I was stood with Pete and Bob at our usual spot. Right near the entrance in front of Pete's locker. Pete gasped suddenly, pulling on my arm.

"The fuck do you want?" I muttered.

Although I had already taken some Advil, my headache from the hangover was still slightly there.

"I think I found someone who's even more of a fag than Way," he said.

I looked over to where he was pointing. A boy--or who I assume is a boy--with long black hair and make up. He wore a pastel pink skirt with a white button up, white thigh highs, and pink shoes. On his back was a pastel pink leather back pack. There was a smile on his face as he practically skipped down the hallway.

"Who the hell is that?" Bob asked. "I'm sure he doesn't go here."

He came closer to us and stopped when Pete called him over.

"Are you a boy or a girl?" Pete asked.

"A boy," he replied cheerily. "My name's Gee, I'm new here."

"Why the fuck are you dressed like a girl?" Bob asked. "People are going to make fun of you."

"My mama always said it's better to be yourself and have everyone hate you than to be someone you're not and have everyone like you. Because if you aren't yourself then you hate yourself, and it wouldn't matter if a million people liked you because all that matters is that you like yourself because you're the only thing that matters," Gee said.

Who is this beautiful creature that was bestowed upon me?

"What a fag!" Pete exclaimed, pushing him down to the ground.

Gee's small body fell back onto his butt. He looked up at us with wide eyes, clearly not expecting to be assaulted. The halls were mostly empty at this point, making it so much easier. Pete brought a hand down on his face, knocking him down so the boy fell down on his side.

Pete and Bob continued to land blows on the poor, shaking boy as they hit and kicked him. I did nothing. I just watched with a look of uneasiness. Mikey was one thing, but this boy was younger and so much more cheerful and optimistic.

"What are you doing, Iero?" Pete asked.

I looked at him as he gestured to the boy. I bit my lip, landing a harsh kick to his stomach. Gee cried out, curling up into a ball with his arms wrapped around his middle.

"Yo, the Donaldson twins just texted me," Bob said suddenly. "Said to meet them behind the bleachers. You guys want that sweet ass?"

"You two go ahead," I said.

They laughed as they walked away, spitting on Gee before they left. I looked down at him as he was shaking and crying. He looked up at me with sad, hurt eyes. I didn't say anything as I held out a hand, helping him to his feet.

I left him there as I walked away, going back over to my class. Luckily it was last hour so I wouldn't have to be here for much longer. My teacher made no comment about me being late as I sat down in my seat in the back.

Ten minutes later and the door opened again. Gee stepped in slowly, his head cast down and the smile gone from his face. He talked to the teacher momentarily and she nodded.

"Class, this is our new student, Gerard," she introduced.

"I-I go by Gee," he said quietly.

Gee looked up at us and I could see the bruises that were starting to form on his face and arms. He spotted me and looked down again out of fear. Gee sat in a seat near the front. I sat bored for the rest of the lesson, watching Gee half the time.

The second class ended we were all out of the class as fast as possible. Except Gerard, who was talking to the teacher about what he had to catch up on. I met up with Pete and Bob and we walked outside together. The three of us hung out at the bottom of the steps as people began to stream out of the building. Lindsey, Jamia, and Brendon walked up to us.

"What's up, man?" Brendon asked.

We gave him first bumps and he smiled, wrapping his arms around the shoulders of both of the girls.

"The little ladies here are saying I should throw a party since my parents are away," Brendon said.

Lindsey scoffed and Jamia rolled her eyes.

"Oh please, you'll have any excuse to throw a party," Jamia said. "And we most certainly didn't say that."

"Although, we wouldn't deny it," lindsey said. "A party with free beer and hot people, I'm all in."

"So it's settled, party at my house tomorrow night," Brendon declared.

"I'll be there if Frank's there," Jamia said, giving me a wink.

"Oh you know it, baby," I agreed.

She giggled and I couldn't help but smirk.

"Look who it is," Pete said.

We all watched as Gee walked down the stairs, seemingly happy again. Just like before, he was practically skipping as he made his way off the school grounds to the parking lot.

"Who the hell is that?" Lindsey asked, snickering at him.

"He's new here, he's in my science class," Jamia said. "He's kinda weird."

"Okay, so I'll get my brother to get the booze," Pete said, changing the topic. "Brendon, can I trust you to provide music and snacks?"

"Not sure, I'm already providing location," Brendon replied.

Pete groaned. "I don't want this to be like last time, that party sucked ass."

"Yeah, there weren't even any hot college guys there," Jamia complained.

"Or girls," lindsey added.

"I've got it this time, trust me," Brendon stated, unwrapping his arms from the two girls' shoulders.

"Oh look, I've found Way," Pete said.

He stuck his foot out at last second as Mikey hurried down the stairs. It made Mikey miss the last two steps as he tripped, falling down on the concrete.

"Fuck," Mikey cursed.

We laughed as he looked up at us nervously.

"Thought you were so sneaky running away like that earlier, huh?" Pete asked.

Mikey immediately shook his head. Pete grabbed his forearm, dragging him up to his feet. Mikey immediately averted his eyes elsewhere, scuffing his feet on the ground.

"Answer me when I talk to you," Pete growled, making the boy flinch. "You thought you were sneaky, huh?"

"N-no," Mikey denied.

"That's right," Pete confirmed.

He pushed him into the ground again. Mikey groaned as Pete hit him, knocking his glasses to the ground. Brendon merely laughed, stepping on the frames and crushing the glass.

"No! I need those!" He exclaimed.

"Tell your rich daddy to buy you some more," Pete said.

Mikey stood up, brushing himself off.

"Assholes," Mikey muttered as he started to walk off.

"What'd you say?" Pete asked.

Mikey took off running while bob and Pete chased him. But do to his poor eyesight, he effectively ran into a tree. Pete and Bob dragged him off, most likely to toss him in a dumpster or something.

"So, party sounds super efficient," Brendon said.

"Do you even know what the words efficient means?" Jamia asked.

"No, it just sounded smart," Brendon said. "But I know a guy who can totally hook us up with some weed, this party is gonna be dope."

I laughed, giving him a fist bump, wrapping my arm around Jamia's shoulder.

"Maybe you wanna come by my place and help me destress," I suggested, giving her a wink.

"Can do, Mr. Iero," she agreed.

"See you two later," I said, leading Jamia to my car.

-+-

"Oh fuck, oh my god, Frank," Jamia moaned below me.

I bit into her shoulder as I came, releasing inside the condom. She was breathing heavily and her legs still shaking, coming down from her high. I tossed away the condom and laid down beside her on my bed.

"You know, you always seem to get better at that," she remarked.

I smirked, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. She held her hand out and I gave her a stick as she lit one for herself.

"I'm a man of many skills, sex just happens to be one of them," I said.

She laughed, blowing smoke into the air above us.

"What do you think of the new kid, Gee?" Jamia asked.

"Why?" I wondered.

"Just because he's really weird, you know, he acts like a child," she said. "And he wears girls clothes like that kind of makes him a freak."

In my honest opinion, I practically felt offended by that myself.

"I don't want to draw opinions too fast," I stated.

Jamia snorted. "Are you kidding me? You make opinions on everyone before talking to them."

"Yeah, whatever," I brushed off.

I exhaled, watching the smoke curl up in the air above me then dissipating into nothingness. There was a longing in my chest, an ache. And I knew the perfect thing to cover it up.

"Wanna get hammered?" I asked.

"Definitely," Jamia agreed.

I smiled, pulling on boxers and a pair of pants. She got dressed and we headed down the hall and opened the cupboard. I handed her a bottle of alcohol. The two of us sat in the living room on the couch, drinking away our problems. Although, I wasn't sure if Jamia had actual problems or she just likes to drink.

"You know, I don't think I've ever met your parents, where are they?" Jamia asked.

"They're busy with work and stuff," I lied.

"You're lucky," she said. "I wish my parents were out more, they're always on my ass about everything."

I forced a laugh, taking another swig from the bottle. The liquid burned my throat in the oh so familiar way but I couldn't care less. Jamia was beside me, getting just as tipsy as me. She looked over at me and giggled, making me giggle to. What was I so worried about? Everything's perfect.

"Oh, I gotta go," Jamia said, looking at a text on her phone. "My mom is telling me to come home."

"You gonna drive okay?" I asked.

She nodded and we laughed. Jamia kissed my cheek, mumbling an 'I love you' before making her way out the door, leaving me to drink alone.