Every Heart You Break - Ch. 3

"You don't have to see my face ever again!"

Hm... That phrase repeated itself like a broken record in my head. I leaned my head back on Alicia's shoulder as she watched TV with her husband's head in her lap, sleeping. I glared out the apartment window. Just outside was a giant billboard holding the face of a certain boy I knew last year.
"Gerard, wanna go out?" Alicia asked. I looked at her. Only then did I realize that the TV was off and Mikey was awake. I shrugged.
"Great. Let's get Starbucks." She suggested cheerfully, dropping the magazine she was reading onto Mikey's lap.
I loved their apartment. It was right across the street from a Starbucks. New York is a wonderful place.
I cringed internally when we entered the coffee shop.
A camera crew was huddle in a corner surrounding... Frank!
I mindlessly walked up to the corner, listening quietly behind the cameraman.
"All your fans are wondering how your personal life is like. Girlfriend?" The woman interviewer asked Frank. I glanced at the camera, watching Frank. He was wearing light makeup, he had a nose and a lip piercing.
"Well, right now, I don't actually have a girlfriend. I have dates once and a while, but--" He paused. He looked towards the camera, but not directly. I looked at the real Frank. He was staring at me. I bit my lip.
"What's the matter? Is that a girl you know?" The interviewer asked. I pouted. Damn jean jackets and long hair!
"No, an old friend." He said. I felt a nudge behind me. I looked over and it was Alicia. I smiled, the woman was talking about her.
"If you want, they can join us." She said.
"Well, I don't think they would like to--" I nodded my head, "No, wait-- they do." He chuckled and waved us over.
Mikey didn't want to come so it was only Alicia and I.
Under the table, I felt Frank's hand brush against mine. I shifted my hand away.
"Well, how did you guys meet?" the woman asked, eying Alicia's wedding ring.
"Well, this is Gerard, and Alicia, his sister-in-law." Frank introduced us, correcting the woman's perception of things.
"Okay. So, how do you guys know each other?" She asked.
We looked at each other. Frank jerked his head towards me, saying [i]'you make up a story'[/i]. I nodded.
"Well, my brother, Mikey and him were friends and I met Frank through Mikey. We haven't seen each other in like, a year already." I explained to the interviewer. She nodded, taking this in, listening intently.
"Wow. Well, were you any impact on Frank's musical skill?" She asked, smiling at me.
"Well, he had only just started learning to play guitar when he met me. But, I don't think so. I sing a little but I'm horrible on the guitar. He was on his own." I said, biting my lip.
"Well, how do you feel seeing your old friends after your success in the industry?"
Frank seemed to be staring into space. "Huh? Oh- Well... I always wanted to show people what I'm capable of doing. And both of us had had negative comments on each other. But, I feel pretty good seeing him again." Frank explained.
I smiled to myself.

"They're still talking about it? It's been twenty minutes! Am I that interesting?" I whined as I walked into the living room, holding out a plate of steaming cookies to the TV monsters, Alicia and Mikey. They need their energy for their full-time jobs as electronics testers. They work from home.
I looked at the screen at Frank and the woman still talking. I've never even heard of live music interviews. Maybe it's a new thing.
"It's not you-you. It's Frank-and-you they're interested in." She teased. I smiled.
"Well, you would think he would have shut up about it and push on another subject." I muttered.
"It's live!" Mikey said. I rolled my eyes. The phone began to ring in the kitchen. Alicia pointed towards the kitchen, her eyes still on the glowing screen.
I walked to the phone and answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Gerard." Ray said. I smiled.
"Hey, man, what's up?"
"Want to go to the mall? There is some new stuff at HMV I want to check out." Ray said.
"Sure, I'll meet you at the Starbucks there." I said and hung up.
"Alicia, me and Ray are going to the mall." I called.
"Be home for dinner, young man!" She joked. I smiled and left.

I had bought a newspaper on the way to the usual Starbucks me and Ray meet at in the mall. I had lost track of the date for a while.
It was September 11th, 2001, today. Dammit, tomorrow's someones birthday. I know it! I just can't remember who... I frowned to myself.
"Hey, man!" Ray said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I turned and smiled at him. Ray still hasn't gotten rid of that afro. His hair is so damned curly!
"Okay, we can go check out the albums, then I'm meeting Karla for lunch." Ray explained as we entered HMV. I chuckled.
"You two getting serious?" I teased. He smiled and playfully punched my shoulder.
After we walked out of the mall, we saw a Pencey Prep billboard. Apparently, someone is having a one-on-one interview with Frank.
"Hey, Gee. What happened between you and Frank? You seem so awkward around him." Ray asked. I pouted.
"See! Right there!" He pointed at my face.
"I don't know. I don't have anything against him. I'm just happy for him. I am just bummed that my comic ideas aren't coming along--"
There was suddenly a huge explosion. Screams, running, pointing. I looked up. Black smoke and flames erupted from the Twin Towers! I stood there, shocked. Motion surrounded me. I'm pretty sure even Ray left. My eyes widened, watching as bodies fell from the building as it collapsed on itself.
I managed to tear myself away, ducking into a bar, ordering the strongest drink they had.
This is horrible. I grimaced from the alcohol and put the glass down. I'm here, drinking, drawing for meaningless corporations... for what? What is that doing for anyone?
I'm going to prove everyone who has ever doubted me. I'm going to make a difference. I glanced down at the HMV bag hanging off my wrist.
I'm going to start a band.