School Was Never This Interesting...

Chapter Text

Saturday was a nightmare. He was anxious and energetic and he had absolutely nothing to waste time on. Being bored when you have energy should be a new form of fucking torture. He kept getting distracted and dancing and singing randomly around the house. Mikey raised his eyebrows a few times but kept quiet. Whatever. It’s not like anyone could blame Gerard for being all jittery. He was nervous.
The night before when he’d gotten home and sat on his bed, he’d realized he never went anywhere with friends. He’d never really had the opportunity in the past and if he had, he figured he would’ve turned the offer down. He hated pretty much everyone in Morton Crest. Besides Mikey, of course; and maybe a few others, but whatever. To everyone there (even the people who mildly accepted him) he was known as that kid who dyed his hair and always had his sketchpad in his hands. He kept to himself and his art and his one or two friends and his family and he got through everything pretty much okay. Until, unfortunately the bullying started. But he didn’t want to think of it right now.
What the hell? Why’d he even say yes to Pete, he should’ve come up with some lame excuse as to why he couldn’t go, but it was already too late to back down now and that knowledge was driving him across the threshold of calm and sane and into the land of the loopy.
What was he supposed to wear? How was he supposed to act? What should he bring with him? He couldn’t think straight, though. He’d downed 14 pots of black coffee already and it was only about 7:00 in the afternoon. He needed to sleep. He hadn’t gotten any rest the night before. The fact that he’s be forced to go to a social event over the weekend had kept him awake and thoughtful throughout the duration of the night.
He managed to stop jumping on their couch long enough to voice his worries to Mikey.
“You’re overreacting, man. Just calm down, what’s the worst that could happen?” Mikey said to him pointedly, one eyebrow rose but still looking down at his laptop.
Wow this sucks, Gerard thought and sighed,” The worst thing that could happen is I make a complete fucking ass of myself and Pete will realize how much of an awkward lump of humanity I am and regret inviting me and never talk to me ever again. Leaving me, not only by myself and without friends but, completely humiliated.” Gerard took a deep breath,” See? I’m not over reacting! This is gonna suck so hard!” He glanced over at Mikey, “Do you see the tragedy that is my fear of social events yet?”
Mikey snorted, only glancing up from his laptop to roll his eyes at Gerard,” I still think you’re over reacting. Pete wouldn’t do that. He knew how much of a socially inexperienced lump of humanity you were before he even introduced himself. Trust me, he’s not like that. Besides, he never regrets the friends he makes. He’s good at picking out lumps of humanity. He always keeps them…actually I think he has a room in his house where he stores all his other lumps of humanity.”
Gerard couldn’t help but snort at the word friend (and the act that Mikey kept saying lump of humanity). He’d never really had any friends before and the idea of having people who he socialized with in anyway was both exciting and terrifying. “Are you sure about that, Mikey? You seem to know an awful lot about the guy. I mean for someone you just met and all.”
Mikey’s fingers froze over the laptop keys momentarily. He shrugged and rolled his eyes,” Yeah well, I’m good with first impressions. And I’ve hung out with him more than you have, remember?” Mikey’s voice sounded lightly defensive.
Gerard eyed his brother but thought better saying anything regarding the dismissive undertone in his voice,” Whatever you say.” He rolled his eyes and got off the couch in search of more coffee. His shoulders sagging in defeat when his search through the pantries and everywhere else came up empty handed.
Mikey was in the same position he’d been in when Gerard had left.” You’re going no matter what you say. You know that right? There’s no backing out of anything like this with Pete.”
Gerard sighed heavily and sat back down on the couch with a loud THUD.”What? Mikey--Don’t even…. Oh GOD! I need coffee.” He had a mournful expression his pale face. No, not mournful… defeated.
“Then go get some, Hun.” He heard his mom say as she made her way down the stairs.
“Too much work.” He said, shaking his head dismissively. He heard light footsteps coming up from behind.
His mom put her hands on his shoulders and gave him a kiss on the top of his head. She walked over to the front of the living room so Mikey and Gerard could both see her.
“Whoa, who died?” Mikey said when he glanced up at her, both eyebrows raised and a surprised look on his face. Gerard had to agree with Mikey on that one. Their mother had on a very formal looking black dress, her hair done in loose curls and her nails painted red.
She snorted,” No one died. They’re having this dumb formal event at my job, it’s mandatory unfortunately. I’d rather stay home and watch Buffy” Gerard smirked at that. She checked her watch and cursed under her breath,” I’ll be back around 11. If I’m late don’t freak out, okay? These events usually take forever and a day.” With that, she scurried out the door, slamming it behind her.
“Bye, Mom.” Mikey called out behind her, not even glancing up from his laptop screen.
Gerard sighed. “I still need coffee. My life is meaningless without it.” He let out a brief cry of depression and looked over at Mikey hopefully.
Mikey glared at his brother accusingly,” if you think I’m gonna go out in the rain for your damned coffee, you’re delusional”
Gerard rolled his eyes,” Dude it’s not even raining out.” He said pointedly
“Is too.” Mikey challenged. There was a crash of thunder shortly following his words, as if Mother Nature were on Mikey’s side and trying to prove a point.
Gerard scoffed,” whatever.” He paused,” do we have anything to do in this freaking’ house?” He asked, exasperated.
“I don’t know! Sleep or masturbate, read some comics go work on you art or whatever.
Gerard sucked in an impatient sigh,” I’m not tired, I’m not in the mood I’ve read everything in this house at least fifteen times over and all my art supplies are basically nonexistent. I used them up completely.
Mikey purse his lips, “then just …I dunno, go to Gem or something…?”
Gerard’s eyes shot up,” no way! It’s raining how you could even suggest that!!!”
Mikey shrugged, defeated, “well then don’t ask for my advice!”
An annoyed sigh escaped Gerard’s lip,” I think I’m gonna go upstairs and be bored” he said as if Mikey wasn’t worth being bored around.
~~~
Gerard figured he must’ve decided to go out and get his art supplies and that’s how he ended up taking a cab to the mall. He still couldn’t think straight and he figured that was the only explanation.
Gem was like the Barnes and Noble of the art world. Complete with a café, thank the heavens. It was a reasonably large place, with two and a half floors (one floor kind of just going along the wall with no center). Isles and shelves and displays of easels and canvases and paints etc…
There was so many supplies at Gem it was orgasmic. You could literally close your eyes, and inhale the paint and the chemicals and the paper. Ah. The sweet scent of creation. Gerard could seriously appreciate that on most days. But days (nights since it was like nine and it was getting dark out) when it was totally fucking pouring outside; or when Gerard was completely soaked and shivering with nothing but a hoodie on. He should never make decisions when he’s suffering from loss of coffee.
Okay, he said to himself, I should probably get everything I need before start guess I should go over to the Clementine Café and warm up before I walk around and stuff. I just hope I don’t see anyone I know. Then he snorted because, even though he’s met Pete and about nineteen other kids at school, he’d doubted he’d see any of them, or that they’d even remember him. But maybe Mr.…. ugh whatever, like he’d even glance at me outside of school.
The Clementine café was an old-fashioned little coffee shop at the far right corner on Gem’s second floor. It was the size of a small classroom and filled with abstract paintings and probably thousands of different sculptures. The maple wooded chairs were all black with splatters of green, blue, gray and white everywhere. The coffee at Clementine wasn’t that great but it was still pretty good. And they had the most kick ass sugar cookies Gerard had ever tasted. And that was saying something.
He made his way over to the line in front of the cash register. Cookiescookiescookiescookiescookies was the only thing he could think of besides pairing those cookies with a cup of piping hot coffee, 3 sugars, a dash of cream and feeling its warmth slide down the tip of his tongue all the way to the back of his throat... Oh god, he really needed coffee!
Gerard glanced around and a man in the corner caught his attention, he had short hair on one side and long black hair on the other. His colorful tattoos made their way up his fit figure and disappeared under the tight black of his shirt…Gerard couldn’t see his face since he was hunched over a huge book, reading frantically, but from the back he almost looked like--
“Can I help the next customer, please?” A pretty cashier in an orange and blue checkerboard apron said. She had her bright orange hair in pigtails and a pencil behind her ear. Her bold, cheery, energetic smile kind of contrasted with the timeless calm of Clementine, but it kind of worked with everything in a strange way.
Gerard’s attention was pulled back to the there and now. He cleared his throat and said,” Uhm, yes…? Can I get a large coffee, three sugars as much cream as possible and a really, really big sugar cookie? Thanks,” He said when she nodded her head and rung him up. Gerard made his way to one of the darker corners of Clementine and took a confident sip of coffee. He couldn’t help but sigh in contentment because. Yes. This is his entire reason for life. Just, wow. Fucking…wow.
“Oh God, that’s amazing,” He all but moaned into his cup, he closed his eyes and took another sip. It was sooo—
“Gerard?” He heard a voice say. No not a voice, that voice, the one he dreamed about. Gerard’s eyes shot open and he turned looked around, spotting Mr. Iero, in a tight black shirt and ripped jeans making his way over to him, a smile on his face and a book in his hands. Wow... So uh, wow.
“What are you doing here? I mean Uhm hi? ” His tongue tripped over the words ads he spilled them out from his mouth. Not that you could blame him, because. Wow. This was his super hot absolutely perfect English teacher. Publicly acknowledging his existence. And smiling. And just wow. Those fuckin’ dimples! Gerard felt like fucking floating. Awesome.
Mr. Iero took the seat opposite of him and set his book and hot chocolate on the table between them. He folded his hands and raised an eyebrow at Gerard,” So,” He started,” Whatta ya doing here and why are you so wet?”he paused,” I mean…Uhm… ya know I just meant you’re like really soaked and Uhm…”
Gerard was such a bright shade of red he resembled a tomato. On occasions like this he really thought it sucked that he couldn’t control how much blood was rushing to his cheeks… and other parts of his anatomy, the realization that he had a hard-on for his teacher made his face only that much more red. This was bad.
“Did you…did you get caught in the rain?” Mr. Iero’s smirk was confident, but he hesitated.
“Yes! Uhm, yes, I did I just. I took a cab over here but the driver dropped me off at the corner and I had to walk in the rain and I forgot my umbrella and uhm…” He looked at Mr. Iero shyly... His cheeks were probably really red and Mr. Iero had on that stupid smirk and Gerard just wanted to-” So uhm…what are you doing here, Mr. Iero?” He asked in hopes to change the subject.
Mr. Iero shook his head and made a good hearted chuckle,” Call me Frank, we’re outside of school…and ya know the whole ’Mr.’ type deal doesn’t really suit me, save it for school, Way. Okay?”
Gerard nodded, his face growing hotter with every breath he took.” Uhm… Mr.—Frank. What are you doing here at ten-thirty in the evening?” Gerard was curious. Not that it was any of his business, but he was still interested. Yeah, that was it. He wasn’t just asking because he needed an excuse to talk to him.
“I’m picking up some at supplies for class. There are a few things the school doesn’t give us that I really either need, want or just feel like having. Well, that and Clementine’s hot chocolate is orgasmic.” He paused and chuckled to himself,” So. Your turn.”
Gerard raised an eyebrow,” My turn?”
Frank snorted and rolled his eyes,” Yeah, what’s a nice quiet 17 year old doing in big, bad downtown at night? It’s almost 11 ya know.”
Gerard snorted,”Uhm, nice? Me?” He rolled his eyes.
Frank arched an eyebrow,” Oh? Is there some bad side to you I don’t know about?”
Gerard shrugged but kept silent, fearing his voice would waver if he spoke. Frank was eyeing like he was prey and Gerard squirmed under his scrutiny.
“You still haven’t answered me, Dude.” Frank said, the grin on his lips never faltered.
Gerard laughed to himself,” Uhm, I needed some supplies, like, a lot of supplies, actually. I used everything up at home pretty fast.”
Frank just nodded,” Are you taking a taxi home?”
Gerard took a sip of his coffee,” Uhm, yeah… I don’t have a car or anything so; I usually depend on public transportation to get around…”
Frank smirked,”Okay then.” Something in Frank’s voice made Gerard eye him suspiciously.
“So what’re you reading?” Gerard asked. He didn’t want to be one of those guys who couldn’t hold up a decent conversation with his cru—teacher, yeah that’s what he meant. He was totally not about to call Frank his crush. No way in hell. Frank wasn’t his crush… or even his friend for that matter. He was his teacher. That was it. He was just talking to Gerard because he figured Gerard was desperate and lonely and he took pity on him. The unverified thought made Gerard pout and slump down in his seat.
“Oh it’s The Catcher in the Rye,” Frank replied his eyes distant as thought recalling some fond memory Gerard was unaware of. He looked extremely happy. Gerard sat up and crossed his arms over the table. He loved the Catcher in the Rye; it’d been a favorite of his for as long as he could remember. HE rose in intrigued eyebrow.
“I’ve read it about a hundred and twenty five times and it never gets old; every time I read it I feel like I learn something new or notice some new detail or understand a new layer to the book I never noticed before. It’s great. Have you read it?”
Gerard nodded enthusiastically,” Of course. I love Holden and his personality. I adore what he represents and his imagination and his thoughts… the things he says and his opinions. Absolutely Amazing. I think I’ve read the book a few million times” Frank raised an eyebrow at that and his smirk transformed into a full-on smile and okay. Yeah, maybe Gerard was a tad bit attracted to Frank and… Dimples. Gah.
“Awesome. A lot of people actually don’t get the layers of the book, like I think it may just be one of those books, but a lot of people don’t even try. They just disregard the novella completely and go for something with fewer words and more pictures. I’m glad you like the book….” He paused for a second and then said, “Sorry, I’m totally geeking out right now. Damn I really do that a lot.”
“No…no! I mean, yeah you do it a lot, but it’s not like… it’s fine. Could listen to you talk about literature for forever. “Gerard meant the words to reassure Frank, but he needed reassuring now. His eyes wee downcast now and he could feel the heat in his cheeks. He took another sip of his coffee and looked up at Frank.
Frank snorted and his smirk magically reappeared. “Aww shucks,” HE teased in a horrid false southern drawl,” Well, Gosh, that’s awfully sweet of you.”
Gerard laughed nervously,” All I meant was, it’s interesting when you talk about literature. You just get so into it. So wrapped up in the author’s universe. It’s awesome to watch.”
Frank tipped an imaginary hat,” That’s why I became a teacher, I can talk all I want about English and no one can tell me to shut up,” He laughed. And Gerard laughed at that.
His pocket vibrated and he checked his phone only to find text from Mikey: Mom’s coming home early, she doesn’t wanna get caught in the rain, if you wanna keep your eardrums from bleeding you should probably get home… like now.
Fuck. He was just actually starting to converse with Frank without stuttering or focusing on his mouth too much. Well, okay maybe he was still gazing at his mouth but c’mon! It was perfect and gorgeous and wet and oh god, when Frank licked his lips. Wow.
Gerard glanced up from his phone with a deep frown on his face. Mr.…uhm Frank was looking at him in that close, scrutinizing way that made Gerard squirm. It felt like Frank see inside his soul of something.
“Everything okay? What’s with the frown?”
“I gotta get home, like yesterday. My mom’ll be home soon and if there are two things she likes ranting about its getting stuck in bad weather while she’s wearing heels and me leaving Mikey alone at home at night. Fuck.” He rolled his eyes and huffed breath despair,” I haven’t even got any supplies, damn.”
Frank stood,” c’mon. Get up.” He said.
Gerard looked up at him quizzically,” what?”
Frank rolled his eyes and smirked,” I’ll drive you home. You have to be there soon and there’s no point in taking a taxi that’ll take forever to get here.” He reasoned.
Gerard pondered this. Get a free ride in a car from his super amazing teacher kind of- friend and not get stuck in the rain… or wait a half hour for public transportation that’ll probably charge more than his food costs, get caught in the rain, and get home after his mother.
But if he took a ride from Mr.--… from Frank, he’d probably make a complete ass of himself. Ugh.
“Frank was still looking at him expectantly,” I’ll get you home safe and sound. Cross my heart and hope to die.” He swore with mock innocence.
Gerard was blushing furiously,” no, that’s okay I think I’ll just…uhm…”wow, frank was strong, like he wasn’t really forcing Gerard out of his seat more like tugging, but that was enough. Gerard was stumbling out of his chair, cookie in hand and out the doors.
Frank led him down the block towards his green, shiny, expensive looking car and opened the door for him. Gerard tripped his way inside and into the passenger’s seat. They drove the short distance to his house. The rain outside had let up some and was now reduced to nothing but light drizzle, thank god so Gerard hadn’t gotten too wet. But frank was. For some reason. He wasn’t like totally soaked, or anything, just slightly wet enough that the droplets of water pooled together and collectively gathered on the tips of his hair and his eyelashes. And wow okay, his mouth was a little wet, but hey. Gerard totally was not staring at frank’s wet mouth. Absolutely not. That was just absurd.
The next hour was a talkative one; books, horror films, comics super heroes and music, they actually spoke so much about music Gerard started geeking out again. But it was totally okay, because Frank was geeking out too.
They talked about their favorite bands, who they were fans of, concerts, merch, genre’s, mainstream stuff, old stuff, new stuff, stuff that had never even come out yet. Anything that had to do with music and wow okay, so this was awesome and Frank liked a lot of the same stuff as Gerard. Awesome...
All too soon, however, Gerard found himself cruising down a familiar block and coming up in front of his house. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that his conversation was coming to a close, but then again, had it been any other night they would’ve probably talked for hours more. Stupid mom and her stupid ranting. Why’d she have to decide to come home early? Rain wasn’t that bad… okay now it was (the light drizzle had progressed to a full on storm). But whatever. Sacrifice, right? Ugh, now he had to leave and stuff. Frank stopped in front of his house slowly.
“Well, I’m assuming by the mournful expression on your face, this is the right house?” Gerard nodded and made a moan/cry of despair. Frank laughed.
Gerard turned to frank gingerly, “I... I... uhm had a really nice time. And thanks for walking me home… and stuff…” he said, the awkwardness basically radiating off him.
Frank responded with a 2200 watt smile. His eyes twinkling and his dimples on full blast. It was the kind of smile you could only have if you were genuinely pleased with something.
The rain outside grew louder and Gerard only kind of jumped at the crash of thunder that sounded like some kind of deep shrill. Gerard opened his eyes to see frank staring back at him, him Halloween hazel eyes peering deep past his own, into his soul even? Gerard wasn’t sure, but the look was unnerving… almost…
Hungry?
Gerard wasn’t staring at frank’s mouth when he licked his lips. And he totally did not gaze longingly at the way frank’s lip ring caught the indigo lightening as it flashed, racing across the sky for a second, and then disappearing all together. Frank it his lip, slightly. And wow. Okay, Gerard totally did not have to adjust his pants. Psshh, ofcoursenot, what?
Frank shook his head, as if dismissing a thought and frowned,” anytime, it was a pleasure hangin’ out with you. We should do this more often.” He said.
Gerard was bemused but shrugged it off,” what get caught in the rain? He teased.
Frank chuckled,” no, hang out. Ya know like outside of school? And we’re not technically stuck in the rain
… You’re still in my warm, dry car. He raised an eyebrow and-god dammit- his famous smirk was back.
Gerard cleared his throat and chuckled. Glancing back at the house he said,” Speaking of which, I should actually be heading in. especially since we got here before my mother even got in her taxi.” He shrugged and opened the car door and turning back to his teacher… well, his friend, he said,” thanks again for the ride, frank.”
Frank smiled,” no problem. Now get out already, you’re getting my car wet.” He said jokingly.
Gerard closed the door heavily and runs inside.
“Hey there, Gerard. Didya get any coffee?” Mikey asked, he was in the same position he’d been in when Gerard had left. But Gerard didn’t notice. I was being mind-fucked and he needed to be another kind of fucked right now. He have a half hearted as he made a beeline for his room.
Mikey raised an apprehensive eyebrow,” What’s the rush? What the hell are you doing?”
Gerard was already opening his room door when he yelled;” I’m taking you advice from earlier!”
Mikey cringed,” Uhm… wait, oh. Eh. Dude, just … eh. Don’t make too much noise and don’t tell me that ever again!”

Notes