-Frank's POV-


Ray had already taken off to his Christa, leaving me behind to laugh and shake my head at him. He was ever so clearly love struck it was hilarious! I went to the back of the truck and pulled out Pansy, throwing my backpack over my shoulder. In the distance was Ray hugging Christa, greeting her kindly. They both started to giggle (probably nervously.) Christa blushed and bit her lower lip as Ray wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her into the school. He turned around to me, who was walking up the parking lot smiling like a fangirl, and gave me an enormous grin and thumbs up. I shot him the same back. I was so excited for those two. There was just so much chemistry between them, it's like they were made for one another. I sighed. 'I wish someone would hold me like that, look at me so lovingly...' My fangirly-ness died down at that thought, turning into jealousy and envy. It wasn't that I was jealous of Ray or Christa, it was their relationship I coveted. The way they talked made it look so easy, like it completely natural. They could be themselves, knowing no one would judge them. Their relations were accepted by society, unlike mine. Seeing them be able to act so ordinarily around people made me want someone. It made me want someone to love me for all my quirks. To love my sarcasm, humor. My musical abilities and other talents as well. I wanted to be able to talk to someone and not worry if I had offended them-everyone was so damn uptight nowadays. I say what's on my mind, not caring if it gets me hit upside the head. It was apparently a major turn off to everyone. I want to be around someone and not feel self conscious of my appearance or height or weight. 'If anyone could love me for my looks I'd be amazed,' I added silently. But I'm a loner. I was born alone, am living alone, and will die alone. I just wanted somebody to be around so I could love them-to feel something.


I continued to the main entrance, passing a bunch of sluts along the way. A few shot death-glares at me, though most of them ignored my existence entirely. Passing by them was awful-you needed a gasmask for all the horrible perfume, sunglasses to shield your eyes from the overpowering makeup. I felt bad for some; homeless people had more substantial and concealing clothes than they had. It's impossible for me to express my hatred for these people. They were all fake. They plastered fake smiles on their made up faces, sucked in their stomachs and pushed out their chests. And for what? People would find out that they weren't perfect sooner or later. So what was the point? People like Gerard didn't have to try. Gerard had a fantastic personality and a seemingly nice spirit. He was talented-you can't fake talent- and genuinely beautiful. Gerard was a natural in the most godly of ways.


The hallways were bustling with juniors and seniors all talking about their weekend plans and 'back to school' parties - None of which I was invited to, not that I honestly cared. If I was, by some miracle, invited to a party, I probably wouldn't show up anyway. I hate socializing, especially when 99.9% of the school's population was either a dipshit or jackass. If you didn't fit into one of those categories, you were considered the miscellaneous, which basically consisted of me and a few freshman probably. I entered homeroom and glared daggers at Mrs. Cothran who was avoided my gaze. I really hated her right now, the bitch. The one time I decide to do something with my life, she ruins it. "Screw you," I mutter as I pass her on the way to my desk.


Homeroom passes by relatively fast, which suited me fine. It meant I didn't have to see that old hag's face and I was about to see my angel Gerard. Well no, I was about to see Mr. Way. 'Gerard' is usually reserved for those momentous occasions that we could be alone. Announcements came over the intercom, informing us of a pep-rally at 2. I had a love/hate relationship with those. Pep-rallies at Belleview meant we had to go outside and hang out with people. The school usually paid for a few food vendors to come and sell food and sometimes paid a DJ to play music. I can't stand the sun, people or the shitty music they play, so I hate it and have a miserable time. They do, however, get us out of class for the last hour and a half of the day and teachers let us leave early. Unfortunately, I won't be able to take advantage of that because of Mrs. Cothran and her callous attitude.


The bell sounded, signaling us all to head to second period. I bolt out of the room and head to Section B, Mikey in the tow. He soon catches up with me. "So do you have any ideas for your painting yet?" Oh yeah, the expressionist project we were doing in Art... forgot about that.


"Oh, um nothin' yet. Haven't given it much thought, but I'm sure something will come to me eventually. What about you?" I asked, attempting to make small talk to distract me from thoughts of Gerard. 'What will he be wearing today? I'm sure he'll look as captivating as he normally does. He could wear a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts and still look sexy as fuck. He would certainly look good without clothes-scratch that: he'd look very pleasing without clothes.' Damn my perverted mind.


"No not yet. I got a sketch of an idea done in class. I'm not sure if I'll go with it or not." Mikey has always been an artsy guy. I've seen his sketchbook before (against his will) and it was awesome. Page after page was filled with comic book superheroes, exotic creatures, magically lands, hybrid animals, and robo-humans. The amount of detail he is able to put in the tiniest of things amazes me. Things he sees other people would never see in a million years if it hit them in the face. Unfortunately, Mikey is extremely apprehensive when it comes to sharing his works. I've known him for years and he still won't let me see it all for God's sake! He's always mumbling that they aren't good or 'just doodles' when in actuality they belong on display for the public to see. Whatever he decides on, I'm sure it'll be gallery-worthy.


We arrive in the Art room with little time to spare. Terra, donning a maroon coloured Ramones shirt that matched her ponytailed hair and denim shorts, was already sitting. She had taken the liberty to save me my usual desk. I walked over and set my things down as Mikey took the desk next to mine. It was nice to be surrounded by some of my favorite people for once. Mr. Way walked in and I'll be damned if he didn't look magnificent. Black truly was his best colour. The stark contrast between his black button up, dark jeans, and raven hair and his smooth, pale skin was the very definition of angelic. Something about it really brought out his eyes, with the help of a thin yet dark layer of eyeliner. Piercing amber-speckled green orbs met with my dark hazel, almost chocolaty eyes. He smiled a shit-eating grin as he inspected me head to toe. The ways his eyes kept moving up and down-almost hungrily-was enough to make me blush. 'Well lord I didn't know he'd be enjoying the view as much as I enjoy mine...'


"Good morning kiddos. Hope your creative juices are flowing because it's art time!" he exclaimed in a sing-song voice. "Okay, so today I would like you to try and get your some sketches done with your final idea. I'll be at my desk doing God knows what if you need something. About 20 minutes in I'll cruise through to see what you have. Get started so you'll have plenty of time to finish," he instructed. The class immediately erupted into fitful noise as people got supplies out to work. He tried hushing them down a bit, but to no avail. I pulled out my sketchpad and pencils, as did Mikey and Terra. As I began sketching random things (because I had no idea what to do yet), I noticed Mikey glancing cautiously over at Terra, who was hard at work. I looked over at him and he quickly resumed drawing. I scribbled a note down on paper. "What's wrong?" I whispered.


He passed a piece of paper to me with his neat scrawl on it. 'Nothing, I've never seen her before. Is this the girl Ray told me about that you were talking about in his truck?' Damn Ray to hell. He wasn't supposed to tell people about that...


'No, we're just friends. Sorta. I only started talking to her the other day,' I wrote, passing the note back. Terra glanced over to me and gave a lopsided smile before returning to her work. Mikey kept staring at the note. It took a while, but he eventually gave it back. It only had two words.


'She's pretty...' Those two words ignited the bubbliest feeling inside me. I read it over and over before turning to find a beet red Mikey gazing sheepishly at his paper. 'So that's why he wouldn't talk out loud....'


'Holy shit Mikey! You need to get your ass in gear and talk to her. Oh you'd be so cute together! She's pretty cool and has great taste in music-I bet she likes comic books! You guys could be that artsy couple you know! Oh Mikes pleaseeee???' The fangirly feel was back again.


'I don't know...' he wrote back. Are you kidding? I swear, Mikey is the shyest introvert I've ever known. I shot him a 'If you don't talk to her I swear I'll kill you in your sleep' look. He only averted his eyes and continued working. He didn't even talk-well, write-to me the rest of class. Such a shy little fucker. Makes me want to wring his neck sometimes.


Mr. Way had left his desk and began walking around, looking over shoulders, making an occasional comment. I realized I still didn't have anything done, and we only had another 20 minutes left. I grabbed my pencil and started drawing. Just drawing. I left it up to my imagination, completely zoning out and retreating to my inner brain. Shading here and there, streaks of charcoal, hints of red were sprinkled throughout it. It wasn't until Mr. Way was right behind me that I reentered the real world. I sat back and observed my drawing. 'I didn't know I was capable of doing that...'


"Frankie," he breathed against the shell of my ear. Man did that send jolts through me. "it's absolutely breathtaking. I would hang that in my house!" 'And I'd love to be in your house... Ugh, quit it!' "Oh and uh," he lowered his voice, speaking directly into my ear, "I saw you and Michael passing notes. Might get you in trouble if I wasn't allowing everyone to talk. Very naughty." He emphasized the last word, send a spark right down to my lower abdomen. "See you after school," he whispered in a low, sexy tone. 'Oh damn. Holy shit. Fuck fuck fuck! This man will be the death of me!' I knew he didn't care about the notes. He stood up straight again, quietly laughing (apparently I made his effect on me known) and moved on. I was utterly and completely dumbfounded and slightly aroused. Well hell, could you blame me? I watched his hips sway as he continued walking student to student. I could just feel him smirking, even though his back was to me. Damn him and his sexual prowess. I looked back to my paper. 'Did I really just draw that?' It was cathedral with grand pillars, stain glass windows and painted ceilings. In between the main row of pews was an undead, distorted ballerina. She reminded me a bit of Gerard with lengthy ebony locks, pale skin, and lightly coloured lips. People were kneeling, heads bent in prayer. Their eyes were shut, completely oblivious of her dancing amongst the congregation. She seemed to bound all around them and across the paper. Even with the distortions and abstractness of it all, it still managed to appear life-like. How I did this and the cause of my inspiration was unknown to me-the artist! Whatever I had retreated to in the depths of my mind were dark, yet somehow produced this. I was 100% satisfied with it.


Right now, being all 'stirred' about and excited from Mr. Way's actions, I wasn't sure if I should tell him that I had detention or lie. He looked like that cat who got the cream but I didn't want to disappoint him and not show up. I had to tell him something. 'Now or never...'


"Uh, Mr. Way," he turned around and raised his eyebrows in reply, "uh, could I talk to you after class for a minute?" His eyes lit up as a grin spread across his face. It hurt to think that it would all be torn away once I told him.


"Well of course. Talk to you then." He turn back around-not before winking!- and carried on helping students. It really hurt to know I was about to lie right to his precious face.

Notes

Again, I apologize for not updating yesterday, but I had a fantastic time with my friends. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Left with a bit of a cliffhanger (you don't know what's going down next...hehehe)
Please feel free to comment, rate, and subscribe. Thanks for reading!

-xo OfSaintsandSinners

I bought the first volume of Umbrella Academy today. SO excited to read it!