Staring Down a Loaded Gun

"Did you see his face?!"
"What do you think happened this time?"
"Even though he has bruises on his face, he still looks fucking hot!"
"Oh man! My brother saw him fight. Apparently he smashed the others guys up!"
This is all I heard the next day at school. On my way to maths the same question remained in the back of my mind.
Who were they talking about?
I'm so deep in thought I don't notice someone walking towards me, till I bump into them.
"Oh I'm so sorry. Please excuse me,I'm new here and I'm trying to find English." a string of apologies rushes out his mouth.
"Dude it's fine. I was the one who wasn't watching where I was going. I'm Frank by the way."
"I'm Patrick, Patrick Stump. I just moved here from Illinois. Do you by chance know where Mr. Urie's classroom is."
"Oh yeah. I have him Second period he's really cool and laid back. But his classroom is down the hall second door on your left R107." I grinned.
"Thanks man."
"No problem.'' and with that he rushes down the hall and turns left just like I told him.
I walked into the classroom and came to standstill when I saw the person sitting next to my seat. He had on the same hoodie, though now the one bruise he had on my first day was accompanied by several others and band aid on the left corner of his forehead.
My lips parted and I frowned in confusion and.... worry? Why hadn't Mikey said anything about his brother's state? He seemed all that worried or different at school.
As if he could feel my presence, he turned his head away from the window and looked at me with odd eyes and that familiar expressionless face.
We stared at each other for a few seconds, my green eyes on his bright hazel ones before I looked down and slowly made my way to my seat. Other students started entering the room from behind me.
I chewed on my lip ring and slipped into my seat, next to his larger form.
Judging from his bruises and things I heard this morning, I knew the talk in the corridors were related to him.
I could hear the light buzz of whispers as some of the students kept stealing looks at us. I scowled at a particular girl who LOVED to gossip, when she stared at Gerard. She immediately snapped her head away and whispered something to her ditsy friend. I rolled my eyes when her friend looked over at us- at me I should say- then leant closer to the gossip lover to give her some feedback.
Who cares what they think or say? Actually it is getting annoying to hear all these false rumors.
Mr. Sawyer clapped his hands once loudly to get our attention "Alright guys, settle down." His eyes roamed around the room before they came to a stop on Gerard with a frown. From the corner of my eye, I saw Gerard tense up before calming down when Mr. Sawyer looked away."Err..." He cleared his throat "I'm not going to ask too much from you this lesson . All I want you do is read chapter 12 the answer the questions.Easy?" Off you go now. I want it all done before the bell rings or you're staying back."He warned, and received some groans around the class.
I opened my text book to start reading when I saw Mr.Sawyer trying to get my attention.
I raised my eyebrows in questions.
He pointed to Gerard then at my book and wrote on the board 'Notes'. I stared at the word for a couple of seconds before I nodded my head at him, telling him that I understood what he was saying.
Gerard had missed out on lessons so he was going to be completely clear less as to what was going on.
Why hadn't I thought of that?
I looked over at him to find him staring down at his textbook with a blank look. My eyes caught onto one of his battered, scraped knuckles which was gripped onto a pen tightly.
Sheesh, what had this guy been doing?!
Letting out a quiet sigh i got my notebook out and slid it towards him so he could copy my notes.
I pulled my text book closer to me and started reading. A few seconds later a ripped out, small piece of paper landed in front of me. Furrowing my brows at it< I turned it over to find the words 'Thank You' with a smiley face next to it.
My mouth threatened to split into a wide grin as I looked up at Gerard's blank face as he copied down my notes.
A smiley face? Really?
I couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle as I shook my head and resumed my reading. Only this time with a small smile on face.
What a strange guy...
***
"Hello there"Bob winked at me with a smirked. I rolled my eyes, but none the less, gave him a smile back. He nodded at Gerard in greeting, they proceeded to have a conversation with their eyes. Raising an eyebrow I looked away from them to give Mikey his much awaited hug.
"Hi" He spoke into my hair.
Pulling back a bit so that I could see him, I gave him a warm smile "Hello" Ray came over to us and patted my shoulder with his large hands.
"I want you to come to my house today! Mikey and Sniper are coming as well"
I stepped away from Mikey and looked up at him, because ya know he's freakin huge, and rubbed my chin "Hmm. I don't know..."
"Please.'' he gave me a puppy dog look "I want you to meet my family"
"I'll have to ask my parents Ray. You know, since it's a school night and all." I told him.
"You can do your homework at my place. And if they say no, I'll talk to them"
I scrutinized at him before before I let out a sigh. "Okay"
"Good!" He grinned happily, like he accomplished something. Show that in your education buddy....
"What's good?" I jumped back and up landing in the arms of someone startled at the voice that popped out of nowhere. I gripped onto the person'd large, warm chest tightly.
"Mikey! You scared me!" I scolded him , forgetting he was already there but must have zoned out whilst me and Ray talked.
"Sorry Frankie." He looked anything but apologetic as he grinned at me. He looked behind me and let out a laugh.
I frowned at him then glanced at Ray's beaming, Bob's smirking, and Sniper's wide-eyed faces.
Wait... Who the hell is holding me?
"Well don't you two look like a cute couple." Bob teased.
Oh god. Please don't say who I think it is.
I turned my head slowly and hesitantly looked up. My green eyes connected with amused hazel eyes.
"Sorry." I muttered to him and he proceeded to gently put me down, and I shuffled away from him.
Sniper let out a giggle and wiggled her eyebrows at me suggestively.
"What?" I quietly defended myself, "I got scared and jumped, he just so happened to catch me."
"Rigghhtt." She nodded her head with a silly smile on her face. She looked and Gerard and her smile turned into a pout.
"OWekay" Mikey talked a little louder than necessary, but I was thankful for him because it was getting awkward... for me at least. "As I had been saying before-" He let out a fake cough "-what's good?"
I rolled my eyes but kept quiet as Ray answered.
"Frankie's coming over to my house today."
"Oh great!" Mikey clapped his hands excitedly. "Are you guys coming?" He asked Bob and Sniper.
"Hmm." I peaked at Bob as he looked at Gerard for an answer "We might come later."
I fiddled with my fingers, Gerard might be there. I don't know why but that made me nervous.
"Come on" Sniper grabbed my hand and pulled me after a very excited Ray and a very high Mikey.
"You excited to meet the Toro's?" Bob asked me as he walked beside us.
"Yes." I nodded.
"Well," he smirked. "You're gonna be in for a surprise is all I'm saying."
"What is it?" I asked curiously.
He shook his head, "Not going to tell. Just wait and find out."
I didn't think I was going to find out the surprise anytime soon. Unless my Dad allowed me to go to his house. Which, I was very much doubting.
Feeling eyes on me all of a sudden, I looked over my shoulder to find Gerard lazily following after us with his hands in his pockets and his eyes trained on me. The bruises on his face were making him look intimidating and scary.. Like he was in a gang or something.
I chewed on my lip ring as another blush started erupting and I quickly looked away and rubbed the side of my temple.
Why was he making me feel like this?
***
"Mikey." I hissed to him in anger "Stop annoying me. I'm trying to do work."
"The bell's going to ring soon anyway." He spoke in a casual tone.
"Shh." I glanced at the overweight, me, can't-teach-at-all Social Studies teacher, then back at then back at the annoying crap sitting beside me. "Keep quiet, I don't want to get in trouble." I whispered with a scowl.
He rolled his hazel eyes that were similar to Gerard's"Whatever."
I squeezed my eyes shut then opened them to give him a final glare. Not even three seconds later I felt him poke me.
"STOP!" I mouthed at him angrily.
He let out a sigh and pouted "Talk to me. I'm bored."
"If you're so bored, go stick your finger up your-" The loud ring of the bell cut me off and everyone leapt to their feet to get the hell out of this place.
"Let's go! Let's go!" Mikey tugged on my hand.
"Mikes! Let me get my stuff!" I shouted at him.
He stomped his foot like a child and let out a string of grumbles.
I glared at him but sped up my pace.
After I packed my stuff away we power walk out the school building. We soon found Ray who was waiting for my response on whether I would come to his house.

"I have to pick up my brother, drop him off at his friend's house then I have to call my parents." I knew he was an impatient person so his response wouldn't be good.
"Seriously?!" He scowled.
"Yes seriously." I scowled back. "You couldn't be patient and invite me on a weekend could you?"
"That's too far away and I'm not patient" Told you.
"Okay so I'll come with you to get your brother and drop him off. Then you can call your parents and tell them. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Cool. We better hurry up because I don't want you to miss any of my brothers or sisters."
I frowned , looked at Mikey who wore an amused expression, then back at Ray again "How many siblings do you have?"
"I don't know. I lost count."

Notes