Meet Mr. Way

They were walking through the same corridor they always did, his laughter filling the air and hers following along with it. This was nothing unusual, at least not since three weeks ago, where the Sunday morning walk was now a routine they both anticipated throughout the week.

Gerard had become quite close with his student, and Angelica wasn’t the one to complain about such a fact. After the piano lesson he had given her off school hours, they had met a few more times in that same music room, playing and sometimes engaging in small conversation that would make their night a bit more tolerable.

After deciding it was too much of a risk, and that it would create a lot of unnecessary gossip, the pair had decided that it would be good for Angelica’s mental stability to share a few stories and episodes of her life with her Principal, as long as he did the same. So far, none of them had broken that promise.

She was a lot more knowledgeable about her superior’s life, childhood, even the devilish acts he had performer during what he called his ‘rebel years’. In a very weird way, the young female felt more connected and closer to him while they shared their lives.

“I don’t believe that for a second.” She had said at one point, now laughing heartedly. “You do not look like the kind of man that would rob a liquor store, even if you were sixteen at the time.”

Gerard wasn’t completely certain that this was a good thing to share with Angelica; although he didn’t think of her a problem to be taken care of, he didn’t want to set a bad example. She had engaged into some violent episodes with a few classmates during her short stay at the School so far, and he wasn’t fond of imagining her repeating said actions in the future.

“I did, I swear!” His laughter was contagious. “But it was only because I wasn’t alone, and I surely do not want you to take after me and do the same. I’m older, things were harder back then.” The male often used his age as an excuse. “Nowadays you can buy alcohol everywhere at every age. It makes it less fun, if you ask me.”

This time, he didn’t feel that guilty over sharing it. To be honest, Gerard was now aware of how much of an old soul Angelica was. He still didn’t know what had brought her father to leave her there, but something inside him told him that it was something that turned the young girl into a woman much too soon.

However, he wasn’t going to force her into sharing anything before the time was right. These Sunday strolls through the halls of the School had been the highlights of his weeks, for the past month, and he measured his words carefully to make sure he wouldn’t end them before their finale was inevitable.

“Sure, let’s pretend you were a badass that wore black hair and eyeliner then.” The female joked, rolling her eyes playfully. “I never did such a thing, but that was probably because alcohol isn’t something that attracts me that much. Why would I feel the need to consume something that would lead myself to dance around a table in my underwear, or even fall into some very sketchy guy’s arms and end up pregnant with three children living in the back of a crappy van?”

Her reply caught him off guard, but he couldn’t help the amused chuckled he released.

“You sure have a very, very intense imagination, Angelica. However, I’m glad you don’t want to live in the back of a van with a sketchy guy and your sketchy children.” Gerard joked back, giving her a smirk.

It wasn’t something that he was aware of, but whenever Angelica would look at him and smile challengingly, he would offer her a smirk so she would know that he was up for any challenge, as long as she was involved. This girl was like gasoline, ready to start up a fire.

“But I’m not going to lie; sometimes I wish I was strong enough to do something dangerous.” She looked down at the shiny marble floor they walked on.

The blonde man looked at her sideways, the smirk never leaving his lips. “What about setting that girl’s hair on fire? That was quite dangerous.”

Angelica stopped walking, her eyes now cast on his. “I had no choice. Sometimes, when people don’t listen to you, you have to take action.” Her expression was now a sober one, almost as if she was lecturing him for not understanding her motives. “I know violence should never be the answer, but the fact is that, most of the times, it is. That girl, she was being pretty mean to me. At first I tried to ignore her, then I tried to talk to her and finally, I decided to do the only thing that really worked.” She shrugged, a hint of a smile finally gracing her face. “She never bothered me again. In fact, no one else did. I even got to make a couple of friends out of that little display of defiance.”

For the first time Gerard took a different perspective on what she had done. He knew girls were cruel to each other; he’d been there long enough to know that most girls’ innocent look was only a façade to the evil hiding inside of them, but for the first time he understood why. They were just trying to survive in this girls-only jungle, trying not to be the one at the bottom of the food chain, and Angelica’s behavior had done just that.

“So you’ve made friends?” Gerard decided to focus on the positive aspect of their conversation. “That’s good; I wouldn’t have wanted you to be spending your time with anyone else but me.” The tinge of amusement was back to his features.

Angelica chuckled, moving her feet at a slower pace. Every time there was a moment of silence, they didn’t find it awkward, or felt the need to fill it with vague words. When the conversation needed to return, it would.

“I do have friends, but sometimes I just don’t feel like I should tell them everything.” She admitted. “People tend to feel sorry for you once they know the darkest secrets you and your family hold, and the look of pity in someone’s eyes has always angered me somehow. It started when I was younger, and I don’t think it’ll go away anytime soon.”

Gerard merely nodded, his mind going to his brother for a split of a second. He could relate to what she felt; it was rare to find someone who didn’t judge you or felt the need to make you feel like a poor unfortunate soul when you spoke about things that had troubled you in the past, or even the present. He was sure that maybe a few sessions with Mikey would help, even if it was just so she didn’t have to carry everything on her fragile shoulders.

“May I suggest something, without you feeling offended?” He finally spoke after a few moments, triggering Angelica’s curiosity.

“Of course.” They knew each other well enough by now for her to know that he meant no harm; he really seemed to care about her well being.

He cleared his throat, taking that time to find the right words to speak. Gerard didn’t want to come out as rude or to make her feel as if there was something truly wrong with her and her feelings.

“My brother, he’s a psychologist and he’s started working here a week ago. His name’s Mikey.” He hesitated before continuing. “I’m not saying that you should see him, but maybe he could help you out, he’s a good listener.” Gerard offered her a genuine smile. “I know it from personal experience.”

Angelica smiled back, although her mind had jumped at the thought of speaking to Gerard’s brother. Sure, it was his job to listen to other people’s fears and secrets, but if she ever talked to him, would she be able to surpass the fact that she would eventually end up talking about Gerard to his brother?

“I’ll think about it.”

Notes

Sorry for taking so long, we're both very lazy people...
Share your thoughts with us! xoxo