*two days later <3*
Lunch was always a nightmare.
Whether Gerard was being picked on or not, he’d always hated Lunch. The adults put you in a cafeteria alone with your peers. Your loud, obnoxious peers. For about an hour and a half. Then decided to force feed you bad food, and you can’t do anything about it; it’s fucking terrible. Well, Pestilence Prep used to be a castle, so one of the really big rooms they used to use for dining was being used as the cafeteria and it was a rich prep school so the food was actually pretty okay. Especially, the coffee. The coffee was miraculous! Even so, he’d rather be in the library, or in the art room.
Actually…. I could probably go over to the art room now, He reflected with a small smirk.
He was currently sitting at a table to the back of the cafeteria by himself. He wasn’t hungry so he was really just sitting down with one of his many sketchbooks and drawing random stuff. He needed an actual pencil though…or charcoal, there were certain parts he was itching to shade in properly. It dawned on him that he was seriously lacking supplies back at his house. He wondered if Mr. Iero would let him borrow some until he could go over to Gem (the art store he discovered a few miles away from his new house that literally had everything his little artist heart could ever dream of and more).
He gathered his messenger bag and started towards the door.
“Hey!” Yelled some guy from across room; loud enough for everyone eating within a hundred mile radius to hear. Gerard sighed and kept walking. If it was Bob again, he’d end up getting his ass kicked regardless. If someone else was trying to mess with him, well sorry, but he didn’t feel like getting wailed on today. He couldn’t really think of any other reason anyone would call him. It was a Thursday. School was about to shift into its third week, he didn’t really know anyone in Pestilence Prep except for Mikey and Mr. Iero. There was seriously no way in hell anyone who didn’t wanna mess with him would even consider talking to him. Everyone already had their own routine, and their own place in school, Gerard was as good as non-existent and he honestly didn’t think that was going to change.
It isn’t like someone’s gonna run over to me and tell me to sit at their table.
“Hey!” He heard again. Whoever was calling him sounded a lot closer and extremely winded.
And somewhat non-threatening. Gerard rolled his eyes and turned around, mentally preparing himself to have something either thrown in his face or to be verbally fucked over... or both.
When he turned around his sigh of relief was heavy and unrelenting. It wasn’t some kind of threat as he’d been expecting. Running across the dining hall, was a kid.
Scratch that, it was one of those ‘reasonably cool’ looking kids from Gerard’s Gothic Lit class. He was a slender guy with skinny jeans, black hair and ratty gray Converses. And he was walking over to Gerard. Well, more like jogging; the dining hall was big enough to hold three elephants, so it took quite a while to get from one side to the next in a less than a minute. But somehow he managed. He came to a halt about three feet from where Gerard was standing.
Gerard let him catch his breath before saying,” Uh- Hi…?”
The kid looked up at him,” The name… is Wentz… Pete Wentz.” He caught his breath. And stood up straight and pointing at Gerard with a defiant smirk, he said with a demanding and thankfully,” You! You’re bisexual! Let’s be friends.”
Gerard cocked an eyebrow and stared at him for a second,” Wait… uh—okay, how’d you know I was- - uhm…”
“What? Bi?” He asked and Gerard nodded... Pete tapped the side of his face,” I’m like a walking gay-dar, dude.” He shrugged,” It’s a gift, comes with the package. “
Gerard thought for a moment,” So that means you’re …?”
Pete nodded.
Gerard only nodded lamely,” But uhm…”
Pete looked at him,” I’m right though, aren’t I? You’re bi, right?”
Gerard nodded,” But, I didn’t even ... I didn’t even know I was-uh- bi until like 2 or 3 days ago…”
“Any-who we’re friends now,” He said as a-matter-of-factly.
Gerard couldn’t help but smile a little,” Okay cool. I was actually going over to Mr. Iero’s art class now though….”
Pete raised an eyebrow, and shook his head,” No, you’re not. You’re gonna come over and sit with us.” He said,” I dare you to say no.”
Gerard gawked at him,” Wait, there’s more of you?” Pete laughed,” I mean… uh… sure?”
They started walking over to a large black circular table. There were about twenty kids there. All were ‘reasonably cool looking’. Most with ratty converses, or combat boots or Vans and skinny jeans or long skirts or weird dresses and fishnets or checkerboards patterns or stripes and piercings or jewelry, almost everyone had on eyeliner or lipstick (including the guys, most didn’t have lipstick on, though). A few guys were wearing something similar to eye shadow. There was enough color in that group’s hair it could’ve out a rainbow to shame. A few kids had out sketchbooks similar to Gerard’s, a few were writing poetry or messing with stuff in a journal. There was a tan kid with long hair and a guitar singing with a few others at the table. There was a pretty girl with wild pink hair styled like a Victorian mistress laughing at something a blond kid with glasses said--
“Mikey?” Gerard was surprised to say the least to see his little brother at lunch.
Mikey turned around and looked equally shocked to see Gerard.” Gerard? What? Uhm, hey.”
Pete looked between the two,” You guys know each other?”
Mikey smiled, something Gerard barely seen much of in the last 5 months,” Yeah, we’re brothers.”
The pink haired girl looked at Gerard,” Yeah, I guess I can kind of see a resemblance.”
Pete walked over to a nearby table and grabbed two vacant seats.
He handed one to Gerard,” Here”.
Gerard nodded in thanks. They both sat down beside one another.
Pete cleared his throat and announced,” Everyone! May I have your attention please? I give to you, the New Recruit.”
There was a brief silence followed by a round of applause. A few people whistled and cheered. Gerard was pretty sure he was red in the face with embarrassment.
A petite pale kid with short black hair and about five pounds of eyeliner,” So, Pete, whatta we got? Straight, obtuse, right or acute?”
Pete smirked,” I’ll give you guys a hint, okay? Ready?” Everyone at the table nodded somewhere in there someone said ’fuck yeah’ and Gerard chuckled.
“He was just a bi-stander until I walked and told him he shouldn’t be walking bi this area at night alone. And so he turned to me and told me he was tired of standing on the bi-lines. He shook my hand and said good-bi.” Every time he said ‘bi’ he added a theatrical emphasis, like a wave of his hands or a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.
The pink haired girl stood up with a huge smile on her face,” He’s a Right Angle!”
There was a collective nod and some casual cheers from the group, Mikey looked over at Gerard,” Since when are you a Right Angle? How did I miss that memo? I live with you”
Gerard just shrugged,” Uhm…”
Pete smiled at Mikey,” Apparently, He didn’t know he was into guys until recently. He just found out a couple days ago.”
The rest of the kids were now talking amongst themselves. And Gerard could tell by the rise and fall of their collective voice that they were agreeing on something. They started chanting something and after about thirty seconds, Gerard could finally make out the compound word.
“Back-story! Back-story! Back-story”, they chanted mischievously.
Pete smirked,” Okay kids let’s see, shall we? So he’s an artist, we know that much. He’s not an only child and he’s cares a lot about his family,” Pete looked over at Mikey, “Mikey and he just transfered here from some far off distant land, He dyes his hair. He most likely has a fear of needles or a disinterest in piercings and tattoos, He likes keeping to himself. And he gets embarrassed easily. He’s pretty quiet.”Pete paused for a moment.” Oh, and did I mention that he’s gotta bad case of the feels for Mr. Iero?”
Everyone looked at Pete wide eyed at the information he’d just raked from his mind like it was nothing. Gerard was speechless and his cheeks were turning rosier by the second. He was gonna die of embarrassment in a short amount if time, he was certain. He hadn’t even told Pete anything.
“How did you… uhm”
Pete looked at Gerard, “I’m good with body language and what not.”
Gerard merely nodded. He studied the faces around the table. They were either looking at him or Pete and Gerard was just a tad bit uneasy, as if in the blink of an eye they’d turn on him and judge every fiber of his being. But they didn’t, of course; and Gerard was extremely thankful for that. They just acknowledged it and started going back to what they were doing.
“How’d you know about the uhm…? How’d you know about Mr. Iero?” Gerard said, soft enough so only Pete could hear him. The uncertainty was obvious in his voice. Pete shrugged,” like I said, body language.”
When Gerard looked at him quizzically, he went on to explain,” I have Gothic Lit class with you and your darling Mr. Iero. I noticed the way you look at him, the way you… I guess flirt would be a good word. The way how you talk to him you barely notice what’s going on around you.” Gerard blushed.” Oh yeah, and you blush a lot.”
“Well, fuck.” Gerard mumbled under his breath and proceeded to bury his face in his hands.
“For what’s its worth,” Pete attempted to cheer him up,” The feelings are totally mutual.”
Gerard’s head shot up and he looked at Pete as though he’d just been slapped in the face.
“What did you say?” Gerard asked. Hoping what he’d just heard was wrong and he’d actually said something along the lines of…well basically anything besides what Gerard thought he said.
Pete chuckled a little, “I said: the feelings are mutual, he likes you, too.”
Gerard cocked an eyebrow,” What--”
Pete rolled his eyes,” Trust me… He didn’t just let you sit in Lilith. He never let’s anyone sit in Lilith. It’s fuckin’ Lilith. It’s the most important Death Chair.”
“He let you sit in Lilith?!” He said in a quiet voice. Gerard looked at him; He couldn’t make out any features besides the stringy dark hair and a little baby fat because of the black hoodie he was wearing.
As though being removed from a trance Gerard looked around the table at everyone and realized that they were all listening in on him and Pete’s conversation.” Yeah. He…uh... He let me sit in Lilith. No big deal though, right? It’s just a chair?”
Mikey looked at him with amazement,” ‘No big deal.” He rolled his eyes and scoffed,” I got here the same day as you did, I don’t even have Mr. Iero as a teacher and even I know how much of a big deal Lilith is... The Death Chairs in general, they’re a huge honor. I can’t believe it. Holy Fu—“
The pink haired girl cut him off,” So when’s the wedding?” She said with a smirk.
Gerard rolled his eyes at her and made a weak effort to change the subject,” By the way,” he started talking directly to the pink haired girl,” I still don’t know your name…”
She stood up and smiled,” Oh my, where have my manners gone?! My name, but of course, is Emile.” She declared with the regal wave of her hand.
One by one they got up and began introducing themselves.
In the next three minutes he met so many kids he made a list
1.The petite looking spiky haired kid,” I’m Billie,”
2.The tall skinny blond next to him raised an eyebrow, “I’m Mike.”
3.The spiky haired skinny kid with the pink tie went continued the Meet&Greet,” They call me the late, great, only slightly energetic and somewhat eccentric Jimmy U.”
4.There was a wild-eyed guy holding drumsticks next to him,” I’m Tre.”
5.A brown haired girl with hair in her face, “I’m Amanda, Charmed I’m sure.”
Etc.
The list went on and on, even Mikey got up for the introduction.
A few of them were in his Goth Lit class. A few were in his Pre Calc class, 2 or 3 had history and study hall or chemistry with him. He was alone in Art though, something he didn’t know how to feel about. On one hand he wished he could have someone his age to talk to…
But, on the other hand… This meant he had an entire hour with no one besides artists who wouldn’t distract him…
As well as, thankfully, Mr. Iero.
He heard the bell sound in the distance and got up to leave.
“Hey, Gerard?” Pete called before Gerard could get far.
He turned around,” Yeah?”
“Are you busy this weekend?” asked Pete.
Gerard shook his head,” No, not really, why?”
“Wanna meet up or whatever? A few of us are gonna go downtown to see this band on Sunday. I heard they’re really good.” He raised his eyebrows expectantly.
Gerard bit his lip in contemplation. He wanted to hang out with Pete and stuff, he really did. But if it was the weekend, he’d probably be too tired to even wake up for anything other than food.” I don’t know….”
Pete rolled his eyes. “Mikey’s coming too…” He said.
“Seriously?” Gerard asked, when Pete nodded he said” Well, I guess I should go… just in case you’re trying to murder my brother or something,”
Pete laughed,” I would never!” He said imitating a hurt look.
Gerard smiled widely.
Pete shook his head and smirked,” Don’t go feeling all special on me, okay? You’re just another cog in the murder machine, dude”
Gerard rolled his eyes and made his way out the Dining Hall.

Notes

While writing this i ended up needing to create guidlines and lists and stuff for the characters.
i made Mikey and Gerard's Class Schedule. a translator/dictionary thingy to help me whenever i come up for new stuff for Pete and the group to say, etc... it's pretty cool. if only i had a folder...