"...You wear a full face mask, though," Gerard went on, "Like, sometimes you have a bandana, but you also wear a Frankenstein mask sometimes. The rest of us just have the eye masks and bandanas."

    Frank giggled. "I like that. I really like that."

    Gerard smiled and wrapped his arms tighter around Frank. Frank accepted it and buried his face into Gerard, his bare chest warm against his cheek. Somehow, their bed had gotten a lot smaller and comfier than it was when they first arrived a half hour ago. Never before had a bed seemed so small to Frank; it was always oversized and lonely. He never wanted that to happen again.

    Frank opened his eyes and directly in front of them was a full view of Gerard's arm. He sort of stared at his scars, his stomach getting a very unsettling feeling for a second. It always happened at first glance of them, but it passed a second later. He wondered how long it had been. They never really talked about it. Frank figures if he ever completely got past running away, he wouldn't go around telling his story to people. He'd keep quiet, so he never asked Gerard.

    "I have a question," Frank said suddenly. Gerard loosened his grip and made a noise to show he was listening, "The killjoys are running, right?"

    "Yes." Gerard answered.

    "...Do they ever stop?"

    Gerard paused and looked at Frank, their eyes meeting. "They stop when they've found what they're looking for." He responded finally.

    "What are they looking for?" Frank pried.

    "They all want something different."

    "Like what?"

    Gerard sighed and smiled a bit, understanding now that Frank wasn't letting this go. "Well, Jet Star is looking for somewhere he belongs. He always feels like he needs to be part of something—something bigger that can change things." He smiled more. "Kobra, I think, is looking for love. Not a wife or something, really, just...someone that gives a damn, you know? He was always over looked as a child even though he was destined to blow minds. I think that's why he's in the Killjoys—to blow someone's mind." Gerard stopped there and stared out the window.

    "Keep going," Frank demanded after a moment, "What about you?"

    Gerard shook his head and kept staring, then looked at Frank again. "Party is a very confused son of a bitch." He stated simply. Frank chuckled. "Nah, I mean, he—he just wants to help someone. Actually, he really wanted to help Fun Ghoul." Frank smiled. "Because, you see, Ghoul wanted to be free. Simple as that. He wanted a better life, and he really believed it was out there. And Party Poison was determined to help him find it."

    Frank smiled wider and then couldn't help but laugh. "What a pick up line!" he laughed, sitting up now.

    "Hey, hey, it's what I wrote, seriously!" Gerard replied, tugging on his arm. But he was laughing too, because it sure did sound like a bunch of a bull. But it was all true. "I started writing Killjoys a day or two after I met you. But...in the story, you don't know how much I love you."

    Frank grinned, moving closer to Gerard again, sharing his breath as he spoke. "Fun Ghoul is missing out," he said, "Because what he's really looking for is right beside him."

    Gerard closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around Frank again. They didn't have sex again that day. But they didn't leave the hotel room at all. They didn't need to. They had everything right there.

    Two days later; still in hiding. They had told their parents they were staying at each other's houses. Of course Gerard's parents were angry to find out he had left the art camp, but neither parents even noticed they'd been skipping school. It was easier than they had thought; almost TOO easy...

    But funds were running low, and they hadn't even heard anything about Jimmy or the others. Finally, while Frank was in the bathroom, Gerard grabbed his phone and called.

    "Becky? Hey, you okay?"

    "Gerard! Yes, I'm fine, I'm staying with my parents. How are you? Is Frank fine?" She sounded clearly relieved to hear from Gerard, and it was a mutual feeling.

    "Yeah, we're fine, just at a hotel," he answered, "Have you heard from Jimmy? What's going on?"
    Becky hesitated. "Chantal called me....from jail—"

    "Oh, shit!"

    "—and she's not getting out any time soon. Jimmy is madder than ever. And he STILL thinks it's Frank."

    Gerard had to use all his strength to keep from yelling. "Why is he so fixated on that?! Frank is innocent—"

    "Have you asked him?" Becky interrupted.

    Gerard stopped. "No, I don't need to. I know he wouldn't do that."

    She sighed and replied, "Look, you broke up with him, he was angry...maybe it was a mistake...but maybe you should ask him, see if—"

    "No!" Gerard insisted, "I know Frank, he's not a fucking dick like Jimmy! He would never do something so terrible—so STUPID." He came close to hanging up then but didn't. This was unlike Becky, and he thought he should give her a last chance.

    She paused. "Okay. Sorry. I'll call you if I hear anything."

    "Thank you. Goodbye." Gerard, relieved, hung up and sat down on the bed.

    He looked over when he heard a step and saw Frank standing there in borrowed pajama pants, a blank stare on his face. Gerard waved him over and he quickly joined him, holding his hand and draping one of his legs over Gerard's like a child. Their eyes met, Frank's fear showing itself.

    "Becky thinks so too?" Frank asked quietly.

    Gerard shook his head. "That—that's doesn't matt—"

    "Does Becky think so too, Gerard?" Frank demanded. Gerard nodded. "But what you were saying, about...how you didn't need to; you didn't need to what?"

    "Ask if you told." Gerard answered, "I trust you."

    Frank scoffed, shaking his head. "Don't trust me too much." He mumbled.

    Gerard grabbed Frank's arm as he tried to crawl away from him. He forced eye contact and smiled lightly. "I just ran away from home, moved into a hotel room with you and left all my friends for you." He stated, "You're all I CAN trust."

    Frank almost retorted, but did not have the energy and laid down beside Gerard instead. Gerard laid down as well and put his arms around him. Frank shut his eyes and breathed deeply against his chest while his hand rubbed Frank's back.

    "Frank?" Gerard whispered after a moment.

    "Hm?" Frank hummed.

    He paused. "Are you scared?" he asked.

    Frank slowly looked up, staring at Gerard and studying him. He eyes were worried and the soothing way he moved his hand up and down his back had stopped while he waited for an answer. He looked like he would have waited forever. Frank held onto the moment and waited as he tried to decide how to answer. He had no idea what he felt anymore. He had never thought running away would be this scary.

    "Not if you aren't." Frank finally responded.

    Gerard nodded and did not respond, and instead held Frank closer to him and continued to sooth him. Frank shut his eyes tighter and let a single tear slip out. It hit him all of a sudden that there was something bluntly obvious between them that they were both hiding from each other; something they could both easily see, but only wanted to be brave: They were both scared.

    Such kind people, she would say. But without helping it, he mentally complains about the shitty beds and smelly blankets. Did they just wash their fucking dog before handing it over to him to sleep with? But he has no room to be picky with a place to sleep; not now, no, not with all that's going on.

    She would also tell him how they'd get out of this mess; how to escape this time. Only...she didn't escape. So what does she know? She's in jail now.  Obviously here tactics weren't always perfect. Yet she told him that. She always told him that.

    Tonight, Jimmy turns in early. Tomorrow is the last day; the last day he's looking for Frank; the last day the cops are surrounding the junkyard; the last day Chantal is in jail; the last day for any of this. He suddenly remembers proposing to Chantal on her 18th birthday a few years ago. They'd been putting off the wedding for financial reasons; could they even still have it anymore? You may now kiss the bride, Jimmy hears in his head, along with the clanking of his wife's handcuffs as she shifts closer. He shivers. No. Not that. Those thoughts won't help anything.

    Chantal would tell him to stop over thinking and worrying; she would say that maybe it was time to stop; slow down, consider other things. Jimmy shook the thoughts away and sat up instantly.

    But Chantal's not here.

    He did not leave a note; they wouldn't mind that he left in the middle of the night. No one would miss him. If he was caught, no one would miss him then, either; Chantal was already taken. So what did he have to lose?

    The neighbors, Gerard decided without opening his eyes; they were probably the ones making all that racket. But no, no, it seemed too close. He wondered if it had woken Frank up. Perhaps it was in his head? Slowly, Gerard pealed his eyes open, now realizing that he was still spooning the smaller boy. He smiled.

    Then he saw that their door knob was jiggling, and the sound made sense now. Someone was picking the lock. And only one person would be trying to do that.

    Gerard was stuck for a moment, not knowing how to move or what to even do. Okay, first thing, hide Frank. He carefully lifted his body off the bed and went for the closet. It was small, but large enough to fit them both inside. He decided that if Frank sat down behind the coats, Gerard simply crouch beside him. Yeah, that was good enough...

    Now, he had to make sure the room looked empty; like no one was using it. And he did that. He threw his one bag in the oven along with the rest of their belongings. As he made the bed, the person breaking in was certainly getting close to opening it. Gerard quickly snuck into the closet with Frank as he began to come to.

    "Gee? W-whats—"

    "Ssshh..." Gerard whispered, placing a single finger over his lips. Frank nodded and made more room so Gerard could sit fully. They huddled together and quieted their breathing.

    Gerard had done well to keep the tears away before, but now, as he heard him finally unlock the door and step inside, he lost it. Frank noticed and huddled closer to him as an attempt to comfort. It was working.

    They could hear the quiet mutters he was making, but his specific voice was inaudible. Footsteps were slow and unsure as they scanned the dark room. Gerard could hear their breathing; heavy and suspicious. He held his and gripped Frank even tighter. Don't take him...you can't take him...

    "Party?" the person said.

    Gerard jumped, freezing there. That voice was female. He sifted through everyone he knew, attempting to place the voice, until it landed on someone. But...it COULDN'T be...could it? What if he's with her? That was a chance he had to take. He reached for the door handle when Frank stopped him.

    "Don't leave me." he mouthed in the darkness.

    Gerard swallowed and took his hand, holding it in his and still going for the handle. "Together." He said under his breath.

    They slowly crawled out of the small closet, eyes wide with fear and moving slowly. She twirled around and smiled at them.

    "Gerard!"

    Gerard smiled. "Hey, Chantal."