SOMEONE Save Us

After Becky and Andy finished presenting, Artsy and I walked up to the front. He looked over to me and whispered.

"Show Time"

I counted back from 3 then gripped the neck of Bela (the school guitar). I came up with that name yesterday. I thought it worked because Bella like beauty and Belle as in Belleview, but I didn't want to use a totally human name so I only used 1 L. Anyway while I was playing, Artsy started singing. I was yet again surprised at how amazing he could sing. With my playing and his voice the song turned into the perfect rock acoustic.

At the end of the song I added a wicked finish and Artsy did a trail off that sounded better than the original song. Everyone immediately started clapping and cheering. Gerard smiled and I just stood there looking down. Then he nugged me and I looked up and smiled. I have to admit that I appreciated the praise but I was really shy.

We got off stage and Becky ran up to us in more praise. I was proud of us. Then Mrs.Hill came up to us.

"Boys, that was truly amazing..." We both looked at each other and smiled.
"...are you up for a challenge?..." Then we both looked at her in confusion.
"...Mr. Vanderbelt and I want to pick 6 students to represent our school at a festival in San Francisco, and I think you two boys should be amungst that group" She smiled and waited for our responses.

There was a minute long silence, then Artsy spoke in a hyper tone that almost made me jump.

"I would love to go with them...Frank?" He looked at me with a 'please I really need this' expression and I figured why not.

"Yeah..." I answered him "..oh right, um sure of course, i'd love to" I tripped over my words. Then smiled trying to look nonchalant.

"Great! And it goes toward your grade too, so i'll tell Mr. Vanderbelt that I have 2 students on the list and we'll go from there" She smiled and then walked back out to see the next performance.

We followed her out. Artsy was about to sit when I signaled him to follow me . I lead him to the higher seats at the back. At first he hesitated but then he sat next to me.

"So how 'bout that, we came up with a two second plan (sort of)...and now we are going out of state for it" I finally started to wrap my head around the idea.

"Yeah, go figure...but it's still a wicked opportunity...do you think you'll be allowed to go?" He looked over at me.

"I think so, how 'bout you?"

"Are you kidding...my parents get me out of the house every chance they get" He had a look of sadness, but then he saw me looking and he forced a smile and a weak laugh. You could still hear the minor tone loud and clear.

"Why, I hear your like the best kid...some describe you as like all american dream sh!t". I was genuinely interested.

"From WHO!?!..." He paused "...wait let me guess...Mikey" I nodded.

"Sorry to break it to you but Mikey lives in his head, especially if he thinks that about our family"

I chuckled a little at his comment. "So your not all fine and fvcking dandy".

"No sir...far from, your probably closer to that american dream than I am" He smirked

"So..what happened" I felt really bad and awkward by my own question."I mean...you don't have to...I-I just--"

"No, it's cool i'll spill..." He looked up at the ceiling avoiding eye contact.
"...hmm let's see... Well, when I was !6 my mom started working as a law teacher and she was always busy at school...so my dad would be the main person who would take care of Mikes and I. Things were going good then one of my moms students and her started getting a little too
friendly...and they well took it to inappropriate levels. After that dad started saying that.......Mikey and I made her unhappy with her life and that's why she did it...so he basically excluded us and so did she, so I had to take over as parent. When I turned 17 I told them that I was going to apply for a scholarship in art. They flipped out. They wanted me to stay at home so that they could sign away their parental rights when I was 18 and know I wouldn't let Mikey go through the sh!t hole foster system we have so I could 'technically' be his guardian..." Tears started collecting in both our eyes."...I told them that I would never let them do that so now every time I get a chance to go on a trip they both are practically packing my whole room telling me not to come ba--"
His sentence was cut off by him choking on his tears and the lump in his throat.

He started pouring out like alcohol at a bar on Saturday night. I re flexed into a comforting hug without thinking. He without hesitation accepted the hug and dug his head into my shoulder and silently sobbed until class finished.

When we left the auditorium Gerard asked if I wanted to ditch 'World Studies'. I was all for it.

We walked out to the school wall and I decided to light 1 up. Then out of nowhere Gerard asked me for 1.

"You smoke?!"

"Yeah since I was 15...wow you were really sold on that perfect kid sh!t"

"Well,yeah and I never see you out here so I figured you were sweep" I love smoker language.

"Nah, only Mikey's sweep and that's because I won't let him die of cancer purposely"He used a lighter from his pocket to light the stick of poison.

"That's very responsible of you, my mom doesn't even notice, we're never home at the same time" I looked down at my shoes as I exhaled.

"Thanks and yeah neither of my parents really notice...they don't really care if I live or die now that their cheques from the government stopped.".He exhaled and coughed as the tears discretely rolled down his cheek.

Notes

Hey
Sorry it took long
I had to help move these past few days
Anyway hope you liked it
Thanks For Reading!!!
-AToxicKilljoy