Gerard's POV :

The week went really well; I proved myself to be a very serious and excellent student. Despite my lateness due to my coma, some already called me top of the class. Well, more than catching up, I had taken a little advance on the programs during summer break.

I was surely even more popular than I used to be. People were curious about what being in a coma felt like. It was like I had come back from the dead, and I had the key to tell them what afterlife was like.

Truth was, I didn't really remember my coma at all. But that wasn't what people wanted to hear, so I just told them it felt like I was floating in the emptiness, out of space and time, looking for a way out - in a nutshell, people's preconceived idea of a coma.

Perhaps I did live that. I simply don't remember it, I thought.

All my friends wouldn't stop telling me how glad they were to see that I was 'back to normal'. I wasn't sure what they meant by that, but I guessed it was their way of telling me it was good to have me back on track, sharp and healthy.

So far, I had managed to avoid Frank Iero, the short-tempered, short punk, through the entire week - miraculously if I may add. We had a lot of classes in common. He was the last person I wanted to see since what happened on the first day of school.

But of course, karma decided to put him in my way on a Friday afternoon. I was leaving chemistry with one of my best friends Ray, when we saw Frank - who was apparently waiting for me - leaning on the wall next to the door, arms folded.

Boy, that kid needs to relax, he always seems so tense and angry... Not to mention creepy.

Ray seemed to be very intimidated by Frank and what he was capable of because he stuttered out an apology and left as soon as he saw the punk. Frank let him pass so apart from a few leaving students, we were alone in the hallway.

The facilities were quite wide for a small number of students, so it wasn't so rare to find deserted hallways and classrooms, especially in the evening.

I intended to ignore the punk and walk past him, and that was exactly what I did until I heard him talk.

"Well, well, look who we got here. My old friend, little Gee Way..." he jeered.

I stopped dead in my tracks. I shouldn't have, I know... But I was not going to let myself get bullied; I didn't do anything to deserve that.

Unless I didn't put an end to that attitude quickly, it would never stop, and that year was too important for me. I'm not gonna let some punkhead ruin my last year in high school, I thought as my teeth clenched a little.

I turned around to face Frank. "Talking to someone, Iero? Oh right, no, that was rhetorical... Because you don't have any friend to laugh and bully me with, do you?" I chuckled.

To my surprise, Frank didn't get mad, he didn't yell, throw a fit or a punch. No, he laughed. Humorlessly, yes, but he laughed all the same.

"You've always been so snarky; I love that about you. But look at yourself. You totally don't look like a total idiot at all with that fancy white button up shirt of yours and that blonde hair." he mocked.

I raised an eyebrow and took a few steps towards him. I folded my arms. "You want to talk about fashion, punk? Really? You look like a scarecrow and a zombie's love child." I sneered at him.

"You think you're so much better than everyone, especially me. And see what you've become. A sheep, a teacher's pet." he growled which succeeded in scaring me a little.

"You're the perfect little church boy, choking on your smartness and money, and all the love you're given." Frank spat bitterly and shoved my chest.

I almost collapsed backwards but caught myself just in time to avoid such an embarrassing and potentially disastrous thing to occur.

"This is who I am !" I snapped.

I took a deep breath and ran a hand in my blonde hair to calm down. I am not going to let Frank Iero get the best of me. I'm better than this.

"Now I want you off my back and out of my life." I demanded, trying to sound as confident as I could, even though I was scared inside.

Frank tutted, shaking his head. "Ah-ah. You let me in, don't think you'll ever get rid of me. I'm gonna make you pay, Way."

That pissed me off more than it should have. Suddenly, I felt sass flow back into my veins. I folded my arms defensively.

"Why are you so interested in my life, Frank, huh? Is it so much better than yours?" I spat scornfully.

I decided to go for broke and grab his shirt the way he had done to me on Monday and yanked his face closer to mine.

"Leave. Me. Alone. Do I need to punch you again to make myself clear?" I seethed lowly.

"Aww no, baby, you would hurt your pretty fist... And that would mess up your nice Justin Bieber-like hair." Frank pouted mockingly. I balled my fists.

"And think about your image, doll. Getting into fights doesn't look nice on a curriculum. A stain... Kind of like your face." Frank concluded, twirling his index to point at my face provokingly.

I was preparing my next scathing line, but Frank immediately took control over the situation, and I found myself being hit in the stomach. I bent in two, all the air knocked out of my lungs. He grasped my hair and brought my ear to his mouth.

"Don't you think you can beat me at my own game and threaten me. I'm not your fucking punching ball." he uttered darkly.

Frank made me stand up straight and I winced from such harsh hair-tugging. I withered and raised my arms to protect my face from the next blow.

Frank's eyes landed on something behind me, and he let go of me. 'Someone' would have been more accurate since I turned around and found Ray, my friend Bert and Mikey heading for Frank, not looking so pleased to say the least.

Ray hadn't abandoned me; he had just left to seek some backup. No way little Frank was handling the three of them, especially my two 6-feet-tall senior fro-friend.

"I'll see you 'round, pretty face." Frank growled, giving me a taunting tap on the cheek before he left. I joined my three saviors, still glaring at Frank before he disappeared.

"Wow... Can't believe you guys were about to fight for me..." I breathed out, still recovering from Frank's punch and my own fear.

Ray smiled warmly at me. "It's okay, we got your back. Besides, all of us saw you stand up to Frank for Lindsey the other day. That was brave, we just had to do the same for you."

"Thank you so much, guys. I don't know what I would have done without you. I owe you one."

Bert laughed. "You don't owe us anything Gee, it's okay, that's what friends do. But if you wanna do something for me, you keep yourself out of trouble, alright?"

I nodded. Bert excused himself, I gave him a quick hug and he left. Mikey, Ray and I started walking out of the school together - Ray only lived a block away from home so he could stick with us for a while.

"Are you okay?" Mikey asked.

"I'm not sure, but well, things could have turned much worse."

Ray put a hand on my shoulder. "Gerard, don't let him win. Don't get upset; it's what he wants."

Mikey nodded. "Ray is right, Gee. You can't afford losing your temper like that. Don't let him play you."

I hummed. Mikey and Ray always give good pieces of advice. I was stupid back there; I should have walked away when I had the chance.

I sighed. "Frank's an asshole. I don't even know why he bullies me. I just want him to leave me alone..."

"Don't know either." Ray shrugged. "That surprised me too, Frank has no reason to hate you. Maybe it's because of Lindsey. I mean, you kinda kissed her in front of everyone."

"That's what I thought..." I mumbled. "But she's mine. Frank can go suck an egg."

I shoved my hands into my pocket. Mikey patted my shoulder and told me how well I was dealing with school so far. Ray left us and Mikey and I arrived home. I embraced my parents and went upstairs, in my bedroom.

•••

"Gerard, can you go check the mailbox, please?" I heard Mikey ask from his bedroom, just next to mine.

"Sure, just give me two minutes to finish my essay."

Once I was done, I went downstairs and checked the mailbox just outside the house as requested. I took a few letters out and went inside. I looked at each's title, my eyebrows slightly furrowed, placing the letter at the bottom of the pile every time I did so. Most of them were addressed to my parents and- oh?

I looked down at the last letter. Helena's handwriting ! I pushed the front door and gave my parents their mail. They thanked me and I hurried to my bedroom.

"Mikey ! Granny wrote us a letter." I told my brother.

"Really? What does it say?" he asked as he sat next to me on my bed.

"Wait a second, I haven't even opened it yet." I giggled softly.

I opened the envelop and took the letter out. She had written us on the thick paper she always used. I admired her handwriting, still so elegant after so many years. She wrote so well. The words were more skewed that they used to be but well, she was old; her handwriting probably adapted to her shaky hands.

Dear grandchildren,

I write you to let you know that my move went very well, however you won't be able to come see me for a while as I am still settling. You can always write me though. Don't call, the phone is not working.
Anyway, California is such a nice state and the neighborhood I moved to is lovely.

How are you boys doing? I hope you don't give your parents too much of a hard time. If I am not mistaken, Mikey has started 11th grade and Gerard, 12th grade.
You both grew up so well. Keep supporting each other like you always have. I am so proud of you, boys.

Best to all the family,
Helena.

"It's nice to hear from her." Mikey commented once he finished reading the letter.

"Yeah, she seems to be doing pretty well. Good for her, she deserves it."

Mikey nodded. "Yeah. Looks like we won't get to see her for a while though, too bad. She seems to be doing okay though. I'm not worried."

"Mhm. I'm going to write her. I know she loves receiving letters from us - besides, I'm not sure she ever really understood how e-mails work. Do you want me to write something from you in it?"

"Uh, I'm good thanks. Just tell her I say hi." Mikey shrugged and left my bedroom.

I rummaged through my art supplies to get adapted paper for my letter and a fountain pen. I wrote to Grandma Helena, not forgetting to mention that 'Mikey says hi'. I went downstairs and started getting ready to go post it, but Mikey offered to post it for me.

"Oh uh, yeah, thank you." I accepted, seeing that he already seemed ready to go.

"No problem." Mikey pulled me in a tight hug. That took me aback at first but I quickly hugged back.

"What is that for?" I laughed.

"Just thanking you for being the best big brother ever." Mikey mumbled shyly in my chest.

I didn't know what was up with him those days, but I could definitely get used to the compliments, hugs and encouragements. Mikey had always been very supportive of me, but at these days his devotion was showing even more. I guess he did look up to me a lot.

"Thank you Mikes, you're the best little brother I could ever wish for."

Mikey nodded and pulled back. "I'll mail the letter for you. Remember, everything I do, I do it for you. I'm so proud of my big brother."

"Well, thank you, I really appreciate it," I thanked before he left to mail the letter.

It was cute how Mikey made a big deal out of what he did for me. It was just a letter, a few hugs and a little bit of supportiveness. I would do the same for my little brother in a heartbeat.

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