The Third Way

3

January 1999 - Age 16

I brush my hair then I get changed into my floral skater dress and white dolly shoes. I check my make up one more time then I go downstairs and make myself a bowl of Hershey's cookies n cream cereal.  I stare at the post cards on the fridge and frown, Gerard is in New York working on comics. I miss him loads but it's his dream to be a comic artist and what better place then New York to achieve it. 

"Come on, we're going to be late" Mikey speaks as he grabs his water from the fridge. 

I place my bowl in the sink then I grab my bag and we leave. Once Mikey drops me off at school I go straight to home room. 

"Good morning everyone, we got a new person joining us today. This is Cindy who's from London, England." Mr Chandler smiles then sends Cindy to sit next to me 

"Hi, I'm Evelyn. Do you have your time table?"

"Yeah, it's here" she smiles handing me her time table 

"it's exactly like mine, I'll show you around if you like?"

"Sure, thanks"

3 months later

"EVELYN GET THE HELL UP CINDY IS HERE" Mikey yells from downstairs, 

"I've been awake for hours" I smirk coming downstairs 

"Yeah yeah, you was snoring 30 mins ago" 

"Bye Mikey" I smile hugging him 

"No falling off that board again, I'm not taking you to hospital with a broken arm again" 

"I can't promise anything" 

"Yeah, it's not her fault that walls, pillars, trash cans and even benches happening to magically move and get in her way" Cindy laughs 

"Exactly" I agree whilst picking up my long board  

We say bye and leave heading to a local coffee shop we found hidden away a few weeks ago, It's cute and cosy so we decided to go there once a week when we go out for a skate. 

"So how did you get an A* on your art project, no offence or anything but you're really bad at drawing"

"Offence taken" I chuckle "Gee did it for me then sent it in the post" 

"So you cheated?" She gasps 

"Yeah" 

"That's so bad, what about your next project? you can't get your brother to do it all the time"

"Report cards will be sent out soon Dad would kill me if I get an F again. Besides, it's the last project with Mrs Parkinson as she's leaving"

"Oh yeah" 

The waitress places our drinks on the table and we end up talking about random gossip that's currently going around school. 

Back Home 

"Evelyn is that you?" Dad calls as soon as I close the door behind me

"Yeah" I call back

"Come to the living room please" 

I walk in and find Dad sat there with my report card in his hand "I see you've exceeded very well in Art since the last report" 

"I have?" 

"A* on your last project, that's a big improvement. How did you manage it?"

"I don't know, I did spend more time and effort on it so I guess that helped"

"Or you got your brother to do it on your behalf" 

"Now that is just silly, Gerard is in New York"

"He told us" 

"Busted"

"Shut up Gerard..Gerard" I smile as realisation hits me and I turn around and hug him tightly 

"Mom forced it out of me,I'm sorry"

"It's fine, I got my A* now anyway" I shrug and walk off to the kitchen to get a drink 

"You're such a lil rebel cheating on your project" Mikey laughs 

"You're just jealous you never thought of it" 

"You do know your teacher probably taught Gee and would probably know it's his work and not yours" 

"Well if she did then she still gave me a good grade" 

"Obviously, anyway we're going out for food tonight so you need to go and get changed" 

"And what's wrong with my current outfit?" 

"Well it might be too cold for shorts by the time we leave to come back home"

I nod ok and go to my room which used to be Gerard's old room but I claimed it as my own when he left for NY as it's bigger and not getting used. Once I'm changed we leave going to a local restaurant. Gerard is only home for a few days unfortunately but I plan on making the most of him being home as it's unknown when he'll be home again. However, him being away has made me closer to Mikey which is good but deep down I know I'll always be closest with Gerard.