I Drew You Once in Art Class

Eighty-Eight

"Dude, I'm worried about Gerard."

"Yeah? Why?" Pete bit his thumbnail subconsciously, and Mikey pulled it away from his mouth.

"He's going back to this... place. He won't tell any of us how he's feeling; that's how it was before. When he and Bert broke up, and after our dad died, he just... disappeared. He stayed in his room ALL of the time, he only came out to go to the bathroom and grab food to bring up to his room. And even then, on the few occasions when he shows up, he wears headphones. It's like he can't even stand to hear someone else's voice."

Pete brought his thumb back to his mouth thoughtfully.

Mikey went on. "I don't know, dude. Last time... my mom wasn't around. I got really scared. I had to do all the grocery shopping because he couldn't even get up. At one point I snooped in his room while he was sleeping... I found a blade. I don't know what to do. How am I even supposed to reach him? If anyone tries to talk to him he presses his headphones to his head. That's how it was last time, at least. It's only been one day, but I have this, like, horrible feeling it's happening again."

Pete looked at him. "Give him a day or so? Maybe give him a sec to snap out of it."

Mikey pulled Pete's thumb away from his mouth again. "You keep biting. Where are you today?"

Pete shrugged. "I'm here. I'm fine, sorry."

Of course, he was lying.