Hold on Till May

Gerard P.O.V.

The next day, the old man, Zach Tyler, and his wife came to visit Irmarie.

"How are you, sweetie?" Ann asked.

"I'm just under watch, that's all. But, I'm fine, Ann." Irmarie smiled.

"Hello Gerard," Zach greeted.

"Hi, Zach." I waved.

"Gerard? Who's Gerard?" Ann said.

"That's him overthere." Irmarie said.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you, Gerard." Ann said and waved.

"Nice to meet you too, Ann." I said.

And that was the rest of that day. The pacemaker that Irmarie had have given up in the middle of the day, hours before she was realised from the hospital. So, they had to put in another one and had an extra two more days to stay at the hospital.

So, on Monday when school was back in session, I went without Irmarie.

I had to admit, I was kind of lonley at the moment when I was waiting for the bus to come.

Mikey came by my side and gave me a soft punch. "Want to join me and Frank at lunch?" Mikey asked.

"Sure." I said.

Frank was behind Mikey. "Hey Mikes! Hey Gerard! Mikes. We have to get you a date for Valentine's Day." Frank smirked.

Oh, I know where he was going with this.

"Uh, Frank. Has anyone told you that you're crazy?" Mikey asked.

"Yeah. Irmarie usually tells me that." Frank smiled.

"Anyways, who are you going to pair me up with anyways? I don't like anybody." Mikey said.

Frank and I looked at each other and smiled because he, Irmarie, and I knew this was a big lie.

"Why are you guys smiling?" Mikey asked.

"Oh, 'cause we know the truth my dear brother." I said and pat his back.

"What do you know?" Mikey asked.

"Oh. It's quite obvious my dear friend." Frank said.

"What is?" Mikey said.

"You like Alicia." We both whispered.

"Psh. What are you guys talking about." Mikey said.

"Dude, drop it. Irmarie knows too." Frank said.

"Yeah." I said.

"Fine. So, I do like Alicia. So what." Mikey shrugged.

"Dude, it's also obvious that she likes you back." I said.

"Says the one who can't take a hint either. Even though all of us say it." Frank said.

"Who are you pointing a finger at?" I asked.

"You!" Frank said and whispered. "You like Irmarie. And she likes you back, too."

"Yeah. It's also obvious too." Mikey smirked.

"Now that, that is a lie. She doesn't like me back." I said.

"Dude. Do you like her? Yes or no?" Frank said.

"Yes." I sighed.

"I KNEW IT!" Frank yelled and everyone looked at us. "Don't worry. I got both your backs." Frank said to us.

"Sure you do," both Mikey and I said.

"What, you guys don't believe me?" Frank asked.

"Dude, I know you and Jamia are not dating," Mikey said.

"So... I kind of told her a little lie," Frank said.

"A little?" Mikey laughed.

"Okay. A big lie. And that's why I need all your guys help. That why I want us to go on the date thing. Jamia thinks we're going there just for the kicks." Frank said.

"But what if she has a date?" I asked.

"She doesn't. She told me." Frank said.

"Fine. We're going to help you, Frank," I sighed.

"Yeah... at least I'll get a date with Alicia. And you'll get a date with Irmarie." Mikey said.

"Do you really want me to tell you what Irmarie thinks. She thinks it's a quadruplet-date plus two. And she and me are the plus two." I said.

"Hey, that's what I told her. I said it because she doesn't know if you like her. That's why." Frank said.

"Well, if it's a quadruplet-date, there's going to be about three couples if you pair us up. Then, who's the fourth couple." Mikey asked.

"Ray and Christa," I said.

"Ray Toro?" Mikey asked.

"The same one," Frank said.

"What." I said.

"What Ray where you thinking of? Irmarie only has one cousin named Ray Toro." Frank said. "Is there a problem?"

"No. It's just I haven't seen him in a really long time. That's all." I said.

"And you and Ray were...?" Frank said.

"Best friends. You know, before they came in," I said.

"Oh."

The school bus had pulled up now. Out of the three of us, Mikey went in first. Then me. Then Frank.

I feel like it was the same and first day when Irmarie and I decided to sit on the bus together. Spit balls, paper airplanes, and crumbled-up paper balls were being thrown.

Brian was laughing with his buddies. He saw Mikey and tripped him.

"Watch it, emo." He laughed.

I grabbed his shirt and pinned him to the window. "You better say you're fucking sorry, Brian." I threaten.

"What are you going to do, faggot?" He said to me.

I smiled and punched his face. Pretty sure I gave him a black eye.

"Come on." I said to Mikey and we began to walk to the back and take a seat.

"You didn't have to do that, Gee." Mikey said.

"You're my brother. I don't want that dick bringing you down." I said.

"Thanks, Gee." Mikey said.

I walked down the school hallway to get my lunch bag in my locker.

I thought of Irmarie. It was the first time for me to be without her. I just wanted to get out of this dump and visit her. But I knew she would want me to be here until school was over.

As I walked, I a group of guys hanging around my locker. I sighed and kept walking.

"Hey. Can you guys move so I can get my lunch," I said.

"Make us, faggot." Giovanni said.

I tell you, I'm pretty sure it was said nicely...

"Do you really want me to do that. 'Cause I will." I said.

"Then do it." He smiled.

"You one hundred percent sure about it. 'Cause if I do, I will open that locker and put all of your empty heads in there and smash it two hundred times, then kick you in the ass." Paused for a dramatic effect. "Is that what you want me to do?"

All the guys but Giovanni ran off.

"Wussys," he said under his breath.

"What are you doing here Giovanni? Where's Gabe?" I asked.

"The trader? He left me because I wouldn't change like you guys." Giovanni hissed.

"Dude, don't you think it's time for a change. I mean, what we did before was awful." I said.

"You're turning too soft, Way. Just like my brother," he muttered the last part.

"Giovanni. All I'm saying is give it a chance. What Mrs. Hale is doing is a great thing. There's no harm going on." I said.

"She changed you! This isn't you anymore-"

"No! This is the real me. Every since I was with Irmarie I can be the real me. Not someone I'm not and never will be." I stated.

"And how are you so sure this is the real you. She made you be emo just like her." Giovanni said.

"No! Irmarie has done nothing wrong! You made me into a monster I never wanted to be! This is all on you. Not me. Don't you ever talk to me again." I said then left the hallway.

I knew I was in big shit with Giovanni. Why doesn't he learn that he was being such a dick. I'll never know.

That afternoon after school was over, I went back to the hospital to visit Irmarie.

"How was school?" She asked as she munched down some Subway I got for her on the way.

"Well, I got to talk to Giovanni again." I said.

"What did he do to you?" Irmarie asked.

"Nothing. He just told me I turn into an 'emo'." I said.

"And then what happened?" Irmarie asked.

"I burned him," I smiled.

"Well, I'm returning home tonight, going to school tomorrow." Irmarie said.

"Yay! No more hospital food for you," I said.

"By the way, I owe you about fifty dollars." Irmarie said.

"Nah, it fine." I said.

"Well, hope I won't get beat up!"

"You won't. Don't worry." I said.