Gerard
Why is this school so crowded? Seriously, why do we need this many people? I mean, the majority of them are gonna drop out half way through term anyway. First day of the new school year and I already felt uncomfortable. I looked around. Everyone was staring at me. And I knew why. My hair stuck out like a sore thumb, and was just as red as one. A couple of weeks ago I decided it would be a good idea to dye my hair a bright, post box red and to be honest I thought it suited me quite well, even though my deep brown roots were already beginning to show through. This was fine at the time seeing as I quite literally spent every day in my room at my desk, pouring over my art work and comic books, but now I could feel everyone's eyes on me. The room started to spin. My head went fuzzy and at that moment I felt a hand grab me and pull me into an empty classroom.
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It was Mikey, my brother and best friend. Gosh, I love that kid and he looks after me so well.
"You ok bro?" he remarked, looking into my eyes and tilting my head upwards.
"I'm fine Mikey – yeah – ok – Stop touching my face dude!" I snapped back at him, he was going to ruin my attempts to not cry. I immediately felt horrible and hugged him. "You'd best get to class, don't wanna be late and all" I said quietly. He smiled at me, turned on his heels and walked out the door. I started to shudder as he left, I was panicking and I needed to calm down. I sighed deeply, rubbed my eyes and followed Mikey out the door into the onslaught of hurtful comments.
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As I expected, I walked down the corridor to the shouts of all the fucking homophobic twats attending this shit-hole. I clutched my art folder tighter. My head shot up to flick my hair out of my eyes, and only then did I see the hands flying towards my shoulders. As they collided with my chest my body slammed into a locker. The guy laughed and walked off with his primate-like friends. I stood there for what seemed like an hour, the tears silently streaming down my cheeks. I fucking hated this School.
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A guy walked past me. Gosh, I mean I'd noticed him before. We'd passed in the corridors and I knew he was cute but he' really changed over the holidays; he was pretty damn gorgeous! He smiled at me, a cheeky little grin, gosh… My imagination was running away with me. That's when I realised I was staring. I put my head down, using my hair as a screen to wipe away my tears, smiling to myself. Maybe he liked me? Why even think that Gerard. He's straight. I mean, he's with Lilly…. And she blatantly means the world to him.
Frank
I always dreaded the first day back; the people, the routine, the work. Everything. But most of all – the reality. I'd spent the entire summer preoccupying myself with studying and music, in the safety of my bedroom. Now there were people pushing past me left right and centre, and the noise was unbearable. The shock of the 7 o'clock wake up wasn't helping either. I dodged my way through the corridor to meet Lily, but before I knew it two slender arms wrapped around my waist from behind and two warm lips pressed into my cheek. I turned and saw my Lily with her flowing black hair and extravagant, dark eye makeup staring straight into my eyes, reaching up towards my lips expectantly.
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I kissed her, but it was different to normal. I hadn't seen Lily for the entire holidays; she had been on holiday with her family in Spain with no internet or mobile phone access so no contact was available. Don't get me wrong, I loved Lily… Just not the same as I used to. She felt like a sister to me, a best friend, someone so close I could tell her my deepest secrets and not be judged, just not my girlfriend. When she broke away I put my arm around her waist and started walking to class.
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Something had obviously happened in the corridor ahead of us, people were gathered around staring at something. Something red. As we walked past I saw him. This boy, there was something about him; an untold story that left me enticed to open the book. He intrigued me; his presence left an air of mystery. His hair was striking, a bright red that distinguished him from every other student in this dreary school. But he didn't need that. His face was so elegant, yet mysterious… Like something only seen in dreams.
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As I walked past I noticed the tears falling down his cheeks and splashing onto his uniform and the terrified look on his face. I smiled at him to reassure him. He seemed to notice me, we kept eye contact for a quite a while, broken only when he shielded his face with bright red curtains and Lily turned and spoke to me.
"What a freak. He's drawing so much attention to himself with that… MOP!" I didn't like that. At all. I hadn't even muttered a word to this guy and I already felt so protective. I didn't understand. So I smiled at her, and walked to class.
Gerard
The only good thing I had seen today so far, apart from that boy earlier, was that I had double art on a Monday morning. I silently slipped through the doors of the only art classroom in the school. Seeing as it was such an unpopular subject, I knew our class would be small but I didn't expect there to be merely 14 students in there. I wasn't complaining though, I liked the face that I wouldn't have to communicate with as many arrogant teens as I was expecting. The smell of the fresh paper and acrylic paint swirled around me, making me fell slightly dizzy but at the same time so safe. Like home.
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Only at that moment did I notice them. Sat a corner of the room, cuddled up to each other were Frank and Lily. I felt my heart flutter at the thought that knowledge that we shared at least one lesson but the sensation was short lived when I realised he probably didn't share my passion for art, and he was probably only here to be with Lily. Feeling the tears welling up in my eyes again, and with a fear of them spilling out, I promptly headed for the desk furthest away from them. I didn't want to stare at their sickeningly perfect relationship. As I unpacked my art folder our teacher introduced herself and gave us our task.
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"Now class, as I haven't had the pleasure to have taught all of you I would like to see what you're capable of. So in order to test your artistic ability I would like each of you to create a portrait of anyone in this room. When you are done, please place it on the front desk and we'll review them all at the end of the lesson. Off you go!"
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I knew exactly who I was going to draw. I worked in silence for the entire hour and a half, the noise of the classroom just a blur in my ears. I focussed on every little detail from the gleam of the lip-ring to the way the hair framed the delicate face, with strands falling across, caressing the apples of his cheeks.
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After an hour and a half of gruelling work I looked from my portrait to him. Frank. I was so proud of it, my best work yet I supposed. As I studied the likeness I swear I saw him look up at me several times. Maybe he was drawing me? Maybe he liked me! Maybe we could be together. I mean, he had red paint on his paper, but I couldn't see what it was being used for from this distance. What was I thinking? He was drawing Lily, obviously. I don't understand what he sees in her, I mean I know she's one of the prettiest girls in the school… But that's the problem I guess. She's a girl. I sighed in resignation and began daydreaming again.
Frank
I glanced at Lily who was only a few seats away from me, and then back at my paper. I had two choices, and I knew exactly which one I wanted. Occasionally I she would lift her head up and study me, presumably trying to recreate the shape of my face. I pretended to do the same, but instead I looked past her, at the mysterious boy, his face just caught my attention. I was drawn to him. Mesmerised by his delicate features, I was lost in his beautiful eyes. And his hair, the way the light caught it, bringing out tones I had never noticed before. He was an artist's dream. I stole a look at Lily once more, guilt washing over me, but I didn't care. I took out my water colours and started to ink in his intriguing face.
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I looked up at him, and as I did his deep, sorrowful eyes meet mine. They connected for a moment; feelings that couldn't be expressed with words were passed between us. I broke it off, not wanting to look like I was staring. Was his portrait of me? Surely not. I decided not to fill myself with this false hope. There were 16 other people in this class. Anyway, why was I becoming so excited at the prospect of a portrait of me, especially with him as the creator? I didn't understand, so I just pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind. I heard the teacher clear her throat and speak to the class.
"If you could all bring your pieces to the front of the class to evaluate them".
My heart started hammering in my chest. Lily would see. What would I say to her? Sorry, I saw this boy, I don't even know his name, but I thought I'd to a portrait of him rather than my girlfriend who I've known for years. Well done Frankie.
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I put my portrait at the far end of the table, as far away as I could from Lily's view. I slowly went back to my seat, trying to pull her away. I didn't bother to look at hers. It would only add to the guilt. Why had I done this? Risking my relationship just to do a piece of art on a boy I had never even met before? What's wrong with me? The teacher was now analysing all our work. She paused at a piece dangerously close to mine. She picked it up, and to my great relief, it wasn't mine, but it was of me! I felt the whole class looking at me then back at the picture.
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I had to admit, her art skills had improved significantly since the last time I saw some of her work. And she had used water colour. She hates watercolour. "This is an example of an excellent example of a watercolour portrait by Gerard Way". She looked over at a red-haired boy sat at the back of the classroom. No. He couldn't have. Why would he want to do a portrait of me? I checked it again. There was no mistaking it. It was definitely me. I blushed a little. He had accurately inked the contours of my face, and laced my hair over my head, but he had somehow made me look beautiful. This made me smile. I realised I didn't have to refer to him as the mysterious boy with bright red hair any more, so I allowed my mind to think his name. Gerard. I liked it.
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She moved on the next portrait, the only one with an excessive amount of red on it. No. Please. No. She held it in front of her chest, allowing the whole class to see.
"This is another fantastic piece of art by Frank Iero." My cheeks blazed. I saw Gerard looking at the floor, blushing too. And then there was Lily, a confused look was etched upon her face that soon turned to anger and her eyes refused to meet mine. "Interesting that these two very talented artists should choose each other," she commented to herself as she moved on to observe the other pieces.
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The bell finally rang and Lily raced out the door at the first ring, not giving me a chance to explain myself. I rushed out after her, and straight into the back of Gerard.
"I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, not wanting him to think I was even more of a stalker.
"I-it's ok" he stammered, looking very nervous, but smiling at the same time.
"Um... you're a very good artist" I said, not wanting to let the conversation go just yet. He looked to the floor again, smiling and blushing.
"I... I mean... thank you... You're very good too. I liked the way you used the water colour on my hair." I felt happy because of his compliment.
"You can have it if you want." His face completely lit up, his eyes shining with gratitude.
"I... I don't know what to... thank you. I was surprised you chose me. I thought you would have done Lily." Lily. Why did he have to mention her? I should be chasing after her, not talking to person who had caused her upset.
"Yeah, well I've done portraits of her before." This was true. I didn't want to break the conversation we were having, but I knew I had to find Lily. "Anyway, it's the one on the end; take it home if you want to. I've got to go. I left before he could reply.
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I found Lily at her locker, casually emptying the contents of her bag. I took a deep breath and prepared for the silent treatment.
"Hi, you made a hasty exit back there." I tried to put my arm around her shoulder, but she ducked away quickly, slamming her locker door.
"I don't know what you mean" she replied coldly. I could see this would require a considerable amount of grovelling.
"Is this about the portrait in art?" Her awkward glance at the floor, confirmed my fears.
"Look, babe, I've done plenty of portraits of you, I just wanted to try out my new red." I prayed this would get me out of it.
"Oh." Her response was short, but I could see her expression softening.
"Tell you what; I'll do another one of you tonight. In that sexy red dress. Then I can use my red again." I winked at her and I saw her smile at my offer.
"I suppose I can forgive you in that case." She grinned and put her arm around my waist. I pulled her close and tried to put all thoughts of Gerard to the back of my mind. I love Lily. I love her.