I threw my books angrily into the compartment, making loud clanging noises, and slammed the door shut. The corridor had filled with students and Dean had blended into the crowd. Everyone was so intent on getting home that no-one witnessed our exchange. I stomped out of the corridor, not bothering to stop and let people past. I barged through a group of younger girls who complained loudly until they realised who it was they were shouting at. I simply ignored them, I wanted to get out, and I wanted to do so before I was found by my friends.

The cold stung my burning cheeks as I stepped outside into the snow; it was then that I realised the tears that had leaked out onto my face. I wiped them away angrily and carefully descended the steps that were now covered in slush. I was not sheltered by the gym anymore, so I felt the full force of winter as I slipped and slid on the concrete.

My mother was waiting for me at the kerb outside the school grounds. I couldn't lie, I was relieved that I didn't have to walk in the snow, but my anger masked any attempt to be grateful. I didn't even feel like joking about my mum's driving.

"Hi!" She chirped happily as I climbed into the car.

"Hi," I replied, twitching my lip slightly in what was supposed to be a smile. My mum noticed I was not my usual self, but she didn't question me. She would be waiting until she got home to do that - she was too busy concentrating on driving at that moment.

The car ride was silent. I stared out of the window, making no attempt at conversation. The snow was still falling, but not as aggressively as it had been that morning. It fell to the ground where there was already a thick layer of it smothering the earth. The sidewalks had been reduced to a horrible wet slush, through which hundreds of cold and disgruntled students shuffled. The corners of my mouth twitched upwards for a brief moment when I saw a boy in all black with his hood up and head down, stomping through the slush angrily. Serves him right, I thought, he's been nothing but a massive dickhead to me.

The car had barely stopped when I jumped out onto my drive. I hurried up to the porch, pulling out my set of keys and letting myself in. Leaving the door open for my mum, I bolted up the stairs and shut myself in my room. It was only when I was inside that I bothered to even take my shoes off. I was trying to avoid the interrogation that was surely coming, but I knew I couldn't get away from it forever. What would I say? 'It's nothing! My friends have ordered me to have sex with some guy that has just grabbed me by the hair, threatening to make my life hell, all the while the guy I kissed on Saturday whilst drunk is avoiding me and thinks I'm trying to make his life hell when I'm actually just trying to reach out to him. See, nothing at all!'

I sighed loudly in frustration and fell back onto my pillows. It was strange to think I'd started Monday morning feeling elated and was now ending it wanting to punch numerous people.

A small knock on my door told me that time for thinking was over. I needed to settle on an excuse fast, and I was still wracking my brain when my mother entered.

"Is something wrong, Evie?" She looked genuinely concerned as she sat on my bed. And she had every right to be; her only daughter had came home with puffy red eyes and a frown that could rival a displeased toddler. Her eyes studied me carefully as I picked at my teddy's ears. He was old and falling to bits, but he was still my go-to guy. Better than Dean or any of the football team, better than Gerard, even better than my dad.

"No, nothing," I said weakly, shaking my head slightly. When I had asked for an excuse, my brain had given me none. Sometimes I wondered what the purpose of that thing actually was. Mum didn't buy it. She gave me the same sceptical look I gave her when she promised not to kill me that morning.

"Is it a boy?" You have no idea, mother. Boys had never been a huge part of my life and then I ended up have confrontations with two in one day. I dared a peek at Mum and she instantly knew that she was right. "Who is it?" She asked, a hint of triumph in her otherwise kind and level voice.

I didn't reply immediately, instead I sat and picked at a piece of thread until it came away from the ear of my teddy dog. I was desperately trying to think of way to get out of this situation. I obviously couldn't tell her about Dean - she would go to the school and then people would think I was some kind of victim, which I am most certainly not. If anything, Dean was the victim; he had to live with the shame of being rejected by a girl, something he was definitely not used to.

"His name is Gerard," I admitted after a long pause. My mum urged me to continue. "First off, I don't like him. Not in the slightest. He hates me, anyway."

"So why is he bothering you so much?"

I fell silent. Why was he bothering me so much? Because he hated me so much? Because he knew exactly what to say to irritate me? No. I wanted to prove him wrong. Like I've said many times before, I wasn't the person he thought I was. I wasn't like my friends. True, I was a 'fucking cheerleader' - as he put it - but did that mean I had to be a bad person? Was I the only cheerleader who didn't live up to the expectations of everyone? I was intelligent, dignified and, strangest of all, kind. I didn't want a reputation for being a total bitch. That's why I was so obsessed with Gerard - I could get away from the image I had inadvertently created for myself when I was with him. I could be Evie - clumsy, awkward, and constantly worrying about giving off the wrong impression. And I had indeed given off the completely wrong impression.

"He thinks I'm someone I'm not."

"Well show him he's wrong." Such a simple suggestion.

"I've been trying, Mum. He just doesn't want to know."

"Make him." My mum was always the most stubborn in my family. I had inherited some of her stubbornness, but she always came out on top. She always got her own way or she would sulk and stomp about the house until we gave in. She was a child, really.

I knew that pursuing him any further would just lead him to run away again. 'Making him' see who I really was just really wasn't an option. I guess I could just wait. I'd caught him staring at me at lunch, maybe he was thinking over what I'd said. I suppose if I was patient enough, he'd come round...possibly. But so what if he didn't? It's not like I'd be losing anything. We were never anything more than awkward acquaintances and I got a little too close while drunk. It wasn't even a proper kiss - just a peck on the lips. Taylor and I did that to each other all the time; it doesn't mean we're gay, just good friends. Yeah, a peck on the lips means nothing, so I didn't need to talk about it with him. It was a mistake, nothing more. And with that sorted, I can move on. Gerard Way has officially (in my head) been removed from my life. We would go back to being nothing. He could hate me all he wants, and I could ignore him unless my friends urged me to retaliate. Simple.

"I'll try, mum," I smiled as I realised she had been staring at me all the way through my mental monologue. She smiled too, patting my knee and standing up.

"Your father's working late," she said, stretching slightly, "something about seismolickal activity in the Pacific."

"Seismological, mum. Earthquakes..." I laughed. She didn't understand the first thing about Dad's research. To be honest, I don't think she cared.

"Yeah, that. Anyway, pizza for dinner?"

"Yes!"

The next day the snow had not eased, but I was left to walk to school again. Mum was on the early shift and Dad had left early to prepare his teachings. I hardly saw him these days, he was always so wrapped up in his rock stuff.

I shuffled unhappily through the blizzard that was battling with me to turn the other way. In all honesty it was probably trying to do me a favour, but the girls would kill me if I skipped school. As would my parents. Why I didn't have a car yet was beyond me, although I doubt my dad would allow me to drive in the winter weather - especially not after seeing Mum's attempts. I was a lot more sensible than she was though - I hadn't been as unfortunate as to be landed with the stupid blonde gene.

I arrived at school with little time to spare, although when I entered home room it was as if I had been four hours early. Taylor was sat at her usual spot, beaming at me as I walked through the door sodden and shivering, but she was one of the only people actually present. Miss Collins was nowhere to be seen again, along with two thirds of the class. Many tables were empty, and those that were occupied only had one person sitting at them, looking around for their partners and looking as confused as I was. Nevertheless, we waited obediently and made our way to our lessons once the bell rung.

I said goodbye to Taylor (who had been chatting about her newest crush) and pushed open the door to my first class. Inside was a similar story to my experience in home room. A teacher was present, but not the usual tall, nerdy old man. In front of her was a grand total of five teenagers (including myself). Needless to say, half way through our substitute teacher admitting she knew nothing about biology, a welcome announcement came through the intercom.

"This message is addressed to all students," the principal's nasally voice rang out, "due to severe weather conditions I have been forced to close the school. We are in the process of informing your parents - please leave sensibly and safely."

I could hear the cheers erupt from every classroom along the corridor. There was a loud scraping of chairs and the rumble of footsteps as every kid in the school rushed towards the entrance. The people in my classroom left quickly (including the teacher) and were instantly lost in the crowd. I caught a glimpse of my friends as I was pushed towards the doors. Thankfully they didn't see me, not that I would have been able to stop even if they had. I was well and truly caught up in the mob and would have ended up trampled on if I'd have tried to go against it.

Outside, I stumbled and slipped down the front steps in the bitter cold, driven by the force of the crowd of students surrounding me. I let out a girly squeak as my feet went from underneath me. Before I landed in my arse, I felt someone's arms hook under my own.

Notes

Sorry for the long wait and general crappiness of this chapter. I guess I struggled to link two ideas so this is kind of a filler. Gerard has only made fleeting appearances recently but I promise that will change soon. Don't forget to comment and show me some love! ;)