I crept out the front door, being mindful of the click of the lock, after giving one last glance at Tyler unconscious and inebriated. The sight was such a disgust, I couldn't bear to look for an extended amount of time. I very slowly pushed the door behind me, letting it slip back in place, rather than swinging it closed.

The sky was black and sprinkled with crystal like stars, accompanied by a shining full moon. The corners of my lips tugged up at the smell of the great outdoors. The warm air engulfed me in a hug that I gladly welcomed, closing my eyes and inhaling it to keep forever.

I trotted across the dew kissed grass to my brother's van, spitting smoke from the back and purring loudly from the revved engine, ready to speed away as soon as I could get inside. When I made it to the curb, the door clicked and swung open for me. I was welcomed by three gentle faces, all smirking softly at me.

I climbed into the back seat to sit beside Frank Iero. Frank was a zealous boy with soft black hair and loving hazel eyes, full of excitement and wonder. Bob had only met him last year at an underground performance of Frank's old band, Iron Graveyard. They quickly became friends, so Bob offered him a room in his apartment when Frank could finally move out of his parents' house.

Ray Toro sat in the passenger's seat. Ray and Bob had graduated high school together, each of them being several grades above me. I had known him since I was only in elementary school and Bob was bringing him over to our house as children. He had always had the same head of massive spiral curls, as well as knowledge beyond his years. He and Bob had moved in together immediately after graduation.

That only left Bob, sitting behind the steering wheel and watching me in the rearview mirror. His appearance clashed with his personality. Bob was a burly young man, complete with a full beard and an intimidating stature. Although he was the slightest bit frightening to look at, he was the epitome of a gentle giant. He was soft-spoken and didn't have the nerve to even kill a fly, let alone harm a person in anyway. He had always been my guardian, maybe even more so protective than our own father.

"Hey Brooke," he spoke, his voice offering comfort and relief. "Ready to go hear some music?"

I grinned in the company of the three men, feeding off of the quiet acceptance I received here in the van. I was finally safe, driving away from my demons, even if for a short while.

"I really am," I smiled as I answered Bob. "Gives me something to do. Not much has been going on lately."

"What's Tyler been up to?" Frank asked innocently. My heart tumbled even at the mention of his name, but I managed to mask my torment and disgust.

"Oh, he's alright," I said, struggling to keep my voice from wavering. " Just haven't seen him much lately since he's been working a lot."

Tyler worked as a janitor at a motel. Although I knew that made him a useless low life, never even applying to college and scrubbing shit and toilets for a living, he was still more accomplished than I was. I hadn't even finished high school. I dropped out that summer before my junior year, the same season I had met him.

Almost immediately after our introduction, we instantly became infatuated with each other, ignorant to the world around us, as well as our common sense. I had only just turned sixteen, a handful of months before, still so stupid and clueless, but stubborn enough to deny it and hand my future over to a handsome stranger. As cliché as it sounds, I thought he was my first love. Upon meeting, he radiated confidence and charisma, able to charm himself through any situation. Even then, I saw him as my superior, letting him take me under his wing and guide me through a new world of rebellion. I aspired to be just like him, so sure of myself, closing my ears to outside criticism.

We spent the whole summer together, getting into trouble and falling in love too quickly. I voluntarily lived under his influence because I felt like he knew what was best for me. I felt as though he was what I had been looking for in my own little angst filled world. Eventually he began to make me believe high school had nothing to offer me. He had graduated in the past few months, and according to his own opinion, he could teach me more about the world in a matter of months than school had in the past ten years of my life.

I ended up giving into his foolish advice, withdrawing from Belleview High school before I could even start the eleventh grade. We pulled what little money we had to rent a one bedroom apartment. Although we were roughing it, living in a dump and always starving, somehow I still felt confident in my choices.

After about three months of living together, we began to butt heads. Living in such close quarters in such a short amount of time of knowing each other, we finally started to notice each other flaws. What started as petty fights a few times a week, turned into full on battles almost everyday. Our relationship was plummeting downward into a haze of alcoholism and abuse.

Over the years, instead of improving me, Tyler had only changed me for the worse. I used to consider myself to be a kind young lady, full of compassion and acceptance to authority. Unfortunately, I was forced to grow into someone I never thought I would be. I was an arrogant cynic, formed by Tyler's mold for me.

Bob and his friends were clueless to the war zone I lived in. On the surface, I was safe and everything was alright.

When we arrived at the venue, Frank parted ways from us, heading for his band mates so that they could set up before they went on. I stayed by Bob and Ray, careful to not lose them in the flood of people.

Through all the background noise, I almost thought I could hear a faint male voice behind me, calling my name. I didn't think it was calling for me, Brooke Bryar, until the voice became louder and louder, and I could hear it right in my ear.

"Brooke? Brooke Bryar?" The voice yelled in excitement. I swallowed a breath and reluctantly turned to match a face to the voice.

I was met by an old familiar appearance. He was a young boy, most likely my age, with light brown spiky hair and square glasses that rested on the tip of his nose. He was grinning at me as if he were waiting for it to click in my mind to remember who he was. Finally it came flooding back to me.

"Mikey?" I answered. How could I forget about Mikey Way? We went to high school together, several years ago before I dropped out. Last time I had seen him was in our tenth grade literature class. We sat beside each other in the back of the room, whispering during the majority of the class period. I didn't have many friends back then, and talking to Mikey was a main highlight of my day.

"Jesus, I can't believe it's you!" he shouted. "It's been forever! Where have you been all these years? It's like you disappeared all of a sudden."

That's because I had, I thought. Although Belleview, New Jersey was a small town, I never saw any of my old classmates around. I was practically a shut in. I was almost sure everyone had forgotten about me anyway.

"Yeah," I agreed with him. "I don't go out too much anymore."

"You still dating that Tyler guy?"

"Yeah, I am." I tried to smile a little and pretend I didn't regret every stupid thing I had done since I last saw him.

Notes

Hey guys! I feel bad for not updating sooner, I'm on spring break so I've been out of town. I swear I'm not normally this slow!

Anyway, I also apologize for it being short and still not introducing Gerard. :P He's coming soon! I've been getting some feedback, and I appreciate it so much! You're all so sweet <3