A/N: Wow sorry this upload has taken FOREVERRRR. I'm a failure, I know. I just got so caught up with work and summer classes that I've been either busy or completely exhausted. But I know that's no excuse to not write, so here you go. Chapter 10. It takes the story in a slightly different direction for a little while so, hope you guys like it!

The next three weeks of Gerard's life was full of wallowing in self-pity and being pissed off at generally everyone. He remained in his 'lair', as he sometimes called his room when he was feeling angsty, for the majority of the time that he was at home. Not even Mikey saw him for more than the walk to and from school or the few minutes it took for Gerard to brew his coffee and grab a bagel.

The oldest Way boy slouched over in his desk, one hand supporting his head with fingers entangled in his greasy black hair, the other absent-mindedly toyed with a crumpled drawing. The floor and desk surrounding him was littered with discarded drawings. Nothing he drew seemed to release the pent up anguish and frustration that was bubbling within him. Not even the image of a pale boy with a knife in his back and the seductive vampire temptress that was draining the life from him. Barbara had become a monster in his eyes, following Jim around like a mindless, brain-washed puppet whilst her boyfriend sneered disgustedly each time Gerard crossed his path. As far as Gerard was concerned, she was officially dead to him. She had toyed with his feelings and made him believe he was important to her and then she had mesmerized him to the point where he made his emotions all too obvious. Damn evil vampire temptress.

She certainly wasn't the girl he had thought she was. Or maybe she had been. Before she had become one of them. He had thought he could escape the torment of the Populars by being with her. She was so cool and down to earth; she belonged with him. Just being with her and having her in his arms had made him feel worth something. Their short romance had deserved to be in a cinema; far too good to be true. "Late dawns and early sunsets, just like my favorite scenes. Then holding hands and life was perfect just like up on the screen." Tragically poetic words began to swim around in his head. He had never thought that she could be one of them, she was too vibrant and full of adventure. Never giving a shit about anyone else's opinion. "And the whole time, while always giving, counting your face amongst the living." Everyday life just wouldn't seem the same anymore, not after meeting her.

"Up and down escalators, pennies and colder fountains. Elevators and half price sales, trapped in by all these mountains. Running away and hiding with you. I never thought they'd get me here. Not knowing you'd change from just one bite. I fought them all off just to hold you close and tight."

Gerard glanced down. The words that had been swirling in his brain were now scrawled messily on the back of a cartoon. He read them a couple of times, really taking in how perfectly they mirrored the way he was feeling. A story was forming here. A poem? But there was a tune also. A sad, moaning tune that would definitely be stuck in his head for days. That was okay though, because it would be the perfect soundtrack for his life at the moment. He was in such despair.

"But does anyone notice? But does anyone care? And if I had the guts to put this to your head, but would anything matter if you're already dead?"

A tiny dry smile tugged at his lips as he continued to write. He poured his heart out into the words on the paper. His misery translated well into a depressing, hopeless love story that was clearly never meant to be. It was that night, with images of Barbara and her newly developed devotion to Jim, that Gerard Way wrote his first real song that he was really proud of.

Gerard didn't know what he was going to do with his little masterpiece, but as he silently sang it in his head, it made him feel slightly better about his life. Occasionally, Frank's comments about forming a band crossed his mind. But that was really a silly idea wasn't it? Gerard wasn't the performing type and surely Frank had already found another band to play for. Plus, the chances of a band being successful were very slim.

"Hey, Mikes?" He called to Mikey one Saturday afternoon as he fixed himself a cup of coffee.

"Yeah, Gee?" He emerged from his room, fully dressed and smelling overpoweringly of cheap cologne.

"Jesus, Mikey! I think I need a gas mask." Gerard tried to fan the smell away from his face with his hand. "Where in the fuck are you going all fixed up like that?"

"I've got…." He looked around mischievously, glasses sliding off his nose, before finishing. "A date."

Gerard raised a brow, "With who?"

"You remember those hickies on my neck?"

"Oh." The older brother nodded, trying to hide his bitterness.

"We're going to grab some lunch and maybe catch an early movie." Mikey added, shrugging on his coat. "So what did you want?"

Gerard took a long sip of his coffee before looking at his brother with a most serious look and folding his hands on the counter in front of him. "What do you think about me starting a band?"

Mikey looked at Gee thoughtfully for several seconds before turning to the door. "I think that's dumb." He admitted bluntly, and left.

Gerard sighed and stared down into his coffee. His ideas always seemed dumb to others and that fact motivated him to pursue them. The idea of starting a band became more and more appealing all of a sudden.

"And well should I be shocked now? By the last thing you said…. Before I pull this trigger, your eyes vacant and stained. But does anyone notice? But does anyone care?"

He hummed quietly, taking a few more sips of his coffee. After a few long moments of contemplation, Gerard got up, pulled on his faded black hoodie and walked out the door.

"Oh, hello, Gerard." Mrs. Iero's nose scrunched up like she had smelled something rotten. Frank's mother had never liked Gerard much. She blamed him for the way the Frank dressed, but it wasn't Gerard's fault. No one could hold influence over Frank Iero; he did as he pleased and didn't give a fuck about anyone else's opinion.

"Is, uh, Frank home?" Gerard stammered. The snooty lady always made him nervous, with her perfectly styled hair and neatly pressed clothes.

"No. He's…. out." She replied bitterly. "Something about joining a band."

Dammit. Gerard cursed silently. He was too late.

"He actually believes that it is a wise ambition to have." She continued with a scoff. "He ought to be focusing on his grades so he'll be able to get into a decent law school one day, not running around with a bunch of low-life garage band hooligans."

"Errrr yeah. Well just tell him I stopped by then." Gerard waved and hurried away from the nice, brick home.

He lit a cigarette as he slouchily walked down the street. Deeply inhaling the smoke into his lungs, he noticed he was approaching the music store. This was definitely one of those days where he needed to spend an hour or so just browsing the shelves and listening to samples of new albums. He would definitely be returning home with at least one new cd. He took a few more drags before crushing out his cigarette and entering the store. He loved the dim lighting and shabby interior, also the faint suspicious smell of weed that permeated the air. The carpet was a horrid color that reminded Gerard very much of vomit, the striped wallpaper was peeling off in several large patches, and the windows were nearly completely covered with oddly named band posters. Despite its trashy appearance, the place was known to be the most well-stocked music store in all of Jersey, specializing in obscure and alternative rock music. The store kept up to date on all the newly developing local bands as well, stocking EPs from even the most uncommonly known basement bands in the area. The place just felt like home to Gerard.

He browsed for a long while, occasionally adding a new album to the handful of CDs he had picked up. He was reading the tracks on the back of the newest Husker Du cd when someone bumped heavily into him from behind.

"Sorry man!" A breathless voice huffed.

He turned to see a boy about his age carrying to large cardboard boxes. The kid was extremely tall, looming over Gerard as he shifted the boxes onto a nearby table.

"We just got in a wicked shipment of vintage vinyls." The tall kid informed Gerard as he sliced through the packing tape and removed a stack of records from the box.

"That's pretty rad." Gerard remarked glancing at the albums as the boy thumbed through them excitedly.

"The guitar riffs some of these bands use are fucking genius." The tall kid grinned. "No matter how hard I try my stuff will never sound this sick."

"Oh you play guitar?" Gerard asked, his interest sparked slightly.

"Yeah man." The kid put the records back in the box then, shoving a hand over the curly mass of hair on his head, introduced himself. "My name's Ray, by the way."

A/N: Yayyy Ray finally made his appearance! I've had a few people ask if he was going to be in this story and my response was "Duhh. It's not MCR without Ray Toro." So now I hope everyone is satisfied. Ray and Frank will definitely be incorporated a lot more from now on so enjoy. Peace out.