Keep the Right One In
Normal
The next day, nobody other than Billie Joe Armstrong shows up on my doorway. I sigh, pushing Gerard over a little so I can get out of bed. I stretch, pulling my arms above my head, getting on my tippie toes and spreading out my wings. I find a shirt on the floor and hide my wings beneath it. I decide to go commando, stepping only into a pair of Gir pajama pants. I head to the door, yawning as I do so.
I open it, to see Billie Joe. He’s smiling his dumb grin, and he’s holding yet another plate of cookies. I can’t help but smile, and I invite him inside and thank him for the food. I set the cookies down in the kitchen, and sit on the couch so we aren’t tempted to eat them all again like last time.
“You know,” Billie starts. “Frank, you look about ten. I’m surprised you’re not at school, after all, it’s Monday now.”
I cringe at the mere thought of school. Tried it when I was a human, and it didn’t really work out. “Um, I don’t go to school.”
Billie frowns. “How old are you and Gerard?”
“Gerard’s sixteen, and I’m thirteen,” I respond.
Billie recoils in shock, holding a hand to his chest in utter dismay. “How are you guys not going to school?!” He shakes his head and stands, pushing me towards the bedroom. “I’ll drive you guys if you want. Let’s go, wake up Gerard.”
I plant my feet in an attempt to stay put, but Billie is so much stronger than me that he easily continues to glide me across the carpet. He shoves me into the bedroom, and I growl at him before shaking Gerard, saying flatly,
“Gee, wake up. Time for school.”
Gerard’s eyes shoot open at the word “school”. “What?!”
“Billie says we have to go to school,” I grumble.
Gerard snaps up to a sitting position, looking at Billie desperately. “But… but… I’m sixteen! I’m allowed to drop out!”
“Doesn’t mean you should,” Billie retorts. “Now come on, let’s go. There’s only one school within the block, and it requires uniforms. We’ll worry about that later though, because they let it slide with new students.”
I cringe and turn to Billie, my eyebrows perked in horror. “U- uniforms?”
Billie nods. “Yeah, a little tie and a shirt with a blazer. And dress pants. That’s all. I think they’re kind of neat.”
I turn to Gerard, silently screaming, “Don’t make him take us.” Gerard sits there and kind of gives me a look like “I can’t help it!”
Billie struts over to Gerard, ripping off the blanket as he yells, “Wake up!” His smile drops and he spins around, turning beat red as he covers his eyes. “Didn’t know you were naked.”
Gerard is crimson as well, as he crosses the room to put on his flame boxers. He dresses himself into a pair of faded black skinnies and a Lion King t shirt. He leans over, stepping into his shoes, and pushes past Billie, grumbling,
“Let’s go.”
Billie leaves, and I follow, getting stuck in the back seat as we drive to the school. Billie hands us a notebook each and a box of pencils.
“Why do you have all this shit in your car?” I ask.
“Number one: Tre and I write a lot, number two, don’t curse, Frankie,” Billie scolds.
Billie grins and gives us the thumbs up before peeling out of the driveway. Gerard starts towards the school, and I have to take extra steps to keep up with his long strides.
“Gerard… Gerard wait…” I puff, already exhausted from having to match his pace.
He stops and looks at me.
“I- I’m scared,” I admit.
Gerard smiles, and squeezes my hand, assuring, “It’ll be alright Frankie. Just follow me.”
We head into the office, where we are given schedules. The only problem is, Gerard is a fucking sophomore, and I’m just an eighth grader. We’re in complete opposite sides of the building. As we leave, Gerard mumbles,
“You know, you could have lied about what grade you’re in.”
“Gerard… I… I really don’t want to do this,” I worry. I look down at the floor, and tears begin to well up in my eyes. I look up at Gerard. “I’m- I’m still scared.”
Gerard pushes my bangs back, leaving my forehead exposed, and plants a kiss in the center of it. He hugs me, comforting, “Everything will be alright.” He wipes the tears from my face and takes my head in his hands, lifting my head up so I can meet his eyes. “I’ll meet you here after school, okay?”
“Okay,” I agree. I smile, before heading in the opposite direction from Gerard to get to my third period class, math.
I arrive, and knock timidly on the door. I stand there, and stare at the ground as the door opens.
“I’m- I’m Frank Iero,” I mutter. “I’m a new student.”
“Frank, great,” the teacher beams. She places a hand on my shoulder and another on the small of my back, guiding me inside and into the front of the room. Everyone in the class drops quiet and stares at me. You think they’d never seen a physically thirteen year old vampire with a pierced lip and nose.
They all stare at me in awe, and I swear that I see some of them snickering. If it’s about me, I don’t know, but something tells me that it totally is.
“Do you want to introduce yourself?” the teacher asks.
“I’m Frank,” I say, lifting up my head to gaze out at my peers.
“Take a seat, right in the back corner there,” the teacher instructs.
I start my path over, when a boy sticks his leg out under me. It’s too late for me to react, and I totally fall for it, sending me flat onto my face. I lay sprawled out on the floor, and I can actually feel my face get progressively hotter and hotter with embarrassment. The kids’ laughter rings in my ears as I gather up my things and scamper to my seat, burying my head into my arms.
I have the worst day ever, with not a single classmate talking to me the entire time. At lunch, I sit by myself, with nothing to do, since eating makes me sick. And everyone stares at me and points at me, and halfway through I’m minding my business doodling in my notebook when a sandwich sails across the room, nailing me in the face.
I groan as I toss it to the side, glaring at the boy who threw it. I slam my head on the table, screwing my eyes shut for the rest of lunch period.
Later that day, I go to meet Gerard at the spot we designated earlier. When I get there, I see him at his locker. He’s getting his books out when a larger kid knocks them out of his hands, shoving Gerard to the ground as well.
“Oops, sorry freak,” the boy sneers. He kicks one of Gerard’s books.
Gerard stacks up all of his books, not saying a word.
“Hey, I’m talking to you, faggot,” the boy barks, shoving Gerard back onto his ass.
Gerard looks up at the boy, fear in his hazel eyes. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“Oh, isn’t that cute,” the boy mocks. “Too bad.” He punches Gerard in the gut.
After that, I white out in rage. When the white clears to the sides and I can see again, I see the boy that was hassling on the ground, clutching at his throat, which is spurting bright red blood. Gerard stares up at me, and nervously looks around the hall, where kids are now noticing the injured boy and screaming.
I wipe my mouth, and the blood on my mouth smears across my cheek and onto my sleeve.
“The freak bit me!” the boy cries. “Help!”
Gerard grabs my hand, hustling down the steps with me in toe. “Frank, we have to leave. Now.”
We run outside, where Billie is waiting for us in his car. Gerard gets into the passenger seat, waving quickly, and I climb into the back. Billie looks at me through the rear view mirror and cocks his head, confused.
Oh, fuck. He can see the blood.
“Frank…” he begins. He points to his own mouth. “Did… did some kids give you trouble?”
I’m too startled by his assumption to respond. Gerard nudges me, so I stammer, “Y-yeah. It’s not a big deal really.”
Billie holds up his hands. “I hear you, little guy. Just let me know if they don’t leave you alone, okay?”
“Okay, I promise,” I agree. I smile at Gerard through the mirror, but he just looks stressed and turns away.
When we get home, I ask Gerard,
“What’s up with you?”
“Well,” Gerard starts. His forehead creases with anger, and he responds, “Maybe because you fucking bit a kid’s neck today.”
My voice cracks with hurt as I retort, “I was protecting you!”
“Frank, I can handle it. I’m a big boy. Besides, you’re supposed to be acting fucking normal,” Gerard spits.
“There’s no need to yell cusses at me,” I mutter, tears building up in my eyes.
Gerard sees the tears, and he softens, apologizing,
“I’m sorry, Frankie. I didn’t mean it. It’s just… promise me…. You’ll do whatever you can to be a normal eighth grader.
I nod, and bite my lip to try to get the tears to stop. But they don’t, and they spill out of my sides. Gerard hugs me as I cry, rubbing my back in small circles. By the time I’m all cried out, he carries me to our bed, cuddling up next to me and locking our hands as we both fall asleep.
I open it, to see Billie Joe. He’s smiling his dumb grin, and he’s holding yet another plate of cookies. I can’t help but smile, and I invite him inside and thank him for the food. I set the cookies down in the kitchen, and sit on the couch so we aren’t tempted to eat them all again like last time.
“You know,” Billie starts. “Frank, you look about ten. I’m surprised you’re not at school, after all, it’s Monday now.”
I cringe at the mere thought of school. Tried it when I was a human, and it didn’t really work out. “Um, I don’t go to school.”
Billie frowns. “How old are you and Gerard?”
“Gerard’s sixteen, and I’m thirteen,” I respond.
Billie recoils in shock, holding a hand to his chest in utter dismay. “How are you guys not going to school?!” He shakes his head and stands, pushing me towards the bedroom. “I’ll drive you guys if you want. Let’s go, wake up Gerard.”
I plant my feet in an attempt to stay put, but Billie is so much stronger than me that he easily continues to glide me across the carpet. He shoves me into the bedroom, and I growl at him before shaking Gerard, saying flatly,
“Gee, wake up. Time for school.”
Gerard’s eyes shoot open at the word “school”. “What?!”
“Billie says we have to go to school,” I grumble.
Gerard snaps up to a sitting position, looking at Billie desperately. “But… but… I’m sixteen! I’m allowed to drop out!”
“Doesn’t mean you should,” Billie retorts. “Now come on, let’s go. There’s only one school within the block, and it requires uniforms. We’ll worry about that later though, because they let it slide with new students.”
I cringe and turn to Billie, my eyebrows perked in horror. “U- uniforms?”
Billie nods. “Yeah, a little tie and a shirt with a blazer. And dress pants. That’s all. I think they’re kind of neat.”
I turn to Gerard, silently screaming, “Don’t make him take us.” Gerard sits there and kind of gives me a look like “I can’t help it!”
Billie struts over to Gerard, ripping off the blanket as he yells, “Wake up!” His smile drops and he spins around, turning beat red as he covers his eyes. “Didn’t know you were naked.”
Gerard is crimson as well, as he crosses the room to put on his flame boxers. He dresses himself into a pair of faded black skinnies and a Lion King t shirt. He leans over, stepping into his shoes, and pushes past Billie, grumbling,
“Let’s go.”
Billie leaves, and I follow, getting stuck in the back seat as we drive to the school. Billie hands us a notebook each and a box of pencils.
“Why do you have all this shit in your car?” I ask.
“Number one: Tre and I write a lot, number two, don’t curse, Frankie,” Billie scolds.
Billie grins and gives us the thumbs up before peeling out of the driveway. Gerard starts towards the school, and I have to take extra steps to keep up with his long strides.
“Gerard… Gerard wait…” I puff, already exhausted from having to match his pace.
He stops and looks at me.
“I- I’m scared,” I admit.
Gerard smiles, and squeezes my hand, assuring, “It’ll be alright Frankie. Just follow me.”
We head into the office, where we are given schedules. The only problem is, Gerard is a fucking sophomore, and I’m just an eighth grader. We’re in complete opposite sides of the building. As we leave, Gerard mumbles,
“You know, you could have lied about what grade you’re in.”
“Gerard… I… I really don’t want to do this,” I worry. I look down at the floor, and tears begin to well up in my eyes. I look up at Gerard. “I’m- I’m still scared.”
Gerard pushes my bangs back, leaving my forehead exposed, and plants a kiss in the center of it. He hugs me, comforting, “Everything will be alright.” He wipes the tears from my face and takes my head in his hands, lifting my head up so I can meet his eyes. “I’ll meet you here after school, okay?”
“Okay,” I agree. I smile, before heading in the opposite direction from Gerard to get to my third period class, math.
I arrive, and knock timidly on the door. I stand there, and stare at the ground as the door opens.
“I’m- I’m Frank Iero,” I mutter. “I’m a new student.”
“Frank, great,” the teacher beams. She places a hand on my shoulder and another on the small of my back, guiding me inside and into the front of the room. Everyone in the class drops quiet and stares at me. You think they’d never seen a physically thirteen year old vampire with a pierced lip and nose.
They all stare at me in awe, and I swear that I see some of them snickering. If it’s about me, I don’t know, but something tells me that it totally is.
“Do you want to introduce yourself?” the teacher asks.
“I’m Frank,” I say, lifting up my head to gaze out at my peers.
“Take a seat, right in the back corner there,” the teacher instructs.
I start my path over, when a boy sticks his leg out under me. It’s too late for me to react, and I totally fall for it, sending me flat onto my face. I lay sprawled out on the floor, and I can actually feel my face get progressively hotter and hotter with embarrassment. The kids’ laughter rings in my ears as I gather up my things and scamper to my seat, burying my head into my arms.
I have the worst day ever, with not a single classmate talking to me the entire time. At lunch, I sit by myself, with nothing to do, since eating makes me sick. And everyone stares at me and points at me, and halfway through I’m minding my business doodling in my notebook when a sandwich sails across the room, nailing me in the face.
I groan as I toss it to the side, glaring at the boy who threw it. I slam my head on the table, screwing my eyes shut for the rest of lunch period.
Later that day, I go to meet Gerard at the spot we designated earlier. When I get there, I see him at his locker. He’s getting his books out when a larger kid knocks them out of his hands, shoving Gerard to the ground as well.
“Oops, sorry freak,” the boy sneers. He kicks one of Gerard’s books.
Gerard stacks up all of his books, not saying a word.
“Hey, I’m talking to you, faggot,” the boy barks, shoving Gerard back onto his ass.
Gerard looks up at the boy, fear in his hazel eyes. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“Oh, isn’t that cute,” the boy mocks. “Too bad.” He punches Gerard in the gut.
After that, I white out in rage. When the white clears to the sides and I can see again, I see the boy that was hassling on the ground, clutching at his throat, which is spurting bright red blood. Gerard stares up at me, and nervously looks around the hall, where kids are now noticing the injured boy and screaming.
I wipe my mouth, and the blood on my mouth smears across my cheek and onto my sleeve.
“The freak bit me!” the boy cries. “Help!”
Gerard grabs my hand, hustling down the steps with me in toe. “Frank, we have to leave. Now.”
We run outside, where Billie is waiting for us in his car. Gerard gets into the passenger seat, waving quickly, and I climb into the back. Billie looks at me through the rear view mirror and cocks his head, confused.
Oh, fuck. He can see the blood.
“Frank…” he begins. He points to his own mouth. “Did… did some kids give you trouble?”
I’m too startled by his assumption to respond. Gerard nudges me, so I stammer, “Y-yeah. It’s not a big deal really.”
Billie holds up his hands. “I hear you, little guy. Just let me know if they don’t leave you alone, okay?”
“Okay, I promise,” I agree. I smile at Gerard through the mirror, but he just looks stressed and turns away.
When we get home, I ask Gerard,
“What’s up with you?”
“Well,” Gerard starts. His forehead creases with anger, and he responds, “Maybe because you fucking bit a kid’s neck today.”
My voice cracks with hurt as I retort, “I was protecting you!”
“Frank, I can handle it. I’m a big boy. Besides, you’re supposed to be acting fucking normal,” Gerard spits.
“There’s no need to yell cusses at me,” I mutter, tears building up in my eyes.
Gerard sees the tears, and he softens, apologizing,
“I’m sorry, Frankie. I didn’t mean it. It’s just… promise me…. You’ll do whatever you can to be a normal eighth grader.
I nod, and bite my lip to try to get the tears to stop. But they don’t, and they spill out of my sides. Gerard hugs me as I cry, rubbing my back in small circles. By the time I’m all cried out, he carries me to our bed, cuddling up next to me and locking our hands as we both fall asleep.
Notes
Thanks so much for reading! Please comment!! If you like this story, try some of my other fics!Send fanart and such here: www.these-wounds-will-scar-me.tumblr.com/submit and I'll post it on my blog!
Talk to me here: www.these-wounds-will-scar-me.tumblr.com/ask
Follow me on Twitter at: @thehotinpsychotic
Thanks again for reading!
Yay cause I love this story
3/19/14