By the time English was over I was in a daze.

How on earth was it possible that there could be two teachers that good looking?

Young teachers, who could get a job doing anything else if they wanted to.

They could be rockstars or models, fucking anything yet they decide to teach annoying high school kids.

I swear if anymore dishy teachers show up I'm gonna call the FBI and tell then aliens are attempting to take over my school.

Then I'll probably have to gag London to stop her from babbling about Mr. Way and Mr. Iero.

The worst part is that I know London can have a rather obsessive personality so I know she won't be dropping the subject anytime soon.
I won't be surprised if she's still joking about them by the end of the year.

I can imagine all the jokes right now, the ones about me going to prom with one of the teachers.
Some incredibly inappropriate stuff that'll make me have to cover my ears because it's scar me for life otherwise.

She will hang out with Mitch and the stuff he keeps to himself around me is the stuff he shares with her.
Sometimes I wish he'd have all the weirdo thoughts with just his friends and keep the people I know out of it.

I swear I'm lucky she's not burping and flirting like a spazz.
If that starts I'm going to force her to wear pink.

That's the only way I can think or dealing with it.

"Hey, waka-da-uppada." London snapped her fingers in front of me, trying to gain my attention once more after my zone out.

I shook my head, coming back to reality, grabbing my copy of Romeo & Juliet from my locker then closing and locking the door.

"What have we got planned for this afternoon?" I asked her as we walked down the gradually emptying school hall.

London put a hand on her face and looked to me as dramatically as usual, "I don't know, maybe work!" I jumped when she unexpectedly yelled.

I'd completely forgotten that I'd signed up for a job over the summer.
I had a serious need for a car and was now forced to save up money so I could buy my own ride.

Mitch had a car, he'd gotten the hand-me-down from Dad last year and flat out refused to share it with me because I was apparently 'weird.'

"Alright, what to we have to do?" I sighed, lifting my backpack higher up on my shoulder as we walked out of the school, badass pyrotechnics going off behind us.
That might have been a bit of an exaggeration.

"Local bus to the stop outside the mall." As strange as it might sound I actually enjoyed working but I hated the thought of public transport, hence the reason I'm getting a car.

"And," she added, glancing at her watch then immediately jogging, me having to run to catch up, "the bus is about to leave."

We sprinted down the sidewalk, backpacks bouncing and breaths huffing out at a rapid pace.

"Hurry up or we'll miss it!" She called out to me, it's not my fault I can't run fast enough, she's the one out of us who's on the track team.

"Come on slow poke." I swear if she tries to make me run any faster I'll pass out on the sidewalk and she does not want to deal with that shit.

Just as we reached the stop was when the bus pulled away leaving us standing there.

"Motherfucker!" She yelled, stomping her foot and watching our bus disappear down the street.

"Well, we're screwed." I told her, shrugging and preparing to be fired from work the next time I showed up.

Missing out on my first day, wonderful.

Shit, shit, shit.

"What are we gonna do?" I asked, flinging my arms up then dropping them again from sheer frustration.

I sat down on the sidewalk, crossing my legs while London stood there thinking.
I know I was supposed to be the smart one but I did say I hated public transport.
Why would I want to know about it?

"Catch a taxi." She suggested and I shook my head, that obviously wasn't gonna work.

"That costs cash, we're not gonna lose money to gain money. It's ridiculous." I leant forward, propping my elbows on my knees and sighing loudly.

"Walk?" I started to turn around, readying myself to tell her it was a dumb plan, "never mind."

"Call in sick?" I tried and she got a thinking look on her face before nodding.

We'd resorted to the call in sick plan a couple of times with school and it almost always worked.
I could only help the clothes store we'd be working at would believe it.

"Do we use you phone or mine?" Lonnie reached into her jacket pocket and retrieved her mobile, holding it up and squinting at the screen, trying to see it clearly through the blinding sunlight.

A car came down the street, the regular kind you'd identify with a place like this.
It slowed down the closer it got to us and came to a stop right next to where I was sitting.

"Get in the car with whoever that is?" For a moment I imagined all the news reports I've ever seen about girls getting kidnapped before immediately calming after seeing the person behind the wheel.

"Hey! Are you girls alright?" It was Mr. Iero, our home economics teacher who was the last person you'd expect to have show up in this situation.

"Yeah, we just missed this bus we really needed to catch to the local mall for our jobs." London pouted, I quickly caught on to what she was doing and disapproved of it like the rebel I am.

"Dellgate Plaza?" He asked, leaning out his car window and seeming like he was interested in our stupid teenager problems.

"That's the one!" She snapped her fingers as if remembering something then grinned at him.

"I'm on my way there now, if you girls want a lift I'd happily give you one." Without consulting me London yelled 'yes,' picked up her backpack and ran around to the empty side of the car.

I know I really shouldn't be getting into a car with a teacher who I hardly know but...

"Shotgun!" I crowed and Lonnie sighed, getting in the back door and honouring the age old rules of 'Shotgun.'

I shrugged my backpack off and slid into the car, feeling kinda weird knowing a teacher would be driving me around.

"So what job have you got?" He started a conversation, adjusting his hands on the steering wheel and pulling away from the curb.

"We work at a gothic clothing store, it's a bit like Hot Topic mixed with a tattoo parlour." That was the only way I could think to describe it and it caused Mr. Iero to laugh.

"I think I know that place." He told us, taking a hand off the steering wheel, causing the car to swerve slightly.

I won't be surprised if he turns out he's a bad driver.

"Really?" London had taken off her seatbelt and was leaning forward, talking to both of us.

"Yeah, lots of black, bits of red, some purple. The tattoo room has black roses in it." London and I had our mouths fall open simultaneously, he'd just described the place down to a T.

"Uh, that's it. You're familiar with the place?"

"Yup but they change how the room looks all the time, plus I haven't been there for a few months, Last time I was at the place it was known as Glass Fang." It's name hadn't changed yet although I knew the place had a history of changing owners on a regular basis.

"What would you be doing at a place like that?" London was asking him even more questions than me, her face was bright red at the same time as well.

"Oh, well that's easy." He shoved the the sleeves of his shirt up, taking both hands away from the steering wheel, now driving with his knees and causing me to almost have a heart attack.

"I get my tattoos done there." He turned his arms around so London and I could see every piece of inky artwork on his skin.

"I've got one on my thigh if you want to see it." He put his hands on the waist of his jeans and I freaked out, not wanting to see my teacher take his pants off in a moving car.

"No!" I yelled, wanting him to stop.

"Yes!" London shouted, I turned in my seat and lightly slapped her, getting giggles from my friend.

"I wasn't going to actually take my pants off." He laughed, finding London's enthusiasm entertaining which wasn't much of a surprise, it was hard to not like her.

"Anyway I'm going there today to get a new one added, more coloured in than anything else but whatever." His hands thankfully went back to the wheel and I sighed in relief, feeling grateful I wasn't going to die today.

Something on the radio seemed to catch his attention, he leant down and turned the volume up, smiling at the same time.

A song I was familiar with was playing and Mr. Iero easily joined in.

"Let me know that I've done wrong, when I've known this all along. I go around a time or two, just to waste my time with you. Tell me all that you've thrown away, find out games you don't wanna play. You are the only one that needs to know."

I was frowning as I watched him sing one with one hand the wheel, this wasn't the kind of behaviour you'd usually see from a teacher.

"I'll keep you my dirty little secret. Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret. Just another regret, hope that you can keep it. My dirty little secret."

This was crazy.

"Who has to know, when we live such fragile lives. It's the best way we survive. I go around a time or two, just to waste my time with you." I reached out and turned down the volume, stopping him from singing.

"You're not really a home ec teacher, right?" I asked skeptically, not believing that someone who could barely pass for a young adult had authority over a class of teenagers.

"You caught me. I'm actually a no good thug who can't even get a simple job, I just lied my way into the school and I'm not qualified at all." London giggled again, leaving me to wonder if she truly thought he was funny or just wanted to laugh because he was good looking and she wanted him to like her.

"That explains the stove bursting into flames." I muttered and he grinned, seeming boyish yet completely grown up at the same time.

"I am a teacher, Friday. As hard as it might be for you to believe I went to college and studied, I've got a degree and was officially hired by your school." It still felt like bullshit, I can feel it in my gut and when I get that feeling I'm always right.

"Dude, you are way too hot to be a teacher." I went into shock from hearing London's boldness to flat out admit what she thought.

"I know! I'm gorgeous aren't I? I'm just too fabulous for my job." I frowned again, it was almost like Lonnie and Mr. Iero were tag teaming in an attempt to confuse the fuck out of me.

Mr. Iero and London continued to gush over his 'fantabulous' looks together, increasing my level of freak out and finishing it off on a note that left me pressing my back against the car door, readying for escape.

The conversation only ended when another song came on the radio that was London's favourite and she asked him to turn it up.

I can tell you for a fact that this is not what I expected to receive when getting into a car with my home economics teacher and my best friend.

For more or less the whole trip I sat there, watching both of them interact and wondering if the whole world had gone crazy.
Never in my life have I met a teacher who would so happily talk with one of his students.

"Friday, you listening? You aren't being a sociable as you were earlier on today in class." Mr. Iero commented as the car slowed, entering the mall parking lot and circling around, looking for a place to stop the car.

"Uh, I've just got work on the brain, the school year. Stuff like that." I shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant and uncaring which I was about these subjects at the moment.

"Don't let it get to you so much. Freaking out is possibly the worst thing you could do in your last year. Just relax and enjoy yourself, don't take life too seriously." Should a teacher really be giving me that kind of advice?

I could understand he had this kid complex thing going on but I couldn't drop all my responsibilities whenever I felt like it.
Anyone should know that.

"We're here girlies." Mr. Iero singsonged which sounded as weird as you'd think.

I climbed out of the car and hitched my backpack up my shoulder then helped London out when she almost fell over, being her usual clumsy self.

"Don't call me girly please." I told him, pulling my cell out of my pocket and checking the time, work started in like ten minutes.

"Sorry, by the way what your name? I didn't quite catch it." He pointed to London who was laughing and trying to stand upright.

"London or Lonnie for short." She laughed again when I stopped her falling for what would hopefully be the last time today.

I think she's having one of her uncoordinated days today.

"Cool, I'm just awful with names." That makes it kinda better he managed to remember mine then.

"Alright, Lonnie and I have to go to work so we'll be needing to say bye now." I waved at him and began to drag my friend away, it was weird hanging out with my teacher like he was a friend.

"Wait, isn't Mr. Iero going to Glass Fang anyway?" She stopped me from pulling her around and dug her feet into the parking lot, becoming more effective than any boulder.

"We should walk together." London told him, grabbing the teachers hand and bringing him with us whether I liked it or not.

To anyone who didn't know London they'd think she was a complete flirt but I knew better than that.
She was goofy, incredibly friendly and hated not getting along with people which probably had a hand in her popularity.

It was almost impossible to not get along with her. She was happy, would be more than willing to help out at a moment notice and would listen to any problems you had.

A model friend.

"Calm down." Mr. Iero laughed, stopping her from pulling him around so roughly.

London's only flaw was that she had a habit of getting overexcited sometimes and didn't have an off button so you had to wait until it wore off.

"What are you getting done today?" I asked, looking at the bits of skin on him I could see which wasn't much thanks to his jacket.

"Can't tell, a student shouldn't know about her teachers tattoos." He's joking right? He was showing us his ink moments ago and said he was going to show us one on his thigh.

We walked in and a couple of people gave us some strange looks, probably wondering why it looked like we were attempting to kidnap Mr. Iero.

Glass Fang was on the fourth floor, right next to the a pet shop that I had to drag her away from almost every time.

We got onto an escalator thanks to my endless insisting that I did isn't want to take the elevator.

With a carefully thought out plan we managed to make out way to Glass Fang without killing ourselves or anyone else.

"Guys, you're here just in time, you would have been late." Hayley, the manager of the store told us and I walked behind the counter with Lonnie, dropping our backpacks on the floor.

She pushed her orange hair behind her ear them put a hand on her hip.

"Your butts would have been fried if you weren't here," she said then turned around to see Mr. Iero who was looking through some clothes, "Frankie! Hi!"

I think I can say that London and I were surprised to see Hayley all but jump on Mr. Iero.
Then our mouths continued to fall open when she kissed him.

Can I say what?

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" London whispered to me as we tried to process the thought of our manager kissing our teacher, I barely managed to nod.

It was over in seconds, barely looking like anything serious but still kinda scary no matter how you looked at it.

"Is she your girlfriend?" I asked, not managing to withhold my curiosity no matter how hard I tried.

"No, it's a, kinda complicated." He scratched his head while blushing at the same time which I have to say looked adorable.

"Booty call then." I clapped a hand over London's mouth to shut her up but it was too late, the words were already out there.

"Not that either." He laughed awkwardly before being saved by Hayley.

"Alright, you should get your tattoo now and you girls need to get to work. There's some stock you need to hang up out here, so shoo." Hayley shoved Frank into the tattoo half of the building and I stood there, still feeling surprised.

"I'll bring the stuff out, you watch the desk." London said before walking off, grabbing her name tag from the bench and putting it on at the same time.

I sat down, putting my tag on as well and waiting for some customers to show up and make my work day interesting.

~~~
Two Hours Later
~~~

"Ugh, I want something to do!" London whined, dropping her head on the desk and groaning loudly.

We'd had a fair amount of customers but not enough to keep Lonnie's hyperactive brain stimulated.

"I'm gonna get something from the fridge, do you want some coffee or whatever?" She stood up when I gave her the response of 'whatever' which was friend talk for nothing.

She disappeared into the back room for the millionth time today and I propped my head up in my hands, thinking about Mr. Iero.

I wonder what he's doing right now, he's been in the tattoo room for a while. Whatever he's getting done must be either very large or very intricate.

I've always wanted to get a tattoo but I'm afraid of needles and I'm underage so that's a huge no, no.

"Gee, come on." I glanced up hearing people's voices but not seeing anything, must have just heard things.

"Mikey, why the hell are you dragging me in here?" I frowned, the voice sounded familiar but it was probably just me being me.

"We need to see the tattoo artist remember?" The voice sounded like it was being said through clenched teeth and I looked up one final time, almost falling out of my seat when a face appeared in front of me.

Blonde hair combed back, kinda brown at the sides, features that I could almost recognise.

"How can I help you?" I scrabbled out from behind the desk to help the customer.

London was usually the one who dealt with people so I felt a bit weird talking to a stranger.

"Is Hayley available?" He asked and I looked at the back room where she was in there tattooing Mr. Iero, wow that felt weird to say.

"No she's booked, I can make an appointment if you'd like." I was going through the regular procedures of what to do when either the piercer or the tattooer was busy.

"No that's fine, you won't have to do that." Another voice interjected and I took a step back in surprise.

"Aah!"

Are you ducking kidding me, two teachers at my work place in one bloody day?
Wait a moment, this is Mikey...huh.

"Hello, Mr Way." I mumbled, feeling my face go bright red for no particular reason whatsoever.

Maybe it was the heart pounding teacher in front of me.

"Mr. Way?" Mikey said curiously, looking between me and well, Mr. Way.

"This is Friday, she's my English literature student." He explained and I stood there, frowning and not knowing what to do.

"You're name's Gee?" That was the only sentence my mouth could produce and silence hung in the air briefly.

"My names actually, um, Gerard. It's just a nickname Mikey gives me." He thrust his thumb at his brother and I nodded, Mr. Way looked like a Gerard.

"Any customers left?" I turned and watched London walk out of the back room, pausing for a moment when she saw the two people in front of me.

Please God don't let her start making jokes about my teacher.

"Lonnie?" The name came out as a whisper from Mr. Way's brother and I got confused.

"Mikey?" Without a word she came sprinting over, only slowing a little once she was in proper seeing line of him.

"Mikey!" She yelled, causing my teacher and I to jump before tackling Mikey to the ground.

Too much life, too much.
You can calm down now.