Keep Me Safe from Myself

"Gee?" I softly whispered. I mean sure, we've gotten closer. But how..?
I checked the clock. It's wasn't even 4 a.m yet. I didn't care, I couldn't stay here for the rest on the night. I decided that I could still go to school, it would at least give me something to do, and Casey could help me get things off my mind. I grabbed a pair of clothes and a pillow, and walked downstairs. Zack wasn't awake. Thank God. He wouldn't let me leave. But that's just because he loves me too much, he doesn't want any one else to hurt me, I thought. Right?

I quickly sneak out the front door and just started walking. I didn't know where, just mindlessly walking. The school wouldn't be opened yet, I thought. Pity. I think back to all the fun times I had with Frankie back at Millard High School. Frankie had a key to the front doors, and had given me a copy in case I ever needed it. Some days we would both get in the school in the dead of night and just chase each other. Wreck havoc, if anything.
I smile at the thought, and look around. Where am I? I looked around, there's literally nothing here. Wasn't the school this way, or did I make a wrong turn? I look and just keep walking, more cautious of my surroundings. A faint breeze hits my legs, and I look down. Shit, where the fuck were my pants!? I was in such a hurry to get out, I didn't even realize I didn't have any on. I fumbled around, putting on the jeans I had on the my hands. I started to wince, forgetting about my bruises. I luckily had a high pain tolerance, and was going to use it to get a tattoo someday. But this bothered me. If it really hurt on me, God forbid it happens to someone else.
I turn the corner and realized where I was aimlessly going. I spotted a familiar red roof and black door and speed-walked towards it. The comic shop! There was a light on in the back, and I saw a fuzzy black ball of hair stacking comics. I opened the door and dropped my things, racing towards it. I gave him a big hug and started to sob, thankful that he was here. Caught up in my moment of bliss, it wasn't hard for him to turn around and shove me forward- hard. I stumbled back, hit the floor and looked up. Oh shit.
"Who the hell are you??" The man screamed. He had black hair, alright. But this wasn't Gerard. Not even close.
"Look I'm gonna call the cops if you don't get the hell out!"
My eyes darted around, looking for Gerard. He must have felt sorry for me, because he settled down and apologized. He must have seen my face, I thought. It was probably still red and puffy. When I finally calmed down I asked him.
"D-Do you have Gerard's number?"
He looked at me, his gaze getting softer. I think he finally realized I wasn't going to rob him. He slowly nodded his head and grabbed his phone, punched a few numbers into it and handed it to me. It was already calling when I put the phone up to my ear.
"Hello..." I heard his voice on the other end. It sounded dead and tired, but it was his voice. Tears rolled down my cheek and I struggled to speak. I let out a whimper, my hands shaking. I gave the phone back to the man, my eyes begging for him to talk to him. He rolled his eyes.

"Hey, uh Gerard. It's Jackson. There's this girl here who says she really needs to see you. I-uhh." He put his hand over the receiver and whispered to me. "What's your name hun?"
I told him my name between sniffles, and he continued his conversation. "Yes uh, ... Hannah here says tha-"
I couldn't hear the other end of the line, but the strangers let out a bunch of "ok's" then a "right". He said goodbye and flipped his phone shut.
"He said to not let you leave, and he'll be here soon. Why don't you take your stuff over to the couch." He said, speaking to me. His expression was soft, even friendly. What did Gerard tell him?

I brought my pillow and my shirt over the the couch. Nothing fancy, but comfortable. I placed my pillow on the edge of the couch and laid down, waiting for sleep to overcome me. I woke up suddenly to the bell of the front door, and slowly sat up. I heard footsteps and Gerard's voice talking to Jackson.
"Where is she?"
"I put her on the couch. Be careful dude, she's nuts."
The footsteps stopped, and I heard a loud thud on the floor, followed by some selective cursing. I saw Gerard turn the corner and when he saw me he ran over.
I grabbed him in a big hug and I started sobbing, never wanting to let go.
"Hey, hey shhhh." He soothed, trying to calm me down. It only made me cry more. He picked me up and sat down, placing me on his lap and I cried into his shoulder.
I sat there for nearly ten minutes trying to calm down enough to speak.
"I w-was sk-k-kyping a friend a-and he banged on the doo-" I broke out into another crying fit, still trying to talk. "He p-pushed me down the stairs b-because I-I-I den..ied him what w-was his and he took of my pants-" I pulled Gee closer and cried some more.
"Shh Hannah, Hannah. You're safe now. I promise." I cried into his shoulder until I had cried myself to sleep.

Gerard woke me up at 6:30, and we agrees school should help get things off my mind. I put on the shirt I had brought with me- a black Green Day tee, long sleeve of course- and got into his car. We stopped by a local convenience store and picked me up a Mountain Dew. He took my phone and put his number in as "Gee-bear". I laughed and took his phone and put my number under "Hannah Banana". I couldn't think of anything better, so I saved the contact and handed him phone back.
"Hey, Do you have a sharpie? I lost mine" I innocently asked him. He nodded and handed it to me, and I immediately drew up my sleeve, and started doodling, I flipped my wrist over and started drawing the first loops of the "L" when I remembered what happened. I fought back a tear and looked up. Shit, I thought. He noticed.
He took my wrist in his hand and ran a thumb over the scabs. Thank god the scabs distorted the letters.
"Again?" He said, hurt clearly seeping into his voice and eyes. "You were doing so well."
I nodded, and looked back down, continuing to write the three words that kept me going. He grabbed my chin and tilted my head up.
"If you keep doing this, I'll take my sharpie back" He smirked. Fuck, that smile though. I grinned back at him.
"Losing my sharpie is what made me do it, smartass." I rolled my eyes. He laughed and opened his glove compartment, revealing a pencil box with hundreds of sharpies. He gave me a handful. "You need these more than me." I smiled and finally finished the saying. He grabbed the sharpie and added two little music notes to the top of my hand. I giggled and slipped the sharpies in my pocket.
We had just pulled into the school when I felt my phone buzz and saw an IM from Frankie
-F: Look Alive, Sunshine. Day two awaits. Jenna ain't got shit on you, remember that. Go out there and kick some ass.-
I grabbed my phone and shot back a quick reply
-Fine, but my suspensions on you, Iero.-
I gave Gerard one final hug and ventured off into the sad world of high school.

Notes