Alice: Obviously... I took the cupcake and the soda from Maddy and another one of your dumb girls, they're not going to forget that so easily.

Gerard: You did what?

Alice: what?! you looked terrible... and you still need to go to the nurse, I mean this is not normal.

Gerard: For me it is... I never wanted for you to see me like this.

Alice: why? I would never make fun of you for something like this...

He sighed and placed a hand over Alice's hand. She hadn't even notice that she was still grabbing his arm. He kept his eyes closed.

Gerard: I have a health condition called Hypo-tension.

Hypo-tension? was that like diabetes? She imagined they experience low blood pressure that's why it had the hypo word in it, right? that's why he needed sugar...

Gerard: Aren't you going to say anything?

Alice: Um... I have a vague idea of what Hypo-tension is- then it all made sense - that's why you take care of yourself so much, it's not for vanity, it's for health...

Gerard: That's why I prefer people to think that I'm conceited and full of myself, I wouldn't stand the pity of others...

Alice: Aaaaand that was the most conceited thing you could've ever said.

Gerard just raised an eyebrow to her: I'm going to class.

And she left her standing there. Yeah... he was conceited to the point of narcissism, but she knew that the illness affected him more mentally than physically. Alice ran full speed to the class and the door closed behind her, Gerard didn't look at her when she entered. She sat on the back of the classroom beside Linda and Dallas, Alice asked to borrow her laptop.

Everyone was concentrated with their favorite instruments so Professor Trent didn't even notice her.

She googled Hypo-tension and learned about it... so that's why he had to eat at certain hours, and exercise regularly, that's why he drank so much water... and to think everyone thought he just wanted to be drop dead gorgeous (which he was).

The class was coming to an end, Alice sneaked chair by chair until she was behind Gerard, she got closer and whispered in his ear.

Alice: so... I found all about it on the Internet, it's not that bad you know? its funny how you don't want anyone to pity you when YOU pity yourself. Maybe you just like being vain and narcissistic, your illness is just your own excuse to forgive yourself.

She sat up straight on the chair again admiring the consequences of her words. He got tense and missed several notes on his guitar causing Frank (which was playing with him) to look at him confused.

The class finally ended and it was time for lunch, Alice got out of the classroom happily with Linda thinking about getting a salad and maybe an ice cream, yeah she had earned it.

Camille: what was all that, Alice?

Alice: all that what?

Camille: Don't play innocent, you whispered something to Gerard

Alice: Oh that... I was just getting back at him for messing with me, that's all.

Camille: Are you sure, Alice? Look just be careful that guy can be like a wolf in sheep clothes... he knows how to play.

Alice: what are you even talking about, Cam?

Camille sighed: look Alice, just be careful, okay?- and with that she went away.

Alice kind of knew where she was coming from, after all Camille had fallen for Gerard, like many other of course, the guy was dangerous and Camille was not like the other girls... Alice didn't want to fall, she was not going to...

Gerard: you're going to listen to me this time, tomboy.

He said grabbing her roughly by the arm, pulling her away from there.

Notes