Their outdoor show in New Orleans was canceled due to rain, and as they all sat in their buses waiting, the rain just got worse, until it was a full-fledged thunderstorm. They were due to depart at 6am for the next stop on the tour, but until then there was nothing to do but try to amuse themselves in the cramped buses. Ray played video games, Frank played guitar, and Gerard and Mikey read and discussed comic books. Gerard was so used to living in a basement that being cooped up indoors didn't bother him that much.

There was a knock at their bus door, and then it opened to reveal a soaking wet Bert, who obviously didn't share Gerard's feelings. "I have to get the fuck off that bus already," he said. "Come with me."

Gerard stared at him for a minute. "But won't we die from like, lightning?"

Bert reached in and grabbed his hand. "Don't be a pussy. Come on."

Gerard was soaked to his skin the second he stepped outside. He looked at Bert, who had water cascading down his face, and was laughing like a lunatic.

"Come on!" Bert said, and he started running into the woods.

Gerard chased after him. "Bert!" he yelled, but Bert didn't slow down until he reached what looked like an abandoned tool shed. He ran inside, gestured for Gerard to follow, and then pulled the metal door closed behind them.

"Haven't you ever seen horror movies?" Gerard asked as he wrung out water from the end of his t-shirt. "We're going to get killed by a guy with a chainsaw."

Bert leaned against the metal wall and smiled. "Even worse, we're in a big metal thing during an electrical storm."

Gerard's eyes widened.

Bert laughed. "It's okay," he said. "Listen, the storm's on its way out."

"Still, we should go." Gerard reached for the door.

Bert grabbed him and kissed him hard. He moved his mouth to Gerard's neck and shoved his hand down his pants. "If this was the last night of your life," he said, "and you were about to get struck by lightning and die, how hard would you come?"

Gerard leaned his head back and moaned.

Bert chuckled against his skin. "I wanna make you come hard."

Gerard pushed up into Bert's grip and closed his eyes, listening to the rain and thunder outside, his vision blossoming red against his eyelids. He collapsed against the wall, panting, and opened his eyes to see Bert smiling at him.

"You make the best noises," Bert said. "Listen." He gestured to the roof. The rain had lessened to a steady drizzle. Bert opened the door of the shed and they looked out on the field, covered with flowers, the bright green grass barely showing their footprints.