Gerard left Frank's house not long after they had exchanged numbers, because Frank had started dozing off again when he had finished his cereal, and Gerard knew he needed his rest. So once Gerard made sure that Frank was coherent enough to lock the door behind him, he took his leave of Frank for the time being, but not before he had gotten Frank's promise to call him if he started to feel any worse.

Frank didn't call that day though, and even though Gerard knew that was technically a good thing, because that meant he was starting to feel better, and he was probably sleeping away his sickness, Gerard couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed when he drifted off with still no word from Frank.

Gerard had Frank's number as well, so he easily could have taken the initiative and contacted him; he couldn't even count how many times he had pulled out his phone with the intention of sending Frank a quick text, just to make sure he was doing okay, but Gerard didn't want to come off as desperate, or pathetic, even though he basically was.

But even though Gerard began to worry slightly on day two when his phone remained silent, he wasn't as distressed as he thought he would be, and he managed to make it through work without thinking of Frank too many times, relatively speaking that is.

Gerard just couldn't stop replaying their evening together over and over in his mind, because Frank had been everything Gerard and hoped for and more when he wasn't on stage, and Gerard really wanted to get to know Frank better, to see if his infatuation could maybe grow into something else over time, and most of all, to find out if Frank maybe had feelings for Gerard too.

It had seemed like he had the other day, but Frank had been sick, and tired, and he might have just been grateful to Gerard for helping him out when he needed it, but he had asked for his number, and he wouldn't have done that if he didn't want to see Gerard again - right?

But Frank didn't give Gerard much time to ponder if he had imagined Frank's interest in him or not, because around five in the afternoon that day, not long after Gerard had gotten home from work and was trying to decide how he was going to spend the rest of his evening, Gerard's phone rang, causing Gerard to physically leap across the table to grab the device, even though it could be anyone calling, but luckily, Gerard wasn't disappointed when he saw Frank's name flashing across the screen.

"Hey," Gerard gasped out once he finally pressed the answer button on the phone, because even though he would never admit it, the sudden movement had strained Gerard slightly, and he really needed to work out more if simply jumping across his kitchen counter had caused him to be this winded.

"Hey yourself cutie," Frank giggled softly, and Gerard had to resist the urge to squeal like an overexcited teenager who's crush had finally called him for the first time, which was actually a perfect description for the feeling Gerard was experiencing right now.

"How are you feeling?"

"A lot better now - thank fuck, I hate being sick." There was a short pause, during which Gerard did his best to think of something else to say to keep the conversation going, but his mind was coming up painfully blank at the moment.

"Good - that's good," Gerard rolled his eyes at his lame response, but talking on the phone had never been his strong point, so he was doing his best here.

"So...have you eaten yet?" Frank asked curiously, and being the socially awkward mess that he was, Gerard didn't catch on to what Frank was trying to hint at, and he was left extremely puzzled by Frank's question.

"Uh...no? I just got home from work actually," Gerard stammered out, his eyebrows pulling downward as he tried to figure out why Frank wanted to know if he had consumed any food lately.

"Good, because I want to take you out for dinner as a thank you for taking care of me the other night."

"Uh - yeah...I - I would love that," Gerard managed to respond after he had made certain that he had hadn't misheard Frank, and he had just asked him out on what Gerard really fucking hoped was a date.

"Cool...well I don't know where you live, but if you give me your address, I can come pick you up - does Chinese food sound good, I have been craving some fried rice."

"That sounds perfect actually, um - I'll text you my address okay?" Gerard honestly couldn't recall his address right now, not when his brain was still trying to comprehend the fact that Frank was taking him out, but hopefully he would be able to pull himself together soon, or else Frank was going to have a hard time finding Gerard's place.

"Okay, I just need to change, but I'll probably be there in about thirty minutes." Frank ended the call before Gerard could say anything else, which was probably a good thing, because Gerard's brain was shorting out temporarily as the fact that Frank would be here in half an hour was beginning to sink in.

Fuck - Gerard had no idea what to wear, and he hadn't been on a date in ages - if this was even a real date, and he was nowhere near ready for this, even though he had been dreaming of going out with Frank for almost a year, but now that it was happening, Gerard was panicking.

He did manage to send Frank a text containing the address of his apartment complex and what floor and number he lived in, but after that, Gerard seemed unable to move, hell - breathing was a challenge, and Gerard really didn't know how he was going to make it through the night if he was this shaken up already, and Frank wasn't even here yet.

After standing stock still in the kitchen for almost ten minutes in a desperate attempt to slow his racing heart, Gerard realized that he needed help, because even thinking of picking out an outfit to wear that might impress Frank was causing him to hyperventilate - not that it really mattered, because it was fucking freezing out, and Gerard was going to cover up whatever he chose with the army green jacket he always wore in the cold, plus a scarf, but it did matter to Gerard.

Not knowing what else to do, Gerard unlocked his phone - which he was still clutching in his hand - and dialed Lindsey's number rapidly, because Lindsey was smart, and she went on tons of dates, and she would know just what to say to help Gerard get through this mini breakdown he was currently having.

Drumming his fingers impatiently against the countertop, because Gerard could feel each second sliding by, bringing Frank closer to his house with every tick of the old clock hanging in his kitchen, and Gerard was really running out of time here, but he tried not to dwell on that as his phone continued to ring shrilly.

"Gerard?" Lindsey finally picked up just when Gerard had been about to end the call and attempt to figure this out on his own, and Gerard instantly felt a wave of relief flooding his veins when his best friend's voice reached his ears.

"Oh my god Lindsey - you have to help me. Frank asked me on a date...at least - I think it's a date, and I don't know what to wear, and I'm sort of freaking out over here, and I really need your advice," Gerard babbled out, tripping over his words in his attempt to fill his friend in on what was happening as quickly as possible.

"Frank...as in Frankie - the drag queen?" Lindsey gasped, and it was only then that Gerard realized he hadn't had the chance to tell Lindsey about what had occurred after he left the club a few nights ago, even though he usually told her everything.

"Yes - I ran into him on Wednesday after his show, and he was sick, so I walked him home...well - more like carried him actually, so yeah, and now he wants to take me out to dinner, and I'm not ready, and he is probably on his way here already..."

"What - seriously!? Details Gee - I need details. Did you kiss him...did you fuck, did you -"

"No Lindsey, god - we only just met two days ago," Gerard exclaimed, his cheeks heating up at the images Lindsey's words had evoked in his mind.

"Yeah...but you have known him for a year - sort of, and I'm surprised you didn't jump on his dick as soon as he let you into his house," Lindsey chuckled, her laughter only increasing as Gerard groaned in annoyance.

"He was sick, and I don't want him to think I am a slut, and - look, I'll call you later tonight and tell you everything, but I'm running out of time here, so what should I wear to let him know I'm interested in him?" Gerard pleaded, trying his best to get his friend back on track so they could focus on the current dilemma that Gerard was dealing with.

"You don't have to wear anything special Gee, just fucking tell him you like him, and if he invited you out to dinner, I'm sure he likes you too." Lindsey's answer wasn't what Gerard wanted to receive as a response, because it didn't help him at all with his clothing dilemma, but it might have been exactly what he needed to calm his out of control nerves, because hearing Lindsey say that Frank was probably into him made it all the more real.

"Thanks Linds, but I still need to pick out something decent."

"Just wear those black skinny jeans that are tight as fuck, maybe a v-neck shirt, and a flannel on top. You look great in anything Gee," Lindsey assured him, and Gerard finally moved from the kitchen into the bedroom so he could pull out the items she was describing.

"Okay - thank you so much, you are a lifesaver," Gerard exhaled heavily, setting the clothes onto his bed so he could change into them as soon as he got off the phone.

"No problem Gee, and just be yourself okay. Don't overthink everything, and I'm sure you will be fine."

"Okay - I'll try," Gerard sighed, because that was really easier said than done, but Lindsey was probably right - she always was after all, and Frank had experienced a taste of Gerard's awkwardness the other night, and he didn't seem put off by it at all.

"And I swear, I will hunt you down and cut off your balls if you don't call me tonight and tell me literally everything that happened, in a loving way of course," Lindsey added in the most casual manner Gerard had ever heard someone talk about castration with, and honestly - Gerard didn't think Lindsey was kidding, and he made a mental note to make sure and contact her after his date.

"I will - I promise, but I have to go, Frank could literally be here any minute now," Gerard whined, trying his best to undress one handed while still keeping the phone pressed up against his ear.

"Okay Gee - good luck!" Lindsey called out, leaving Gerard with a smile on his face as he hung up the call and quickly divested himself of the rest of his work clothes before changing into the outfit Lindsey had picked out for him.

And when Gerard looked in the full length mirror he had found for five dollars at a yard sale one day, he had to admit - he did look pretty good, even his hair was mostly behaving, and it only took a few run-throughs with a brush before it was sitting just the way Gerard liked it, with a few strands sticking out of place here and there to make it look like Gerard hadn't tried very hard, even though that was pretty much the biggest lie in the universe.

Gerard had just finished applying a light layer of eyeliner, not too much, but just enough to make his eyes stand out, when a knock came at his door, and the calm composure Gerard had managed to maintain ever since his call with Lindsey evaporated in a puff of smoke.

Fuck - Frank was here, and when Gerard shot a nervous glance at the clock, he realized that he had arrived in exactly thirty minutes, just like he said, which meant that Gerard didn't have any time to try and clean up his apartment, but it wasn't like Frank was staying over, and maybe he wouldn't notice the mess that passed as Gerard's living room.

But what if Frank did notice...what if he thought Gerard was a sluggard, and he took back his offer of dinner when he saw Gerard's place - Frank's apartment had been spotless, pristine almost, and people like that probably wouldn't want to be around borderline slobs like Gerard.

Another knock broke Gerard out of his rapid spiral into nonsense, because even Gerard knew he was being sort of ridiculous by this point; he was just nervous, and Frank probably wouldn't give a shit about Gerard's living conditions, and he really needed to answer the god damn door before Frank assumed he wasn't home - or that he had stood him up, or something like that.

So with a monumental effort, Gerard forced his shaking limbs to walk the short distance to his front door, and before he could second guess himself any further, Gerard yanked it open perhaps a little harder than necessary, causing the person behind it to jump slightly, and - of course - that person was Frank, even though Gerard had been half convinced that it was going to be his neighbor or something, and he would have gotten all worked up over nothing, but thank god that wasn't the case.

"Hi -" Gerard choked out, his eyes raking over Frank's short frame, and fuck - Frank looked really good in his leather jacket and dark jeans.

"Hey." Frank seemed to be giving Gerard his own once over, and if the way his lips turned upward ever so slightly meant anything, he liked what he saw too.

"I just need to grab my jacket really quick - I'm sorry, you can come in if you want," Gerard blushed as Frank brushed past him, the slight contact sending a wave of heat rushing through him.

"Wow...where did you get this?" Gerard heard Frank exclaim while he was wrapping his scarf around his neck. He had lost sight of Frank almost as soon as he had entered his apartment, and even though the fact that Frank was wandering around his small flat with a curious eye made Gerard feel like he was being judged, he was doing his best to ignore the uncomfortable sensation.

When Gerard turned around, he saw Frank staring at a painting which hung on his wall; it was an abstract piece, mostly black and white with random splashes of color throughout it, and Frank was gazing at it like it was the most interesting thing in the entire fucking world.

"Oh...I - I painted it ages ago, I don't even know what it is supposed to be, but I thought it fit in with the room, so I hung it up..."

"You are fucking kidding me right?" Frank exclaimed, and Gerard actually jumped when Frank spun around rapidly, fixing him with a look that Gerard could only label as amazement.

"Uh...no?" Gerard answered, even though it came out as more of a question than anything, but Gerard really didn't understand why Frank was making such a big deal over a crappy painting.

"I can't believe you made this - holy shit, I would fucking kill to have something like this in my apartment," Frank gasped, and Gerard giggled slightly at Frank, because the way he punctuated every sentence with a curse word was very endearing, in Gerard's mind at least.

"Well - I can totally paint you something if you want," Gerard smiled nervously. No one had ever asked Gerard for him to make them anything, not even his friends, and the fact that Frank wanted Gerard's artwork in his apartment meant the fucking world to Gerard.

"Yes please!" Frank practically squealed before catching Gerard entirely off guard when he tackled him with a hug, causing Gerard to fall to the ground in surprise when Frank wrapped his arms around him tightly.

Gerard felt like the biggest idiot in the world when he opened his eyes to see Frank's perfect face staring down at him in concern, because seriously - who the fuck topples over when someone hugs you, besides Gerard apparently, and Gerard really wished he could phase through the floor and hide from Frank until his wave of embarrassment passed.

"Oh my god - I'm so sorry, are you okay?" Gerard heaved out, trying to push down the mortification that was threatening to swallow him whole with an apology, even though Frank had landed on top of Gerard, so he had avoided the worst of the fall, and he was still grinning like someone had just told him he won the fucking lottery or some shit.

"No - I'm sorry, I just got really excited, but I shouldn't have jumped you like that," Frank chuckled as he pulled himself to his feet, helping Gerard up in the process.

"I didn't mind," Gerard whispered quietly, his cheeks heating up as he dusted some nonexistent dirt off his jacket, because even though the fall had hurt a bit, having Frank on top of him had been totally worth it.

"Well I don't know about you, but I'm starving, and I'm supposed to be taking you out for dinner, not bullying you into painting something for me."

"It's fine, and I totally want to, but I'm ready to go if you are...we can talk more about it at dinner," Gerard suggested, eager to get out of the house before he did anything else stupid in front of Frank, not that being in public was likely to help his inherent clumsiness, but whatever.

"Let's go then. You are going to love this place, I found it a few years back, and their fried rice is to die for, not to mention the egg rolls, and..." Gerard didn't hear the rest of what Frank was saying, because as they were walking out of Gerard's front door, Frank had captured Gerard's hand in his, and all Gerard could focus on was the way their fingers fit perfectly together and the tingling sensation that shot up his arm every time Frank tightened his hold slightly.

This evening had already been perfect, and they weren't even out the door yet, which only made Gerard wonder how amazing dinner with Frank was going to be, but he already knew it was would probably be the best night of his life.

Ooh look a slightly longer chapter for you guys, mostly because I didn't realize how much I had written, and I couldn't find a good place to stop, but yeah haha.

God this fic gives me so many warm fuzzies, it's like therapy writing this, and I feel bad for dangergays because I'm totally not focusing on the drag queen part yet, even though I'm getting there, I promise, but I seem to keep ending up writing cute nonsense instead.

Anyway, thank you all for reading this - this fic has gotten such a good response, which I didn't really expect, so yeah, that makes me happy, almost as happy as writing this fic.

((((warm fuzzy vibes))))

<3 starr