The Only Way

That day was my first day of school since my mom had died. I was feeling nervous and shaky. I didn’t want to be with those people, the ones that had a bright future ahead, which I didn’t cause my life had been a bad B movie lately. I didn’t have hope but I was starting to come in terms with it.

‘’SO..SO good to see you!’’ Mark said as he plunged into my arms. I had miss him a whole lot but I wasn’t at ease to invite him home since I had moved in with Gerard.

‘’Good to see you too.’’ I replied, hugging him back.

We headed to our French class while talking about what we had missed in each other lives.

‘’I wish I could tell you I feel better but..I came back cause I don’t. It’s driving me crazy to stay at home thinking over and over of everything that went wrong the past couple months.

‘’Yeah, I know. I’m sorry living with Gerard it isn’t as magical as you thought it’d be.’’ He said, squeezing my hand as a sign of support.

‘’Yeah, but what about you? How are things with Samuel?’’ I asked.

‘’Euhmm.. we are dating. You missed the whole drama where he told Amanda he was dumping her. Miller almost lost it.’’ He said, proud of himself.

‘’Wow, I didn’t expect that ..like..at all.’’ I said, surprised.

‘’Me neither. But Frank..I’m so happy.,’’ He said, smiling with all his teeth.

‘’Yeah, glad for you, man.’’ I said, genuinely happy that at least one of us had seen his dream come to life.

We entered the room and I walked towards the desks me and Mark used to sit.

‘’Do you mind if I sit next to Sam? You can come sit with us if you want.’’ He asked.

‘’Nah, no problem but sitting next to Miller, no thanks.’’ I answered as I sat down and he disappeared in the back of the room. The next hour was as boring as it used to be.

‘’Monsieur Iero, j’aimerais vous voir après la classe.’’ Mrs.Frechette said in a perfect French. I nodded even tho I didn’t understand.

‘’She wants to see you after class.’’ Said Cathy, a girl sitting next to me.

‘’Thanks.’’ I answered, feeling ignorant.

After another hour of conjugating verbs and translating texts that didn’t quite make sense, I was waiting in line to talk to Mrs. Frechette.

‘’Alright, I’m giving you extra homework. By now, you should be able to pass this quiz without too much effort. If you can’t…well I’ll have to mix you with one of your classmate and ask him or her to help you.’’

One look at that bloody sheet and I knew I was screwed. None of the words on there meant something to me.

‘’I think..I might need help.’’ I said, scratching my head.

‘’Alright…Cathy? Could you come here please?’’ Mrs. Frechette asked the girl.

‘’Mr. Iero will need help to study for the next exam, do you mind exchanging numbers with him and helping him after school?’’ She asked.

‘’It will be my pleasure.’’ Cathy answered with the brightest of smiles.

‘’Alright. It’s settled. Mr. Iero, I want that test completed for next week and then we’ll go from there.’’ She said, dismissing us.

‘’So, what’s your number then?’’ Cathy asked as we left the room.

‘’Give me yours and take mine, it’ll be easier that way.’’ I said, giving her my phone.
‘’Good, done.’’ She said, giving it back.

‘’When should we meet?’’ She asked.

‘’Tomorrow would be good for me.’’ I suggested.

‘’Your place or mine?’’

‘’Well…yours. It’s kinda complicated where I live..and..’’ I said, not wanting to go into too much details.

‘’Good! I’ll wait for you at your locker after school. See ya!’’ She said, as she entered the library.

I didn’t see Mark for the rest of the day. He was busy hanging out with Samuel and his crew and I knew that they didn’t like me at all. It was a miracle they accepted Mark as one of their own but since he was sweet and quiet and now Samuel’s boyfriend, I guess they didn’t mind. Good thing for him, I thought as I faked a smile.

I checked my phone after school. No messages. Gerard was busy at work and I felt abandoned. How sweet it would have been if he had been at home, waiting for me to ask about my day and promising me he would make me forget about it all.

‘’Hey, Frank.’’ Mikey said as he opened the door before I could unlock it.

‘’Hey.’’ I answered back, surprised to see him.

‘’How was your day? I made dinner, thought you might need it.’’ He said, smiling.

‘’Yeah..I really need to eat, relax and go to bed as early as possible. Today was overwhelming.’’ I answered. Right fantasy, wrong guy, I thought.

‘’Sounds like a plan.’’ He said, dragging me to the kitchen.

There was a chandelier on the middle of the table, two glasses, a bottle of wine and a plate full of salmon and rice was waiting for us.

‘’That smells yummy.’’ I said, sitting down, a bit weirded out by the dimmed light.

‘’Made your favorite plate, according to Gerard.’’ He said, pouring wine in his glass.

‘’He couldn’t be there tonight, so he send your second favorite person in the world.’’ He added.
‘’Sometimes I wonder if you’re not the first.’’ I said, head down.

‘’Was it hard coming back there? Did you feel any panic?’’

‘’Nah, I’m okay. Mark made friends with Miller…that’s all. I don’t feel like hanging out with them so I feel a bit left out.’’

‘’That guy that used to beat you up at school?’’ He asked surprised.

‘’Yeah…it’s complicated. His best friend, Samuel, is now officially dating Mark so by default he’s one of the boys now. Loyal subject to the douche king.’’ I said, eating with no appetite.

‘’Ahh that sucks tho. Was he your only friend?’’ He asked.

‘’Yeah..that sounds lame but I’m not the social type..’’ I said, head down.

‘’You got plenty of friends outside of school, darling. Quality versus quantity.’’ He said, raising his glass.

We talked till we finished dinner and he helped me doing the dishes.

‘’Do you have homework to do?’’ He asked while finishing to wipe the last plate.

‘’Nah, no touching that shit till tomorrow. My head is pounding.’’ I said.

‘’Alright, I can tuck you in upstairs if you want.’’ He said, hugging me tightly.

‘’Don’t you have something better to do?’’ I asked.

‘’Wow that sounds harsh. Taking care of you isn’t a waste of time you know.’’ He said, kissing the top of my head.

‘’I know..it’s just..’’ I said, a bit weirded out. I couldn’t get used to his tenderness.

‘’I love you Frank. Whatever’s best for you is my command.’’ He said.

‘’I…’’ I said, hesitant.

‘’You still don’t have to say it back. I am responsible for my own feelings.’’

Then he dragged me upstairs because it was a better idea than standing at the end of the stairs awkwardly.

‘’What do you like about me?’’ I asked, as he sat down beside me on the bed.

‘’Everything.’’ He said, brushing my cheek.

‘’Be more specific please?’’ I asked.

‘’Well, you are…so beautiful.’’

‘’And? Can’t be because of my looks. I mean, Mike, you were straight when we first met and you said my looks didn’t mattered. What changed?’’

‘’I love how careful you are with the feelings of those around you. Well, except Gee, but he deserves it. And I like how sweet you are with your friends. I think you just want to be happy and that’s what I want in life too. Gee made me realise what a wonderful human being you are.’’ He said, blushing.

‘’But..you said you would never do this to your own brother..I mean..stealing his boyfriend.’’

‘’Who said I would steal you?’’

‘’I mean..’’

‘’Gee is treating you like shit. Honestly, he doesn’t deserve you at all.’’ He said, serious.

‘’One day, maybe, you’ll see through him and you’ll get tired of all the drama. I just wanna be there when it happens, not just because I hope you’ll choose me. Even if you don’t, I wanna be there for you. Getting over Gee isn’t easy. Look at Vincent.. .’’ He said.

‘’He got what he deserves.’’ I answered, pissed off that he had mentioned him.

‘’I know…but Gee helped a lot. I’m not saying it was his idea. But if he had been clear with him, none of this would’ve happen. He just love to get lost in his stupid games. Someone gets hurt every single time and it’s never him.’’

‘’You really think all of this is Gee’s fault?’’

‘’You’ll see a pattern if you pay attention. I don’t wanna trash talk my brother but…’’

‘’But you’re doing it anyway.’’

‘’Yeah…’’
‘’Alright, I’m gonna leave you to sleep. I’ll work in Gee’s office till he arrives.’’

‘’Why are you checking up on me?’’

‘’He asked me to stay since today’s been stressful. I’m only doing it to reassure him.’’

‘’Alright then, thanks for being there for me.’’

‘’Anytime.’’

Then he hugged me and wished me goodnight, leaving me with a lot to think. The choice between the Way brothers was now less obvious then I had thought.

Notes