School Was Never This Interesting...
Explanations and Affection
Chapter Text
Gerard ran all the way home that day. Down the block and across the street, down the hill and around the corner, down the block again.He was freaking out. Was it even slightly possible that Mr. Iero of all people could’ve been the one Gerard had dreamt about? Would it be realistic to say that this charming and intriguing young teacher was the reason Gerard’s nightmares had turned into more, pleasurable, totally not horrific (kinda) fairy tales? Well… not totally not horrific, since Gerard was freaking out and stuff.
No. Gerard finalized, it’s not. There’s not even a slight chance in the smallest most insignificant corner of hell that the voice in the dreams being Mr. Iero’s is anything more than a coincidence…
A really fucking creepy coincidence, sure. ...But nothing more.
He took out his key and entered the house.
“Gerard? Is that you?” He heard his mother call from somewhere their unreasonably large kitchen.
Gerard found he had enough energy to take a deep breath and answer his mother in a tone of voice that wouldn’t make her worry.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale,” Yeah, it’s me! I’m going upstairs for a while, so when Mikey gets home could you tell him to leave me alone, please?” He shouted as he stopped at the top of the staircase and waited for a response.
After about thirty seconds of silence, his mother finally said, “Okay, Hun sure. Just don’t stay in your room the entire day, okay? We have guests coming over…” Her voice trailed off and the calming motherly tone was replaced with a string of curse words. Gerard guessed she’d probably burned herself while taking something out of the oven. His mother had been accident prone since before Gerard was even a thought in her head.
He went upstairs and opened his room door. His room was mess, that must wasn’t a surprise in the slightest. There were paintbrushes and markers and poster board and song lyrics scattered around the majority of the room; only by the (kind of) clear path from Gerard’s desk to his bed and over to the door of the room was the dark wooded floor even visible.
He tossed his messenger bag to the side of his bed and plopped down on the mattress with an exhausted thump. Okay so let’s go over what just happened, he thought to himself, and let’s start at the beginning, shall we?
Gerard than preceded to make a mental list of everything that had happened leading up to him freaking out and running away from the only person outside his family who’d been genuinely nice to him since he left Cameron High last year.
1.He left Cameron High after the incident.
2.His asshole father left them.
3.His mom got all depressed and Mikey stopped talking to people and started isolating himself.
4.Summer started.
5.His mom, Mikey and he moved over to North Jersey in hopes of some kind of “fresh start”.
6.He started having the Black Shadowed Nightmares.
7.Mikey started coming out of his shell and started kind of talking again.
8.Mikey told Gerard that he was gay.
9.Gerard started working on his graphic novel again.
10.His mom registered them to Pestilence Prep. (Great name for a school, by the way*sarcasm*).
11.The nightmares stopped.
12.The school’s paper work took three extra days to go through...
13.He had the first dream featuring an untraceable voice.
14.He met Mr. Iero.
15.He fell completely head over heels for Mr. Iero.
16.He fell asleep in Art class.
17.He woke up and recognized the voice in his dreams.
18.He freaked out.
19.He ran home.
Okay… so the the list didn’t really help Gerard with anything.
What…. Wait... uhm… it’s not… I can’t …he’s not... I hadn’t even --what in the vigorous fuck just happened?
His mind was racing; he needed to get out of the house. He needed air. He needed…
Gerard sighed; I need to get a fucking handle on my thoughts. And I have to make sure not to fall asleep. I don’t wanna have that dream a third time; I really don’t wanna have that god forsaken dream again.
Gerard was motionless. He was still breathing of course, but he was completely still. He needed to get out of the house. He needed air. But, instead of leaving he lay immobile except the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed in and out.
Gerard had finished his homework; and about fifteen chapters of his graphic novel. He’d even written a song … and painted a little. Any kind of art related project to help him take his mind off his dreams for the time being. He had nothing left to do. He’d done everything. He’d used up most of his paint. His markers were all out of ink. Within the course of 7 hours, Gerard had used up most of his art supplies and was now empty and more exhausted than he had been over 8 months.
He didn’t move, he just focused on a small crack on the blank ceiling. Hoping to close his eyes and become as invisible and insignificant as that tiny imperfection in the ceiling. He wasn’t even depressed, he was just tired. He’d replayed the day’s events about 57 times in his mind. Every time he did it only befuddled him that much more. It’s not like he was psychic, but then again he didn’t really have to be. Dreams sometimes showed things not yet perceived or accepted by the conscious mind, maybe he was psychic… or maybe, even before he’d met Mr. Iero, he knew somewhere deep down that there was someone out there with a perfect voice and perfect kisses whom he’d meet at Pestilence Prep.
Good job, subconscious, Gerard thought, mentally giving his mind a figurative pat on the back, now if you could graciously make me stop liking a god-forsaken TEACHER I’d greatly appreciate that.
He sighed heavily and as if on cue, there was a barely audible knock on the door. “Come in, Mikey.” He said a little louder and a little more abrasive than he’d intended to sound.
Mikey entered looking nervous and possibly scared for his life. He pushed up his glasses and started biting on his fingernails
“What do you want, Mikey?” Gerard said a bit softer.
“Uhm, Mom wants you to come downstairs. She says-“
“Tell her I don’t feel well,” He lied. Well, it’s not technically a lie... I’m feeling awesome physically; just mentally I’m tired as fuck.
Mikey sighed, seeming to randomly relax at his brother’s excuse,” I know you hate it when guests are over, because you hate acting all polite and proper and shit” Mikey began, he barely cursed and Gerard raised his eyebrows at the curse slinging so naturally from his kid brothers lips.
“So?” Gerard said hoping Mikey would get to the point.
“So” He said,” I went downstairs after she told me she was having company over and convinced her you’d just make up some lame, half-assed excuse to get out of eating with a few guests.” Gerard looked at him as a way of saying ‘get to the fuckin’ point before I jump off a cliff” I got mom to let you eat before her guests got here. So go downstairs, hurry up and stuff your fat little face and you’ll be able to avoid her adult-friend-people before they even get here.”
Gerard was half way out his room’s door before Mikey had even finished the last sentence, “Thanks, man.” He said and bounced heavily down the stairs.
I swear to Marvel, that kid’s like a fuckin’ saint or something.
God dammit, I should apologize, Gerard concluded as he made his way into fourth period Gothic Lit 101 class. He'd spent the majority of time in his first three periods contemplating what he should do about Mr. Iero. What he should say to him, how to explain himself and his actions via the previous day. He ended up just deciding he was a douche the day before and he should just go apologize before he missed his chance and made things awkward.
It was rude of me to just storm out like that yesterday, I doubt he even wants to see me anymore… maybe I should transfer--
“Hey, Gerard!” Mr. Iero’s smile was bright and animated as he hopped off his desk and made his way over to Gerard’s general direction.
Gerard felt butterflies in the pit of his stomach. Actually they weren’t butterflies, they were much bigger than butterflies, they were more like… doves.
Or bulldozers. Yeah, he without doubt had bulldozers in the stomach. And they were annoying and unsettling as hell.
Gerard looked behind him to make sure he was one Mr. Iero’s greeting was directed at him. But then again, he figured Gerard was pretty uncommon name in a Jersey Prep school. Everyone here was named Todd or Chauncey… or Elizabeth. He snorted inwardly.
He walked over to Gerard and gave him the once over. There was something about the way his eyes were briefly looking over every part of his awkward body that made him blush wildly.
“So what’s up?” Mr. Iero asked.
Gerard bit his lip nervously, “Uhm, nothing really. Just thought I’d stop buy… since ya know, this is my next class.” He joked.
Mr. Iero rolled his eyes and scoffed,” Yeah, of course. But why are you so early? They give you guys like, 15 minutes to get from class to class.”
Gerard shrugged,” Well, my other class is only down the corridor so I only have to walk about 30 seconds.”
Mr. Iero nodded, “Good, now I have more time to torture you without witnesses.” Gerard’s body froze.
Mr. Iero seemed to notice him tense up and figured he ought to do something about the petrified student in his presence.
He chuckled,’ Dude, relax I’m not going to chain you up or steal your soul or take your innocence or whatever.”
Gerard visibly relaxed. Although he probably would’ve enjoyed any and all of those things… especially if Mr. Iero did them to him— No, bad Gerard! Stop having sexual thoughts about your extremely attractive art teacher…that you’d actually let chain you up…. Oh, fuck this is going to be a huge problem.
“So anyway,” Gerard said, finally working up the nerve,” I just wanted to apologize for my irrational and extremely strange behavior yesterday. I shouldn’t have just run out of your art room like that. I’m sorry. I’ll try to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I was just uhm... I was sleeping… and---and I had this nightmare… well actually it was a good dream, but it used to be a nightmare and then you woke me up and I guess I was just so hyperactive and shit, I couldn’t explain myself or stay and talk or whatever.” He caught his breath.” Fuck, Mr. Iero, I’m-uh-I’m really sorry about--
Mr. Iero held up a hand and cut Gerard off. He had a smirk on his lips and was shaking his head lightly,” Dude, you don’t have to explain yourself to me. I mean I appreciate it. And I’m flattered that you found the need and took out the time from your day to clarify what happened yesterday.” He shrugged,” But you don’t have to explain yourself to me. I’ll admit that I was kind of worried… but there was a look in your eyes when you woke up. It was like you just realized some great and possibly terrible truth, anyone would be worried. You’d looked like you’d just saw a ghost or something.”
Gerard nodded and calmed down a little. He could literally feel the pace of his heart slowing down to a more average tone.
So Mr. Iero didn't think he was some kind of freak? He wasn’t going to stop talking to him and ignore him for the rest of the year? Mr. Iero wasn't planning on sending him straight to the nurse’s office or the guidance Counselor’s office?
Thank.
Fucking.
God.
Mr. Iero checked his watch,” We still have about five minutes before class starts.” He commented.
Gerard breathed in and out again dramatically,” How long does it take these kids to get here from their last class.”
Mr. Iero shrugged” Well, it’s a pretty big fucking school. And I guess they figure since they have about fifteen minutes to get from one place to the next they just spend most of their in-between time in the hallways, at their lockers and talking to people they know.”
As though summoned, students started pouring into the English class. Gerard took in his peers. The classmates were basically split in half. Half were reasonably cool looking people whom Gerard thought he may be able to get along with. Then there was the other half, which was a collection of jocks and cheerleaders Gerard figured he should avoid at all costs. Besides that, there were about five other ‘normal’ looking kids, no cheerleading uniform, no heavy black eyeliner or dyed hair.
Everyone had one thing in common though, well everyone except Gerard. They knew where they belonged. The jocks and the cheerleaders kept to the back of the classroom, the cool looking kids sat either up front or on the side of the room. Basically, anywhere they could see Mr. Iero without trouble.
Gerard noted, though, that the first row of desks right in the center front of the classroom was absolutely vacant. It seemed like everyone was avoiding those three particular seats directly in front of the spot where Mr. Iero usually walked around. But Gerard had sat there yesterday and nothing happened…
“Mr. Iero?” He started, trying to get his teacher’s full attention. He turned his head back to Mr. Iero only to find that his teacher hadn’t taken his eyes off him.
“Yeah?” He answered, cocking an eyebrow.
“Why doesn’t anyone sit on those three seats? The one’s in the front of the class. “Gerard questioned curiously.
“ Oh right, some the students and I kind of named those three seats:’ Death Chairs.’ The one specifically in the middle has a name of its own, it’s called Lilith. It’s like the best seat out of all three of them or whatever. If you sit in any of those seats, you’re automatically branded a Teacher’s Pet. Which is to say,” He leaned in close to Gerard’s face enough so that he was in kissing distance,” Your soul belongs to me.” He put on a devilish grin.”As far as I know, I’m the only teacher who does this, which is kind of cool I guess.”
Gerard furrowed his brow…
“It’s apparently a great honor among students and blah blah-blah,” He shrugged.
“Wait, if it’s such a great honor, how does someone know whether or not to sit in on of the Death Chairs?” Gerard asked; brows furrowed. He noticed than that Mr. Iero was still really close to him. His breath smelled like coffee
“Oh, easy. I tell the person whether they’re allowed to sit in one of the Death Chairs before school starts.” Mr. Iero said smirking.
“Gerard looked at the chairs for a few seconds before he realized something,” But…wait a second. I was sitting in the middle chair yesterday and you didn't say anything….” His voice trailed off.
Mr. Iero nodded and opened his mouth to say something. But their conversation was cut short by the gaudy sound of the bell.
Mr. Iero rolled his eyes at Gerard,” I was wondering when you were gonna catch on.” He said as he all but pushed Gerard into his seat. Gerard but wanted to continue to talk but Mr. Iero had already started going on about Edgar Allan Poe.
please come back, this fic is so good!!!
6/12/14