Gerard's P.O.V I sat with Billie in art when Brendon walked in with his gang. Of course he made a beeline for me when he saw the teacher wasn't in yet. Here we go again. "Fag alert." He laughed as he smirked down at me. Billie looked back up at him. "Brendon and his gang, I take it." He stated, angrily. Not a question. Oh shit. Brendon looked at him. "Yeah. And....?" "Fuck off and leave Gerard alone." Billie snapped, standing up. "He doesn't deserve your shit. He's a great kid from a amazing family. Just back the fuck off." Oh great. So not good. I grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back into his seat as I looked at Brendon. He looked furious. The punk kid looked pissed off. "Please don't hit him." I pleaded, standing up. "He's new. He doesn't know the rules. I'll take his punishment. I promised to look out for him. So it's my fault anyway." Brendon smirked. "Looky here, Iero." He said to the punk kid. "I finally trained the fag." Iero snorted. "Stop talking about Gerard like that." Billie snapped. I sighed as I pushed him behind me. I was all ready for the punishment. But before Brendon had chance to hit me, Mr McKenzie walked in. "Your ass better be in your seat within two minutes or your in detention, Brendon." Mr McKenzie's voice boomed out across the room, making Brendon and his gang jump. "That goes for you too, Frank, Bob and Ray and anyone who thinks it's okay to bully someone else. SIT DOWN NOW." Brendon and his gang rushed to their seats. I sat down and kept my eyes forward as I spoke quietly to Billie. "He's going to kill me now." I pointed out. "Everyone knows that I'm Brendon's punching bag. So when he's pissed off, he beats me. When a teacher has a go at him, he beats me. When someone has a go at him, he beats me. No exceptions. That's the rules." I hear Billie sigh. "I'm sorry." He mumbles. "I just....I lost it. You're a nice kid. I don't like how he treats you. You don't deserve it." I sigh as I get my sketch book and pencils out. "It's okay." I say. "You didn't know. Let's just drop it and get on with our work." "'k." The class drags on. It felt longer knowing what happens later. During the whole class, I notice Frank staring at me. It's obvious he doesn't realize anyone's noticed. I don't get why he wants to stare at me. Probably working out the different ways he can make me suffer. Awesome. I ignore him as best I can and concentrate on my drawing. My tongue sticks out slightly as I draw a bunch of people. I have names for them. One's a bald guy in a white suit and ruffled shirt. That's Korse. Then there's a guy with a white suit on and a pale vampire mask on. He's a draculoid. There's a bearded man in a wheelchair. Dr Death Defying. Lastly is a little girl with a fro. Missile kid. They are part of a graphic novel I'm working on. I have four other characters that no one sees. The Killjoys. The heroes. I drew the leader as me. Well looking like me. Except he's tough and brave. So not me. I call him Party Poison. I made Mikey one too. He's Cobra Kid. I even added Ray as Jet Star. Then there's Fun Ghoul. But I don't know how to make him look yet. So I only ever draw his green ghoul mask. "That's brilliant, Gerard." Mr McKenzie stops by my desk. Before I can protest, he picks the drawing up and grabs the other students attention. "Here's an example of the standard of work I expect you all to achieve at the end of the year if you want to pass my class." Great. Something else for Brendon and his gang to beat me for. Teachers pet. Thanks Mr M. As Mr McKenzie shows the class and goes into a speech about artistic talent, I try to crawl as far down in my seat as possible. I can already feel a panic attack coming on. My breathing is starting to become harder to do. So I close my eyes, sit up straight and put my head down, bunching the knees of my jeans in a vice grip while I try to calm down. No. Not here. Not now. Fuck. Please. No. Calm thoughts. Mikey. Mum. Dad. Jezza. Grandma Elena. Fuck. Not working. Damn it. I'm shaking too now. So not good. I feel Billie put a hand on my shoulder. "You okay, Gerard?" He asks. I try to answer but I can't breathe properly. My mouth opening and closing like a fish. "Sir, I think Gerard needs to see the nurse. Quickly." Billie says, concern lacing his voice. I feel myself being stood up. Two people holding me up as they steer me out of the room. Billie and another student, I think. But I can't work out who as my vision is going fuzzy. I make it to what I assume is the nurses office before I pass out. I wake up to see Mikey sat on the couch next to me, holding my hand. He smiles, sadly at me as I open my eyes. "You okay, Bruv?" He asked. "How did you....?" I started, quietly. "Mr M sent Dylan to my class to get me." Mikey said. "I guess he knew you'd need me." "I'm so fucking dead." I groaned, closing my eyes. "Why?" "Billie stood up to Brendon and his gang." I sighed. "Brendon was furious. The he got caught by Mr M before he could hit me. Got sent back to their seats. Then Mr M used my drawing as an example of the standard of work he expects the class to achieve to pass his class." "Fuck." Mikey groaned. "What are we gonna do?" I opened my eyes and looked up at him. "I'm going to take it." I stated. "There's no other way." "We could talk to the principle." I sat up, quickly and grabbed his shoulders. "No." I snapped. "If we tell him, he'll get in touch with Mum and Dad. They have too much to deal with right now as it is. I'll deal with it." Mikey looked so sad. I sighed, then stood up, leading Mikey, by his shoulders, out of the little examination room and into the nurses office. I froze as I saw Frank sat watching me. And so it begins.

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