Someone Out There Loves You

*Gerard POV*

The phone call had rattled me at first. I almost hadnt looked at the screen, in my determination to avoid the world, and everyone who inhabited it. I hadnt expected the call, to be honest. It was just past 10 am, and I was still lying in bed. Apathy and lethargy was compelling my body to stay exactly where it was. Prone, still, and with no intention of leaving the small space I had claimed as my own.

Of course, the incessant ringing that was drilling a hole in my head, made me sit up. I reached over to disconnect the call, when I saw who the caller was.

Dark Horse.

It wasnt excitement I felt when I saw the screen flashing. It wasnt hope, or painful anticipation if I would finally get the opportunity I had waited my whole life for. I felt nothing remotely positive in those seconds it took me to process.It was a thrill of fear, and dread, mixed in with a sinking feeling of rejection and resentment and bitterness that left my mouth very dry. I didnt think the call would be anything good. In fact, it was going to be anything but. Would he try to be professional and courteous as he rejected my pitch, and give some made up reason as to why my comic idea sucked, or would he just come out with it, and tell me that there was no way the company would align themselves with someone would could bring their reputation in dispute?There were so many ways this call could go; there was only one possibility that could comefrom it, no matter how diplomatically it was delivered.

Hello? I eventually answered, before the phone cuts off to voicemail.

Am I speaking to Gerard Way?

I recognised the voice straight away. John Smith, the guy who I had tried to impress. Not that it would come to anything now. Gillian had made sure of that, no doubt.

You are.

Hi, Gerard, this is John Smith from Dark Horse. Are you free to talk for a moment?

I cleared my throat, bracing myself for the rejection that was coming.

Of course.

Great. Look, Im not going to beat around the bush. Wed love to take your comic on. We feel its the right fit for our company, and to be honest, we can see a lot of potential in terms of profitability. Wed like you to come in, and we can go over a few details, try to set some parameters to iron out a contract.

I was stunned. My jaw had literally dropped, something I didnt think actually happened in reality. I thought it was more a figure of speech, than an action that actually happened when one is dumbfounded, like I was. I had misheard; there was no way my pitch had been accepted. Surely Gillian, the evil bitch queen, had destroyed any chance that I would get into the comic book industry. She was a woman of her word; it didnt make sense that she would stay quiet, and let me get on with my life, not after the lengths she had gone to, to try and pull me back into the lifestyle I had left behind.

Gerard?

Mr Smiths voice brought me back from the stupor Id fallen into.

Yeah, yeah, I mumbled out, the words tumbling from my mouth with little thought.

Would you be free today? In say, one hour? My schedule is pretty full up for the next couple of weeks-

Thats fine. Ill be there.

Perfect, Gerard. Ill see you then.

With that, the line went dead. I didnt move a muscle, shock holding me still, while I mulled over the events of the the last sixty seconds. It didnt feel real; I was certain that I was stuck in a dream, or worse, some kind of nightmare, where something even more terrifying was coming around the corner than a rejection phone call.

Maybe it was a sick plot of Gillians. Maybe when I got there, I would find out that it was all a rouse to get me exactly where Gillian wanted me. That was something she would do. I was certain of it.

***

An hour later, I was back in the building. The place was thrumming was people, hustling and bustling, as they got on with their normal working day. I was sweating, not just a little bit either. The collar of my shirt felt far too tight, even though I had unbuttoned the top, and loosened the tie. I probably looked as dishevelled as I felt, and I was certain everyone who so much as glanced at me could see it, sense it coming off me. It was one of the most unpleasant sensations I had experienced in a very long time.

Everything was wrong. Nothing felt right. Not my clothes, not my general appearance, not the briefcase I carried, and certainly not the skin I wore. The whole situation felt unnatural, false, and calculated by someone else. I was a pawn in some game I wasnt sure I fully understood.

The skin on the back of neck prickled, like a warning.

Mr Way? I looked up to see a young receptionist in front of me, Mr Smith will see you now.

Thanks, I tried my best to sound as though I wasnt completely panicking.

The footsteps I took seemed to ring out hollowly, which was an obvious figment of my imagination, as there was far too much white noise for the sound to be distinctive to anyones ears. I was too on edge, everything was heightened and uncomfortable to every sense. The air was stifling; the air conditioning was a tad too hot; and the door handle to Johns office was so cold, it almost burned. I walked on in, knowing that he was expecting me to come in.

Gerard, John boomed the second I stepped inside, stepping out from behind his desk to great me, Great to see you again! How have you been?

Fine, I gave a small smile, and willed my nerves to stop so that I could meet Johns handshake with a steady hand. He had a kind face. He looked like someone who hadnt yet sold their soul to the corporate world yet.There was no jadedness behind his eyes. He looked far younger than the middle aged man he was.

Good, good. Lets get straight to it, huh? John smiled, waving for me to sit down as he settled back down behind his desk.

The next hour was a blur. Everything was numbers, facts and figures. It went over my head,everything Jon said. I just nodded my head, murmured some agreements, and generally acted as though I was giving the man in front of me one hundred percent of my attention. Which, I was, in a what the fuck is actually going on? kind of way. None of it seemed real.

Alright. Ill get the contract-

Just then, the phone rang. I jumped, high enough that my ass actually left the seat. John was startled, but seemed to recover well enough.

Jessica, I told you to hold my calls, he snapped.

I could hear a muffled voice, which was speaking too fast.

Put her through, John grumbled, not sounding very impressed.

Im sorry about this, Gerard, he said, before I heard another voice sounding through the phone.

Gillian, this better be important.

I felt my blood turn cold. This was it. This was the moment when it all came crashing down. Everything I worked towards would be officially over, by the end of the phone call.

I kept my eyes on his face. I could see how the annoyance he held at the very beginning of the call was slowly fading, turning into what seemed like fear, or shock, as Gillian spoke. I swallowed as his face paled.

What the hell is this, Gillian?

His fist was clenched, resting on the desk in front of him. His face was focused on the desk in front of him, but I knew he wasnt really looking at it. I could hear she was still speaking when he hung the phone up.

I waited for John to look at me. I waited for the disgust to appear, and the accusatory words that he was going to fling my way. Instead, he kept his eyes focused on the desk, an almost blank expression on his face. There was a moments silence, one that was tense, as I waited for the onslaught. When he finally spoke again, he refused to look up at me. It unnerved me that his entire demeanour had changed.

Im sorry, Gerard, but were going to have to cut this short. Ill get my secretary to send you a copy of the contract to look over and sign. Ill be back in touch shortly, Gerard.

Just like that, he dismissed me. He didnt even stand, as I stood up. He didnt say anything else as I walked out of the room, confused as fuck.

What had Gillian said?

Notes

Yes, I am alive. I just suck at managing time. Hope you guys are still sticking with this. There are only 2 chapters left! Can't believe it's almost done!

Thoughts?

As always, hope you guys enjoyed this.
Lyra xx