The Third Way

2

March 1992 - Age 9

I get home from school to find only Mikey is there and no Gerard, strange. I take my bag to my room then I grab my homework and go to the dining room where I do my homework whilst eating an apple, you know the usual after school routine if I got homework. 

"Where's Gerard?" I ask Mikey when he enters the room 

"No idea, maybe he's gone out with friends"

"But he isn't allowed to because it's a day where Mom and Dad are both still working after we finish school"

"I don't know. I'm going to watch TV" 

Half way through my homework I hear the door open and close and see Gerard going straight to his room. He always comes and says hello to me. I put my pen down and go upstairs. 

"Gee?" I ask whilst knocking on the door 

"Go away"

"What's wrong"

"Just go away, please" 

"Are you not going to come and watch the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?"

"No"

"Why? You like that show?"

"Just please go away and leave me alone"

"Not until you tell me why? Did that girl you like turn you down?"

"No"

"Did she not sit by you in Science?"

"No, it isn't her. Leave"

"Whatever is wrong then keep it bottled up then, but staying in your room thinking about it won't help. Come and watch TV with us, it will help keep your mind off it, you don't even have to talk to me and Mikey"

"What don't you get about go away!" He yells as he opens his door and glares at me 

I look at him shocked and back away "SsSorry" I stutter and run off downstairs, hearing him slam the door close.

"Is he coming to watch tv?" Mikey asks

"No, he yelled at me"

"That girl probably turned him down" 

"Probably"

4hrs later

I come out the bathroom from my shower and hear talking downstairs, I go straight to my room and get changed into my pjs then I put my dressing robe on and go downstairs. I was expecting some family members or friends but the police are here. 

"Dad why are the cops here?" 

"Gerard got held at gun point on his way home from school today" 

That's when my whole world stops and I immediately feel bad about me trying to make him come out of his room. "Is he...is he..ok?"

"Shook up but he will be fine"

The police finish their questioning so Mom and Dad walk them to the door and talk to them probably about what happens next. Gerard is still sat on the couch so I walk in and sit on his lap hugging him tightly 

"Sorry I yelled at you" He mumbles hugging me back 

"You got nothing to be sorry for, I'm sorry for trying to make you come out"

"I still shouldn't of yelled at you though you didn't know"

"I love you gee"

"I love you too"

I go to bed but I hear someone coming in shortly afterwards so I quickly close my eyes pretending to be asleep, I feel whoever it is lean down and kiss my cheek then they go closing the door behind them. I open my eyes and see a piece of paper on the pillow next to me, I unfold it and the person who came in has been unrevealed. Gerard, he did a sorry drawing for me. I smile placing it on my bedside table then I close my eyes this time actually going to sleep. 

Wish I was as good at drawing as Gee, he does amazing drawings of people all the features making it look 100% realistic then there's me with my stick people. He has tried to help me improve my drawing skills loads of times but it just ends up with him getting frustrated with me and me still on stick people stage.