Gerard shot me a look once he saw me tense up. He didn't say anything with all of our friends sitting there, but I could tell what he was thinking. I squeezed his knee under the table, ceasing its wild, anxious bouncing.

Mikey poked at his omelet, this flap of dry eggs with a slice of radioactive cheese over it. He murmured, "I think you guys should be careful today."
"What's the worst that can happen?" Pete asked.
"KNOCK ON WOOD!" Gerard shouted, rapping his knuckles on the table.
I rolled my eyes, cursing, "Goddamn it, Pete" as I tapped too.

The table all joined in for a few solid seconds, arousing more attention from the rest of the cafeteria. Once we decided Pete's jinx was undone, we all settled back into eating or swiping through our phones.

"I have to edit after school again," I complained. "At least it won't be as long as last time; if I do an hour or so every other couple days it should be done on time."
Ray chuckled, "You make it sound like a chore."
I raised an eyebrow. "A chore?"
"Yeah, a chore," Pete pitched in. "You know, like cleaning out your dresser drawers, mowing your lawn..." Pete ducked his head, smiling coyly as he added, "Having sex with Gerard."
Gerard leaned across the table to punch Pete in the arm, who cringed and clutched a hand to the afflicted area. He pouted, lying his head on Mikey's shoulder.

Checking his phone for the time, Gerard groaned, "I have to go to class soon. I'll see you guys." He stood, and I did as well, wanting anything but to be left alone. Or for that matter, away from Gerard.
I walked Gerard to his class, clutching my backpack straps until my knuckles whitened. My jaw was tight as was my stomach. About every muscle as well as every vertebrae were locked with nerves. I felt like a robot I was so stiff.
"Alright, so I'll see you at lunch?" Gerard asked.
I nodded, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.
Gerard eased my chin up with his hand, comforting, "Hey, it'll be alright." He bit his lip, deciding, "We can do something fun when we ditch during gym."
I perked up at that, prompting, "Care to elaborate?"
Gerard leaned in close, whispering sultrily, "It'll just have to be a surprise." He bit at my earlobe before pulling away, hoisting his bag up further onto his back as he left for class.
I was about to turn as Gerard hooked back around the corner, telling, "By the way, Frank?"
"Yeah?"
Gerard held a finger pistol at me, shooting it as he instructed, "Protect ya neck."
I rolled my eyes at Gerard's endless Wu Tang references. Believe it or not, Gerard was known to listen to rap on occasion. Of course no one knew this; he was too goth or emo or whatever label people conveniently slapped on him to be into anything upbeat.

I started down the corridor to my own class, noting that I had an entire five minutes before the first bell even rang. Five whole minutes of waiting before a bell told me to get moving. Dropping my jaw in an attempt to loosen it, I suddenly felt the chocolate milk I'd downed reach my bladder. Rushing to a restroom, I snagged a urinal and undid my fly, going as quickly as I could to try to get out of there.
I finished with no one in sight, tucking myself back in and zipping up my pants. Flushing with my elbow, I crossed to the sinks, peering at myself in the mirror.
Shit, I looked pale. I tried not to wig myself out as much as I had been, taking a little more time lathering up my hands. Bringing my eyes back to the mirror, I saw a huddle of boys enter the bathroom behind me.
The doors to these were always propped open with those plastic wedges, which annoyed me to no end. Although my junk was out of sight, something about passersby being able to see me go always unsettled me. I could always opt for a stall, but nine times out of ten they would be uninhabitable or a kid would try to kick it in.
The thing was, the guys grabbed that little wedge and pushed it to the side, swinging the heavy door shut. My stomach clenched as I rinsed, drying off my hands on the legs of my pants.
I moved to the door, almost breaking past the guys when a hand gripped my shoulder. "Hey faggot, you got a minute?"
I broke out in a cold sweat, trying to push past when I was grabbed tighter. The kid then clutched the back of my neck, spinning me to press my forehead into the tile wall, his hand around my neck pinning me there. I struggled against him even though I knew it was useless. I wasn't sure if that gave him more satisfaction or more trouble, but either way, I was going to put up somewhat of a fight.
He leaned close to me and spat, "You are a fucking freak, Iero. You're even worse than that fucking rat boyfriend of yours."

"Shut up," I growled.
He grinned, reeling me back before smacking my head into the wall. I swear I saw stars. He asked, "Still feeling resistant?"
Amidst the pounding through my head, I managed, "Yes."
He slammed my head in a couple more times, each making a sickening, wet thud. Being a bathroom, I assumed the wet sound was due to the grimy walls. However, I later found out it was from my blood.

He let me fall to the floor, kicking me in the side once. I let out a groan, tending not only to my throbbing skulls but also to my ribs. I heard them shuffle out, felt the gust of air blow past me as that heavy oak door swung shut. I rolled onto my back, laying there for what felt like a century. I only stood when I heard the first bell, and even then it was only so a teacher or student wouldn't find me there on the nasty floor.
Stumbling to the sinks, I gazed into the bloody wound that had formed in my right temple. I splashed cool water on it, wincing as I did so. I held a paper towel to the spot as I made my way to the nurse for a wrap, who was always full of questions.
"What happened?"
"I slipped in the bathroom and hit my head."
"And just how did you do that?"
"The floor was wet."

The exchange always ended with her giving a toned "Mmm-hmm," evidence that she doubted me. Then again, she was right to. I imagined I wasn't the only kid to go in there with some injury paired with a shitty excuse. Back in the day she'd gotten quite a few visits from Gerard.
She gave me an ice pack along with Tylenol to help with the pain. I thanked her, but she didn't reply, just help her lips taut with her watery blue eyes all big and sympathetic.

I left, texting Gerard, "I protected my neck but not my head."

Notes

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