Demolition Lovers (A Gerard Way Story)

Chapter Fifteen; Six Years Later

September 5th, 2001

Over the past six years, SIX YEARS...I've been quite the busy bee.

After I left New York, and moved back home. College had started up. I instantly fit right in with the artsy crowd there, and excelled through all my classes. So much so that at a point I stopped being behind the camera, and moved to the front of it. I was approached by a scout to become a punk rock pin up model.  

Modeling. I never understood the glamour of being a model when I was younger, but when I became one in college, it all changed. It was fun. Playing punk girl dress up. Being a pin up girl. I felt adored, and that's something I always craved. You might have heard of me at this point, 'Violet Jewel.' It was a concept name that my manager helped me create. At the time of my 'creation', My hair was a nice bright violet. My manager thought I should keep my middle name, but since there was already a singer named Jewel, things might get confusing...so he decided I should be Violet Jewel. And it stuck.

With modeling came money, lots of money. I already had money, but what I did get I'd send to Gerard's parents, and Elena. Mainly because we ran up their phone bill talking 24/7. But 

I wasn't always talking to Gee, I'd also talk to Mikey, and Donna. Donald was always off at work or watching TV, but Donna would feel lonely and call from time to time. Then of course there were the phone calls to Elena. The sweet grandmother that helped fill a void of missing my own. She was always there on the phone to give me advice, and beg me for a visit. 

 I'd visit her from time to time. When I could. Always hoping Gerard could or would join us, but he never did. He was a struggling starving artist in New York City, and who could blame him that we have horrid timing. Any time I was in the area he couldn't come see me. Deadlines, or no money. It was okay at first, we knew at some point we'd be reunited. But....it was starting to drive both of us crazy after a good long while. 

And of course, with modeling came the constant traveling, thus one of the reasons I haven't seen Gerard in years. I've done New York Fashion Week, Victoria Secret shows, and modeled for some of the top designers in the country. I've lived in London from time to time, and I loved every minute of it. I have a flat on Carnaby St. which is where I've done some stellar retro photo shoots. 

But modeling, like everything had an expiration date with me. Sure I still do it, but not to the full extent that I used to. I went back to my true passion, photography. And used my fame from being a model to becoming a world renowned photographer. From there I've done it all. Landscape, models, cars, cities, and of course what I wanted to do most of all...travel with bands. 

I started my own photography studio.    

I've pretty much done it all, and I'm only...well I'll be 24 next month. And even though I've done, and pretty much seen it all there's something missing. Now, I'm not going to go on about how 'I just can't place what the hole in my soul is'. I know exactly what it is. 

It's Gerard.

Or lack of Gerard I should say. 

Six long years. Tortured by letters, phone calls, and presents on those gift giving holidays. He always said his presents didn't compare to mine, but I beg to differ. He'd always draw me a beautiful picture, and have it framed. I have an entire room at my house dedicated to pictures from him. I in turn would send him gifts from around the world. Something would catch my eye, and remind me of him....so naturally I'd get it. I think the best one was when I got him a replica T-Birds jacket.  He then sent me a picture of him wearing it in complete  costume for my birthday. 

That was last year. *sigh*

But now, now I finally have a chance to go see him. We've actually been planning this for some time. I was approached by Time Magazine to take the pictures of their, "Top 5 Cities in America."  So, I'm flying to L.A., then I'm hitting Houston, after that Chicago, then Philadelphia, and last but not least, N.Y.C. Which oddly enough, it's where my Gerard works.