Bittersweet

The end of all things

*ten years ago*

I'd never say, that I'm one of the popular boys. In fact, I'm the exact opposite of what one would call "popular"
But that's not a problem anymore, because today it's finally going to be over. Fucking finally!
After the graduation ceremony I don't have to see any of those Bastards ever again

I look down at the big, brown envelope in my lap, which contains my final report card and can't help but smile at the thought of the great future that's waiting for me just now.

I'm sitting on one of our school's hard plastic chairs in the middle of our big gym, together with about 400 other students and their parents.
My mother couldn't make it today. She's coming home from work really late in the evening and has to look after my baby brother, so I don't blame her
I know she's proud of me.

My fingers play with the pointy edges of the envelope, whilst our principal is standing in front of the crowd, telling us how proud he is and how great it was to know every one of us (which is a lie. He doesn't know anyone in this grade because he never left his office during the last 3 years. It was practically a miracle to see him in the hallways, even after school and I'm not sure if I want to know what he's doing all day long in his small office)

I don't care about his speech. Right now, I don't even care about the two boys behind me, that are kicking against my chair with their worn out chucks whilst laughing quietly.
Because now it's over. Forever.

So caught up on my thoughts I didn't even realise that our principal ended his speech and everybody around me got up to find their child or to give their friends empty promises of "we're going to meet up every week after this" followed by a meaningless embrace, because face it:
After this, everybody is going separate ways and staying in contact is almost impossible.

The only thing everybody in this room actually wanted, was getting home as fast as possible and never thinking about this three hour ceremony again.
And that's what I was going to do, too.

I slowly got up, a small smile on my face as I clutched the envelope against my chest in an attempt to make myself as small as possible and get out of here

"Hey Way, what the hell are you smiling at", I heard a deep voice behind me, followed by a strong hand pushing me roughly. I jumped forward, almost losing my balance before I turned around quickly, just to look into the eyes of Frank Iero.

"N-Nothing", I stuttered and tried to slowly move backwards but because of all the people standing in the way it was practically useless. I couldn't move an inch.

Breathing heavily I looked down at the floor. I couldn't help it. Every time I saw Frank, I felt the fear crawling up my spine and memory's of him, pinning me down on the floor whilst his fist collided with my jaw flooded through my brain.

"N-Nothing... that's pathetic, Way", he mimicked.
I wish I was strong enough. I wish I was brave enough. But I just couldn't talk back. I couldn't defend myself so I just stood there, eyes on the ground, chin almost touching my chest.

"Now Now... don't be scared! It's our last night together and I'd like to give you something to... remember me", I slowly looked up and saw Frank grinning, probably thinking about all the bones he could break inside my body.

It's always been like that. Frank, the punky brat with scary looking friends and me, Gerard, the chubby boy dressed in black that nobody wants to be seen around with.
The lack of friends wasn't even that much of a problem for me, not at all, my real problem began in the middle of the school year when I accidently bumped into Frank fucking Iero during lunch and got milk in his shirt. After that, my school life turned into a living hell and I can't remember one single day that I left school without a new bruise on my hip.

"L-Listen Frank... I n-need to go", I tried but of course Frank wouldn't just let me go.
He grabbed my wrist and guided me through the people until he stopped outside the western part of our school. Of course nobody was here at that time of the day.

The first thing I felt, was the hard stone wall as Frank pushed me against it.
I turned my head to the side as far as possible to avoid his eyes and instead looked at the bright tags on the wall behind me, that some stupid kids had sprayed on some years ago.

"P-Please Frank. Not today", even tho I knew that it wouldn't change anything, I begged. I begged over and over again only making Frank tighten his grip on my shoulders.

"Shut up, you whimp. Nobody will hear you anyways" and before I could say anything else, his fist collided with my jaw.
I gasped for air, the pain hitting me like a truck.
Another hit, this time on my right eye. I didn't dare to scream. Frank was right, nobody would hear me anyways so I stayed quiet, only a whimpering sound leaving my mouth.

With a final kick in my stomache with his knee, Frank pushed me to the ground, looking down at me, obviously proud of what he'd just done.
"That's where you belong to, Way", he said, kneeling besides me so he could quietly speak to me, "On the ground. Alone. Where you always were, where you always will be. Nothing will ever change that. You can't run from that"

And that's when he left.
All I could see were his black leather boots slowly disappearing from my sight.
So there I lay, completely silent, not moving at all and just staring at the spot where Frank was sitting just a few seconds ago.

"The last time forever", I said to myself, "he can't hurt you anymore".
And even tho my body was screaming in pain, even tho I knew that I was going to have bruises where he hit me, I couldn't help but smile at that thought.

"Never again."