Chapter Four

I was woken up the next morning to a knock on my door and my aunt calling through to me to wake up, and that we would leave for church in an hour's time. I made a mumbled reply of 'okay' before she called back to help myself to breakfast. After that i lay in bed, listening to the sound of her retreating footsteps and wondering if there was any way i could get out of going.

Knowing them, i'd probably have to be losing blood by the gallon before they'd let me off. If i was well enough to get out of bed, i'd no doubt have to go with them to church. It wasn't even so much the thought of church that bothered me - it was the thought of going to church with them that i despised. Maybe i could lose them in the crowd, or sit as far as possible away from the three of them.

I rolled out of the bed and sat on the edge of it for a moment, yawning and stretching before i went about the process of getting dressed. I didn't exactly have any smart attire for church, so i pulled on my black jeans (which was about as formal as my arrange of trousers got) and then a navy blue Iron Maiden t-shirt over the top. Seeing as it looked somewhat cloudily outside, i pulled on a plain black hoodie before stepping into my converse and running my hand through my hair a couple of times until i was somewhat happy with it.

When i got downstairs, both Isabel and James noticeably frowned at my outfit before exchanging weary glances with each other.

"You don't happen to have anything.... smarter, do you Frank?" Isabel placed down the cup she was holding.

"No. Why? Do you have a problem with this?" I kept myself calm, but James looked like he wanted to step in all the same. Isabel shot him a look that told him to leave it though, obviously not wanting to anger me when we had to leave shortly.

"No. Never mind" She turned back to the table and watched silently as i picked up a piece of toast, buttered it and then started to wolf it down. It wasn't so much that she didn't have anything to say to me, but more because she didn't want to anger me before we went out in public for the first time. I bet the two of them had made up some story as to why they took me in as opposed to the truth - that my parents were so done with my behaviour that they had no doubt begged them to try and sort me out.

They probably told people that i was over here to spend time with them or some crap like that. Maybe they'd told the neighbours that my mother had had a nervous breakdown, or that i simply needed 'guidance'. No way would they tell people that i was a graffiti artist slash criminal in the making.

Ray came downstairs then. Although he had grey skinny jeans on, he had added a button up black shirt over the top so that he seemed smarter dressed. He'd also combed his hair, which really didn't do him any favours. James looked up from where he was standing near the door for a moment just to glance between the two of us. His eyes landed on me, shooting me a warning look before walking out of the room.

Every time he got touchy about Ray it just made me want to corrupt him even more. It was a shame he was such an asswipe, otherwise maybe i might have a shot at actually turning him into someone with an ounce of fun in their being.

After a short car journey, for which i had my headphones in for the entire duration, we arrived at their local church. It wasn't actually as old as i thought it would be - bearing in mind that i was expecting some cold, medieval building. Instead i saw that the church had been refurbished recently. Sure, there were still stain glass windows and a bell tower, but once we stepped inside i saw that there was wooden flooring, padded seats and and doors leading off to where the kids creche no doubt was held.

"Mass starts in fifteen minutes" James said to me as we walked inside "you can wander off for now, but i expect you back for that. We'll be sitting around the middle of the rows. If you can't find us then just take a seat at the back. And whatever you do, please be polite."

"Kay" I nodded, not really giving a shit. It sounded to me like a way out if anything. I'd just go wondering, say i got lost, and then lie and tell them i stood at the back for the service, whilst instead i could go wandering off for the next hour or so.

Before they could say any more to me i walked off through one of the side doors, which lead into what i presumed was an extension of the original church. It was obviously a reasonably new building because whereas the church itself had stone walls, these were just plain brick.

I walked past the various meeting rooms and kids group areas and then came to a flight of spiralling stairs that lead upwards. Although there wasn't a particular sign saying not to go up, i still got the feeling from it's hidden placement that it wasn't meant for the general congregation. Of course, this just made me venture on up with even more determination.

I came to a lounge-type area. There were two sofas and a coffee table in the centre of the room, a desk with a computer to the right and to the left a door leading off to what i presumed was a bathroom. The room also held a coffee maker and a copy of the bible which was lying on the table, a dozen bookmarks jutting out.

I was about to turn and leave when i spotted it. Sitting on the sofa was a shoulder bag, and falling out of it was a newly-bought Metallica CD. My eyes lit up when i saw it, and although it wasn't mine i couldn't help but walk over and check to see which one it was.

I was about halfway across the room when the door to the left opened, and a man stepped out.

"Hey" he smiled with a New Jersey accent that matched my own "can i help you?"

Hell yes you can a part of my brain commented as i took him in. His hair was this perfectly messed up black and came to just below his ears, and his eyes were this vivid hazel colour that went well with the pale skin. At first, i didn't notice the priest collar. Until my eyes travelled down from his face and spotted it sitting prominently in the middle of his neck. How could a priest be this hot? I'd always imagined priests to be older and well, not hot. This guy was though. Instead of wearing typical robes he had on black skinny jeans and a black shirt to match.

"Oh, hi" I made myself speak when i realised i'd gone silent. "Sorry, i'm new here, i didn't know this was private."

"Hey - New Jersey?" He picked up on my accent and i gave a small nod "awesome. I'm from there too" he stepped further into the room "I'm Gerard Way, i'm the father's apprentice here. Well, technically i'm one of the ministers too. This is my first placement." Well that explained how he was so young and attractive, but also confirmed that he was a priest and probably against gays in general. I had better stomp out my ogling before he noticed and told my aunt and uncle. Me being gay or bi or whatever i was exactly would be the icing on the cake to them.

"I'm Frank Iero."

"Oh right. Are you James and Isabel's nephew? I heard you were coming over but i didn't realise you were arriving so soon" He didn't seem to care that i was up there when it looked like it was actually just meant for the people who worked within the church, so i did him the courtesy of being polite for once and answering his questions.

"I didn't realise either" I gave a short laugh but stopped when he frowned. He looked like he was about to ask exactly what i meant, so i diverted the subject "hey - is that your Metallica CD?"

"Oh, yeah" He picked it up "you a fan?"

"Majorly" I nodded quickly "I didn't really have priests down as rock fans" i didn't really have priests down as people i'd like to fuck either, but here we are. Thank god priest's weren't mind readers, or i'd be condemned for sure.

"Stereotypes are harsh" he shrugged "most people think i'm too young to be in this job anyway. Or that my ideas are too out of the box. Everyone adjusts to me in time though." He placed the CD back in his bag "so you don't sound too fond of your aunt and uncle - is that why you're up here and not down with them now?"

"As much as i'm sure they're good people to the church, i can't say i'm exactly a fan of that family" I pick my words carefully. I've never met this guy before and just because he's somewhat attractive doesn't mean i want to go spilling my personal details to him "which is bad luck for me seeing as i have to live with them now."

"Have to? Are you under 18 then?"

"What can I say? Being seventeen is kind of suckish" He was about to reply with something more detailed when he glanced over at the clock behind me.

"Is that the time?" His eyes widened considerably "oh sh.. I mean, never mind. I have to go - the service is about to start. See you around Frank" he made a beeline for the door, but turned around at the last minute "oh, and good luck with James and Isabel."

He ran out of the room then, not seeming to care that I didn't follow him. I let out a low chuckle when he left, remembering how he came so close to swearing in front of me. Somehow i don't think the church would have approved of that.

He seemed so untraditional for a priest. I know he was young and just starting out, but to have jet black hair, a shade that was obviously dyed that way, and to be listening to heavy rock made me rethink my views on vicars in general. Part of me even wanted to go to the service simply to see what he was like amongst the congregation. However that would have meant sitting if not with then near my aunt, uncle and cousin.

I glanced around the room. Technically, if it was for the ministers there, then nobody would come up until the end of the service. I could sit on my phone for a while, maybe steal a coffee from the machine and be out of there before anyone noticed. I could even slip back into the service at the end and pretend i'd been there the whole time.

I set about making myself a coffee and placed one headphone into my ear, deciding to leave one out so that if anyone did come up i would have some sort of warning. I didn't need to be so cautious though - nobody came for the next half an hour. After that i got pretty bored, so i made my way back downstairs and started to wander around the back of the church, into the garden outside. The walled garden tempted me, with it's boring brickwork just screaming at me to get my spray paints.

It was then that i remembered my spray paints were back home. There wasn't any point in bringing them seeing as there was hardly anything left in the cans. Plus if my parents had seen them in the suitcase they would've probably exploded. I'd left them in the corner of my room when I was packing, but i still spotted them in the bin on the morning i left. No doubt my dad had grabbed them the first opportunity he could. Part of me had wanted to fish them back out and spray a message just for them, perhaps all over the bathroom mirror, but i had resisted.

I don't know why i didn't. I think part of me just didn't want any interaction with them whatsoever, even if it was a negative one.

As i walked along the wall, hands shoved into my pockets, i wondered where i could re-stock on paints. There must have been somewhere nearby where i could grab some. Hopefully someone at school would know when i started there the next day. If not, i'd just have to locate the art department and 'borrow' the odd can.

The sound of singing reached my ears, and i checked my phone to see that i'd been wandering around outside for longer than I had originally thought. The service would be ending any minute now, so i should probably get my ass in there before my uncle and aunt clued into the fact that i hadn't be present for any of it.

I almost-jogged back into the building and hurried down the corridor. I could hear the song coming to an end and knew i needed to pick up the pace, so started to jog along the long corridor. I was so nearly there, and despite the fact that i could hear the last few notes of the song being drawn out i knew i'd be able to pass it off.

Unfortunately for me, that was when i turned a sharp corner and collided into someone else. We were both knocked backwards, and i would have fallen flat on my back if a strong hand hadn't reached out and grabbed my forearm, pulling me back into a standing position.

"Sorry" I looked up to see Gerard, eyes wide in apology "I didn't think anyone would be back here. Frank - right?" He'd obviously come straight from the service, probably to grab an extra bible or go to the toilet ahead of everyone else.

"Sorry, yeah" I stepped in the direction of the location that i was suppose to already be in.

"How come you're weren't in the service?" He crossed his arms, making me come to a halt and turn to face him.

"How do you know i wasn't?" I kept my tone guarded. He could've been trying to make me confess simply because he'd made a guess that i wouldn't be in there. Although i doubted he knew much about my past - James and Isabel would've sugar coated it, especially when it came to the priest.

"It may have escaped your notice, but this in this church we have communion" He leaned against the wall, one leg jutting out in front of the other "and when we have communion, it means that people are required to go up in their rows and have a blessing."

"Wait - that happens here?" Now it was my turn to let my eyes grow wide. "As in, row by row going up in front of everyone?"

"Yep" He stepped closer "and i looked out for you and i definitely didn't miss you, so that's how i know you weren't there. So are you going to tell me where you were?" Part of me wanted to linger on the fact that he'd been watching out for me, but i was too distracted by the fact that what he said meant that my family would know i hadn't been there for the whole time.

"I don't have to tell you anything" I rolled my eyes - I really couldn't help myself "If i want to skip then i can. It's not like i legally have to attend your service." Gerard raised an eyebrow, and looked like he was going to say more when James appeared at the end of the corridor, looking beyond angry.

"Frank, why the - oh, Father Way. Sorry, i didn't see you there" He immediately backtracked when he spotted Gerard standing by me.

"No worries" Gerard gave a small nod, watching as James came closer, trying to keep a hold of his temper in front of the father and failing.

"Where were you? We couldn't see you in there anywhere. Can't you just do something like you're told for once?" His voice was low whisper, but we all heard loud and clear. I didn't care wether I caused a scene or not - in fact if it meant embarrassing him then it was worth it, but I didn't really want to display the whole thing in front of Gerard.

"I was there" I huffed "you must have not spotted me, that's all." He looked even less convinced than officer McManor had three months previously when I'd sworn that I hadn't hijacked the school intercom and broadcasted a whole string of bullshit about the principal. Which, to be fair, I was completely guilty for and even caught on CCTV.

"Don't insult my intelligence by lying to me to blatantly. And in front of the father too, who do you think you are?" He was really crumbling now, and both me and Gerard could see it.

"James, he's telling the truth" that shocked both my uncle and me, as we both turned to look at Gerard.

"What?" He tried to keep a calm tone when talking to the priest, despite how much he probably wanted I throttle me.

"You heard me correctly. I was conducting communion as you know, and I saw Frank come up. I guess his height doesn't do him much of an advantage in situations like that" he even added a small chuckle on the end, brushing away the conversation like it was nothing. James had no choice but to believe him - he was the priest, after all, and slowly I watched his anger ebb away.

"Oh. I guess I could have missed him" he seemed almost embarrassed by that point "well, come on then Frank. We better go find everyone else." He started to lead us away then, back towards the crowd of people that would probably judge me the moment they saw me.

I turned to look back at Gerard, but he was already walking in the opposite direction, his back to me so that i couldn't even see his expression now that James wasn't looking.

I had no idea why he had covered for me so quickly, especially as it involved lying in his place of work and worship, but he had done so effortlessly and without hesitation. Maybe he disliked James, or maybe he was trying to give me another chance. I wish I knew. Surely that wasn't normal behaviour for a priest?

"In future, you sit with us" James snapped, bringing me out of my thoughts. I couldn't really argue back when i'd just so narrowly escaped from him finding out the truth, so I simply nodded and walked out onto the grass at the front of the church with him.

"Come on" we reached the other two 'Let's get going." He kept his tone light and cheerful so that my aunt would drop the matter at hand, but i could still sense an underlying irritation towards me in his tone. He could do nothing but believe father Way, but at the same time he was having a hard time putting his suspicions to bed. I knew he didn't trust me, but he did trust Gerard, and so for the rest of the day it was never mentioned again.

At least there seemed to be someone willing to have my back, even if it was just out of compassion.

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Can i get your opinions on the chapter lengths? Do you think this is a good size?

Hope you enjoyed XD