Silver Lining

Drew's P.O.V.

"Drew! Get up!"
I slowly begin to register as I wake up that someone was yelling at me. My mind, still foggy from the haziness of sleep, struggles to find an explanation for my interrupted slumber. Then I remember that I slept over at Gerard's house the night before. His voice- one that I could recognize anywhere at anytime- vibrated off the walls of his perpetually freezing house. I groan as I realize I will have to get out from under the warm blankets so I can get dressed, and freeze to death in the process. I reluctantly start to get up and shuffle over to my overnight bag. I change out of my Star Wars footie pajamas (yes, star wars footie pajamas) into a pair of ripped black jeans, a Green Day t-shirt and slip on a dark green, flannel plaid shirt over it.
"Drew c'mon your coffee's ready!"
I hear Gerard's voice from his kitchen again.
He always knew how I liked my coffee. Dark roast with almond milk, creamer, and one of those shitty packaged caramel flavorings. I walk over to the bathroom and take in my appearance. Still the same as yesterday. Same dark green eyes, same spray of freckles on my nose, same lip ring, same mousy brown hair, same scrawny body, same everything. I put on some black eyeliner and some concealer before shoving on my dirty old converse. I take one more glance in the mirror and then trudge down the stairs. As I walk down the hallway leading into the kitchen, I glance up at the wall of pictures. Mainly they're family photos and school portraits of Mikey and Gee. My eyes fall on my favorite picture in the whole world. A picture of Gerard, Mikey and I sitting on the roof of their Dad's shed, smiling like idiots. I walk into the dimly lit kitchen to find Gee sitting on the counter top with his usual mug of coffee to start the day, with another one waiting for me. Mikey, who has never been a morning person unlike Gerard, is sitting at the dining table with his coffee too. Their parents are nowhere to be seen but I can hear their muffled voices in another room. Whenever I'm over at their house(which is very often) we have this routine in the morning before school starts where Gerard wakes up at 6 to make everyone coffee.
"You look like shit this morning."
is what I'm greeted with from Gerard.
"Thanks shitface, not too bad yourself."
I respond. I chuckle inwardly as I think about our relationship. Ever since kindergarten, Gerard and I have bee 100% comfortable around each other. We tell each other anything and everything, we are our true selves with each other, and we are sarcastic assholes to each other. We're soul mates. He and Mikey were the only people who would talk to me when no one else would. Everyone else would take one look at me and be intimidated and decide to label me as the weird, scary, quiet girl who will bite your hand off if you try talk to her. I just have a scary demeanor that screams "keep away!". But when people take the time to get past my 100 layers of hatred for people, general lack of concern for people's emotions, and hatred for talking a lot, I'm a pretty nice person. In fact, Gerard has said I am the nicest person he knows, next to Mikey.
"Hey! Earth to Drew."
Gerard says. I snap my head up in his direction.
"Huh?"
Oh yeah, another great quality of mine, I tend to space out a lot.
"Are you sure you don't want to come by Frank's house today?"
He says, looking up at me and taking a sip of his coffee while pushing his raven black hair out of his face. I give him the did-you-really-just-ask-me-that-question look and say,
"I think you know the answer to that."
He glances back down at his mug and asks,
"Look he has told me countless times he never meant to say it, he says lots of things he doesn't mean." "He's actually really nice, and you two have lots in common." "He's not as bad as you think he is."
So Frank. Gee started hanging out with Frank our junior year when he moved from New Jersey. I liked the kid at first, when Gee introduced me he was wearing a Ramones shirt, so I thought we would get along. That is until he opened his mouth. He looked at me up and down, then said, "Damn, your're a junior right? I thought girls were supposed to be all developed and curvy by now."
So that's why I hate Frank, and that's also how I gave him a black eye when I first met him. I don't usually hold grudges, but I sure as hell am with Frank.
"I don't think he's bad, I just think he's a misogynistic asshole."
I state as I take my first sip of coffee and join Gerard on the shiny counter top.
"Watch the profanity, Drew." Mikey jokes.
"No, fuck that." I say defiantly.
Gerard and Mikey both laugh.

Notes