I didn't see Gerard again until art that day, last lesson. I couldn't stop thinking about him and, more than anything, that fact that he'd kissed my scars. I didn't know what it meant. I mean, it obviously wouldn't be because he found me attractive or whatever because, hello, look at me. The only conclusion I could come up with was that he felt sorry for me and, kind-hearted person that he is, he wanted to help me. But, at the same time, I didn't fully believe he was so cool and calm about my cutting. I figured he was pretending it was no big deal, whilst really thinking I'm some crazy-ass chick, but being too nice to say so. My mind continued like this all afternoon, spinning in circles about Gerard's behaviour. By the time last period rolled around, I was developing a serious headache from all the thinking I was doing. I sat down heavily in my seat at the back of the room, sighing heavily. I dumped my bag and gathered all things I needed, then began to paint intently, thinking hard, oblivious to the beautiful boy beside me. That is, until he spoke to me. "Um... Hey Krissy," his soft voice came from my left side. I jumped a little and looked up, looking into his deep, hazel eyes. "Listen, I was wondering... Me and the guys are getting together tonight, watching some movies at my place. Wanna come?" I studied him in confusion. He'd seen my scars, heard about my insecurities, witnessed firsthand just how weird I really am, and yet he was still inviting me to his house. Wow. I really wanted to say yes, but a few things stopped me. My 'dad' for one thing, he wouldn't approve. And then there was my weird behaviour at lunch, I didn't want to be explaining that to them. So I smiled at Gerard as best I could, and said, "Thanks for inviting me, but I have some stuff I need to be doing tonight. Sorry." He studied me for a moment, before nodding and turning silently back to his work. We remained quiet all lesson, Gerard appeared lost in his thoughts. Around ten minutes before the end, Austen walked over, this time with a slut draped all over him. "Yo, Goth and Gothella." I looked up at him darkly. "One - Gothella? Is that really the very best you can do? Really? And two, fuck yourself." I turned back to my painting. I was so not in the mood. Austen smirked, and grabbed my paintbrush, splattering black paint over my work. I swore viciously, shot him a look that should have ended him, and attempted to repair the damage before it dried. Gerard jumped up, and snatched the brush back. "Dickhead," he muttered as he sat back down again. Austen grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him upright. "What did you say, cunt?" He demanded. "I called you a dickhead." Gerard spoke slowly and loudly, enunciating each word as if he were talking to a child. Austen pulled back his arm, ready to punch Gerard, and I flew out of my seat to slap him in the face, hard. He looked at me, shocked, giving Gerard an opening to knee him violently in the balls. Austen moaned and dropped to his knees, grunting in agony. His slutty girlfriend had by now strode away, and was stood with a couple other slutty chicks across the room, watching the whole scene. A whirlwind in purple clothes came flurrying over. Mrs Davies. "Oh, my goodness! Austen! Dearie, are you okay? What happened?" Between pained gasps, Austen managed to stutter out, "G-Gerard... He h-hit me, Miss." Mrs D focused her ruthless anger upon my saviour. "Gerard! Principal's office! Now!" Both me and Gerard tried to protest, but she was having none of it, so in the end he walked silently away. I watched him go, biting my lip, and he glanced over his shoulder and winked at me, making me smile. I kept that smile for the rest of the hour, until the bell rang and I left the room. I stepped out, and spotted Gerard leaning against a wall, watching me. I walked over, grinning. "What's the,damage?" He returned my smile with a cute smirk. "Two days suspension. And that's supposed to be punishment." I laughed. "Gerard, you're meant to feel bad about it, not celebrate two days freedom." He shrugged, and I laughed again. "Well, I have to get going," I told him, secretly wishing I could stay with him, or take up his offer of a movie night. Sigh. He frowned, and caught my wrist. "Look, Krissy, what I saw at lunch..." I stiffened. "No, don't worry, I'm not gonna say anything or judge you or whatever, just... If you feel like doing that again, will you talk to me? Call me or text me or something? Let me try and help you." I studied him, unsure of what to say. "Why?" I asked softly. "Why do you want to help me?" He ran his fingers through his hair, sighing. "Because..." He sighed again. Then, wordlessly, he pushed up the sleeve of his sweater, and revealed his forearm, which was layered with scar after scar, all of the faded and clearly not recent, but definitely there. "We're more alike than you think." He then grabbed my hand and wrote on it, then hurried away, leaving me staring after him once again. I looked down at my hand, and found a phone number scrawled in spiky writing, with a little smiley face on the end. I smiled a little, and keyed it into my phone, under the name 'Gerard :) xx'.

Notes

Nearly 160 views! I feel so loved!! This is a bit of a filler, to be honest, but I've been dying of writer's block lately, and I needed this to build up to the next chapter, which will be much more exciting, I swear :) as always, tell me what you think, I want feedback! Particular thanks to CyanideDreams for the loverly comments. Accept my virtual hugs. I think I may just have to dedicate the next chapter to you :D