“Yo, Sam! Why did you get out of there so damn quickly? The band has only just started.” Delilah yelled, her hearing effected by the music.

After quickly gulping down my diet coke, I told Delilah I was leaving without a reason. The truth was, I just couldn’t stand the evil glare Mr. Way was giving me. His brother, a name I had already forgotten, didn’t seem to notice this and continued to enjoy the set.

I stopped and turned to my friend, “I’m just feeling a little sick. Too much movement in there, you know? Everybody’s jumping about and it made me feel sick.”

Delilah shrugged, “So? Just get some air and come back in... Unless you’re not telling me the truth?” She crossed her arms over her chest, confused and a little hurt.

I sighed, feeling bad, “Okay, fine... Mr. Way’s in there. Apparently he knows your friend in the band, or at least his brother does. I just couldn’t take his stare any longer –“

“Whoa, whoa! Slow down, girl! You’re saying Mr. Way, our Art teacher is in there?” I nodded and she started laughing, “Man that is funny! Don’t worry about him, Sam. This ain’t a school day, he can’t yell at us today, come back in. Please.”

I shook my head, “I don’t know, Delilah. He’s really starting to scare me.” It just wasn’t right that he was acting this way. I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, yet he was being a complete ass. There had to be something more, something deeper. I didn’t know how to find that out, but I needed to at least try.

“Ignore him. Enjoy the music. We’ll say a quick hi to Frank when he’s done and we’ll get the hell outta there! It’ll be over before Mr. Way even gets to Frank, alright?” I finally nodded, deciding it was silly to feel scared of him. Delilah had known him a lot longer than I did, and she wasn’t scared of him.

I sighed, “Okay… But if I see him giving me another look, I will leave. I don’t need that on a day I’m not in school, hell I don’t even want it when I am in school.” Delilah just grabbed my hand and dragged me back inside where Leathermouth were just finishing another song.

After the band had finished their intense set, Tom, Suzanne, Delilah and I went to the bar to order much needed drinks. I ordered myself another diet coke, and made sure there was no one behind me before I moved this time.

“Wow! They were awesome! You don’t expect talent like that in a small bar like this.” Tom commented before he took a sip of his water, “Damn if they ever release an album… I’ll totally buy it.”

My three friends shared their opinions of tonight’s entertainment as I searched the bar for my Art teacher. Maybe he had gone? Maybe he had already gone with his brother to catch up with the band? It didn’t matter. I was just relieved he wasn’t around now.

But then a voice was heard from behind me, “Oh my god, Delilah?” The four of us turned to where the voice came from and there stood the singer of Leathermouth, Frank, “You actually came, that is so amazing! C’mere.”

“Damn Frank! That was insane, and you know I don’t like that music. But, man! You have talent, although did you have to scream so much? It was like I was watchin’ a horror movie at times.”

As Delilah and Frank carried on with their conversation, leaving Tom, Suzanne and me feeling slightly awkward next to them, I caught sight of Mr. Way with his brother. As his brother had told me they knew Frank, I knew that they would be over here any minute.

I decided to go back to the bar and order another diet coke. I could hear familiar voices behind me and knew that they must be the Way brothers, “Frank, what an awesome show, man! I mean, I knew you could play guitar, but dude! When’s your next show?” As I didn’t quite know this voice, I assumed it was Mr. Way’s brother, his name I still couldn’t remember.

“Aw, thanks Mikey. I’d like to just do it all again ‘cause I felt amazing when I was up there. It was incredible, I just wish Jamia was here to see it, too –“

“Hey, it’s that weird girl!” I heard Mikey say behind me. Damn it, “Hey weird girl. See you got your hands gripped tighter around the glass this time.” He laughed as he came to stand next to me, “Excuse me, one beer please… So anyway, weird girl, I’ve been wondering all night why you were so surprised that Gerard was my brother?”

Gerard. It was weird to hear the first name of someone I had been addressing formally. It was weird with all of my teachers.

I laughed nervously beside him, constantly looking down at my empty glass, “Actually, he’s my Art teacher, at Belleville High.”

His expression suddenly changed, his eyes went wide, “Hang on for one second there… Are youthe Sam?” I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, partly because I didn’t know what he was talking about, and partly because I was surprised he remembered my name from earlier tonight, when I had forgotten his.

He noticed my confusion and explained himself, “Are you Samantha Phillips?” I nodded cautiously, and he laughed, “As I live with my brother, as does Frank, it’s kind of hard to ignore the things Gerard says. I don’t know why, but whenever he comes home from teacher, he’s in a really bad mood, and it’s been even worse this week… And I think you’re the problem… No offense… I shouldn’t really tell you this, but he constantly bitches about you when he gets home.”

My eyes went wide in shock. I knew there was a dislike towards me, but to go home and talk about me? It wasn’t right, “What does he say?” I asked, curiously.

Mikey tilted his head, recalling what had been said, “He pretty much repeats himself… He calls you a bitch and a slut… Don’t really understand that part… Once he said something was your fault, but he never said what that something was. I don’t know, have you done something to anger him?” I shook my head, my eyes welling up only slightly. What sort of person does that to one of their own students?

I swallowed away the tears, “If you shouldn’t be telling me this… Then why did you?”

He shrugged, “Gerard can get worked up over silly little things and it can be quite entertaining to watch… But then I started to worry a little, about you, not him, and seeing as I’ve had the opportunity of meeting you… I thought I would just let you know.”

I didn’t know what else to say. I just couldn’t understand what was going on. I couldn’t understand how someone could hate me so much so quickly. He didn’t even know me. All I could think of that would push his buttons a little was that I had turned up to class late on my first day. But wasn’t that normal? Nobody knows where they’re going on their first day. If that is what he’s getting worked up about, then this whole thing is pathetic.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Mikey writing some paper before folding it and handing it to me, “Come round tomorrow.”

“What? Why?”

I turned back to look at his brother, who had his back to the both of us, “Sometimes I like to mess with my brother… And having you there would definitely do that… Plus, it’ll be fun… Don’t look so scared. Frank will be there. So will my girlfriend and his girlfriend. Besides… Aren’t you just a little curious as to why he is the way he is with you?”

Notes

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