I had stopped by the apartment to drop off all my newly acquired items and to switch my purse items into my other bag that was similar to my green and wheat one, but only in all black. Items switched I plugged my iPod back into my ears and made my way to the art museum.

I smiled at the lady behind the counter who had come to know me by face and name at this point, and she had to do a double take before realizing who I was. I even confused the guard when I flashed my pass to him while he was standing at the turnstile. It made me smile a bit that people had to do a double take to figure out I was me. I didn't want to be a stranger, but I wanted to find out what I actually looked like when I was sure of who I was, and this was it.

I had figured it a good idea to go and buy a pass back when I realized I would be coming here a lot. Sticking my pass back in my purse I bee lined it straight for where I was last time I was here. Climbing the massive grand stairs I turned three corners and walked down five hallways till I came to my last roosting spot. Sitting down on the stone bench in the room I crossed my legs under me and got out my notebook for sketching. Flipping to the last spot I got out my two pencils and one pen and got to work.

About almost an hour later I felt that craving for a cigarette hit me and uncurled my body from its crumpled position. Stretching my legs I sat back down to quickly finish the last bit of shading I felt was necessary and then packed it all up and made my way to the smoking area. It was great, they had a garden park area on the side you go out in, and you could smoke it, so you didn't have to walk all the way to the front entrance. That was quite a hike.

Outside I slipped my silver reflective aviators back down onto my face and strolled about the grounds as I smoked, giving my body its much needed nicotine. After about my second one I decided my lungs were damaged enough to go back inside to finish. As I walked towards the door into the museum I heard a familiar voice nearby, sounding like they were on the phone.

"No I told you guys that I was going out. No, same place I always go before hand, you know the routine. I'll be back in time for everything tonight. Later," the voice said from around the corner.

I got brave all of a sudden, don't ask me why, I just did.

Scrunching down I leapt around the corner like a little kid playing at being a monster, hands up in fierce claw positions.

"Rawr!" I yelled loudly.

Well not too loudly as because of where we were, but loud enough.

Loud enough that I apparently scared the bee jesus out of him. He nearly levitated off the ground, and I watched him jump out of his skin almost physically.

"Ahhh!" Gerard yelled as he dropped the stuff he had been carrying.

"Didn't mean to scare you that bad Gerard," I teased as I bent down to help him pick up his items.

I stole a quick glance at what I was picking up and felt my face form into one of shock, but only momentarily. They were sketches, drawings, quick doodles and not all from inside the museum, but enough were. He was here doing the same thing I was.

"Uh, I'm sorry. Who are you?" Gerard asked confused as he hastily took the items from me, as if he didnt want me to get a look at them.

"Gerard it's me. Jay," I said laughing as I took my aviators off my face and up onto the poof mess that was my new stylized hair of fire.

"Jay? Oh my god. You changed!" Gerard said loudly, sounding shocked.

"Yes Gerard, I don't wear the same clothes everyday. I do change often actually. Shock and horror I know, but hey I'm only human," I teased, knowing full well what he meant.

"No, I meant you changed changed. Like everything. I had no idea who you were. You look completely different, like to the extreme. And I'm babbling I'm sorry," Gerard ended lamely.

I couldn't help but break into a chuckle at his reaction. Here was the man whose words I felt myself falling for, who spoke like music played, here he was rambling and babbling. It was a hoot.

"It's all right. I just got it done today, new hair, almost new wardrobe and onto finding out the new me. You like?" I asked as I dramatically did a half turn and poofed my hair while looking over my shoulder and making a fish face.

It was Gerard's turn to chuckle out loud. I guess I was really living it up.

"I think you look gorgeous, like the collision of stars in the sky. I swear I feel warmer just standing this close to your hair," Gerard said as wound a piece of my hair quickly around a finger and then let go as quickly as he had wound it.

"I know, it reminds me of fire. It reminds me of what I've been finding out about myself so far on this journey, and more so in Jersey," I said as I smiled at him.

"And what is that?" Gerard asked softly.

I could of sworn he moved closer to me.

I opened my mouth to tell him, which was odd the idea of sharing my self discovery with another. But then his cell phone cut me off and I just smirked.

"You'll have to learn when everyone else does," I said as I turned to walk back inside to finish drawing and let him talk on the phone in private.

"Hold on wait for me, this will only take a second," Gerard called out, his hand reaching out for my arm and falling short by like eight inches.

I nodded my head yes and got out another cigarette while I waited in the interim.

"Hey babe. Yeah no I'm out. Yeah it's at eight o'clock. Okay, I'll see there then hun. Love you too," Gerard said and then closed his cell phone and slipped it into his pocket.

"You know it'll go quicker if we share," Gerard said motioning to the cigarette hanging between my fingers and on my way to my lips.

"Hmm, and what makes you think I wanna share a smoke with you. I don't want icky poo picky Gerard cooties," I teased as I brought the cigarette back down and exhaled in his face smirking.

"Un huh, just give me the damn thing," Gerard said as he snatched the cigarette from my fingers.

"So how's Sharon?" I asked, referring to the phone conversation he had just had on the phone.

I had found out about Gerard's girlfriend on our second hanging out with everyone. She sounded like a really nice girl, a bit like I use to be personality wise even. I had yet to meet her, but didn't think that would come to pass soon if ever. I was still trying to figure out my friend standings with the rest of the guys, I didn't need to add in the girlfriends as well. Even though there was only one out of the whole group dating. Which made no sense to me as all of them were highly attractive and witty and even down right silly. But oh well.

"She's good. Just wondering where I was. Just like everyone else," Gerard said as he handed back the cigarette.

"That's good to hear, she sounds like a good girl. Doesn't anyone know where you are right now?" I asked as I took a drag, he was right of course it was going quicker with us sharing.

Stupid boys and their rational logic.

"Nope. I keep me going here, not so much a secret, but more like me time. Alone time. No one knows I come here. And now that you know I come here I will have to kill you to keep it secret," Gerard warned jokingly as he tried to look gruff and menacing.

I just laughed out loud. Fairly hard actually, his face was priceless and his eyebrows were twitching all over the place some fierce. I laughed so hard in fact that I snorted.

"Ahh, a snorter! You snorted," Gerard said all shocked sounding as he pointed at my face dramatically.

"No I didn't," I denied.

"Oh yes you did," Gerard insisted as he took a quick drag before handing back to me to finish.

"You're simply delirious Mr. Way," I joked as I took the last drag and then flicked into the smokers bin filled with sand.

"One, not delirious at least not right now as I am sober. Two, I am not Mr. Way that is my father. And THREE, you so way did. You can't deny it, I heard it. There are witnesses," Gerard said as he pointed around at the people meandering around outside near us.

"Fine, how about a truce and a deal?" I asked, crossing my arms across my chest and holding them tight as I realized that my arms were slipping due to the leather of my jacket.

"As long as you dont ask for sexual favors from my brother I'm good with it," Gerard said as he mimicked my pose.

"Damnit Gerard! Go and ruin everything why don't you! God!" I exclaimed loudly as I threw my arms up into the air for effect.

"WHAT!? You like my brother?" Gerard asked, his voice almost cracking as he did so.

"Baahahah ahhah!! Gerard, no! Dear god no. Chill, it was a joke," I said as I tried to not laugh in his face.

"Oh yeah. My bad. Moving back on track here, what are the terms and conditions for our little truce and deal?" Gerard asked as he gathered himself back together.

"I say you don't tell anyone I snorted and I wont pass it on that you were here. Sound good to you?" I asked, holding out my hand for the hand shake to seal the deal.

"Sounds good," Gerard said as he took my hand in his own an shook it.

And then he didn't let it go. We just stood there for a moment, in silence and as I was about to open my mouth to say something he beat me to it.

"You going back inside?" he asked suddenly.

"That would be an affirmative," I said smiling, his hand still holding mine.

"Good, let's go doodle and pretend we're great artists together," he said as he beamed me a huge grin and finally let go of my hand.

Only to stick his arm out for me to link with.

"I say it's the best idea I've heard all day," I said smiling.

Notes

A little weird, a little out of character.
But she is trying on new "skins" to see where she fits in the most.