And Then I Met My Teacher

“Shit”, I mumbled, staring at the flashing screen.
''Who is it?'' Gerard asked.
''My mom.”
''You should probably take it,'' he advised.

''Hello?''
''Frankie? Where are you?'' She asked. As much as I wanted to be mad at her, I had to admit it felt good to hear her voice.
''Hi mom. I’m at school, why? Is everything okay?'' I asked, wondering why she was calling me now.
''No, nothing’s wrong. It’s just... your cousin Brent is home. I thought you might want to come say hi. I know how well you guys get along,'' she said. The worst part was that she was serious. She wholeheartedly believed that I might want to come over to see my abusive cousin. Even though Brent always played his game incredibly well, I found myself, for the first time ever, being really angry at how oblivious she was.
‘'Is that the only reason why you called?'' I asked coldly.
''Well, also to take news from you...''
''I'm doing fine and I won't come see Brent,'' I snapped. I was about to hang up but she spoke again.
''Frank, wait.''
''What?''
''I love you,'' she said softly. I sighed.
''I love you too, mom. I gotta go.'' I said before hanging up. I shoved my phone in my pocket and looked at Gerard, only to see he’d been staring at me the whole time.
''What?'' I asked.
''Why didn't you tell her?''
''She wouldn't have believed me anyways.''
''You could have tried... You're her son after all and she obviously cares about you.''
''Maybe some other time, Gerard,'' I answered, slightly annoyed, which I assumed he noticed since he didn't insist.
''You hungry?'' He asked. I nodded. He gave me a warm smiled and told me to follow him. The second he opened the classroom door, our hands weren't touching anymore, our eyes weren't meeting and a tensed silence settled between us; a silence that meant Gee wasn’t Gee anymore, he was Mr. Way. It was crazy to see how quickly the dynamic of our relationship could change. It was crazy, but it was all worth it because behind closed doors, we were perfect. I couldn’t see myself falling asleep next to anyone else; not today, not ever. So, we sauntered the halls like two strangers just walking side by side until we reached the parking lot.
''Go and wait for me on the other side of the street, I'll pick you up. It's safer like that,'' he said. I nodded and walked away to meet him on the other side of the street, away from the curious eyes. He didn’t say I love you, he didn’t hug me, he didn’t even really look at me. He didn’t do any of these things because he couldn't risk getting caught with me. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got because for all we knew, I could get hit by a car while crossing the street. If that happened, he would probably hate himself for not kissing me, or not looking at me when I left, and it wouldn't even be his fault. Who's fault would it be? Summer's? James'? Sam's? Mikey's? my mom's? the principal's? society’s? I didn’t know who to blame or whose fault it would be, but I knew it wouldn't be mine and it certainly wouldn't be his. When my dad died, it was sudden. We weren’t expecting it. One minute he was was fine, picking up our mail from the mailbox, and the next he was dead with five bullet holes in his chest. There isn’t a single day that goes by where I don’t regret not telling him that I loved him before he walked out to get the mail that morning. To think that if something was to happen to me, or to Gerard, one of us would have to live with that burden was a painful thought. I looked on each side of the street and crossed. He was already waiting for me on the other side. I made it to the car and let myself fall into the passenger's seat.
''What do you want to eat?'' He asked. I shrugged.
''I was thinking we could go see Mikey and eat with him? I know hospital food is kind of gross, but it would make him so happy, and-''
''It's fine, I don't mind.''
''You sure?''
''Yeah, but isn't he going to think it’s weird that I came with you?''
''No, you guys are friends. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it,'' he smiled
''We’re not that close...'' I admitted.
''Don't worry, it's going to be fine. Just act the way you would in class and he won’t notice anything,'' he said, giving my hand a squeeze.
''Okay,'' I mumbled, seriously doubting his plan. The car ride went by quitely. It wasn’t uncomfortable, though. We had reached that point where we were comfortable enough with each other to not have to fill every silence with words. The radio was on and Gerard was humming the melody softly. The soft sound of his voice, his hand carefully holding mine and the motion of the car was starting to make me doze off when he pulled into the hospital parking lot and parked near the entrance.
''Ready?'' He asked. I nodded, still really unsure about this.
''Alright, let's go,'' he said, getting out of the car and stretching his back. I opened the door and slowly got out, trying to hide my apprehension. Gerard locked the doors and we started walking towards the hospital. My palms were getting sweatier with each step we took. Maybe it wasn’t too late to turn around? But I couldn’t disappoint him like that, he looked so excited to see Mikey. I took a deep breath in, trying to compose myself and Gerard put a gentle hand on my shoulder, which he moved when we got closer to the entrance. He opened the door for me and a nurse greeted us.
''Hi, Gerard. Michael is with someone already,'' she said smiling.
''Do you know who it is?'' He asked. She shrugged.
''One of his friends, I didn’t get his name. Who's this?'' She asked looking at me, smiling. I didn’t know if she was expecting me or him to answer that question, but my mouth was so dry I couldn’t speak. One of his friends? What friend? A friend from school? Someone I knew? My heart was racing in my chest. I looked at Gerard, but he didn’t seem to be bothered even the slightest.
''This is Frank. He's a friend of Mikey's,'' he said calmly.

''Well it’s nice to meet you, Frank. I’m sure Michael will be very pleased to see you. Gerard.'' She said, winking at him. He smiled at her and she smiled back before walking away. Why the fuck was she winking at him? I grabbed his hand, which he pulled away immediately.
''What are you doing?!'' He whispered.
''She fucking winked at you! You're mine,'' I added. He grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me in a corner, away from the staff and the patients.
''I am gay! Why do you care that she winked at me?!” he snapped.
“I don’t,” I lied, avoiding to look into his eyes. He sighed and lifted my chin with his fingers, forcing me to look into his eyes.
“I love you and no one else, okay?'' He said softly. I smiled and he grazed my cheek with his thumb.
“Okay.”
“Now let’s go see Mikey,” he said, walking towards the elevator. I followed him quietly and he pressed the elevator button. We waited for what seemed like an eternity and a few moments later we were standing in front of the door of Mikey’s room. Gerard had just put his hand on the doorknob when the door sung open.
''Hey, James,'' Gerard smiled. James didn't even bother to look at him. He walked right passed us, voluntarily bumping into Gerard's shoulder.
“Huh,” Gerard said, brushing it off as he walked in the room. I followed him uncomfortably, not sure if I should have stayed with him or tried to catch up with James.
“Hey, Mikes. How are you feeling?” he said softly, sitting on his bed.
''Holy shit, he was right...'' Mikey said.
''What’s wrong with him anyways?'' Gerard asked. “He’s always been a good kid and just now he-”
''What's wrong with him? No, what's wrong with you Gerard?!''
''W-What do you mean?''
''You’re fucking Frank!''
''Who the hell told you that?''
''Guess!''
''Fucking James,'' I whispered to myself.
''You’re little fuck toy figured it out,'' he snapped.
''Don't talk about him like that,'' Gerard said, trying to remain calm.
''Oh, because you're gonna defend him now? Protect him from me?!’'
''Mikey, don't be ridiculous, that’s not what I'm doing.''
''Ridiculous?! You want to know what’s ridiculous?! This is ridiculous! This whole relationship, or whatever the hell this is, is ridiculous! How old are you again, Gerard? Oh yeah, 36! And he's 17! He's my fucking age! That’s disgusting!''
''That's enough!'' Gerard snapped.
''Get the fuck out of here. And take your fucking boyfriend with you,” he spat.
''I was leaving anyways,'' Gerard said. He grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room. He was walking really fast through the halls and still hadn't let go of my hand, which was starting to feel numb.
''Gee...''
''What?!'' He yelled.
'' Uh, it’s just, you’re hurting me...'' I mumbled, looking at my hand. He stopped and let go.
''Sorry...''
''It's alright.''
''I didn’t mean to hurt you, I am just so pissed right now. Who the hell does he think he is?!''
''He's still has a point...'' I admitted.
''You're not going to start again with that bullshit?! I love you! And we're together! That's it. I don't care what people say, I don't care what HE says!''
''I love you too...''
''I'll fucking kill him.''
''Don't say stuff like that Gee, you can’t take it it back. He's your brother and-''
''Not Mikey! James!''
''Oh...''
''Did you tell him?!'' He said, throwing me an accusing look.
''No! What the fuck?!”
''Then how the hell does he know?!''
''I don't know, Gee…”
''We'll have to talk to him.''
''Are you sure that’s the right way to go about it?'' I asked.
''We have to! He can’t be starting rumors about this. Call him,'' he said.
''To tell him what?!''
''Tell we want to meet up with him. Today,'' he said sternly.
''You call him,'' I said.
''Alright, give me your phone,'' he said, snatching it out of my hands. He went through my contact list and clicked on James' name. It was silent for a few seconds.
''Hello, James. It's Mr. Way.''

Notes

Hello Lovelies! Let me know what you think of this new update! I ended up not having to go to school or work today so I'll keep writing for a bit and hopefully update again shortly!

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xxx
-T.