I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
Lab Partner
Why can’t we be friends
Why can’t we be friends
Why can’t we be friends
Why can’t we be friends
I leave my little brother to find his own way around the school. I’m already late for chemistry and I know the teacher will be a real bitch about my tardiness. This is my second year taking this stupid class…the teacher hates me.
Practically running up the steps, I pant after each footfall until I reach the top. After climbing the endless stairs I locate my class and walk in. As I suspected the teacher is a real bitch about me being – I glance at my cellphone to get the time – five minutes late.
“Late on the first day, Mr. Way, that isn’t a good way to start out the year.”
Trying to return my breathing to normal I put my hands on my hips and nod. I know the teacher doesn’t want an actual reply.
“This better not become a habit,” she says and I try very hard not to roll my eyes. I do not want detention on the first day. “Take a seat next to Mr. Iero.”
I look around. Although the last name sounds familiar I still have no fucking clue who that is. Then, I realize that there is only one seat open. It’s in the back next to a short looking kid. I make my way over to the seat, plopping down as I continue to try and regain my breath. The kid looks at me with dazzling hazel green eyes. His hair is black, longer on one side, his bangs covering part of the right side of this face. His ears are pierced, small black gauges in his lobes. I notice a hint of a tattoo on his neck, peeking up over his shirt collar.
He just smiles as me.
“What?” I ask, my hands resting on the tabletop. Although I tried not to sound nasty I’m pretty sure I failed. The kid just continues to stare at me. What a fucking weird dude.
“Nothing, shit,” he says, turning his back to me, the chair squeaking in protest.
“Wait, I’m sorry,” I say quickly, not want my lab partner to hate me. “My brother…he was fucking slow which made me late. That’s why I’m kinda pissed.”
He turns back around, smiling widely, “I’m just fucking with you. Name’s Frank…Frank Iero. I’m awesome.”
“Gerard Way,” I answer as his name registers in my mind. “You’re Amber’s friend.”
“You bet,” he answers cheeks turning a slight pink color, an effect Amber seems to have on a lot of people.
This kid is so different but I like him already. He definitely doesn’t look like any of the kids that go here with his piercings and hair. He’s most definitely an outcast but hey, so am I. We might actually get along fairly well.
“Nice to meet you,” Frank says. “I’m your lab partner by the way.”
I nod, not minding this at all. If there is any kid in this class to be a lab partner with it’s him. Frank just doesn’t seem as snobby as everyone else in this dump. In an odd way I kind of like that I’m connecting with this kid.
“So tell me about you,” Frank demands as he fiddles with a glass test tube.
I sit there, not really knowing what to say. People don’t generally ask me about myself.
“Well, I like to draw…that’s pretty much it,” I answer feeling a little awkward.
Frank stops playing with the beaker and resumes staring at me, his eyes wide, “Really, that’s it? Wow….”
I have no idea what that means. I just keep talking to avoid awkward silence, “Um…I like comic books and vampires and zombies.”
“Comic books,” Frank questions leaning one arm over the back of his chair. “I like them too. Who’s your favorite superhero?”
I swallow hard, “Batman.”
Frank’s eyes widen, “Dude, me too! Look, we’re connecting!”
I nod, letting out a cross between a laugh and a sigh. I’m actually making a friend. This is a really new feeling. In truth I don’t mind one bit.
“Really…cool,” I answer as the bell rings. I’ve never been one to carry on conversations. The bell gives me an excuse to stop talking. It isn’t that I don’t like this kid, he’s actually pretty cool, I just don’t know what else to say.
I launch myself out the seat and hurry towards the door.
Frank grabs my arm, jerking me to a stop, “Hey there turbo, where do you think you’re going?”
“Well seems as I missed the first two periods of the day, I have lunch right now,” I respond, just a little confused.
“Well, it’s not going anywhere, let me join you,” Frank smiles.
Together we walk out of the classroom to face the disaster zone that is the school hallway.
Why can’t we be friends
Why can’t we be friends
Why can’t we be friends
I leave my little brother to find his own way around the school. I’m already late for chemistry and I know the teacher will be a real bitch about my tardiness. This is my second year taking this stupid class…the teacher hates me.
Practically running up the steps, I pant after each footfall until I reach the top. After climbing the endless stairs I locate my class and walk in. As I suspected the teacher is a real bitch about me being – I glance at my cellphone to get the time – five minutes late.
“Late on the first day, Mr. Way, that isn’t a good way to start out the year.”
Trying to return my breathing to normal I put my hands on my hips and nod. I know the teacher doesn’t want an actual reply.
“This better not become a habit,” she says and I try very hard not to roll my eyes. I do not want detention on the first day. “Take a seat next to Mr. Iero.”
I look around. Although the last name sounds familiar I still have no fucking clue who that is. Then, I realize that there is only one seat open. It’s in the back next to a short looking kid. I make my way over to the seat, plopping down as I continue to try and regain my breath. The kid looks at me with dazzling hazel green eyes. His hair is black, longer on one side, his bangs covering part of the right side of this face. His ears are pierced, small black gauges in his lobes. I notice a hint of a tattoo on his neck, peeking up over his shirt collar.
He just smiles as me.
“What?” I ask, my hands resting on the tabletop. Although I tried not to sound nasty I’m pretty sure I failed. The kid just continues to stare at me. What a fucking weird dude.
“Nothing, shit,” he says, turning his back to me, the chair squeaking in protest.
“Wait, I’m sorry,” I say quickly, not want my lab partner to hate me. “My brother…he was fucking slow which made me late. That’s why I’m kinda pissed.”
He turns back around, smiling widely, “I’m just fucking with you. Name’s Frank…Frank Iero. I’m awesome.”
“Gerard Way,” I answer as his name registers in my mind. “You’re Amber’s friend.”
“You bet,” he answers cheeks turning a slight pink color, an effect Amber seems to have on a lot of people.
This kid is so different but I like him already. He definitely doesn’t look like any of the kids that go here with his piercings and hair. He’s most definitely an outcast but hey, so am I. We might actually get along fairly well.
“Nice to meet you,” Frank says. “I’m your lab partner by the way.”
I nod, not minding this at all. If there is any kid in this class to be a lab partner with it’s him. Frank just doesn’t seem as snobby as everyone else in this dump. In an odd way I kind of like that I’m connecting with this kid.
“So tell me about you,” Frank demands as he fiddles with a glass test tube.
I sit there, not really knowing what to say. People don’t generally ask me about myself.
“Well, I like to draw…that’s pretty much it,” I answer feeling a little awkward.
Frank stops playing with the beaker and resumes staring at me, his eyes wide, “Really, that’s it? Wow….”
I have no idea what that means. I just keep talking to avoid awkward silence, “Um…I like comic books and vampires and zombies.”
“Comic books,” Frank questions leaning one arm over the back of his chair. “I like them too. Who’s your favorite superhero?”
I swallow hard, “Batman.”
Frank’s eyes widen, “Dude, me too! Look, we’re connecting!”
I nod, letting out a cross between a laugh and a sigh. I’m actually making a friend. This is a really new feeling. In truth I don’t mind one bit.
“Really…cool,” I answer as the bell rings. I’ve never been one to carry on conversations. The bell gives me an excuse to stop talking. It isn’t that I don’t like this kid, he’s actually pretty cool, I just don’t know what else to say.
I launch myself out the seat and hurry towards the door.
Frank grabs my arm, jerking me to a stop, “Hey there turbo, where do you think you’re going?”
“Well seems as I missed the first two periods of the day, I have lunch right now,” I respond, just a little confused.
“Well, it’s not going anywhere, let me join you,” Frank smiles.
Together we walk out of the classroom to face the disaster zone that is the school hallway.
@KidFromYesterday
Yay!!! Thank you, this story has been really great, as well as your others!!
10/2/16