You Can Cry All You Want To, I Don't Care

I sit there feeling myself start to panic, the smile wiped from my face as Bert crosses the room towards me and I start to shake but I'm saved by the teacher walking into the room and Bert takes the seat infront of mine. The whole class I'm on edge and can't concentrate, fearing what Bert might do to me and when the bell rings I shove my stuff in my bag and run from the room towards my next class and I make it halfway down the hall, my pace slowing from all the other students in the way when a hand grabs the back of my shirt and yanks me back, almost throwing me to the floor. "Not so fast" I hear Bert growl into my ear as he tugs me back through the door into the bathroom we just passed. Once the door swings shut Bert lets me go and fists his hands in the front of my shirt instead, slamming me back into the wall, my head smashing into the concrete and my vision instantly blurs and I feel the whole room spin. "So you got a boyfriend huh?" He spits out, his face right up in mine, his breath washing over my face. I remain silent, having learned that talking back to him usually ends in a worse beating. I close my eyes, waiting to be hit and a few seconds later his lips collide with mine, his tongue forcing it's way into my mouth and I brace my hands against his chest and shove him off, completely shocked. Bert stumbles back a few steps before he recovers and his fist drives straight into my stomach, causing me to double over as I fall to the floor. I whimper pathetically and Bert kneels down over me as he says "You tell anyone and I'll make you regret it." I cower in fear and he stands up, picking up my dropped bag and throwing it at me before leaving the bathroom, the door slamming shut. I lay on the floor for another minute before I drag myself up, my stomach protesting the movement as I stumble out the door hunched over, making my way down the hall to the next class. When I walk in the door the teacher isn't there and Frank is sitting alone looking worried until he spots me and when he takes in my state his eyes grow dark. "What happened?" He asks when I stumble over to sit beside him. "Uh, nothing I'm fine." "Gerard" he says, his tone harsh and I unintentionally flinch a little. "Baby, tell me what happened?" "Same old shit" I tell him, afraid that if I elaborate I'll break down and tell him about what Bert actually did and then he'll really hurt me. "Are you alright?" He asks and I nod weakly, still clutching my stomach. Frank reaches his hand out to touch my stomach when the teacher walks in and calls the class to attention and his hand drops as we look to the front of the room. While the teacher starts talking and making notes on the board for us to copy Franks hand slides across into mine under the desk, his fingers linking through mine and squeezing lightly. We spend the whole class holding hands and when the class ends we separate them long enough to put our stuff back in our bags before standing up and joining hands again, walking down the hallway to our next lesson, passing Bert who is death staring us and Frank snaps, ripping his hand from mine as he charges across the hall and tackles Bert to the floor, laying his fists into him as Bert struggles and they wrestle around, hitting each other while a crowd gathers around watching and cheering, me caught in the middle of it. "What's going on?" I hear a loud voice call out and two teachers shove through the crowd, breaking up the fight and when they're back on their feet Bert's nose and lip are bleeding and his jaw is swollen, his uniform messed up and Franks hair is messed up and his right eye is swollen. Both of them are ushered towards the office down the hall and Frank turns his head and locks eyes with me, my vision a little blurry from the tears I'm crying and he mouths "It's ok baby" as he goes. "Get to class" the teacher yells out as he goes to the office with them and everyone scatters, gossiping about the new kid throwing down with Bert, everyone shoving past me as I stay in place. Once the hallway is empty I slowly make my way down the hall towards the office and I slide down and sit on the floor, leaning back against the wall as I listen to the commotion going on inside, both Frank and Bert's voices ringing out clear as they argue infront of the principal. Fifteen minutes later the door opens and they both come out, Bert glancing down at me and shooting me a look that sends chills through my whole body before turning and walking down the hall towards his next class. Frank comes out and sees me, dropping to his knees and cups my face in his hands, gently swiping his thumbs under my eyes. "Baby are you alright?" "Are you?" I ask and he shakes his head before saying "Don't you worry about me, it's alright, really." "You're hurt" I say, reaching up to gently brush my fingers over his eye. "I'll be fine, really. Come on, let's go back to the room." I nod, dragging myself off the floor and taking Franks hand, walking out of the building and across the yard to the dorm building, going up to our room and Frank pulls me to lay on his bed with him, his arms wrapping around my waist and I feel myself start to cry again, Bert's kiss replaying in my head over and over.

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