Nancy Boy (Frerard)

Chapter 7: Breaking News: Everyone Has Middle Fingers! Well...

Once the lesson drew to an end, we were accompanied by the teacher and taken to the principal's office. Jareth and I were instructed to wait outside whilst he discussed something with the principal. Half of what he said was probably exaggerated or bare faced lies, but I wasn't interested in listening in to what they were talking about.

Instead, I turned to Jareth, "Hey man, thanks for standing up for Gee back there."

"It's no problem, honestly. I couldn't stand to see you guys be told by that bastard what she identifies as, or, rather, what she is. Teachers are stupid," Jareth explains, his words accompanied by a melancholy smile. He shrugs his shoulders as if to apologise for something despite it not being his fault, and where he moved I caught a glimpse of something beneath his shirt.

It puzzled me at first, but it didn't take many moments for everything to fall into place. I didn't want to mention it though, seeing as he probably didn't want people to know.

"Frank, are you okay, dude?" He snaps me out of my thoughts, eyebrows knitted together quizzically. I rub my right eye, "Yeah, sorry. Just thinking is all."

Jareth nods, not passing judgement for a second. I was pleasantly surprised, seeing as he was usually so quiet. Part of me expected him to be one of those people who silently watches over everyone, discerning whether or not he likes them. Evidently though, he based his opinions solely on direct interactions which each person he meets, which is something I'm thankful for.

I'm rather jealous of such a quality, if I'm completely honest.

Our silence is soon interrupted as the door to the office swings open, "Frank and Jareth, the principal has something he'd like to discuss with you."

We nod, although as I enter the room I find my eyes rolling in response to his words. Technically, we didn't even do anything wrong. All we did is stand up for a fellow classmate, for Gee, which is something I don't see a problem with. Surely as a school they school want to help their students? Evidently though, that's not the case.

The principal gestures for us to take a seat in the chairs opposite his. We oblige. Our short distance is separated by the tall desk conveniently placed between us, although if it weren't there I may be tempted to break that smug grin off his face with the assistance of my fist.

"So, Frank, Jareth, Mr Guinivan tells me you've been disrupting his class?"

Immediately, I jump to my own defence, "No. I was simply trying to inform him that the new student is called Gee, not Gerard. Jareth only stepped in because our teacher was being a transphobic prick – what else is there to explain?"

The principal sighs, rubbing his temples, "Language, Iero. That kind of thing will not be tolerated at this sch-"

"Oh? So you won't tolerate the word 'prick,' but you will tolerate transphobia?" I challenge his words, suddenly feeling a wave of confidence wash over me, yet unsure of its origin.

"I'm not tolerating transphobia. You disrupted your entire class and cut the lesson down to almost nothing, Frank."

"He misgendered Gee and refused to use her name. That sounds an awful lot like transphobia to me, Sir." I retort venomously.

Jareth stays silent through the majority of our argument, staring at the wall as if it would actually help with our situation. In fact, he didn't even seemed phased by the fact he was sat before the principal and not just any other teacher. I admired him for his nonchalant attitude, but that didn't mean I was going to mimic his actions and allow the situation to blow over.

No, I feel much more protective over Gee than to simply let her get treated this way.

"Jareth, why is it you're here?" The principal spoke, stealing Jareth's attention away from whatever was sheltering his mind.

Jareth stared back at him blankly, "I simply wrote genitals do not equal gender on the whiteboard, where's the harm in that?"

"Mr Guinivan also tells me you wrote it in permanent marker, then proceeded to leave the room and then make an inappropriate hand gesture. That will, yet again, not be tolerated here, Jareth."

Jareth sighed, his expression forming something stern. "Okay, so maybe it was permanent marker. You have that weird graffiti spray, right? Secondly, do you think that nobody in this school has seen a middle finger or something. Breaking news: everyone has middle fingers! Well, unless they've been amputated or they were born without them or something... And if someone were to have polydactyly I'm pretty sure it would depend on how many-"

"That's enough! Your behaviour today was unacceptable. Both of you will have detention after school with Mr Toro in B14 for an hour. I will contact all of your parents and inform them of the situation. If you refuse to turn up, a week in the pavilion will follow. Do I make myself quite clear?" The principal raises his voice at us, but not in a way that would be considered threatening. If anything it was rather petty.

I clear my throat, "Fine, I'll be there. What are you going to do about Gee, though?" I enquire, curiosity wracking my voice. Surely he can't simply do nothing.

He leans back in his chair, "Until he informs me of the situation himself, Gerard Way will remain Gerard Way," he concludes.

"That's bullshit!" Jareth speaks just as I go to open my mouth, "I thought the idea of school was to make students feel comfortable so that they're able to learn effectively. How is Gee supposed to learn if you're neglecting to acknowledge who she is? That's fucking bullshit!"

"You're simply here to learn. Mrs Way will be contacted. We'll see where things go from there. Jareth, your situation doesn't give you any right to speak to me that way. In fact, I'm in the right mind to punish you with a second detention, although I'll let it slide this time."

It goes without saying that my mother wasn't particularly pleased with me when I arrived home that evening.