparents would be over in five minutes ><
And I need caffine ><
So haha =P

MOOREE.

Xoxoxo *SxPxF*

[decay;;]

Thirty-three.
Frank's POV.

He was concerned, that's for sure, his clear green eyes questioning me is he sat at watched me, waiting to find out what I so desperately needed to talk to him about. I let the moment drag on whilst I tried to prepare exactly how I was going to phrase it. Something like 'hey Gerard, did you bite the shit outta my neck that night' wouldn't quite cut it.

I hadn't really expected him to come so quickly; in fact, I hadn't really expected to wake up at all. I couldn't even be sure why I even jumped from that window in the first place. The details of the moment were hazy to say the least, and the only reason I'd told everyone that had come to see me so far that I couldn't remember was just to avoid any awkward questions about my state of mind. I'd had a million questions like that asked in the past, and I hadn't really wanted to go through it again.

Finally, I couldn't take the silence.
"Gerard," I whispered. He nodded, still not tearing his eyes away from mine, "you wanna know what happened, right?"
He nodded again. A man of few words all of a sudden. That's just Gerard for you. A split personality, but I good one to know.
"Gee... you remember that night before you died?" he continued to look at me blankly, "The night you came to my house, when you were 'missing'?" I urged. The slightest hint of recognition flickered across his eyes.

"We had a fight," he said softly. It was my turn to nod.
"Y-yeah, we did. And the reason I jumped out that window..."
I paused to look back into his face. His eyes were full of anticipation, and concern.
"I jumped from the window because... the plague was in my room."
Gerard nodded again. I swear he had some kind of neck twitch or something, because it was his answer for everything today, "I figured."

"So... so you did it." I sighed, turning onto my back to face the ceiling. I wasn't out of the woods yet; it would be back. It hadn't been a month yet. It had only really been a couple of days... but time had been passing so slowly since he went missing. There'd been so much to comprehend in so little time. But I guess time does move slowly, when you're depressed.

"Did what?" Gerard asked quietly.
"Gave me the plague," I sighed again, not wanting to talk anymore. A hand grabbed my shoulder roughly and I felt it turn me back onto my side again. Gerard was leaning forward in his chair now, and as I looked up at him, he shook me slightly.
"What do you mean?" He pressed. I shook my head.
"When we had that fight, there was a weird pain on my neck," I said, "you bit me and gave me the plague, didn't you."

"Frank... I never bit you," Gerard murmured.
"Y-you didn't?" I sat up, shock hitting me like a slap in the face, "But..."
"I must of scratched you when I was strangling you," he said apologetically, "I would never hurt you Frankie."
He stroked the side of my face with the back of his hand and I smiled for what must of been the first time in a few days. But the moment was brief, and I felt myself flooded with worry once again.

"But then why did the plague come?" I asked. Gerard continued to stroke my face, keeping a little rhythm going.
"The plague works in two ways," Gerard smiled, "you can get it from physical contact, like biting or whatever, or you can get if from depression. I'm guessing it was the latter for you."
"But... you said it takes..."
"A month?" Gerard cut me off, "I guess you must of been depressed for a while."
I nodded, "I-I was. I was just so worried about you, and Pencey, and all the shit going on, and I just kept sinking deeper and..."

"I know," Gerard whispered, pulling me into a hug.

[ricegrains&rosesxo.]

Awww =]
It's friendship forever for Gerard and Frank.
And frank has to be happy and join mcr and everything shall be good.
So write yeah? =]

Xoxoxo *SxPxF*

[decay;;]

Every update brings you a step closer to the death of your 'fic.
Sound familiar? :]

Thirty-four.

It was getting close to 5am when Allie finally burst in through the door. We all looked up, Mikey rushing straight over to her and pulling her into a hug. Zoe, Ray and myself followed shortly after.
"How is he?" Mikey gushed, "I've been so worried, my little baby..."
Allie tried in vain to push the younger brother off herself, "Mikey, he's alright now. Get off me."
"Why did he do it?" Zoe asked quietly. Allie shrugged, partly as a reply and partly as another futile attempt to release herself from Mikey's clutches.
"That's what Gee's sorting out now," she said, trying to tug her black hair out of Mikey's face, "but he said if any of you want to go see him, I can take you up. Who wants to?"

"Me!" Mikey squealed, finally letting go of Allie; she breathed a sigh of relief and started trying to get the feeling back in her arms. Zoe and Ray took a step backwards, declining the offer.
"No?" Allie questioned. Ray shook his head.
"I don't think Frank will want too many visitors," he shrugged, "I'll go see him some other time, when he's settled." Zoe nodded in agreement.
"Yazz...?" Allie trailed off her sentence to face me. Uncomfortable, I looked towards the clock.

"It's kinda early, I don't think Frank would really wanna see me..." I stuttered.
"Why not?"
"I dunno, we didn't really hit it off when we first met... and his best friends should be there, not me..."
"Yeah, but you guys get along well at the moment right?" Allie insisted; I nodded slightly, opening my mouth to protest, but she interrupted by leaning into my ear, lowering her voice to a mere whisper, "and Gee wants to talk to you...."
"What? Why? What about?" I said quickly. She just replied with a mysterious smirk and pushed me out into the hallway. Mikey bounded after me.

"See you guys later," Allie grinned, opening the door to the stairwell, "I'll call you and tell you how he's doing."
Mikey sped off down the stairs excitedly and the two of us followed, my mind racing. What did Gerard want to talk about...

[ricegrains&rosesxo.]

Of course it fucking sounds familiar Allie.
Do you really expect it not to be =]
OOH, what does Gee wanna talk to me about??
WELL???
Also, how am I gunna get into a hospital when I'm meanna be an on-the-run-impossible-to-catch criminal, hmm?
Ah well!
MORE.

Xoxoxo *SxPxF*

[decay;;]

In order to understand the latin at the beginning of the flashback, click here. Don't paste it into a translator... it won't work :]
And sorry Yazz... I think the part you'll really like is coming in the next chapter...

Thirty-five.

Allie led Mikey into Frank's room in a manner similar to how a mother would pull an overexcited child, pausing to let Gerard exit into the corridor, where he pulled up a wire chair next to me. As soon as the door was shut, he sighed.
"How'd it go?" I asked, "With Frank? Allie said he'd asked to talk to you."
"Yeah," Gerard said, "he thought I'd given him the plague."
"Why the hell would he think that?"
"We kinda got in this fight a while back... he thought I'd bitten his neck and infected him."

"Oh," I replied softly, "and you didn't?"
"No way," he stated, "I'd never hurt Frankie, ever. He means too much to me. I don't hurt people that mean that much."
For some reason, hearing those words just made me melt inside.
"So he jumped out the window because...?"
"The plague came for him," he smiled at my horrified expression, "and he jumped out the window to escape it. It came for him 'cos he's been depressed for ages. I should've seen it coming, really."
"Well," I grinned mischievously, "I'm sure Allie can sort that depression out for him."
"Yeah," he said happily, mirroring my expression, "they're really getting on well, aren't they?"
"Totally." I replied.

We sat in silence for a few moments, smiling at the thought of Allie and Frank, and then the thought of Zoe and Mikey. However, a question was beginning to nag at the back of my mind, and once I have a question, I won't settle until it's answered.
"Hey Gee..." I began. He turned to face me.
"Yeah, Yazz?"
"I have a question. It's kinda awkward."
He shuffled in his seat a little, a blush creeping up his cheeks very, very slowly, "What is it?" he asked timidly.
"I kinda wanted to ask... how you died."

[glow=white,2,300]FLASHBACK.[/glow]
Gerard's POV

A vomica quorum genus hominum has nunquam seen,
A vomica ut promiscuus immortalis quod usus,
A vomica ut vomica plurrimi putus ingravesco immunda,
A vomica ut nutritor off moestitia of depressus.
Tantum electus mos superstes vomica,
Fatum ut ingredior is universitas unus in a phoenix civitas,
Solvo of sarcina ut taedium him ut rumor,
Immortalis vindico him per morbus of suus fortuna.

Jumping from the lowest branch of the tree and feeling my feet sink into the wet grass of Frank's garden, I turned to look up at the window I had just climbed out off. Stepping backwards, I could just make out a figure staggering around the room. I turned back and ran out into the night, jumping over the garden fence and rushing back to the derelict house near the park that I had claimed as my own. I opened the front door, tear-assing up the stairs into the confinements of the attic room I had come to accept as my living quarters, my head knocking on once of the low wooden beams as I fell in the direction of the black rug spread beside the bookcase. I laid down on it, staring up at the wooden ceiling.

This was common practise for me over the last few months. My whole life was this constant cycle of pills, booze and vanity. Everything was just breaking down, and I'd just had to escape. Nobody could find me here, in this empty, old house. It was perfect. And it echoed just how I was feeling, with it's creaky floorboards and gutted rooms.

I don't know how long I spent just lying on that rug, just wallowing in self-pity, trying to push the fight I'd just had with my best friend to the very back of my alcohol-ridden mind. But slowly, very slowly, I felt myself being drawn to my feet. Putting a hand weakly to my forehead, I strained my eyes in the sudden darkness of the room.

A thin veil of smoke was filtering in through the walls, the windows - everywhere. Issuing from under furniture, seeping through the carpet, it was beginning to engulf me. Taking a step backwards and instinctively raising an arm to my face, I tried to brush the smoke away. My efforts were in vain.

Faces began protruding from the swirling grey, hands reaching out, figures withering and wailing. Clawing started tearing up the skin on the back of my neck, faces swimming beneath my face as I began to sink to the floor, loosing myself in the smoke. It felt like somebody was gripping my throat, squeezing, just draining the life out of me. I could feel blood in the corners of my mouth, the coppery taste overwhelming my senses. I could feel blood everywhere, on my neck, on my arms, on my chest, but my swimming vision disallowed me to see it.

Finally, I felt my face fall into the rug, the fibres brushing my skin angrily. A cold sensation began to spread through my skin, starting from the feet and slowly moving upwards towards my head. Desperately, I tried to scream, knowing that nobody could hear me... knowing I was about to die. And I didn't even understand how it was happening to me.

I thought of Frank, probably lying on his bed, nursing the wounds I had inflicted on him. I thought of Mikey, sitting in his apartment, distraught over my disappearance. I thought of everyone I knew and loved, and prayed that somehow, we'd meet again... and everything went black.

“Sweetheart, I know you want to find out what killed this guy... but there’s nothing more to do. Get some rest, yeah? We’ve got a tough day tomorrow...”
WAKE UP.
“Give me that paperwork...”
WAKE UP.

[glow=white,2,300]END FLASHBACK.[/glow]

[ricegrains&rosesxo.]

I see song references =]
Honey, Sleep, Helena... *smug*
And why wouldn't I like that chapter?
Heehee.
And also, that latin is rather coooooool.
Did you sneak some our lady of sorrows and famous last words in that, hmm?

Okay so I wanna know,
If the next chapter is the bit that I'll really like,
WHAT THE FUCK IS GUNNA HAPPENN?
Yeah so update.

Xoxoxo *SxPxF*

[decay;;]

Thirty-six.
Gerard's POV

I could feel her green eyes piercing my skin long after I'd finished my short tale, the silence giving me time to reflect on the events on that fatal night. For the last few days I'd been trying to convince myself that it hadn't been a big deal, trying to pretend I'd never died... until that moment, it had almost been believable. But now the circumstances surrounding my death were out in the open, it didn't make so much sense anymore. My death had seemed so final... yet I was still alive...

"So that's why I couldn't find any causes of death," Yazz muttered, in a futile attempt to strike up a conversation to break the uneasy tension. I smiled weakly.
"Yeah, I guess."
A few nurses passed us by, deep in conversation. I nodded as they acknowledged me, Yazz pulling the hood of her jacket further over her head to hide her identity. Once they were gone, I looked in disdain at the hospital coat I was adorning.
"Why am I still wearing this?" I said to myself, beginning to take it off. Yazz gripped my wrist, stopping me.

"You've got to stay in disguise," she whispered urgently, "the world would go to shit if people knew the dead, weren't really so dead after all."
I paused, still wondering whether to take off the uncomfortable jacket. Finally, I complied and relaxed. Her pale fingers kept a hold on my wrist, slowly moving to rest onto my hand. I took an intake of breath, and laced my fingers with hers, leaning closer.

"Yazz..." I whispered, brushing down her hood and letting her fringe fall down into her eyes.
"Gerard," she repeated equally as softly, scooting closer on her chair, closing the distance between our faces, "I have something to tell you."
"I have something to tell you as well," I leant in a little closer. She tilted her head sideways slightly, parting her lips a little. I took a deep breath, aware that my hands were beginning to sweat, but not giving a damn anymore.

"Yazz... I... I l-love you." I breathed, looking her straight in the eye. She blinked, her lips slowly curving into a faint smile.
"Gerard, I love you too."
I moved forward, taking the hand I had free and tilting her chin with it carefully. She leaned ever closer towards me, our lips millimeters away from colliding...
"HEY! YOU!"
Yazz pulled back suddenly, shocked. She raised a hand to her head, realising the hood on her head had fallen back around her shoulders. I jumped and spun around in my seat, my eyes falling straight upon the seven black-clad officers stood on the doorway of the corridor, all holding up their guns.
"PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOU HEAD, YASMIN BELL! GET ON THE FLOOR, NOW!" The man at the front of the group bellowed, brandishing his weapon. I turned quickly to face Yazz, who was already stood, her face contorted in concentration as she tried to think of an escape. The door opposite was flung open and Allie and Mikey appeared, both as shocked as I was. Before another word could be spoken, however, there was the sound of somebodies foot colliding with metal and Yazz's chair flew past, smashing into one of the officers and knocking him backwards into his colleagues.

Grabbing my hand, Yazz spun on her heel and took the opportunity to run, dragging me through corridor after corridor and stairwell after stairwell. Heavy footsteps pursued us, bullets ricocheting off the walls above our heads. Doors opened every couple of meters, hands outstretched in an attempt to stop us; but Yazz was too quick. Finally, my aching feet hit pavement and I felt myself being pulled forcefully into darkness. An sharp object was digging into my leg but I ignored the pain as Yazz sat opposite me in our shadowy confinement, still and silent as she waited.

Minutes passed like hours. The whole while we hid, I couldn't tear my eyes away from her moonlit face, her eyes wide with fear. At long last, she began to move.
"I think it's safe to go," she whispered hoarsely, getting to her feet and outstretching a hand to help me. I got up shakily, brushing leaves off of my jeans.
"That... that was close." I muttered.
"I told you this gets harder."

[ricegrains&rosesxo.]

I think I just stopped breathing.
And not from that god foresaken cooper run either, from this,
The great effects of Allie's writing.
I think you were right when you said I'd like this.
I think I was right when I said this chapter would be good.
I mean, imagine what it would be like if it wasn't "rushed" =]]]]]]]]]].
Cool, I get to kick chairs at the police.
I love how you ended with a Fashion Statement reference too, like one of the best songs everrr!
MOOOREEEE.
I'ma gunna post in a minute so stay the fuck where you are.
Xoxoxo *SxPxF*

[decay;;]

The end is coming...

Thirty-seven.
Frank's POV

It's amazing really, how you can go from feeling like just dying, to being so unbelievably happy to be alive in just a few mere days. Gerard looked up and smiled at me as he turned a corner, my fringe blowing across my face as the wind sped over our heads. So this was freedom.

"So what do you wanna do tonight?" He asked. I smiled again, something I'd been doing constantly since morning arrived.
"Sleep with you, Gerard..." came my mischievous reply. He rolled his eyes and laughed that high-pitched laugh that I'd missed. It was just like old times, times when I was happy. And finally, I could say I was happy once more.
"Seriously. What do you wanna do to celebrate?"

"I wanna throw a big party," I grinned, spreading out my arms for emphasis, "with a cake THIS big. And lots of balloons."
"Fuck Frank, you've only been discharged from hospital, it's not your fucking birthday." Gerard mocked. I placed a hand over my heart.
"But as the clouds clear in the sky, I can almost feel the depression clearing from my mind, like being reborn into the flowing plains of happiness..." I gushed over-dramatically, breaking into a grin at the one eyebrow Gerard had raised at this.
"Right, fine, a party it is."

The car bumped up the sidewalk, coming to a in the disused parking lot at the 7-11 near Ray's house. Due to the 'recent issues' that had developed between Yazz and the law while I'd been gone, we'd changed our location. Of course, we still had Yazz's car, since Ray seemed incapable of ever putting gas in his own. Gerard opened the car door, stepping out into the sunshine. I climbed over the drivers seat after him and shut the door behind me. Together, we started the short walk to Ray's place.

"Do the others know I'm out yet?" I asked, looking around at the New Jersey scenery. There wasn't really scenery so to speak, but it was a place I had been missing while I'd been gone.
"I decided to keep it secret," Gerard grinned. An group of girls walked past giggling, their sunglasses suspended on their heads, swinging bags from their hands. Summer was unmistakably underway. We turned the familiar corner to Ray's house and Gerard walked calmly up the sidewalk, glancing in at the lounge window as he rang the bell. I stayed pressed against the wall, waiting for the opportune moment to jump out. The door opened and the sounds of laughter and cartoons came issuing from inside.

"Hey Gee. You get the groceries?" I heard Ray's soft voice ask. I smiled, making sure my breathing was unheard.
"Yeah," Gerard replied, "I brought something else too."
"Oh, okay, cool. Just bring it on through." Ray walked back into the lounge, and Gerard turned to grin at my tilting his head for me to follow him. I scraped my Etnies on the mat as I closed the door, letting Gerard put the shopping down, and moved to stand behind him as he walked to the doorway. From my angle, all I could see was the TV. Somebody had put Transformers on - perfect.

"Hi Gee," I heard Allie say, her voice making me smile instantly, "you got my skittles?"
"Yeah," Gerard told her, "and something else too."
"What?" She asked excitedly. There was a moments anticipation, and Gerard stepped aside.
There was a short pause in which the assembled people looked at me in disbelief; then there was a squeal and I was knocked backwards into the hallway for a figure only about an inch shorter than me, their arms wrapped tightly round my abdomen. I smirked, stroking Allie's fluffy black hair.
"I missed you," she smiled, looking up at me. I smiled back, grinning as Ray, Mikey, Yazz and Zoe came over to join in the hug. Gerard lingered in front of the TV, smiling.

We settled down in the lounge, Ray allowing me special permission to sit in the plush chair opposite the TV. Allie perched on the arm, passing my skittles which I gleefully ate whilst watching re-runs of cartoons. Gerard was spread across the carpet on his back, Yazz lying next to him, whilst Mikey lounged on the sofa, playing on his gameboy. Ray darted in and out of the room with various foods, drinks and games ready for the party we were going to throw that evening.

Allie held out a purple skittle in front of my face. I followed it hungrily with my eyes, giggling, and she popped it in my mouth, reaching out to hold my hand. I sat back and ate my skittles, suddenly happy that I'd ever jumped out of my bedroom window.

[ricegrains&rosesxo.]

Damn you Frank, I rightfully own the purple skittles =O
Yayyy! Partay!
I get the feeling somethings gunna go wrong though.
I do recall you saying people are gunna die...
Do you realise that you sneaked another FLW reference into that =P
Anyway!
Update! UpdateUpdateUPDATEEE!

Xoxoxo *SxPxF*

[decay;;]

Thirty-eight.

“PARTY TIME!” Frank screamed, jumping up and snatching the remote from Gerard. He flicked the channel to Fuse, tutting at the adverts playing, and diving for the table Ray had laid out with sweets and cakes. Me and Gerard stayed lying on the floor, watching as our friends made the way around the room.

“Let’s play a game,” Mikey said from the sofa.
“Not truth or dare again,” Zoe said warily, “I don’t really want my mouth violated like that again any time soon.”
Mikey let out a sigh and went back to his gameboy. I rolled over to face Gerard. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye, still facing the ceiling.
“You know what I think?” I started.
“What?” He smiled. I smiled back, loving the way he said the words like it was something secret.
“I think we should all play Twister!” I answered. His eyes shone and he sat up, grinning.
“Totally! Hey guys,” everyone turned around, “we should so totally play Twister!”

“You mean like last time, when Mikey’s face got dangerously close to your crotch?” Ray asked. Gerard nodded; Mikey flushed.
“Okay!” Frank grinned, reaching into the crate of games Ray had found in the attic and pulling out a dusty box. He pulled out the mat and spread it across the carpet. I rolled out of the way to sit on the chair next to Allie.

“Okay Frank, as this is your party,” Ray started, spinning the wheel, “left foot yellow!”

---

We all collapsed in a heap, Frank's foot jammed into my side as I struggled to get up. Gerard crawled out of the carnage and helped me to my feet, laughing at the others sprawled across the mat.

"And that concludes Twister," Allie smirked, picking up a hysterical Frank and putting him onto the sofa, sitting next to him, "what next?"
Mikey said something that was muffled by his face being pressed into the floor. Ray kicked him over onto his back.
"Say what?"
"I said, I feel like... swimming..." Mikey said dreamily, pointing in the direction of the garden, where Ray's swimming pool was glinting under the moonlight.
"Midnight swim! Yeah!" Frank grinned, getting up and running out into the garden. Mikey chased after him, dragging Zoe by the hand, Allie following them, laughing.
"You guys coming?" Ray asked. We shook our heads at the exact same time.

"Nah," Gerard shrugged, "Batman's on; nothing interrupts Batman."
"I second that," I nodded. Ray laughed at us and left the room, closing the door behind him. The second we were alone, Gerard switched off the TV and slid off the sofa onto the floor.
"I thought we were gunna watch Batman," I whined. Gerard tilted his head back to look at me and smirked, patting the carpet beside him.
"I said that so that we could be alone," he replied, sending butterflies into my stomach with the tone of his voice, "come lie next to me."
I got up and laid down on the ground. He put an arm round my shoulder and pulled me closer to him, lying back to look at the ceiling. He was warmer than he usually was, his breathing slow and steady.

"Yazz," he said after a while. I turned away from the ceiling to face him. His nose was brushing mine, his eyes staring straight into mine.
"Yeah?" I stammered, feeling suddenly awkward.
"When I said I loved you... I wasn't lying." Gerard entwined his fingers with mine again, palm to palm.
"I know you weren't," I whispered, "I wasn't either."
A smile flashed across his face briefly, "To be honest... they were words I-I thought I'd never speak."

"I never thought I would either..." I started, but before I could finish the sentence, his lips crashed into mine. I froze, stunned for a few moments, but before I could gain control of my thoughts, I found myself kissing back. Gerard pulled away after a few seconds, letting a smile cross his flawless white lips before moving to kiss me again, deeper this time. My mind tuned out, letting him take control as my hands started moving along the back of his neck, burying them in his soft raven hair.

It could of lasted for hours, or even days. The others could of walked in at that moment, and I wouldn't of even cared because finally, I was with Gerard.
And suddenly, he broke off the kiss and leapt back, staring at me with wide, hurt eyes. I furrowed my brows slightly, desperately trying to understand why it had ended so suddenly.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered hoarsely, "Yazz, I... I never wanted to... I'm so sorry..."
And then realisation hit me, like a icy slap to the face. I raised my fingers slowly to my lips, horrified.
How could we have forgotten the plague...

[ricegrains&rosesxo.]

Do you realise how fast my hearts pumping.
It's like... woah.
I'm gunna die ^_^
Wait.
You said two people are gunna die... WHO ELSE IS GUNNA DIEEE.
Tell meee =[
And as you know, I'm afraid I laughed when I read about Mikeys positioning of his face...
I wanna know if I die and shit.
UPDATEEEE.

Xoxoxo *SxPxF*

[xxcemetarydrivexx]

That was so cool. I think i stopped brething for a moment there.
Yazz's going to die !!!?!?!?!? YAY PARTY !!
...thats very sad......
Aww don't worry yazz you and gerard withh be the living dead together and do helena dances when you should be in a coffin
Lol
Well done allie !!!
Keep it up :
Amy xx

[decay;;]

Thirty-nine.

Dry grass crunched beneath my feet, breaking the nights silence like a hail of gunshots. Gunshots. All of a sudden, the word seemed so appealing. Having planned my evening out, I took my time, dawdling along the sidewalks beneath the pools of light the street lamps cast around me. It was an eerie summer night, the taste of him still lingering in my mouth although days had passed. Well, I wasn't going to wait around.

It wasn't so much that I was going to die. I'd found myself coming to terms with that pretty quickly. What was really breaking my heart, the true reason for all this, was the word promise.
Did the word promise mean anything to Gerard Way?
It didn't seem it. Because he'd broken so many of them. So, so many of these pathetic promises, each one leaving his mouth like they meant something... when really, he didn't care at all. Because if he cared, he'd of been a man of his word.

I didn't care about the police anymore. I didn't care about the law, about the morgue, about being on the run. By the time they caught me, I'd be long gone. I'd be gone down this road. A road that comes to a halt with a dead end, a fork where I can decide which direction I choose to take.
It's my story, after all. I decide how it ends.

I made the final turning, expecting to feel a dry clogging in my throat - but nothing came. I was a long way from any of them, but I knew they'd find me eventually. I walked briskly down the path, keeping my hands firmly embedded in my pockets as I approached the front door, nudging it open. It creaked open slowly, dust gathering beneath it. It had been a long time since anyone had been here, and death still lingered beneath every floorboard, in every crack of paint. I started up the stairs, running my fingers across the dirty banister. I kept climbing, past the first landing, and then the second. Finally, I felt the air becoming cooler, pressure reaching my ears. I pushed open the door before me, entering the attic where it had all began.

It was strange to think he had died in here. Not a thing was out of place, nothing strange or peculiar about it. Just an attic bedroom. A few sheets, a rug, a bookcase. He'd spent so much time in here, wallowing. The room just seeped sadness, as though it's walls were trying to tell me of the things it had witnessed. I could feel it, but didn't acknowledge it. Instead, I pulled out the gun from the pocket of the hoodie, cocking it. My eyes traveled up to the window, it's lank grey curtains hanging motionless. Outside, the sun was beginning to rise, but I knew that it would be hours before they woke up, him squinting his eyes against the sudden brightness of the summer and realising I was gone. It's how I'd always wanted it.

I let a smile fall upon my lips. A smile for the horror I was in, for the good times, and the bad times. The irony of everything, the beauty in every waking moment, the pain every time I had looked into his deep green eyes and almost wished his body had never been found. The wasn't a real emotion I was feeling; neither happy nor sad, angry or calm. Just smiling. Smiling because I knew it was over, and I wouldn't have to suffer this curse, suffer knowing him, suffer at all.

If I had a choice, I would stay with him for the rest of our days. But his days were endless, and my days were numbered.
I sighed softly, and pulled the gun to my head, pressing my fingers to the trigger.
My life. My story.

The end.