Hi! I haven't written a story in quite some time so sorry if it takes me a while to get back into the swing of things! I hope you enjoy the first installment. I enjoy reviews and anybody's ideas are more than welcome, thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters besides Amelia so don't freak out on me. Although, I wish I could own MCR, but I bet it would be pretty expensive...
Amelia Iero: The Grim
Chapter One:
Walking down the makeshift road between buses, my mind is a tornado of depressing thoughts. For example, I am my family's Grim Reaper. I am the bearer of bad news. When you see me coming you know nothing good follows. My brother has taken to referring to me as Grim, the signature "bad omen". My brother and I have never gotten along but not for lack of trying, at least on my end. I have worked for years to earn his love or even his acknowledgment, but it seems he will always hate me, even before all this death. Which is the main reason I've been standing, unmoving in front of their bus. Unable to knock. You'd think a simple gesture that only involves the raising and lightly rapping of a hand wouldn't be so damn difficult but here I am, just staring.
Exhaling the breath I wasn't aware that I was even holding, I knock abruptly on the door and wait. Then, quite violently, it was ripped open and there stood one man I haven't seen since I was sixteen. Suddenly I'm very self-conscious of my long blue hair and double nose rings. I'm entirety aware of my tight blue skinnies and my Atreyu band shirt, but there's nothing I can do about that now.
"Can I help you?" Those simple four words shook me. Of course he wouldn't recognize me. Why would The Gerard Way waste his time remembering me? Little Amelia Iero, Frank Iero's annoying little sister. Although last time he saw me my hair was pink and pixie short and my face wasn't adorned with surgical steel.
And there he stood, in all his glory. Shaggy black hair that hung almost to his shoulders, hazel eyes covered with eyeliner, and pale, porcelain skin. He was wearing red, skinny jeans with a black and red shirt and black cons.
At a loss for words, I just stood there until-
"Grim?" I hear Frank call from somewhere behind Gerard and then I see him. He looks just like my Frankie ought to. Black, messy hair, black skinnies with a black band tee. He had gloves on his hands and his face held the beginnings of his show makeup.
"Hey Frank," I replied with a half-hearted wave as I watched the realization dawn on Gerard's face, his mouth hanging slightly open.
"What are you doing here?" Frank's voice held no emotion as he spoke. He was always so blunt with me. Never sensitive or caring, never the protective older brother all my friends complained theirs were.
I dropped my eyes from his gaze and stared at my shoes. My mouth went dry as I suddenly remembered why I was even there in the first place.
"Grandpa died." My voice cracked as I spoke and I tried hard to even it out knowing how much Frank hated it when I cried, he always called me a baby. I heard his sharp intake of breath but still couldn't gather the courage to look up at him. We were both so close with both of our grandparents and it has only been a couple years since I was in a similar position telling him of grandma's death.
"Why don't you come in, Amelia?" My eyes shot up. I had completely forgotten that Gerard was here, standing right in front of me. I shook my head no and took a few tentative steps back, scared.
"I... I can't. I uhh... I should go," I said, stumbling over my words, backing up further still.
"Don't be ridiculous. Just come inside, it's a lot to take in, Ames," Gerard spoke, reaching out for my arm. Ames. No one has called me that since I was twelve, right before our mother died.
"No. Just no, okay? I can't, shouldn't. I need to go. I need to get out of here," I spoke rapidly, feeling trapped and particularly panicked. Quickly, before either man could do anything about it, I spun on my heel and darted back down the dirt road. I didn't really have a plan. I took a taxi here and had no one with me. Basically my plan was to wander aimlessly, wallowing in my self-pity. Suddenly, though, a hand caught my elbow and I was pulled back into something, or someone to be more accurate.
Gerard. Why the hell would he follow me? He's never given a damn about me before, why start now? Oh, I know. Poor, pathetic Amelia, all sad and alone. He's being the good Samaritan.
"Look, I appreciate what you're doing here but I don't need your pity alright? And I can take care of myself," I said sharply, meeting his eyes. He looked shocked but kept his grip on me firm. "Please, Ames, just come back to the bus. Frank'll be worried." He sounded so sincere but I couldn't help laughing at that. Frank? Be worried about me? Where was Gerard living? He seemed appalled at my reaction but was he serious?
"Gerard, Frank hasn't given a damn about me my entire life. The guy hates me, I don't know why but he does. So going back to the bus and pretending to be some close, grieving family isn't going work." Even coming to this realization many years ago didn't make it any easier to say. I could feel my eyes begin to sting but I pushed the feeling back. I've cried enough over my family, over Frank.
"You think I don't care about you?" I heard his voice behind me and I prayed I was imagining it. Slowly, I turned to face Frank, my eyes free of tears but the sadness in them was surely evident.
"Hey Frank," I started but he cut me off. "You think I don't give a damn about you?" he said, louder this time. I watched him stalk over to me and felt my heart race. I could hear my brain work, asking me, "When did you become so afraid of him? He's your brother." Even still I couldn't push it away.
"Look, Frank, it's okay. You don't have to get upset. I know where we stand, where you stand with me. I accepted it a while ago. I just... I just don't want to fight, alright?" I could hear the pleading tone in my voice, just begging him to let it go. Let this unspoken agreement go back to just that; unspoken.
Ours eyes locked and he stopped walking at my words, only a few feet in front of me now. I felt Gerard gently release my arm but I didn't turn to look at him.
"I don't know what to say," Frank said, his voice quiet and lost sounding. I swallowed hard and replied, "Nothing. Don't say anything. You go back to the bus and your life and I'll walk away. You won't have to see me until someone else dies and our father forces me out here again because he's too drunk to stand, let alone get on a plane and do anything himself. Sound good?"
For a moment we just stood there, staring at each other. Then suddenly I was in Frank's arms and he was hugging me like he's never hugged me before (probably because he's never hugged me before). I don't think I even reacted. I just let him latch onto me while I stood dumbfounded.
"I'm sorry, Ames. I never realized what I was doing or how it made you feel," he said after he pulled away but still keeping me at arm's length. "You... you called me Ames," was the only thing my mind could register to say. "You've never called me Ames. I can't even remember a time before you called me Grim." I saw his face fall and I frowned. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to upset you. I'm just surprised. I think part of me thought you forgot my real name all together," I said jokingly but the creases in his brow only furrowed more. Apparently I'm not a good comedian.
"Come. Come back to the tour bus with us. I want you to stay a while. Please?" The pleading in Frank's voice won me over and I nodded. He grinned at me the famous Iero smile and I matched his with my own.
And there he was again.
Gerard Way.
Watching this whole sappy, cliché after-school special take place. He looked so serene just standing there, looking at us. I saw his eyes flicker to mine and felt heat rush to my cheeks. Ducking past him, I tailed after Frank with Gerard slowly in tow.