You're Beautiful, To Me

I left the house early, like I usually do so I could avoid seeing my parents. I hate the sound of them arguing, and the sounds of abuse which often ring through the rooms whilst my father is awake. If he's awake then he's drunk, which is often so I just try my best to stay out of it.
I grabbed a roll out of the bread bin once I was dressed and downstairs then hurried out the door.
Since I was new to the area I didn't know where to go so I just began walking along the street. Where I used to live I would go to a park that was just along the road from me and sit there for hours before I went on to school. After school I would go back to the park and stay there until it was dark, then I'd go home either stopping at a takeaway or making myself a meal once my parents had gone to bed. I would try to be quiet but I didn't really need to, my father was usually oblivious to anything in his drunken state and my mother was too far out of it.
I kept on walking, looking for a place to sit for a while.
I felt bad for my mother, she didn't deserve the abuse my father gave her but she was too weak to fight back. I wasn't strong enough to take on my father either, much as I wanted to, but I had a promise to myself that as soon as I could, I would and me and my mother would get out of that hell hole. But because I wasn't we'd just have to wait.
There didn't seem to be any place to stop here so I continued wandering on.
I took care of myself mostly, making my own food, sorting my stuff out, studying, all the usual things. My mother would sometimes wash my clothes during the day if she was up to it, but if she didn't I washed them at night. All of my activities took place night. It was the only time I could do it without seeing my father. I hadn't seen or spoken to him in ages, in fact I think he's forgotten about me. I just wish he'd forget about my mum too. I try my best to be cheerful and upbeat for my mum, to have an optimistic outlook on life to try to make her feel better but I don't think it works very well. However it's the best I can do at the moment.
After I'd been walking for about an hour I decided to give up and just go to school. After a bit of being lost I finally got back into familiar surroundings then managed to find my way to school.
I was quite excited about seeing Gerard again though I hated to admit it. It kinda unsettled me that I could be so attached to a person that I'd only met yesterday but I didn't care.
As I neared the school I saw said person approaching from another direction. I thought about shouting to him but I noticed that he wasn't heading for the main entrance so I decided to follow him.
He walked around the back of the building and slipped through a narrow gap in the wall, behind the bins. I copied and found myself in a kind of yard which was littered with empty alcohol bottles. Gerard was standing with his back to me and was gulping down an amber coloured liquid from a glass bottle. He hadn't seen me so I approached behind him and cleared my throat.
"Hey," I said, my mouth feeling strangely dry.
He turned around slowly, lowering the bottle from his lips, "Oh, hiya, Frank."
He seemed kinda distant so I tried to make conversation, "How are you?"
"Why are you here so early?" He asked, completely ignoring my question, "And how did you find this place?"
"I always leave early, I was looking for a park or somewhere where I could sit by myself for a bit but I couldn't so I came here. Then I saw you and followed you so I could speak to you and yeah here I am." I shrugged.
"Oh, okay then." He said absentmindedly, raising the drink to his lips again.
"What is that?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"Whiskey." He said simply.
"Gerard!" I exclaimed, a kind of fear flooding through me.
"What?!" He retorted indignantly.
"Was all this you?" I gestured round to the glass bottles lying on the ground around the yard.
"Yeah? And?" He replied, sounding kind of pissed off. I knew I should leave it but the thought of my father and what he did when he was drunk was haunting me, what if Gerard turned like that too.
"Gerard! You shouldn't do that! You could do damage!" I said, my eyes wide.
"No offence, Frankie, but what's it to you? It's my life if I wanna poison myself from the inside then that's my choice, I'll do it if I fucking well wanna!" He sounded angry but as soon as he'd finished he crumpled on the ground, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
And wait, did he just call me Frankie? Only my mum has called me that before.
I dropped down beside him, unsure what to do.
"Gerard, it's alright, I won't hurt you. I'm sorry I shouted, I didn't mean it. Don't cry, please?" I stuttered my words as he shook with sobs.
"Never mind." He said silently and roughly wiped his eyes on his sleeve.
I stayed silent as he sat beside me, I regretted everything I'd said.
"I'm really sorry." I said finally.
"My mum used to call me Gerry." He said sniffing, "Back when I was young and innocent, but she doesn't anymore. I guess it's because I've lost my innocence, seen the world for what it is, a cruel shithole. The world is ugly, Frank, ugly as fuck!" He spat the last word and I sat there, not sure how to respond.
The bell for first period rung and he shoved the bottle in his bag as we stood up.
"I'll see you in art." He said before walking through a door into the school.
"Bye. Gerard." I said to the empty space before walking towards the same door and entering the building.

Notes

Sorry guys, I'm going away on holiday for two weeks tomorrow so this is the last update till then. Though I promise I'll update as soon as I get back from camping!! Enjoy this chapter pls haha, nah feedback is appreciated - Thank you!! c: x