Chapter 1: Nicotine Sticks

                                    

                                          
His hand glides down my arm painfully slowly, folding over my hand. His fingers lace with mine, palms kissing. Oh, how I wish to kiss him, lips caught between one another in a hail of passion. But he doesn't kiss me, he just holds my hand in his.
                          
Innocence.
                          
The warmth of his hand encases my own, a content yet undecided feeling sending a small shiver down my spine. I can feel the beat of his heart through his palm, the way it beats erratically in  to our touch.
                          
We are holding hands.
                          
It's a totally electrifying feeling, similar to the way you feel when someone's breath meets your cheek, when you feel (not hear, but feel) someone softly whispering in your ear. 
                          
It's an innocently erotic feeling, that's how it should be described. I'm uncertain, being a virgin by choice, but I'm convinced that it's better than sex. It's got to be. It's the best feeling in the world.
                          
Becoming one entity in an incorrupt manner.
                          
It's perfect, and for once, it's us.
                          
We are perfect.
                          
As we walk, I feel the stones beneath my shoes as they try to push through into another reality, even if it is the same place I put my feet to walk across them. 
                          
Everyone needs an escape.
                          
It's silent as we make our way to the park, before the war, before any of w. It's just us, here, in Belleville park. We're alone, the only thing surrounding us is nature. The area is currently void of other human life.
                          
We sit side by side on the park bench, our vision set on the lake before us. The lake seems like a black void, the moon bouncing of its surface.
                          
Pristine water looking like glass, an abundance of lush forests, water reflecting the haze of the moon. The vibrant green grass rests upon the border, occupied by daisies with platinum, moonlight-tainted petals and a droplet of golden sun in the center. The whole scene is greeted by a soft gust of wind, ripples dancing surely across the water.
                          
It's beautiful.
                          
But not as beautiful as him.
                          
His hand trails back down my arm and down to my waist, the other curling behind my neck. His thumb is cradling my ear-lobe as he draws us closer together. I allow my eyes the freedom of fluttering shut, despite not wanting to miss the sight of this, because it's really going to happen.
                          
He is going to kiss me.
                          
I feel his warm breath humidifying my lips, the intensity only making me want this that much more. The butterflies in my stomach make a reappearance, and it's meeting him all over again. 
                          
I need this.
                          
"Frank-"
                          
"Gerard!" I squeal, accidentally smacking my head on the dirt above me. God, I feel like I've been buried alive, although maybe that's not as far from the truth as it initially appears.
                          
Once I've woken, I attempt to catch my breath, heat rising in my cheeks.
                          
"Are you okay, Frank?" 
                          
I glance over at Gerard, whom is sat just outside the foxhole with a hint of an amused expression on his face. I'm certain my embarrassment is virtually written across my own.
                          
"Yes, I'm fine, sorry."
                          
I try and hide my blushing, yet I'm certain Gerard knows. 
                          
"You were only out for half an hour, try to get some more sleep. You're going to need it, surely."
                          
I nod, resting my head back on the hard ground. God, it's fucking cold. I force my eyes shut, but sleep doesn't carry me away as it once would. Instead, I lie shivering, cold wracking through my body fiercely. 
                          
After around 15 minutes I hear Gerard sigh, and I open one eye slightly. It wasn't noticeable, not really, but I could perceive what was happening. 
                          
Gerard was stood now, his cigarette forgotten as it falls stealthily to the floor. It was rare that he didn't have one caught between his lips, really. I wondered if that was why he only spoke from one side of his mouth, as though a cigarette had made itself a permanent resident between his lips. It was selfish of me, yet I couldn't help but wish that the cigarette was my own lips.
                          
Imbecile.
                          
Gerard moves hit foot forwards an inch or so, lifting the toes to crush the nicotine stick. 
                          
He walks over to the slit trench, and I can no longer see what action he's performing, so I settle with closing my eyes fully once again. Although I am no longer able to see Gerard, I can hear him fumbling for something beside me.
                          
I feel a slight weight added on top of my body, and I'm suddenly a little less cold. Gerard had given me his blanket.
                          
I smile a little, parting my lips to whisper a barely audible 'thank you' into the nothingness that is the wind.
                          
Gerard, however, had other ideas.
                          
Though I was content with his lack of reply to my thanks, it seems he had one ready after all, yet this one was silent. 
                          
This one was so much better.
                          
At first I could only sense his presence behind me and was unsure as to what he was doing, but I soon got the message when I felt his body pushing against my own, alongside the two arms that enveloped my small frame.
                          
"Gerard, wha-" I begin, curious as to why he was holding me like this when he should be on lookout for some non-existent attack. I'm not necessarily complaining, it's nice, honestly, I've never experienced it before. It just seems a little inappropriate for such a situation.
                          
"Shh, Frank, go to sleep." I nod contently, feebly attempting to hide the blush rising in my cheeks and the smile gracing my lips.
                          
Subconsciously, I lean back into Gerard's touch, and though I don't see it, it's almost as if I can feel him smile.
                          
"Thank you, Gee. Goodnight."
                          
I have no clue where the nickname came from, but it seemed appropriate at this point. 
                          
"You're welcome, princess."
                          
Though I'd normally be blushing furiously, I appeared to have lost all my energy completely. 
                          
I was almost completely asleep, stolen by the remaining hour or so of the night, when I heard Gerard's whisper carried away by the thief that is the wind.
                          
"I will always protect you."