Gerard didn't keep his promise. Frank came to the very next show, and Gerard spotted him in the crowd right away, but he still didn't talk to him, too scared of what he might think of him if he did. When he got home, he told himself that he'd do it at the next concert. He just needed a little bit more time.

Then, Frank showed up at their third show. Other faces came and went, but his was always there. Soon, Frank knew Gerard's lyrics better than he did, and he could recognize any one of the band's songs from the very first note, and he still never missed a show.

Once, Gerard booked a concert on the other end of the state, just to see if Frank would show up. Every face in the crowd was new. Not even Mikey could come to this one, and yet, Frank was there, singing Gerard's words right back to him. Gerard admired his dedication, and he told himself that he'd find him after the show, but when he tried to look for Frank, he was gone.

In the meantime, Gerard's band finally got a name. He asked Mikey if he had any ideas, and the very next day, he came back with the perfect name: My Chemical Romance. If only he could solve the bassist problem while he was at it.

It wasn't until their sixth show that Gerard finally worked up the nerve to talk to Frank. My Chemical Romance was back in Geoff's basement, playing for his Halloween party. They still didn't have a bassist, and they'd only added a handful of songs to their set since their first concert, but Gerard had managed to loosen up on stage. Performing felt more natural to him now, and he had gotten into a rhythm of singing, screaming, bantering, and stealing glances at Frank. After the show was over, he ran into the crowd, and he walked up to Frank just as he was about to leave.

He didn't know what to say. He had envisioned this moment a million times in his head. He'd even drawn it in his sketchbook, but somehow, he was still at a loss for words. "H-hey," Gerard said as Frank looked up at him expectantly. "You're Frank Lero, right?"

Frank laughed hysterically. "Frank Lero?" he said. "Who told you that?"

"Geoff did," Gerard admitted, rather embarrassed by his mistake. This was his first impression, and already, he'd blown it.

"Geoff's a great guy, but he can't pronounce my last name to save his life. It's Frank Iero, not Frank Lero. I know it has too many vowels, but he could at least try." Frank paused and then asked, "Did you want to talk to me about something?"

"Yeah, yeah I did." Gerard cleared his throat and then told Frank what he had wanted to tell him ever since they'd first seen each other. "I've seen you at every one of our shows so far, and I just wanted to say thank you. It means a lot to Ray, Matt, and me."

"It's my pleasure, man," Frank said. "My Chemical Romance is my favorite band."

"Wait, really?" Gerard said.

"Yeah, you guys are just the coolest." Frank paused and asked, "Do you want to keep talking outside? Geoff's probably going to come and kick us out of here pretty soon anyways."

"Yeah, that sounds good," Gerard said. He zipped up his leather jacket, and the two of them started wandering down 4th Street. There were a few kids in costumes still out trick-or-treating, but at this time of night, it was mostly teenagers, which definitely scared him. He'd left a bucket of candy out in front of his house, and he was sure that they'd stolen it by now. Halloween was supposed to be a fun holiday. He wasn't sure why the older kids had to kill the party for everyone else.

"So how did you get the idea to start a band?" Frank asked.

"It's kind of a long story," Gerard said, but he told Frank everything. He told him about his art and his old job at Cartoon Network, and about how when he'd watched the Twin Towers fall, something clicked into place, and he knew that he wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself. He told him about calling up Matt and Ray over the next few weeks, and how they had rehearsed like crazy before their first show. It was insane how much Gerard's life had changed in just a few short weeks. Before the attacks, he was just a failed cartoonist, and now, he was talking to a hot guy who had just said that My Chemical Romance was his favorite band. For Gerard, it was like there was something beautiful growing up through the burning embers of the World Trade Center and the ashes of the life that he'd left behind.

"Is all of that what Skylines and Turnstiles is about?" Frank asked.

Gerard nodded. "I get the feeling that 9/11's going to be the big event of our generation," he said. "It's like Pearl Harbor or the Kennedy assassination. Everyone remembers where they were when it happened."

"I was in psych class," Frank said. "My professor cancelled her lecture, and we just watched the news. It was all so surreal."

"See what I mean?" Gerard said. He paused when he actually processed what Frank had said. "You're still in school?"

"Yeah, I go to Rutgers," Frank said.

"And you still find time to go to all of our shows?" Gerard said. "That's impressive."

Frank shrugged. "Pencey Prep takes up more of my time than school does."

"That's your band, right?"

"Yeah. I'm the lead vocalist, and I play the guitar."

"That's better than me," Gerard said with a chuckle. "I can't sing and play the guitar at the same time to save my life."

"It does take some practice," Frank admitted.

"So, let me get this all straight," Gerard said. "You're in college, you're in a band, and you still find time to come to every My Chemical Romance concert?"

"As I said, you're my favorite band."

"How do you get your homework done? I had art projects due every week when I was in college..."

"I usually get it done in between class and band practice," Frank said. "Where did you go to school?"

"The School of Visual Arts," Gerard said. "I graduated two years ago."

"So you're an artist," Frank said.

"I guess you could say that," Gerard said.

"You're a man of many talents, Gerard," Frank said.

"Why thank you," Gerard said as he looked straight at Frank. He was simply bewitching in the moonlight, like a work of art. "I have to say, I've been really admiring your tattoos," Gerard said. "They look great."

"Thanks," Frank said. "I'd like to get some more, but I also really love the ones I have."

"Can you tell me a little bit about them?" Gerard said. "If you don't mind, of course. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't..."

"No, it's okay," Frank interrupted. "The first tattoo I ever got was when I turned eighteen. You can't see it right now, but there's a Jack-O-Lantern in the middle of my back. I got it because my birthday is on Halloween."

"That's the coolest thing ever." All of a sudden, Gerard remembered what day it was. "Also, happy birthday!"

"Thanks," Frank said.

It was Frank's special day. He could have done anything he wanted to on his birthday, and yet, he had decided to spend it with him. Gerard was flattered. "How has your day been so far?" he asked.

"It's been great." Frank smiled and then added, "No actually, it was the best day ever. My class got cancelled, I went to three Halloween parties, I ate a ton of candy, I went to your concert, and now, I'm talking to you." By the time he finished talking, Frank was practically bouncing up and down.

"Did you get any good presents?" Gerard asked.

Frank thought about it and then said, "I mean, my mom got me a new guitar, which is cool, but you know what I really want for my birthday?"

"What?"

"A My Chemical Romance T-shirt."

Gerard laughed. "Frank, we can't make T-shirts. We're not popular enough. Nobody would buy them but you."

"That's not true," Frank said. "I bet lots of people would buy them."

"Okay, fine," Gerard said. "Even if lots of people would buy My Chem merch, then who would sell it?"

"I would," Frank said.

"We don't have the money to pay you," Gerard said. He had to be practical, even though he loved the idea of working with Frank and having a night like this after every show.

"I don't care," Frank said. "I'll do it for free. I love you guys, and I want you to be successful."

"But you have your own band."

"So? I'll make time to sell T-shirts for you too."

Gerard thought about it for a minute. "Okay Frank, you've got your birthday wish," he finally said. "We'll have to design the shirts first though. Maybe we could do that together?"

"That sounds perfect," Frank said. "I can give you my phone number, and you can just give me a call sometime."

"Sounds great," Gerard said, unable to believe that this was really happening as Frank took out a pen and a slip of paper.

Frank wrote something on the paper, handed it to Gerard, and then said, "I should probably head home before too much longer, but it was really nice talking with you. I hope we can do this again sometime."

"Yeah, me too," Gerard said.

"Cool, and don't forget to call me about the T-shirts," Frank said as he walked away. "See you soon!"

"See you," Gerard said.

After Frank left, he started walking home, his heart beating fast and his head replaying the last few hours over and over. He couldn't believe how well that had gone. Not only was Frank drop-dead gorgeous, but he was one of the nicest people that Gerard had ever met, and now, they would get to see each other all the time. He really could not believe his luck.

When he got home, he saw that the teenagers in his neighborhood had indeed stolen his bucket of Halloween candy, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He went inside and he took the paper that Frank had given him out of the pocket of his leather jacket. As he read it, he smiled, thinking of his conversation with Frank. It didn't matter to him anymore whether or not Frank had any connection with the mysterious man from his dream. He just couldn't wait until the two of them could see each other again.

Gerard,

So glad that we got to chat. I've decided that you're the second coolest motherfucker on this planet, other than me, of course. Can't wait to design some T-shirts with you.

973-555-4242

XO Frank Iero