"So, I'll meet you in the lot?" Lyn-z asked me, her red-painted lips tugged into a smile on her face. I hummed in response, making her smile wider, if that was even possible. "Okay, great." She waved and turned on her heel, yelling over her shoulder, "see you!" I felt myself smirk as I watched her walk away, her heels clicking against the floor. God, Frank snap out of it. I took a deep breath before turning around and opening the door to my classroom. Ah, last class of the day. All day, I've had to deal with snarky teenagers and people who are only in art for the credits. I had to stop doing the "draw something that you feel represents/defines you" thing because so many kids just drew dicks. I don't know what I'll do for this class. When I walked in, everyone looked up at me.
"Good afternoon!" I chirped. "I'm your new teacher, Mister Iero. Your old teacher quit, before anyone asks. Before we do anything else, let's start on role call." I just wanted to get to the chase. I've been asked enough questions about my personal life from the other kids. I picked up the stack of papers off my desk, but they slipped out of my hands and onto the floor. The kids erupted in giggles as I squatted down to pick them up, immediately shutting up when I cleared my throat. When I had gathered them all, I stood back up. "Emily Ayala?" I called out the first name on the list of students.
"Here!"
"Jack B-"
"Here."
"Alex Gaska--"
"Heeeere!"
The entire class laughed once more. I went down the list until I reached a name I still wanted to learn about.
"Gerard Way?"

No one called "here", but suddenly everyone started murmuring to eachother. I raised an eyebrow, but no one cared to explain. "Gerard Way?" I repeated. Still no reply. It wasn't until then I noticed a figure hunched over their desk all the way in the back. I couldn't see their face from their long black hair draping their face. I slowly walked over to them. They didn't even look up or jump when I repeated his name. At this point the only noise in the room was the giggling and whispering of students and the scritch-scratch of pencil on paper. I reached out and snatched the notebook he was leaning over from his desk. He gasped and tried to get it back, but I stepped away before he could. He had drawn a picture of a teenage boy, messy hair covering his eyes and his glasses. It was actually... really good! I opened my mouth to actually tell him that when I realized everyone was staring at me. Yeah, no. If I compliment him, they'll think they can get off scot-free if they don't pay attention in class! Or at least that's what Lyn-z told me. I looked up from the notebook and at the kid, not being able to hide the smirk on my face. He turned back to me, his eyes wide and lower lip quivering like he was about to cry. He had long black hair that touched his shoulders, not much longer than mine. He was deathly pale, and makeup lined his hazel eyes. "You're Gerard Way, right? Mikey's brother."
"Y-Yes Mister Iero," he whispered.

What?

The only way this kid could be related to a drug-using, drinking party animal like his brother. He didn't look like he would use either, other than the dark circles under his eyes.

"Well, Gerard," I told him, "please stay after school today." I felt bad, but I'm trying to follow Lindsey's advice. He nodded as I dropped the notebook back on his desk and went back to the front of the class. "With some of my other classes, I had them draw something that they believes defines them, but that didn't work out very well. Many of them just drew phallic images," I said to the class. "So I guess you guys can just... mingle?"

And that's exactly what they did.

---

Everyone with the exception of Gerard. He stayed in his seat in the very back of the class, leaning over his notebook. I found myself staring at him and the way he fidgeted when someone turned to him, even if they didn't talk to him or speak to him. He seemed nervous about something. A few minutes before class got out, he looked up from his drawing and at me, catching my gaze. His face flushed and he ran a hand through his hair as he looked away. It was... cute. Okay, not cute, no. I can't call someone probably still a minor "cute". That's weird.

But it's really adorable.

Now, the room is completely empty, save for me and him. I told Lyn-z the problem, and she said that it was fine, that we can go get coffee tomorrow. It was kinda depressing for me. Lyn-z is a great girl, beautiful too. If I didn't know any better, I'd say I'd bone her. Fuck, I met her today. Is that weird? Nah, Anna fell in love with Hans after knowing him for a few hours. That was a terrible analogy, wow. But I think any partially-straight man would wanna fuck her. Okay, I'll shut up now because Gerard is in here and me thinking of sex with someone in front of a student isn't good when I'm wearing skinny jeans. A ringtone went off and he pulled out his phone. "No phones in detention," I told him, but he didn't reply. His eyes flickered around as he looked at his screen before widening.
"I have to go," he muttered as he tucked his phone back into his pocket and stood up.
"Nuh uh, you leave when I tell you you can," I told him, making sure my voice was firm. He ignored me and swung a bag over his shoulder and walked past me, but I grabbed his wrist. He squeaked in surprise.
"Mister Iero, let me go."
I tugged on his arm so he was facing me. He looked scared about something. "Gerard, you weren't paying attention in class. It warrants a detention. You don't leave until the hour is over. Please sit." He tried to pull his arm away, but it did nothing.
"This is really urgent, please."
"Has a family member died or anything?"
He only struggled more, trying to get his wrist away. That was when I saw a scar running across his wrist, when the fabric rolled down his arm. He didn't seem to notice and kept fidgeting. I let go, planning to grab his arm from a different angle and see what it was, but as soon as I dropped my hand he ran-- and I mean RAN-- out of that class. "Gerard, wait!" I called after him, but by the time I went out to the stairwell, I could see him at the bottom, heading for the other stairs to the first floor. He jumped when I said his name again, but didn't turn around.

What the fuck just happened?

Notes

i won't scrap this story but i really don't want to write for it as of now so expect long periods before updates.
title is lyrics from Marina & the Diamond's "E.V.O.L."

xo