leATHERMØUTH -frerard-

Interlude 1

I was on the floor again. Covered in the same old blood in the same old bathroom. They all laughed as they walked away. Little did they know I've killed them so many times. And woke up feeling sick. I always felt sick, regardless if I had a dream or not. Maybe it was something I should look into.

I tried to get up and only failed miserably. I was too weak and broken to move. So I just laid there, waiting. For what, I didn't quite know. There was no one I could think of that would help me. They would only kick me when I'm down.

Then I heard him. He was humming, most likely coming in here from choir class. I heard him stop and gasp. He was by my side in seconds.

"Are you okay!?" He asked.

Even his yelling sounded soft. If it was something tangible, it would probably be silk. Red, maybe pink, silk.

He helped me sit up and scooted me back against the wall. He looked so sad. I didn't want to see him sad... he was the only one I could ever say that to. He looked best when he was happy.

I shook my head and he sighed.

"Should I take you to the nurse?"

I shook my head again, not meeting his eyes. I was still a little in shock.

He got up and locked the bathroom door. Doing that would get him detention. It was a rule and apparently it was a rule he was willing to break. For me.

I looked up at him and finally met his eyes. He looked away shyly. He was so modest, even around me. A quiet hero.

"I'll clean you up then. I have bandages in my backpack. I packed them just in case this would happen..." He said this, a pink tint on his cheeks.

Pink silk.

He examined my damage and gently touched a bump on my head. I winced. He apologized. He dug through his school bag and pulled out the bandages he had been talking about. He had more than enough for every category of bandage. He lived up to his sweetness.

He used paper towels to wipe away the blood and clean the wounds. Today, they had somehow snuck in a blade and thought I'd be good use on me. My body stung. My pants were cut in places, too.

"Am I missing anything ?" He asked me quietly when he assumed he was finished.

I shook my head.

He looked me up and down and his eyes lingered on a few cuts that bled through my jeans. He sighed and avoided eye contact.

"Y-you're gonna h-have to take y-your pants off..." He looked away, cheeks red.

Red silk.

I undid my belt and unbuttoned my pants, not thinking twice about his orders. I slid them off the best I could with all the pain I had rushing through me. He slid them off for me when I couldn't take it.

He grabbed another wet paper towel and started gently dabbing the blood away. He got to the one that was the deepest and I winced, touching his wrist.

"That one hurts the most, doesn't it?" I nodded and he continued, "I figured. There's a cut and a bruise right there. I'll be gentle."

He was already light as a feather, how could he be anymore gentle?

He finished up, putting bandages on all of my body wounds. He looked at my face, looking even more sad than before. He wiped away some more blood and sighed.

"I can't really put bandages on your face... I don't have ones small enough... but since I cleaned them, they should scab quicker." He spoke softly.

I was hooked on his every word.

He helped me stand with some effort and let me lean against him for support, "I'm so sorry they did this to you... I'm just glad that I came in when I did."

"Thank you." I muttered.

He seemed happy to hear my voice, "You're welcome. I-I'm Gerard, by the way. I don't think I've ever told you. I already know who you are. I-I looked you up in the year book... You're Frank Iero, right?"

"Yeah." I said.

I was so surprised that someone would do so much for me. Gerard- he helped me, brought bandages in advance, and even took time out of his day to figure out who I was.

"The school day is over... should I walk you to your car or should I drive you?" His voice was so soft and quiet, yet he wasn't even whispering.

My body hurt so much from such little cuts that I gave in and handed him my keys. He put my arm around him and walked me through the halls, down stairs, through the parking lot, and to my truck. I had told him it was the red Ford in the very back. I parked it there so no one would deface it.

While walking me, Gerard and I got looks, laughed at, even. It didn't seem to bother him. He just kept whispering to me that it would be okay. It didn't feel that way.

He helped me into the passengers seat and closed the door behind me. Climbing into the drivers seat, he sighed. He started the car and looked over at me.

"W-where do you live?"

"The apartments by West." I looked away.

That's where it all happened. Drug wars. Gang fights. You name it. It was hard to sleep when sirens were always yelling at you. It made me want to rip my ears off half the time.

"Okay."

And we drove off. It was peaceful just watching him. He drove smoothly and carefully. He would look over at me from time to time and ask if I was okay. My answer was always no.

We were finally at my house. He parked where I said I usually parked and we sat in that car for five minutes. I watched him and he would glance at me and turn his red silk shade. He had long black hair that went to his shoulders and hung a little bit after that. His lips were full and a soft pink shade. He wore our school uniform that looked dreadful on everyone except for him. I caught him smiling to himself.

"I actually live here, too. Funny, right?" He looked over at me, hopeful.

I nodded, "I thought you would live somewhere else."

"What do you mean?"

"Such a kind and sweet person shouldn't live here. It doesn't suit you." I explained.

He looked at his lap, "And it suits you?"

"You don't know me." I said monotone.

His face fell and I automatically felt sick. I never meant to hurt him. I touched his arm, and he looked up at me, "Yes?"

"Step out."

We both got out of the truck.

I made my way to him, but he met me in the middle. I beckoned for him to come closer. To his surprise, I hugged him. I leaned most of my weight on him, due to pain, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Thank you, again."

"You're welcome, Frank. I'll pack smaller bandages tomorrow, okay?" He pulled away, "Put Neosporin on the cuts in your thighs. I have some at home if you need any... Apartment 214, if you need me..."

"Goodnight, Gerard." I tried a smile, walking away.

He looked flattered, "B-bye."

When I opened the door, I was met by my mother who was on her way to work. She made a face at me and told me to clean myself up. I really hated my mother. She never said anything to me unless it was for me to do something. She scared me like they did. She was one of them.

My thoughts of revenge were interrupted by Gerard. He came rushing into my mind like a stampede of feelings. I didn't get those a lot. I was mostly numb and sad. Or angry. But I felt happy. Really happy. I was excited to see him again.

Maybe...

Maybe we could be friends...