To This Day

The 6th of September marks Sandy Creek's 74th annual Bake sale. A supposedly joy filled night, brought together by a family in which is seen to be picture perfect. A family that I have to call my own. This ritual started way back, before the birth of my own parents, obviously, it's passed down, generations to generations. The time has finally come for my mother to run around the house yelling at me to find the Weekley's infamous carrot cake whilst she applies mascara and icing simultaneously. Of course on the designated area, we wouldn't want a cake with "black icing" Neither would she want specks of green on her eyelashes. Perhaps she could take on the role of Effie Trinket one her social status has reached its end. That would be awhile from now though, right now it's at it's peak and there's no sign of it dropping any soon.

I left the iero household after a collection of inappropriate and awkward questions from Gerard, such as "Are you single?" or the "are you a virgin?" so when I didn't answer, the two took it as a yes. Which is true, though I don't think it needed to be admitted aloud. Lea never showed up due to her mother also going batshit crazy over tonight's events. My mom was in charge of food, dessert, drinks, et cetera, Lea's mom was in charge of decorations and such. Mrs. Iero was on entertainment duty. Now this isn't some crummy old bake sale held by elderly woman, no. This was like a fucking Carnival, like prom but for 30-40 year olds.

I'm sure I'd enjoy this wondrous event, like I would usually, however, today just felt slightly off. I mean it's the first day back at school for senior year, my birthday, the arrival of the idiot and the Bake sale. It's a little too much if you ask me. Nevertheless, I am still grateful for what I have.

*******

It's been three hours, three darn hours of listening to my mother yell for the Wilson's goddamned brownies. We're at town hall, a huge air conditioned room that server no purpose whatsoever. Asides from this annual event. She's made me ice things, label things and taste things. After wanting to barf at the overly sweet taste of the Jefferson's appalling "muffins" she finally let me go home and change, which I gladly obeyed.

Ten minutes of driving alone later, I was home, still contemplating on whether I should displease my mother by not attending her precious Bake sale in one of those skin tight dresses she bought me or whether I should sit at home doing absolutely nothing. After all, it is my birthday therefore it should be my decision to choose of my whereabouts.

Maybe I should go though, Lea would be there, and Frank too. Besides, I haven't had any quality time with my two best friends.

******

I rummaged through the depths of my closet, to find something suitable, by suitable I mean, less like a nun and more like an eighteen year old trying to get laid. At least before college.

I pulled out a black 'too tight for my liking' dress that was tight up till under my breasts, then went all puffy. It was cute, a little short but come onnnn, grow the fuck up Dev, you're not getting laid by looking like a 'potato sack'. Listen to yourself for once. So I did. Pairing with that dress was a set of black creepers that I've always adored but never wore. Not that I couldn't fit them but because I never wore anything that was allowed to be worn with it. Bitch please, give me some credit. Just cause I dress like a holy prude doesn't mean I have no taste. It'd be fashion suicide to wear baggy shirts, baggy blue jeans and creepers.

My hair fell down to my waist, which is pretty freakin' long. It was a weird thing back then, a stubby fat girl with super long hair. Well, it looked weird on me anyways. I don't know, some people can just rock the extra weight and look sexy as hell whereas I just looked like hell.

I ran out the door, locking it behind me. I decided to walk there -actually no I just left the keys to my car inside the house- it's only like ten minutes anyways.

I loved this town, it was peaceful and calm, never was there any robbing cases or kidnappings. We were notorious for absolutely nothing. Reminded me of myself. This whole place was so....so generic. Hundreds and hundreds of houses lined up on rows, opposing each other with their untainted lawns consisting of several different species of vibrant flowers, It was beyond cliche. Not as cliche as the people that live here though.

********

Town hall was flooded with people, from the ones who're almost dead to the one's who'll make you dead if they don't stop screaming. Workers had to enter from the back, yeah we're that kind of community. Technically speaking I wasn't a worker but my mother treated me like one, plus I felt bad for the actual workers. The snooty suburban mothers would purposely knock something over with their ridiculously large handbags just so they'd have to clean it, also giving them the chance to yell at them for 'missing a spot'. Oh but it wasn't just the mothers here that were mental. It was all the girls in general. One time last year Rachel Mcdougall, 1/5 of courtney's minions, consecutively broke five glasses due to her boobs accidentally brushed against the serving platter. It was hilarious, to me, to everyone else it was a poor misunderstanding done by the clumsy waiter. I walked through the crowd, heading for the back door. Well I was walking, until some rotten little child decided to run past me, pushing my legs out of the way making me loose my balance.

In a matter of seconds my but collided with the floor whilst people continued to trample over my legs.I tried getting up but some douchebag obviously didn't see me and stepped on my fingers. The fat bastard didn't even apologize. Everything was moving so quickly. People were yelling. Kids were yelling. I could barely sit up properly and my ankle hurt like a bitch. Honestly, I thought I was dying. But of course I wasn't.
As if heaven heard my prayers, a pair of, what I hoped to be hands, grabbed my waist and pulled me up. The moment I was back up on my feet, another douchebag pushed me out the way, again. This time I didn't fall, yet. Instead I tumbled out the way to a clearer part of land. Then I fell. "Need another hand?" ugh great, Gerard."Not by you thanks." I steadied myself back onto my feet, only to have my ankles fail me causing me to stumble forward. Which, I might say, could have ended up by me pushing him over too thus leaving my face near a certain area of his that I certainly would not be near. If that were to happen, I'd die. However that did not happen because he saved me from that horrific moment by holding me by my waists. I quickly grabbed his shoulders to support my unstable body. "uhh thanks..." his hands lingered -as did mine- on my waists a little too long for my liking. The jolts of electricity fabricated by his touch made me feel uneasy, unsure of if it was in a bad way though."Well look at that cupcake, first day back and you're already falling for me."
"Ha. Ha. Ha. You're hilarious." I replied monotonously,
"If your stable enough to make a comment like that I'm pretty sure you can let go of me."
"um..right" It was only then, that I realised that his hands retreated from my waists and that my hands were draped on his shoulders. He laughed at my reaction which as always results in my face turning red. It wasn't that he made me flustered, it's an impulse when embarrassed. Which often happens in my case. "You clean up well Cupcake" did he just compliment me?!? Did Gerard Way, the boy who used to wipe his boogers on my arm compliment me?!! "your lacy underwear is hotter though" Oh. Shit.

And then he laughed. No, screw that. He was practically crying. At. My. Underwear. You could probably imagine how red my face was. Although, I think he was laughing at the expression I made once he sad 'hotter' which is understandable. Considering no guy has ever complimented me, or my underwear for that matter. "Okay, okay, whew I'm done. Sorry but your face, it was gold" I tugged at the hem of my skirt, feeling a little conscious about my appearance, I was just wishing the puffy-ness would just swallow me into itself. I had social anxiety, it was bad and he knew that. It wasn't the type where I'd panic just at the sight of people, it took awhile to kick in, one embarrassing moment after another. Even back then when he did something to me, I'd run home hyperventilating, of course like the other many things, My parents were oblivious to that. Christs sake, if Gerard knew that and my own parents didn't, doesn't that say something. He's seen me in one of my panic attacks, then straight away called the nurse. At least he didn't just continue laughing. "Heyheyhey, I'm sorry okay, you look beautiful," Ah there it is again, the compliment followed by something 'funny'.

I waited, waited for a response that would demolish the previous compliment. I stared at the ground, fiddling with my dress, waiting for it. But it didn't happen. Instead, his slightly calloused fingers brushed against my chin, tilting my head upwards. forcing my gaze to fixate onto his. Those glowing hazel orbs that seemed like it held a universe within it stared immensely into my dull ones, "It's okay Devon, I'm sorry. Let's go get fat and steal balloons" he faked a smile that instantly dissapeared once he realised what he said "ah shit...Devon I'm so sorry I didn't mean it like that, crap I suck at w-" His rambling was awfully cute, he was awfully cute. But he's a dick."Gerard shut up, I'm fine" That lopsided smirk crept it's way back onto his perfectly sculpted face. I'm not going to lie, yes he was fucking gorgeous. Just cause someones pretty doesn't mean their nice. Take Courtney for instance, she's a beautiful blonde girl, but she's a bitch. End of. "Great, let's go Cupcake"

********

Tonight was great, despite the over dramatic beginning and awkward situations it was still a hit, literally. He was about to walk me home but before that he told me it was a must to win something for me or as he liked to call it 'a one way ticket into my pants' via stuffed whale plushy. He thought it'd be a great idea to surprise me in the, now empty car park, by creeping up behind me. Let's just say someone had to limp home, it wasn't me this time. "Aww Gerard come on you know I take kickboxing classes, who told you to try and scare me" he wasn't talking to me, the entire walk home was utterly silent, well, apart from my hysterical laughing due to his limp, it wasn't that hard of a kick....to his nuts. "Yeah well, last time you wouldn't retaliate like that" he huffed, crossing his arms. Okay, now he was acting like a child. "It's not last time anymore." I said mechanically, so far in the night he's tried to bring up old memories that I had no intentions of talking about, ever.

He dropped me off at my house, said goodnight, handed me a small box then left. What? did you expect a fucking kiss? get real, it's Gerard, and I'm me. Even if he does end up changing, that means dropping all those unbelievably troublesome moments, actually being kind and literate, we'd only be friends. He isn't my type, if I even do have a type, he is far from it. A large percentage of me hates him, and refuses to forgive him.

I got back into my room, stripped and stepped into the shower.

About ten minutes later I stepped out and dried myself off, slipping into a super large shirt that went passed my knees. I sat perched on the edge of my bed, going over tonight's events. And then I remembered. The box. I ran downstairs, grabbed it off the counter and ran back up. Mom and Dad were still out, I doubt they'd come home at all. Wouldn't be surprised if they were cheating on each other, neither one of them are faithful. I sat back on my bed and pulled at the red ribbon that sealed the white car box. Placing the ribbon aside, I unfolded the lid of the box. Inside was a baby blue iced cupcake, topped with little white sprinkles. The underside of the lid had a sentence scrawled across it. It read 'you didn't think I'd forget your birthday, did you Cupcake?' How cute.

Notes

I literally spent the whole day writing this chapter because I kept getting distracted and I'd randomly just stop typing. PluS THERES ONLY FIVE MORE WEEKS OF SCHOOL UNTIL SUMMER BREAAAKKK.