Frank walked home alone that day. He knew that Mikey wasn't aware of how upset he was and he didn't want to say something unnecessary that could possibly ruin their friendship. But it would be so much easier to tell Mikey what was happening to him. It seemed so unfair that Frank was there for his older brother when he went through the same thing. But no, everyone wants it to be so damn complicated.

He sighed and kicked a rock into the street. Frank wouldn't be surprised if Mikey doesn't show up to school tomorrow. Actually, he's praying that he doesn't show up.

He walked up the pathway of his house and unlocked the door. The light from outside lit up the dark hallway. He looked around noticing the house was quiet and all the shades on the windows were pulled down. He made his way to the kitchen and dropped his backpack down on the counter.

"No!" He whispered loudly. He looked in the fridge to see it nearly empty. "Why!" He groaned. He slammed it closed and dragged his bag down to his room. He stopped short by his room, hearing a small creaking sound. He let the door swing open, he peaked in and saw a familiar face sitting on his bed.

"Have fun at school?" They said, leaving frank to roll his eyes annoyed. "Oh don't pretend you didn't miss me. You got lonely and that's why you started hanging out with my brother."

Frank smiled a bit, "I heard you came back for Mikey's birthday." He said sadly, "Gerard, does he really not know yet?"

Gerard shrugged, "I didn't find out till I was sixteen. And you helped me get through it better than I would've alone."

"Yeah, well I don't think the younger Way is willing to accept any of my helpfulness anytime soon."

"Why what happened."

"Asked him about it. And he got pretty upset that I knew what was going on and he didn't."

Gerard nodded, fully understanding. Frank rarely thought about how tough it must be on the Ways. Their parents held a curse that affected every one of their offspring, leading up to their sixteenth birthday. Sucks for them. "He's gonna hate it. He's gonna hate his life." Frank looked at Gerard. "Sorry, I'm just worried about my brother."

"Gee, you've been living like this for four years, you know it's not that hard—"

"You've been living like this since you were born, Frank!" Gerard blurted out. "You've never actually had your heart beat once! You don't know what it's like to be a healthy human one day and the next you're just a heartless monster!"

Franks eyes widened at the older Way. He noticed the subtle features on Gerards face soften as he realized what had just come out of his mouth, but it was too late for an apology. Frank was already pushing him out the front door. "Stay away from me, Gerard. I love Mikey like a brother but maybe since you relate to him more, you should help him through this."

"Frank, I didn't mean it like that—"

"Have fun explaining to him that he's a heartless monster!"

"Frankie, ple—" the door shut right in his face. Probably loud enough to wake up the other members of the Iero household but frank did not care. He didn't care a bit.

***

"Hey, Mr. Armstrong, I had a question on the homework assignment." The rather shy student asked his potions professor. He was confused at why he looked so disheveled when looking around his desk. "Sir?"

"Yes, Ryan I will get to you!" Mr. Armstrong said, his words sounding stressed and worried.

"What are you looking for—"

Mr. Armstrong looked up over his desk as he was sitting on the floor. "Hypothetically, I gave a student a textbook that holds information that shouldn't be taught until at least your sixth year of university and if the head mistress finds out, I will be fired."

Ryan looked at his teacher with wide eyes, he gripped his school bag strap tight. "Hypothetically... right? Cause you're the only teacher here I understand and I can't struggle with a new one if you get fired."

"Assure me that you will never speak of said book to any other staff of students."

"Yes sir. Now, my homework?"

"Oh right!" Mr. Armstrong got off the ground and cleared off his desk with a flick of his hand. He gestured for Ryan to brink over his paper's.

Ryan did so, watching some of the litter that covered the teachers desk quickly fade into thin air. "How did you—" Ryan began to ask but was then cut off.

"You used a chicks liver instead of a chicken liver." Mr. Armstrong said, handing the papers back. Ryan quickly read through it again and looked up confused.

What's the difference?" he asked. "It's the same bird, isn't it?"

"Different age, different stage." Mr. Armstrong said. He said the four words quite often enough for the students to get a headache from it. "Let's say you used a new born chicks liver, your spell wouldn't last more than a couple hours. If you used a grown adult, your spell could last up to months and your plant would be green for however long."

Ryan thought about the wilted plant back in his room. The leaves were dropping down to the soil and he was convinced that even magic couldn't save it. "Is that it? I just messed up an ingredient?"

Mr. Armstrong nodded. "Unlike your other classes, Ryan, you're actually doing well in potions." Ryan sighed in relief, the teacher quickly took notice of that. "Do you need a tutor for your other classes?" He asked hesitantly.

Ryan shook his head. "No, I'm fine. I'll get through it," he said, not entirely convincing. "And my usual tutor is gone right now so there goes the only person that could explain magic in a way that makes sense."

"I can find you another tutor, Ryan." Mr. Armstrong started to walk behind his desk. He pulled out a piece of paper that had a number of names on it. He studied it for a moment or two and circled a couple of names and handed it to him. "I really need you to try and excel."

Ryan reluctantly took the paper. "You're not as cool when you're a responsible teacher," he mumbled and walked away.

_\|/_

This part doesn't make much sense and I only have one prewritten chapter left... oops.