Chapter 4
He hadn't realized he had been crying until people on the street started staring, one lady asking if he was okay. The cool air felt soothing on his face, the tears like an icy ointment to his burning skin. He wiped them away with his palms in quick stroking motions, kicking a stone out of the way as he walked.
The sun was sinking lower in the sky, a bulb of fading flames. People in the street rushed to and fro, talking on cell phones or to each other. Cars whizzed by, sending crunchy fall leaves up in the air.
Gerard exhaled and walked on, his feet dragging on the cement. He didn't know where he was going; He just had to get out. He tried to remember the place that his friends used to always go to loosen up and party, but couldn't remember the name. He figured it was called The Pit, because that rung a bell inside his brain.
He wandered downtown for several more minutes, looking for the secret hideout where crappy bands played and teenagers got drunk. After almost an hour of searching he found it, an old, abandoned restaurant at the end of the street. A homemade sign was hanging from chicken wire, 'The Pit' painted on sloppily. So far, nobody had reported the noise or the underage drinking, and the cops didn't seem to care.
He pushed through the creaky door and entered the unfamiliar atmosphere, nearly choking on the scent. It was a mixture of sweat, booze and cigarette smoke. The noise was just as bad, a boy at the microphone singing Iron Maiden covers in a scratchy voice.
He looked around, hoping to find someone he knew, but was unsuccessful. The room was full of strangers, drinking, smoking and spitting. In the corner a couple were making out, and a guy was fighting with the large-breasted bartender. People danced and sang along to the scratchy-voiced boy.
It felt anything but comfortable.
He looked around nervously before deciding to grab a drink. Hands in pockets, he trudged to the bar, sitting on a hard, wooden stool. The guy beside him scowled and took a sip of his beer before stomping away.
"What can I get you?" The girl who was bartending was anything but ugly, with dyed violet hair and a glittering smile. She looked no more than seventeen, and much too innocent to be working at a place like this.
"Um…" He stuttered. "I'll just have a beer, thanks." She looked shocked at the fact that he had said 'Thanks'. His suspicions were confirmed only a moment later.
"You're new here, aren't you?" Gerard nodded, hiding his eyes behind his hair. She slid a glass bottle across the table and he took it, cracking the top open with his teeth.
"Yeah. Just needed to get away, you know? This seemed like a decent enough place." To his surprise, she laughed.
"This place? Decent? This place is a hole full of scumbags. I get groped and whistled at on an hourly basis, and get some kind of alcohol spilled on me just as often." Gerard shook his head.
"The world is full of dicks." For a moment his mind wandered to Mikey, but he washed the thought away with a swallow of the semi-cold beer. The music pounded his eardrums, his heart racing with the beat. The girl chuckled and continued arranging glasses on the shelf behind her.
"That one's on me, just because you're nice." She winked, her full, dark eyelashes like a small fan. "But don't expect that all the time." He smiled and sipped the foam gathering at the opening, cool on his lips.
About a dozen beers later, he was chatting with the bartender, learning that her name was Diana. He began to talk about his brother, about his problems, even mentioning the rape situation. She just shook her head and repeated the same words Gerard had said earlier.
"The world is full of dicks." He could only agree and crack his thirteenth beer, his head spinning. By the time he finished it, he wasn't feeling the hottest, as he had never really gotten drunk before. His stomach was burning, along with his brain, but at the same time everything felt right. He wandered out into the shuffling, cheering crowd, drink in hand, bumping into people. He tucked some strands of hair behind his ear and began head banging, sweat flying everywhere. He managed to kiss someone's girlfriend and get into a small fight before nearly getting kicked out.
"You're gorgeous." He sat at the bar again, talking to Diana. "I mean, you're like, really hot." She blushed and waved Gerard away.
"Are you just saying that because your wasted?" Gerard shook his head and grabbed her hand. She let out a squeak of surprise.
"No, you're really pretty and nice and understanding. Wanna, um, get out of here?" His words were slurred as if his mouth was full of jelly. His entire body felt the same way.
"Um, I don't know, Gerard…" She sounded unsure and was playing with her bright hair, twisting it through her long fingers.
"Come on! Pleeaase!" He begged, lacing his fingers through hers.
She sighed and smiled. "Sure. Why not?" She said, giving in. "Derek! You're on for the rest of the evening!" A husky guy in a sweatshirt came around the corner, holding a pitcher of beer. Gerard pulled her around the counter and out the door, where they ran out into the night. It was pitch black out and raining, cool water spraying on Gerard's face.
"Where are we going?" Diana asked, her eyes curious.
"You'll see." Was all Gerard said before yanking her down the sidewalk.
They arrived at the park in only a few minutes, standing in front of the pond. It was a beautiful sight, the water still like glass, the moon reflected in it. Diana smiled sweetly and turned to face Gerard.
"You're a really sweet guy, Gerard. I'm sorry about your brother." He shoved all thoughts of Mikey aside and touched the small girl's cheek lightly, his fingers cool and wet on her skin. In a second she had stood up on her tippy-toes, pressing her lips against Gerard's. She breathed him in, the sour taste of booze mixed with something sweet.
"I'm glad I met you tonight." He whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "I really like you." Their tongues brushed, deepening the kiss, and a moan escaped Gerard's lips.
They stayed like that for a long time, just them, the moon and the water. "Wanna go back to my place?" Diana asked, her eyes twinkling. Gerard thought for a moment, but his thoughts were too fogged up to remain straight, so he just nodded.
"I'd love to." They walked back through the sprinkles of rain, giggling and kissing, hands tightly bound.