Unknown Identities

Gerard was alone again, though that was nothing new. He always stayed after school so he could drive Mikey home from whatever event he was participating in that day. Gerard never actually participated in anything at school and he liked it that way. Sometimes being alone was easier. He walked down the deserted hallway, towards his own locker. Opening it, he pulled out numerous books that he would need for homework and then ripped a page from one of his many sketchbooks. Closing the locker and sitting down leaning against the rusty old thing, (it didn’t even have a number plate on it, anymore), he began to write. The third letter to the boy whose locker was only five away from his. This might start to get a little complicated. He thought, I don’t want him to know that it’s me writing these. That would ruin any chance at a friendship with him. If I write down something and then say it to him during the day that would be catastrophic. I’m going to have to be extremely careful. Yes, this was going to get very difficult as the days moved on. However, Gerard is still fairly certain Frank has no idea what his name is. Only the last name, and judging by the lack of questions, Frank hadn’t put two and two together to figure out that he was Mikey’s brother. You’re such an idiot sometimes, Frankie. But an adorable one all the same.
Finishing the letter in his usual messy handwriting, he stood up again. Shuffling through his backpack for his sketchbook. His personal one, not the one he used for school. He ripped a page out of that one as well, though this one didn’t have writing on it. He folded the two sheets of paper together and slipped them into Frank’s locker. Then he started back towards his own to grab his backpack. Now to go find Mikey and drag him home. He didn’t get very far. How does this guy sneak up on me? He thought as he was pinned to a locker by a much taller and larger guy. The very same one he stood up to in class today to Frank’s amusement.
“Look who it is, didn’t expect to see you here,” He said getting up in his face. Gerard looked him in the eye the whole time not about to give in to the guy’s weak attempts at intimidation.
“You’re not scaring anyone so you can cut the crap, I’ve put up with entirely too much shit my whole life to be scared of you,” He spat back at him.
“Bold words from someone pinned against a locker,” The other guy said. “I didn’t appreciate the way you talked to me today,”
“Oh, you mean with words that you couldn’t comprehend. Sorry, I’ll make sure to dumb it down next time!” That was the wrong thing to say. The guy brought his fist up much like this morning and punched him right in the face.
“You’re a worthless piece of shit! Don’t forget that,” And the guy raised his fist to hit him again.
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Frank walked up to his locker and leaned his forehead against it. School was just not going to work today. He felt incredibly tired but he couldn’t figure out why. He hadn’t done anything that would tire him out except maybe obsessively thinking about who could be writing him letters but that probably wasn’t it. Right?
He opened the locker and two sheets of torn sketchbook paper fluttered down to the ground. He picked them up and unfolded the one with writing all across it. It read:
Frank,
Well, there really isn’t much to say. You still have no idea who I am so that’s good, well not for you but for me. I’m certain that even if we had met you wouldn’t know my name anyway so that’s fine. I was drawing yesterday, during lunch. It ended up being a pretty good sketch and I really wanted to show you but I didn’t know if you would think that was creepy or not but I still gave it to you anyway. If you ever do meet me face to face and if you don’t want it you can just give it back then or you could throw it away now and I would never know. But at least look at it, you look so happy around your friends. God, do I sound like a stalker, I’m really not I promise. I just don’t know what else to do, at least I think I can speak to you now and know that a conversation could spark but that still doesn’t help the fact that I’m in love with you. I’m not sure if it’s better that I can talk to you now though, it’s hard not to tell you how amazing you are. Especially when you look so unhappy sometimes. I’ll see you in class.
Frank immediately unfolded the other sheet of paper. It was a drawing of the four of them. Mikey, Ray, Bob, and himself all standing together laughing and joking with each other, in their dark clothes and gothic appearance. The drawing Frank was really well drawn and so was Mikey, almost as if the person had every feature of them memorized and had drawn them many times. Ray looked pretty good too, like the person had at least seen him before but Bob was a little rough. Guess the guy really didn’t know Bob all that well. That was fine, Bob was a little scary until you got to know him and even then he was still kind of scary. This is amazing, I really have to find this guy now. Seriously it can’t be that hard right, I just have to notice who is in all of my classes and go from there.
Frank walked to his English class, completely forgetting about the fact that he hated it. Today might turn around after all.
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Today did not turn around at all. If anything it got worse. The unnamed boy in his algebra class wasn’t here today. That made his mood all the more sour, even if he got a new letter today, it was forgotten for the moment. He walked to the lunch room and joined Ray and Bob at the table. Mikey was still in the lunch line.
“Jeeze Frank, you look as if someone murdered your dog,” Ray said and Frank said nothing.
“Nah, the guy he’s crushing on isn’t here today,” Bob said and Mikey sat down at the table, raising an eyebrow at Frank. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out and began looking through numerous texts.
“Oh? And who is this guy to have Frank looking so upset?” Ray questioned raising an eyebrow
“Longish black hair, I think he’s got hazel eyes I can never tell he’s always got his hair hanging in his eyes when I see him. He also always drawing when I see him,” Bob said. Mikey’s head snapped up to look at Bob. Looking like he recognized someone with the same features. There it is again, Frank thought, Mikey knows something and he’s not going to share it.
“You know who he is, Mikey?” Frank questioned trying anyway.
“Nope,” Mikey said, he’s a really bad liar, “Just remembered I have to go take a test, see you guys later,” Mikey said getting up and leaving.
Why’s he lying? Is he trying to protect someone? A million reasons went through Frank’s head but all of them were unlikely. Guess I’ll just have to figure it out myself.
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For the rest of the day Frank wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep. But he pushed through and finally he stood at his locker at the end of the day. He shoved books and binders back into it to trade them for the ones he would need for homework and slammed the thing closed. He was able to walk five lockers down before he was stopped by the usual gang of jocks.
“Frank! So good to see you!” Can you all just go away, I’m really not in the mood, but they continued despite Frank’s wishes.
“Perfect timing! We were so disappointed when our usual punching bag didn’t show up to school today, guess we finally broke him,” They’re talking about the black haired boy, I know it. That comment made him incredibly angry. On an impulse he lunged at the guy and swung his fist. Hitting him directly on the jawline.
“Don’t talk about him like that!” he shouted, “He’s a person too, not just something you can push around whenever you fucking feel like it!”
“So you really are gay for each other,” The boy said holding his bruising jaw. The rest of the group snickered. “How perfect,” He pushed Frank against the locker directly behind him. “Not so tough now are you?” the boy questioned.
“Fuck you!” Frank said, the much taller boy shook his head.
“Remember what I said the last time? That if you butt in again, what would happen?” Frank played dumb. Great, he thought, Mom I’m going to be a little late.
The boy grabbed a handful of Frank’s hair and pulled him out of the way. Still holding his hair with one hand, he forcefully opened the locker that Frank was pushed up against a second ago with the other hand. He then proceeded to shove Frank into the locker. Frank fought back but the guy was just way to strong.
“Have fun Frank,” they boy said closing the door and leaving Frank in darkness. The only light came from the slits at the top and bottom of the locker. Wonderful! Now that everyone’s already left, who the hell is going to help me out? Damn lockers, why do they have to be the perfect fucking size for me to fit into? I feel bad for whoever’s locker this is, this is going to be a pretty big surprise. It’s not every day you find a Frank shoved in your locker.
However, judging by the contents of the guy’s locker, he seemed pretty cool. Frank was awkwardly standing on a whole bunch of books at the bottom of the locker and at least a third of the books were sketchbooks. There were pieces of torn notebook paper everywhere that, along with notes, were covered in tons of doodles of anything and everything. Hanging on the door directly eyelevel to Frank were what looked like notes for a music class. Maybe homework but that wasn’t what made Frank interested in it, it was the handwriting. Extremely familiar handwriting. No fucking way! I really got shoved into the unknown writer’s locker. Maybe fate is on my side. Something in here has to have his name on it. Frank began looking for anything with a name on it. Nothing, only initials. G.W. well that narrows down the search immensely. There can’t be that many people with the initials G.W. right? Frank wondered. Now how do I get out of here? He began to push on the door as hard as he could and to his surprise the door actually opened. But not because he pushed on it. He came flying out of the locker and right into his savior.
“Mikey? What the fuck are you doing here?” He questioned. Was this his locker? That would be extremely weird.
“I think I should be asking you that question,” Mikey said realizing what must have happened and beginning to laugh.
“Is this you’re locker?” Frank asked. Please say no, I mean you’re a great friend Mikey but no.
“Hell no!” Mikey exclaimed between laughs, “Why would my locker be in the junior hallway when I’m a sophomore, idiot,”
“Point taken,” Frank said inwardly relaxing. “Then why do you know the locker combo,”
“Oh…that…” Mikey said, “Yeah… well… I’m picking up homework for someone who wasn’t here today,”
“Mikey, do you know whose locker this is?” Frank asked
“Yes…” Frank looked at him hopefully, “but I’m not allowed to tell, school’s rules, sorry,”
“Don’t worry about it,” so close, he thought,
“Why do you want to know so badly?” Mikey questioned.
“Because this guy has the same handwriting as the guy who has been slipping letters into my locker,”
“Well, maybe you can catch him tomorrow,” Mikey said, he had a look on his face like his suspicions had been confirmed. Gerard, you’re dead, Mikey thought.
“Yeah maybe,” Frank said, “See you later,”
“Bye,” Mikey called beginning to grab books and binders for the student who wasn’t here today.
You know who else wasn’t here? Maybe that’s his locker…no! Frank, he’s only a friend and that’s what he’s going to stay. Besides he’s got a crush on someone else. A girl someone else. He would never fall for you, anyway.

Notes

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