The Ghost of You
Chapter 9
Gerard POV
This morning when I got to school, a note fell out of my locker. Without even picking it up, I knew who it was from. Frank. I’m not sure if he heard me call to him yesterday when he was leaving my house, but I kind of feel if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have written me a note. When I picked it up, I noticed the words that were scrawled across the front of the folded paper. “To Gerard” His letters looked the same as I had remembered, small and messy yet legible. The inside of the letter contained a small paragraph of his handwriting.
“Gerard, I was wondering if you wanted to work on the project today after school, and maybe spend the night to work on it tonight. I got the book and if we get the blueprint done, we can go get the supplies from the store. –Frank”
I smiled while reading it and shoved it into my pocket, then filled my backpack with all the books that I need for the day. By the time the bell rang for first period, I could practically feel my body shiver in anticipation. It sounds stupid, but I’m excited to work with Frank on this project. Even though he said some hurtful things to me back in grade nine, I can’t help but want to forgive him. I do forgive him.
Frank must have had the same feeling that I did, because when I arrived to algebra, he was already there, reading a book on catapults. Frank Iero, the kid the teacher didn’t even see until 15 minutes into class, was sitting in class studying before the first bell even rang. He looked at me when I walked in, then went back to reading. In an effort to not disturb him, I pulled out a pencil and the note, and begin to scribble my own reply below his.
“Sure, sounds good. Meet me after school and we can go in my car.”
Refolding the paper, I could tell that Frank was looking at me through the corner of his eye. I put my fingers on the paper and slid it across the table to Frank, who finally looked up. He raised his eyebrow curiously as he grabbed and unfolded the note, quickly grabbing his pen to add something to the paper. He wrote for a few seconds, and then passed the paper back to me, not even bothering to fold it.
He passed it back quickly.
“Okay. Do you need to ask your parents first?”
Scribble.
“I’ll call them or something; my mom’s pretty laid back.”
Pass.
Scribble.
Pass.
“Oh okay.”
Scribble.
“Why are we writing a note if no one’s here?”
Pass.
Scribble.
Pass.
“Because we’re weird.”
The rest of the day went along smoothly, but if you asked me what I learned, I wouldn’t be able to tell you any of it. I spent all of my classes thinking about tonight. I’m worried about memories making their way back to our heads while we’re there. I just don’t want to screw it up. The last thing I want is a replay of our last sleepover. When the last bell finally rang, I couldn’t stop thinking about that night in ninth grade. Does Frank still think of me like he did before it? Or does he still think of me as a pathetic faggot? Is it bad of me to wish we could be together again like we used to be, not just friends I mean.
Fiddling in my locker, I can feel eyes attached to my back. I assume it’s Frank, meeting me so we can go, but when I feel a hand on my hip, I know my assumption was wrong.
“Taylor, can you not?” I ask, spinning on my heel, my eyes meeting with hers.
Her wrist moved from my side to her own, and she turned her head to the side. Her blue eyes looked me up and down, her head cocking from one side to the other every once and a while. She looked at me expectantly and innocently, a look I was used to receiving from her.
“What? Does it make you frustrated?” asked Taylor, giggling.
“Frustrated? You’re the one who’s frustrated. You can look at me all you want, desire this all you want, but it will never make this hot body of mine want a female body like yours.” I states, factually, smiling widely. I continued to gather my things, Taylor grinning at me as I packed.
“Why can’t you be straight?” She wined, “You’re the total package, and every girl here knows it, even some guys. Smart, funny, mysterious, hot, you’ve got it all. But no, you’re too good for anyone here.” She said, leaning against the lockers, looking at me.
“Are people bothering you again, Tay?” I asked, trying to turn our conversation to the subject I knew she was poking at.
“Some guys cornered me and pulled up my shirt. They kept saying stuff like, “You do it for everyone else” and “Why not us”. I just want someone so that they’ll leave me alone. I don’t even care if they’re dating me. I just need people to know that I’m not loose, and that I can stay with one person for a long time.” She said, choking a bit on her words.
“I would if I could, Taylor, you know that. Everyone here would see straight through it.” I closed my locker and leaned against it like her. Her mood had definitely changed, and her eyes were darker and deeper than they had been moments ago.
“I know. It’s nice to dream, though. I wish I would have thought about this before 10th grade, maybe my reputation wouldn’t be so bad if I would have stopped seeing Derek.” She smiled faintly and walked away, and I could help but feel deep pain for her.
Back in sophomore year, Taylor started dating a quarterback named Derek. He was a senior at the time, and he had a reputation around school for being a player. Taylor saw something different in him, though, and loved him more than anything in the world. Her eyes would shine like stars when she saw him, and when they started dating, she was the happiest girl in the school. After a few months of dating, she lost her virginity to him at a party. People found out and started rumors, stuff like that she would get paid for sex and would fuck anything that could walk. Derek dumped her for another girl, and by then, everything was ruined. She’s put up with a lot, and I thought it would have went away by now. But it hasn't.
Frank’s presence snapped me from my thoughts and we began to walk to the parking lot without talking. We were some of the last people still here, except for a few people talking by their cars and a couple locking lips on the hood of a jeep.
“Could they not wait to get home or something?” Frank said humorously, opening the passenger door to my car, climbing in. I got in too, and started the car, and began to leave the parking lot.
“Guess not.”
This morning when I got to school, a note fell out of my locker. Without even picking it up, I knew who it was from. Frank. I’m not sure if he heard me call to him yesterday when he was leaving my house, but I kind of feel if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have written me a note. When I picked it up, I noticed the words that were scrawled across the front of the folded paper. “To Gerard” His letters looked the same as I had remembered, small and messy yet legible. The inside of the letter contained a small paragraph of his handwriting.
“Gerard, I was wondering if you wanted to work on the project today after school, and maybe spend the night to work on it tonight. I got the book and if we get the blueprint done, we can go get the supplies from the store. –Frank”
I smiled while reading it and shoved it into my pocket, then filled my backpack with all the books that I need for the day. By the time the bell rang for first period, I could practically feel my body shiver in anticipation. It sounds stupid, but I’m excited to work with Frank on this project. Even though he said some hurtful things to me back in grade nine, I can’t help but want to forgive him. I do forgive him.
Frank must have had the same feeling that I did, because when I arrived to algebra, he was already there, reading a book on catapults. Frank Iero, the kid the teacher didn’t even see until 15 minutes into class, was sitting in class studying before the first bell even rang. He looked at me when I walked in, then went back to reading. In an effort to not disturb him, I pulled out a pencil and the note, and begin to scribble my own reply below his.
“Sure, sounds good. Meet me after school and we can go in my car.”
Refolding the paper, I could tell that Frank was looking at me through the corner of his eye. I put my fingers on the paper and slid it across the table to Frank, who finally looked up. He raised his eyebrow curiously as he grabbed and unfolded the note, quickly grabbing his pen to add something to the paper. He wrote for a few seconds, and then passed the paper back to me, not even bothering to fold it.
He passed it back quickly.
“Okay. Do you need to ask your parents first?”
Scribble.
“I’ll call them or something; my mom’s pretty laid back.”
Pass.
Scribble.
Pass.
“Oh okay.”
Scribble.
“Why are we writing a note if no one’s here?”
Pass.
Scribble.
Pass.
“Because we’re weird.”
The rest of the day went along smoothly, but if you asked me what I learned, I wouldn’t be able to tell you any of it. I spent all of my classes thinking about tonight. I’m worried about memories making their way back to our heads while we’re there. I just don’t want to screw it up. The last thing I want is a replay of our last sleepover. When the last bell finally rang, I couldn’t stop thinking about that night in ninth grade. Does Frank still think of me like he did before it? Or does he still think of me as a pathetic faggot? Is it bad of me to wish we could be together again like we used to be, not just friends I mean.
Fiddling in my locker, I can feel eyes attached to my back. I assume it’s Frank, meeting me so we can go, but when I feel a hand on my hip, I know my assumption was wrong.
“Taylor, can you not?” I ask, spinning on my heel, my eyes meeting with hers.
Her wrist moved from my side to her own, and she turned her head to the side. Her blue eyes looked me up and down, her head cocking from one side to the other every once and a while. She looked at me expectantly and innocently, a look I was used to receiving from her.
“What? Does it make you frustrated?” asked Taylor, giggling.
“Frustrated? You’re the one who’s frustrated. You can look at me all you want, desire this all you want, but it will never make this hot body of mine want a female body like yours.” I states, factually, smiling widely. I continued to gather my things, Taylor grinning at me as I packed.
“Why can’t you be straight?” She wined, “You’re the total package, and every girl here knows it, even some guys. Smart, funny, mysterious, hot, you’ve got it all. But no, you’re too good for anyone here.” She said, leaning against the lockers, looking at me.
“Are people bothering you again, Tay?” I asked, trying to turn our conversation to the subject I knew she was poking at.
“Some guys cornered me and pulled up my shirt. They kept saying stuff like, “You do it for everyone else” and “Why not us”. I just want someone so that they’ll leave me alone. I don’t even care if they’re dating me. I just need people to know that I’m not loose, and that I can stay with one person for a long time.” She said, choking a bit on her words.
“I would if I could, Taylor, you know that. Everyone here would see straight through it.” I closed my locker and leaned against it like her. Her mood had definitely changed, and her eyes were darker and deeper than they had been moments ago.
“I know. It’s nice to dream, though. I wish I would have thought about this before 10th grade, maybe my reputation wouldn’t be so bad if I would have stopped seeing Derek.” She smiled faintly and walked away, and I could help but feel deep pain for her.
Back in sophomore year, Taylor started dating a quarterback named Derek. He was a senior at the time, and he had a reputation around school for being a player. Taylor saw something different in him, though, and loved him more than anything in the world. Her eyes would shine like stars when she saw him, and when they started dating, she was the happiest girl in the school. After a few months of dating, she lost her virginity to him at a party. People found out and started rumors, stuff like that she would get paid for sex and would fuck anything that could walk. Derek dumped her for another girl, and by then, everything was ruined. She’s put up with a lot, and I thought it would have went away by now. But it hasn't.
Frank’s presence snapped me from my thoughts and we began to walk to the parking lot without talking. We were some of the last people still here, except for a few people talking by their cars and a couple locking lips on the hood of a jeep.
“Could they not wait to get home or something?” Frank said humorously, opening the passenger door to my car, climbing in. I got in too, and started the car, and began to leave the parking lot.
“Guess not.”
Notes
OOooOOooo Frerard sleepover. So exciting. Tell me what you think please, the good, the bad, whatever. Criticism is welcomed and so is praise. xxJordan
Please write more!! I love it so far
2/14/14