The next time I saw Ray was the next Wednesday. It was a rainy day out and I had an umbrella in one hand and my other arm around Harley's shoulder, shielding us both from the falling dew.

We were walking home from school because a. We missed the school bus, and b. I was broke and couldn't pay for the public bus fare.

When we got to the apartment building, there was a huge stretch black limousine parked on the curb, taking up almost the whole block.

"Here Harley. Take the keys and go on up. I'm going to see what's going on," I told Harley handing him the keys and watching him go inside safely.

I grabbed the umbrella handle with both hands, walking towards the funeral parlor.

I shut the umbrella by the door and walked inside, setting my wet umbrella in the rack by the glass door.

Looking around I saw people in bunches all dressed in black. My head moved left and right quickly, trying to spot out Ray.

"Oof," I squeaked when I knocked into someone. I knocked into a guy and my hands were on his chest, his hands holding my forearms to keep me from falling on my ass.

"I'm so sorry I was just looking for some..." I trailed off as I looked up to meet this man's face.

He was a tall guy with deep brown eyes and white rimmed glasses over his eyes. His eyes were raw and red, like he'd been crying. His hair was a light brown with blonde highlights, and it stopped right along his jaw. It was cute. He wore a black tuxedo and black shoes.

"I-I'm sorry. I should've been more careful. I'm so clumsy. I'm sorry who...who were you looking for?" he sniffed.

I looked around once more, his hands still holding my forearms. "Uhm...Ray Toro? He works here."

He zoned out for a minute. Who the hell was this kid?

"Oh, right, Ray. I know him. He's sitting inside with my brother."

My eyes widened at realization but I recovered quickly. "Are you Gerard? I'm sorry it's just I remember Ray telling me he knew someone named Gerard who had a brother."

He let go of my arms finally, to remove his glasses and wipe his sleeve over his eyes.

"No no you're right. I'm his younger brother Mikey. C'mon I'll take you to him," Mikey said, taking my hand and leading me inside a room. For a younger brother he was pretty tall.

As we walked down the aisles of chairs he laced his hand in mine.

Whoa there Mikey.

"I'm sorry it's just- that's my...my Grandmother in the-the casket up front," he stammered.

I gasped a little and stopped walking. "I'm so sorry for your loss Mikey," I said looking up at him. I let go of his hand to wipe away the tears under his eyes.

"Ray's right over there," he pointed, sniffling. I turned in the direction he was pointing to see Ray sitting in the front row, blowing his nose.

I rushed over to him, and crouched down to get on eye level with him.

"Ray what's going on? Is this why I haven't seen you all week? And what happened to Frank?"
I knew this was all a little overwhelming for Ray, but I needed answers.

He looked up at me with bloodshot eyes not really registering my appearance. His eyes widened when he finally realized, and started to blurt out questions of his own.

"Alina? Don't you have school? I'm so sorry you have to see me like this."

I placed a hand on his knee. "Ray I got out of school almost an hour ago. Harley's at home and I saw the limo. I wanted to know what was going on. I hadn't seen you or Frank ever since last Tuesday."

That was true. Ever since we talked on the fire escape and saw Frank, both boys had gone MIA.

"Lets go talk outside okay?"

I nodded and let him lead me outside the wake and into a quiet corner in the back.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around all week. It's been tough for me. Gerard and Mikey lost their Grandmother last Wednesday and I left work. We were all really close to her and it was so sudden. Mikey is Gerard's little brother," he explained.

"I met Mikey actually. He's a wreck. I feel so bad about this whole thing. I had no idea Ray. Is that why Frank's been gone too?"

He nodded. "Yeah, he's inside with Gerard. So is Bob. Don't feel bad Alina there's nothing we can do about it. It's just hard and I," he looked up at the ceiling, forcing back tears and sniffling. "I just wish this didn't happen. And your birthday's tomorrow too. Isn't this a great way to lead up to it."

"Can I...can I meet him? Gerard I mean," I asked cautiously.

"Of course. He's a mess though so try to bear with him."

"Okay," I said, and then followed Ray back inside to the casket, where Frank was hugging who I believed to be Gerard.

Suddenly, I was thankful I was wearing my black Iron Maiden hoodie. I was also wearing dark colored jeans and my black sneakers, so at least I fit in with the crowd.

Frank was wearing a suit as well, his hair had been styled too. He had a black bang going along the side of his face and the sides of his head were dyed blonde. The short black hair I once knew was gone.

When he saw me he stopped rubbing the boy's back, whispered something in his ear, and walked off to talk to someone else.

"You must be Alina. I'm sorry we have to meet like this. I'm Gerard. Gerard Way," he introduced, sticking a shaky hand out in front of him.

Gerard was taller than me by at least 5 inches. He had dark black hair that stopped before his shoulders and he was pale white. Whether that was from the shock of his loss or that was how he always looked I couldn't tell. He wore a black suit as well and had a red tie around his neck. He was probably the only one here that had a bright colored tie.

I shook his hand tightly. "It's nice to finally meet you Gerard. I'm so sorry for your loss. She must've meant a lot to you," I said softly.

That was when he erupted into tears, and I pulled him into a hug, just as Frank did. I had done exactly what I told myself not to do. I stuck a nerve in him. Why can't I just have a friendly conversation?

I stroked his hair, although it was a little awkward because of the height difference. "It's okay, I got you. Let it out," I cooed, doing my best to comfort him.

After what seemed like forever holding him and listening to his heart wrenching sobs, a woman came over to me and took away Gerard, sitting him down next to her. I assumed she was Gerard's mother, because she had her arm around him rubbing his shoulder, and she was kissing his cheek. Either that or he had a really old girlfriend.

Although I didn't know this woman lying in the casket, I thought I'd ought to pay my respects anyway.
I kneeled down on the kneeler and pressed my folded hands to my forehead, praying. I made the sign of the cross when I was finished, touching the lifeless woman's hand. I took one of those wake cards they kept on a table by the casket. Elena Lee Way it read. I slipped the card into the pocket of my jeans.

Frank made his way over to me; eyes red and teary. He made no attempt to hug me, just stood in front of me with a pain stricken face.

"It's really sweet of you to come Lina. I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately. It was so sudden," he sighed.

"Don't say sorry. It's not your fault. I just feel really bad about this whole thing," I replied.

I hugged him, rubbing his back and just standing there. It seemed to be comforting enough.

"What...what time is it?" I asked finally. Frank looked around for the clock, and when he found it he said, "Six twenty two."

"Oh my gosh, Harley is probably starving," I gasped. "Look Frank, I'd love to stay, but I need to make dinner for my little brother."

"It's fine. We're probably going to go to the burial site soon anyway. Here, why don't you come by this place Saturday afternoon?" he said, pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket, and then going over to the small sign-in table to write something down.

He handed me the paper, an address written in his tiny handwriting. "You should bring your little brother too."

I nodded and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks Frank. I'll see you tomorrow."

I said my goodbye to Ray, telling him I'd see him tomorrow, not mentioning the address Frank gave me.

I didn't see Gerard, but mentally hoped he'd be okay.

I stared down at my shoes and shoved my hands in my hoodie pockets, walking towards the door. "Whoa," a guy said, as my face met the cloth of a suit.

I looked up and there was Mikey Way looking back down at me with a puzzled face. Well, at least he looked a little better.

"I really need to stop walking into you," I gushed.

"It's okay. Hey, I never got your name."

"Oh my name? My name's Alina. Alina Hoult."

He opened his mouth to say something along the lines of 'nice to meet you,' but I cut him off. "I'm sorry Mikey but I really need to go. I'll see you around sometime okay?"

His face faltered a little, but he kept a straight face none the less. "Sure it's fine. I'll see you Alina." And with that, he left.

I grabbed my umbrella by the door and ran down the street, the rain attacking me. I went through the door and straight up to the apartment.

When I got inside, Harley was already at the dinner table eating.

"I'm so sorry Harley." Boy I was saying sorry a lot today.

"It's fine. I just made a sandwich. Did you see Mr. Toro?"

"Yeah I did. His friend's Grandmother died and he left work for a couple of days."

Harley nodded and brought his attention back to his food.

I went to the bathroom and turned the hot water on in the shower. I stripped my clothing off my body and stepped into the hot spray.

I washed up and blow dried my hair as soon as I got out.

I had a lot to look forward to tomorrow. For one it was my birthday (I really wasn't that excited) and I was going to the mysterious address Frank had given me.

*

"Hey Har, you wanna go with me to a friend's place Saturday?" I asked as we were brushing our teeth.

"Sure! Who are we going to see?" he said after he spit in the sink.

"Mr. Iero," I said.

He nodded happily, and I kissed him on the cheek before he went to his room to go to bed.

I laid in bed that night staring at the card I took at the wake. The front of it had the Immaculate Mary on it and the back had a picture of Gerard and Mikey's grandmother, the date she was born and died, and a small little prayer.

I read it over a couple of times before placing it under my pillow. I was going to keep that card. Keep it as a
memory from when I met Mikey and Gerard Way. And although I didn't know it yet, I was going to be seeing a lot more of them.

Notes

Hope you guys are enjoying this so far! Chapter 4 should be up before the week is over!
xoxopoison

*edit* I had to edit this chapter because the italics weren't where they needed to be and the spacing was off. I'm sorry but I'm a bit of a perfectionest. Stand by for chapter 4