CHAPTER 2
"Meadowscale High welcomes you!"Read the half-dismantled ancient sign about the school's front doors. The rest of the building's exterior kept up with appearances, contributing with graffiti laden walls and cracked paint along the windowsills and door frames. Each pane of glass was fitted with an iron mesh layer, which although I knew was to protect the windows from basketballs and such like, didn't exactly reassure me. The school itself was huge, and slightly daunting. It was the biggest school had been to by far, but was also the worst kept.
Well, isn't this going to be absolutely joyous!
Crowds of people slowly filed into the school to get to their respective lessons. I followed behind. Being completely honest, I was quite looking forward to today. I enjoyed moving school, as tedious as it was, most of the time. I always usually made new friends and each move gave me a chance to re-invent myself. With some luck, the pupils wouldn't be as crappy as the school's exterior.
Hopefully I would find myself here.
Hopefully I would find Gerard here too.
After going to the front office and receiving my timetable, I learnt that today's lessons were Maths, English, History and French. Pretty good start to this school I think!
I had also been given an incredibly intricate map of the school which I was trying to unsuccessfully decipher. All the corridors entwined with one another and I had walked into more than one store cupboard thinking it was the maths room. Eventually, I stopped and put the map on the floor, and traced the route with my finger. Once I was pretty sure of the directions I looked up to make sure I was going the right way. The corridor was empty, and it looked correct, so I hurriedly grabbed the map and set off, with my face buried in the paper.
Suddenly I collided with an all mighty 'thud' into a wall that had not been there seconds before, and fell to the ground. I looked up, dazed, to find that the invisible wall was actually a very visible boy.
"Here." He thrust his hand into my face. "Sorry about that." I took the hand and he pulled me up, looking down at me slightly due to height differences.
Damn you, non-existent tall Genes.
"Oh god no, don't apologize, that was completely my fault!" I managed to choke out, still slightly winded from the impact of running straight into him. I looked up at his face to get a better look at this unusually friendly stranger.
I suppose he was what one would class as a 'Jock'. He has short brown crew-cut hair that had tramlines shaved into the right side. His eyes were emerald green and matched the small stud he was wearing in his right ear. His smile was friendly enough, and his teeth were more flawless than a model's own set. 'Nike' or 'Adidas' adorned most of his clothes which I didn't think much of, except for his shoes which were plain black vans. He was attractive but recently no one was even earning a double take from me, not after him.
"Shaun. Shaun Simons." He shot me the Hollywood smile. "I'm guessing you're new here? Not seen you around the corridors before."
"Oh, uh, yeah. I'm frank. Frank Iero. Just moved here from New Jersey." I replied after picking my bag and the map up from the floor. He gestured towards the map."Lost?" He chuckled. "What class you looking for?"
"Yeah. Fuck man, this school is huge and this map is shitty. You guys should have signposts or something! I'm trying to find the maths room, Mr Flynn?"
"That's the class I'm in! Shaun exclaimed, surprised. "Or at least the class I'm supposed to be in right now." He smirked. "Figured I'd go smoke somewhere for a while, Mr Flynn isn't exactly the most exciting person ever. I'll take you there now."
There was no way this guy was in my class, he looked at least 2 years older than me.
"Erm..." I began "You seem...Aren't you, Like, too old to be in my class or something?"
Another laugh. Jesus, this guy was easily amused.
"I'm actually 17...my friends are too. We don't exactly spend our time studying if you catch my drift...We got set back a couple of years. We have more important, social things to do like parties, drinks...Girls..." A knowing chuckle.
"Oh right, makes sense I suppose." I faked a smile and a short laugh.
Oh look, I found a new way to spell 'Stereotypical'.
S-H-A-U-N-S-I-M-O-N-S.
We walked to maths, and Shaun talked about his friends, Neil, John and Tim. They all sounded rather 'Frat Boy' for my liking, not that I voiced my opinions. I was too surprised that I had made friends this quickly, especially with who seemed to be the leader of the Jocks, especially considering the clique I usually fell into. The Metal Heads, and if the school was particularly obnoxious, the 'Emos'.
Mr. Flynn was not best impressed when Shaun walked through the door, but his expression softened when I entered. His reaction to 'Look who I found lost in the corridors, new boy Frankie!" was only to empathise with me about the size and complexity of the school. He sat me in the spare seat next to Shaun, and once I had sat down I scanned the room,deciding if I deemed anyone worthy to befriend. After ending my search and mentally singling out a couple people, I got a faint but distinct sinking feeling in my chest. I looked out across the sea of people again, the sea of redheads and blondes and brunettes and-
Then I realised what I was subconsciously searching for.
There's no Jet Black hair.
There's no Gerard.
Shaun was in my English class too, so he walked me there. A tall-ish boy with long brown hair and gleaming silver braces was stood outside the classroom door, looking fed up and slightly angry.
"Tim!" Shaun shouted to the boy. "What's up with your face, huh?" The boy turned round and rolled his eyes.
"Guess whose phone got confiscated by moody bitch Mooerdir?" Tim huffed as Shaun began to laugh excessively.
Once Shaun's laughter had died down he turned to me "Mrs. Mooerdir is the biology teacher, and possibly the moodiest, strictest, and most horrible teacher you'll ever have."
"Erm..." Tim began apprehensively. "Who's this? Not exactly your choice of friend Shaun. Looks like he would be more at home with the Genderslut."
Now, I know it's unreasonable to think that EVERYONE is just going to instantaneously attach themselves to me like Shaun had: But what was this guy's problem? I hadn't even spoken to him yet by the way he was looking at me, I could tell he'd taken a very strong dislike to me. Also, who was this "Genderslut"? And what qualities did I share with this unknown?
"Jesus Tim! This is Frank Iero, he's actually pretty damn sound, but you would have already known that if you'd talked to him instead of shouting at me!" Shaun cried, exasperated.
"Well, all I'm saying is that it seems a bit hypocritical to constantly tease the bisexual, then make friends with someone who could pass for his emo little brother!" Tim countered.
Ouch...this guy had pretty strong opinions of his acquaintances. My outfit which was a plain black T-shirt, dark skinny jeans, ankle boots and a beanie wasn't even what I'd class as emo! I mean, I had my Black Flag hoodie in my bag, but that's as far as my clothes ventured into the 'Alternative'.
"Bullshit!" Shaun Said angrily. "Tim, this is all you ever think about, isn't it? Ever since-"
"Dare."Tim spat maliciously. "You dare, and I will beat the crap out of your pathetic body and choke you with your own intestines." He was in Shaun's personal space now, their noses almost touching. I stepped back, but even from here I could see the resentment burning like wild fires in Tim's eyes.
"Whatever. Fuck this shit, man. Come on Frank, we're out." I followed Shaun sheepishly into the classroom.
Needless to say, it was a pretty awkward English lesson.
I have never been happier to hear the monotonous shrill of a school bell echo through the corridors. Quickly making my excuses to Shaun, I hurried off in search of a bathroom. Not only did I need to piss, but I needed a quiet area to digest what had just happened. Pushing through the crowds, my thought crept in and overtook my objective.
Just what was that heated argument about? There was certainly a taboo subject regarding Tim, this much was certainly obvious. Personal life, maybe? Love life? Well, Tim had complained about this 'genderslut' being bisexual and Shaun had inferred an 'incident' had happened, so what basis was that to stand on? Maybe he's confused and he made a pass for one of the boys, more than likely Shaun. Or maybe he had an illicit fling with a boy. As I reached the conclusion that Shaun would probably end up telling me throughout the day thanks to his inability to keep secrets (it was plausible that I knew more about the school from having a ten minute conversation with him than most of the heads of the 'cliques') I spotted something literally breathtaking.
Despite imagining this scenario one thousand and one times, nothing could have prepared me for the sight that met my eyes.
Directly opposite stood a tall-ish boy with Jet Black hair, a frayed black leather jacket, and a dark blue satchel. In one hand he carried a phone that was ringing and the other he used to push the bathroom door in front of him open, entering with caution. I weaved through the crowds, attempting to reach the restroom within the next three seconds.
As I approached the door, I listened inside, Footsteps, but other than that, quietness. Silently as I could I opened the door and slipped inside.
He was stood facing the wall, with a hand on his hip and one knee slightly bent, as if he was posing for a photo. The ringing had now ceased and the device was pressed against his ear.
"Y'ello?" He says sounding slightly pissed off. I noiselessly darted into one of the cubicles and bit my hand in order to stop me squealing at the authoritive undertones in his voice.
The only words I managed to catch from the anonymous caller were "Gerard...listen..." then the only thing I could hear was a very attractive albeit angry man shouting.
"YOU'VE DONE WHAT?" I peered out of the cubicle and saw that Gerard had removed the phone from his ear and was now holding it in front of his mouth, shouting excessively into the receiver. "Why?" His voice raised an octave on the lone word. "Why did you do that?"
I can tell from his voice that he's suppressing the urge to smirk when he speaks next. "Jeez Mikey, you are an idiot sometimes you know. Most of the time I have a hard time believing I'm any relation to you, let alone your brother!"
Oh. Well, that's cleared up the mysterious identity of the caller, then.
"Michael I have no absolutely no advice that would be in any way remotely useful for this situation." He stated rather Matter-of-factly.
'Mikey's' voice becomes louder and more frantic and angry, and yet again I only hear snippets of his speech before his sibling cuts him off.
"Useless...Japanese Prime Minister...Do you know what..."
"WELL IT WASN'T MY IDEA TO PUT A CONDOM ON THE DOG'S FACE, WAS IT?" Gerard clicked the phone off with a slightly triumphant sigh.
I returned to the safety of the cubicle and leant against the wall, barely able to suppress my laughter.
I can truly say that I wasn't expecting that.
My imagination instantly whirred into overdrive and before I know it I have a highly illogical explanation for all of this.
(("What are you laughing at, poo face?" Mikey growls threateningly at the animal. "Yeah, I know your secrets. I've seen you eat your own faeces in the back yard, you disgust me." He slurs. The dog cocks its head to the side and looks slightly bemused.
This quick movement is enough to lead a very drunk Mikey to believe that his dog's head has just turned into male genitalia.
"What?" He shrieks. "How did you do that?" The dog licks its lips for an unknown reason, and now the penis Mikey is envisioning has gained a tongue. "Holy fuck!" He wails. "Oh god, you're a monster! How can I protect myself? Quick Mikey, think!" He grabs his wallet, rips out a small packet, and tears the top off of it. He removes the condom from said packet and slowly inches towards the dog, armed. "Ha-ha, not gonna get me." The taunt is barely understandable, thank to the empty vodka bottles strewn everywhere. The dog still looks at Mikey, confused and puzzled.
Then Mikey sees a window of opportunity and strikes, "HAHAHA!" He exclaims, managing to fit the condom over the dog's head, up to its perked ears. "Your mutant sperms can't get me now, penis dog creature!" Mikey sits back, impressed with his work.
After a while he realises he should probably alert someone of the current situation (in which he was almost attacked by a dog's head that transformed into a dick.) he finds Gerard's number and hazily holds the phone up to his ear.
"Y'ello?"
"Gerard, Listen, I've..." ))
Okay, I'm pretty sure that didn't happen. But those thoughts had caused me to be hysterical, and convulsions of uncontrollable laughter ripped through my body as I thought of Mikey's strange and fictional encounter. I stepped out of the cubicle and faced Gerard. He'd turned around, and was looking so shocked at my presence I might as well have been an apparition.
"Frank!" He practically shouts, looking overly happy to see me.
"...What just happened?" I asked, my amusement clouded by the major confusion I was experiencing.
There was a small silence. Right then is when I remember that it shouldn't be funny to me. Dogs are by far my favourite animal, and why the fuck had this 'Mikey' even thought of doing this to a defenceless creature? I gave Gerard a chance to repent for his brother's sins.
"Well...my brother..."
Too Slow! Here comes my inner-animal-rights-campaigner.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOUR BROTHER HARMED ONE OF MY MINIONS! HOW DARE HE COMMIT THIS BLASPHEMOUS ACT!" I ranted, barely being able to stifle the laughter. My cheeks hurting from resisting laughter was certainly worth Gerard's puzzlement though.
"I-I don't think he hurt it...and..er..um..Minions, Frank?" He stuttered, baffled.
Personally I thought my choice of words was rather marvellous.
"I like dogs a lot, okay?" I snapped, letting the humour leak into my voice. I still pulled an angry expression though, pretending to be horrified.
He stepped towards me, and although he tried to hide it, he studied my choice of clothes. I'm not what I was expecting, after all I did meet him at a LGBT club: fashion conscious was cute, especially when I was being scrutinized by those mesmerizing hazel orbs.
Suddenly he broke out of his intense outfit analysis and his face brightened. "I didn't know you came here!"
"Uh, yeah, just moved...Dad's Job..." I feigned awkwardness, mainly because like I said before I don't have a clue of what my dad's job is, but also partly because I didn't want to offload my problems onto the most attractive acquaintance I'd ever made.
"So, how are you liking this shit-hole of a school?" He grinned. Obviously, Gerard doesn't have the nicest experience here. I felt slight guilty, due to the fact I happened to walk into the most popular boy in the school on my very first day and instantly gain a whole new group of friends and a shit load of respect from people I don't even know, while Gerard seemed like he struggled through every hour here.
"I'm getting along, I suppose." I watered down the truth. This is by far the best I've ever 'got along' in any school so far. "I've got a few friends. I've kinda been looking forward to a fresh start, and well, It's my first day and..."
" I hope you enjoy it!" he interjected cheerily as he brushed his hand against my arm, instantly causing a huge grin to spread across my face, making my eyes light up and my cheeks blush slightly ; The whole works.
Goddamn my tendency to 'fangirl'.
It's not my fault he's so flawless.
It's not my fault I've well and truly (and rather dangerously, might I add) fallen for him.
"So, what did you do, out of curiosity, to the dog?" I asked, desperate to stop the conversation from drying out.
"Well, my brother gets bored easily, and for some reason the only things to hand were a dog and a condom...So now the dog has a condom on its face. Good job Mikey is only inquisitive, not perverse!" He chuckled lightly.
Ah, no drunken escapades then. That's a relief!
The droning bell rings again and the love I had for the bell during English is immediately replaced with resentment for interrupting my conversation with Gerard.
"Shit, Gotta go, enjoy your day!" He shot me a beaming smile and placed a re-assuring hand on my shoulder before he dashed out of the door.
I was left standing in the toilets, alone, with a shoulder that was practically dancing due to all the electric currents running through there. How could Gerard, someone I had met twice, have such an adverse effect on me? That would be one of the many queries stuck in my head today. But honestly, I doubted I would be able to take my mind off Gerard for long enough to remember how to breathe...