I Have Friends in Holy Spaces

15: (Southern) Drawl Pete Like One of Your French Girls

Frank didn't come to school the day it started and though I shouldn't have been suspicious, I didn't give a shit about my conscience and was suspicious anyway. Despite hating school with a passion like most of us students do, at least he actually goes to school and has a great attendance record.

I sat alone at lunch, not bothering to look up at anybody as I stabbed my salad passive aggressively. Everyone was talking about me that's for sure; Brendon's death has been the talk of the high school ever since it happened. As I walk the halls, someone will stop me and give me their condolences and I don't want them. I want to move on from it, but I can't move on when someone shoves his death down my throat and doesn't stop.

    However, my loneliness didn't last for long as I heard the chair next to me screech as it skidded across the floor and Mikey Way sat next to me. This man, Jesus Christ, quit ruining my life with your perfection. Shyly he waved, not talking to me despite being the one who had the balls to sit next to me. If he wasn't going to speak, then I was, "Why are you at the school?"

   He shrugged, "They let me out of work early and I needed to speak with you." I stabbed my salad once again, not wanting to really face him right now, "Is it about Brendon?" Mikey shook his head quickly, furrowing his eyebrows, "Dear lord no, I'm pretty sure you got plenty of condolences. I don't think you need another one. It's actually about Gerard."

   "What about him?" I perked my head up, suddenly interested in the conversation. Father Way was possessed, no doubt about that; I wonder if Mikey knew, however I wanted him to speak first to see if he does. "I don't know man he's been...weird. We haven't hung out in forever and like we hang out everyday, always inside the church or holed inside his house. I think he's hiding from the town after getting put into holding, but...I don't know man," he finished with another slight shrug.

"I wouldn't blame him if it was just that," I shoved a forkful of salad into my mouth and watched as Mikey raised and eyebrow. He leaned in and lowered his voice so that no one else could hear us, as if they cared, "Do you know something about my brother that I don't?" Shaking my head, I was about to eat another forkful of salad when a realization popped into my head and I gasped rather dramatically, catching the attention of the school and dropping my salad as well.

  Mikey looked befuddled to what I was gasping at and repeatedly tried to pried information out of me, but I wouldn't budge. I didn't know if it was actually real or if my mind was playing tricks on me. Sometimes, I think Brendon's still alive and that it was all an elaborate prank but it would've been too elaborate for him. "Jesus Christ, Wentz, talk to me!" Mikey raised his voice and slammed his fist  against the table, the commotion gathering the attention of the cafeteria once again. I scooted out of my chair, stood up and grabbed his arm, dragging him out of the cafeteria and into an empty hallway.

I looked both ways to make extra sure we were alone before whispering, "Remember the night of the bet? When Frank's house was possessed?" Mikey nodded along, folding his arms across his chest and waiting for what I was going to say next. "And how Father Way took the Ouija board with him?" I continued and I didn't have to finish what I was going to say because Mikey seemed to get it. He scoffed and shook his head, "What, you think he's possessed by the same demon? You're on some crazy shit, Wentz."

   Rolling my eyes, I shook my head and snapped at Mikey, "Shut the hell up and let me talk. My best friend is dead and the other is missing while your brother decided to become some batshit crazy recluse! You wanna help me or not, Michael?" Taken aback by the fact I said his actual name, Mikey stayed silent and nodded his head, urging for me to go on.

   Sighing, I began, "Okay, so Frank went to holding the day Gerard was there. He told me that Gerard said he killed Brendon, but yet it wasn't Gerard. This thing had some sort of accent like they do in Alabama and the change in demeanor was also a giveaway. Apparently he told Frank that when he got out he was going to come after him."