Keep the Right One In

Gerard’s P.O.V.
When Frank and I go to school the next day, neither of us have any clue as to what I’m going to say when I inevitably cross paths with Matt. I mean, I stand next to the kid in vocal, and while we’re both introverted, neither of us are so much that way that we’d be able to stand in complete silence the entire period.
When vocal comes, I see Matt sitting in his spot, playing with a string hanging off his shirt. As I walk, I try to piece together what I’m going to say, when he looks up at me with his grey blue eyes. I lose all thought process, and stutter,
“L-l-lovely day, i-isn’t it?”
Matt tears the thread off and rolls it around in his palms, transferring it from hand to hand. “Gerard, you don’t have to pretend that everything’s all dandy.”
I actually feel myself droop in disappointment. “So that’s what kind of period this is going to be, huh?”
Matt sighs, stringing his fingers through his hair. “I’m not mad, okay? Just… just a little shaken.”
“What do you mean, ‘shaken’?” I demand.
“Gee, I don’t know, maybe the fact that I’m a fourteen year old boy who almost had a three way with his best friends?” Matt retorts. “Look, it was a mistake, and I’m glad I realized that in time. Can’t we just move on?”
“I want to know why it’s a mistake,” I admit.
“You want to know?” Matt questions. “If Frank and you and I all were together, I would be both of your second choice. Always. I’d be that third wheel that nobody wants, and I get enough of that in real life, so sorry if I don’t want it in my sex life as well.”
I contemplate what he had confessed, and we sit in silence, me trying to think of the right thing to say. Matt adds,
“I just want some time away. I feel like that’s the only thing that can fix this.”
“Fine. I can give you that,” I reply. “When do you think you’ll be recovered?”
Matt bites his lip, and then decides, “Just give me until next week.”
So, I tell Frank, and we stay away from Matt. It’s incredibly hard for me, since Matt was my only friend. At lunch, when he sits with Brad and Tich and everyone else, I’m forced to sit somewhere else to avoid the awkward. I end up eating completely alone, and the kids from the other table shoot over condescending sneers and judgmental eye rolls.
When Billie picks Frank and I up, Frank asks in the car,
“So how’d Matt take it?”
Billie chuckles, “Oh, shit. What’d you two do?”
I look over at Frank for approval, who nods, before confiding, “We may have asked a fourteen year old to partake in a three way with us.”
The car swerves slightly on its tires, and Billie yanks at the steering wheel to get it back on track. “I beg your pardon?!”
“Yeah… in retrospect, it was sort of strange,” Frank admits.
“You don’t say?!” Billie demands. “You guys, that’s kind of weird.”
“No, it’s not that weird!” I insist. “He’s a freshman, and he’s my friend.”
“Ew!” Billie cringes. “The fact that he’s your friend just makes it worse!”
“Why?” Frank wonders.
“Yeah, that’s what Matt said, basically. I’m not quite getting it,” I tell.
Billie sighs, grumbling, “Oh my God you two are such fucking horny children.” He huffs and explains, “Look, when you have sexual relations with someone, you won’t ever see them the same way again. Which is why you normally only do this with people you are in love with and see a romantic future with.” He glimpses back at me and over to Frank before looking back at the road, concluding, “In other words, not your friends!”
I blush, and Frank too goes pink as we realize what we’d really done.
We ride in tranquility for a while until Billie asks,
“How did he take it?”
“He just needs some time to get over it,” I answer. “Shit, we never should’ve asked. He’s just a kid.”
“Watch your mouth,” Billie orders. “You’re still in high school; don’t say shit.” He plucks the cigarette Frank was starting smoke and pops it into his own mouth, continuing, “I’d rather you make this mistake as a teen than an adult, I suppose. I’m just glad it didn’t ruin your relationship with the kid.”
I nod, considering this. “Yeah, I guess we did get off pretty lucky.”
Frank bobs his head in agreement.
Frank’s P.O.V.
We go to school that next day, and Gerard tells me about how much keeping his distance from everyone in Matt’s circle of friends sucks. I believe him; I don’t really have any friends in my grade yet, and lunch is easily the worst part of the day. I’ve been eating in the bathroom a lot, even though it reeks of urine and sometimes people smoke in there. It’s just less embarrassing than being seen eating all alone in front of the entire grade.
Gerard and I are walking home from school today; the weather’s a lot nicer than it has been and we’ve elected to take advantage of it. I’m walking over to the high school section, and I’m almost to the third floor when I realize I have to go to the bathroom. I step in, only to find Matt pinned up against a wall by what looks like an upperclassman.
Matt’s in a pigeon toed stance; his knees buckled inwards and the tips of his feet touching each other. He’s being held by his shirt, and he looks over at me desperately, fear flickering like cold flames in his eyes.
The bully notices me, and barks,
“Just get out of here, you little bitch! Go home to mommy.”
I turn for the door, but something wills me to turn around. I plant my foot, curling my fists and retorting, “No.”
The boy kicks Matt in the shin harshly, causing Matt to cry out in pain. He faces me, shoving Matt to the floor, who grips his leg. He flicks me in the chest, growling,
“This is your last fucking chance to walk out that door and act like you didn’t see shit. Make the choice, midget.”
I look down at my fist, which is trembling with rage. Rage for all that this dick had put Matt through just for being unique. I lose it. I launch myself at him, biting him once on the shoulder and then scooping up Matt.
My wings tear through my shirt, and I leap out of the window, my wings catching me fathoms above the ground. I do all of this hopefully before that jerk can even blink. Matt clings to me as I fly away to his house, where I call Gerard and tell him I’m there. Gerard says he’ll be over in ten minutes. This leaves me with ten minutes to explain to Matt what the fuck had just happened.

Notes

Sorry it took me literally FOREVER to update. Kind of considered dropping this fic, but Goddamit, I (usually) finish what I start!

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