Off The Wall.

The Maze.

Gerard and I roamed the hallways for approximately three minutes and forty four seconds before a word was said.

His body moved in time with mine, yet we walked somewhat differently.

I tend to walk somewhat slowly, keeping my hands stuffed inside pockets so they don't swing like my arms like to when I walk. Apparently I'm also unable to walk in a straight line; I lean every which way, causing me to bump into walls and brush people's arms and hands with my own.

Unlike me, Gerard walked swiftly with his hands clasped behind his back. His long, twig-like legs, clad in black skinny jeans, moved with a certain elegance that I secretly coveted. His head was tilted slightly to the side, and I realized that he was glancing at me out of the corners of his eyes. It was as if he was waiting for me to say something, and like anyone who felt slightly uncomfortable yet also desperate to please would have done, I spoke.

"So, um... How are you?" I asked, my voice cracking on the word 'are'. I grimaced at the vocal crack, but didn't repeat myself.

Gerard looked at me and shrugged, his mouth turning into that little smile that confused me.

"So-so?" I asked. He nodded and bumped me gently with his thin shoulder as if asking how I was doing, and I mirrored his shrug.

"No copying." Gerard said smoothly.

I stopped and stared at him in surprise, considering it was the first time I'd actually heard his voice.

He stopped too, turned to face me (I noticed that he was several inches taller then me), and spoke again.

"You copied my answer. A shrug was my response, meaning, as you said, so-so. You must give me a different response, or else I won't really know how you feel, and that's not very satisfying."

His voice was like nothing I could possibly compare it to. It was sharp; every syllable was pronounced perfectly. It was smooth; he didn't miss a beat, and he hardly stopped in between words and sentences. It was many, many things, but each of the things that make up his voice were equally addicting.

"I'm- I mean, I'm fine. The usual." I said after I got over my shock. Gerard chuckled and began walking again. I joined him, and we walked another two minutes and eight seconds without speaking.

"You know, I'm surprised they're letting us walk around unsupervised," I said, just looking for something to talk about. Anything to talk about, really. Gerard nodded in agreement. "They're usually pretty strict about supervision and all that bullshit."

Gerard nodded again, but he didn't speak. For some reason, that angered me. It pissed me off that he could grant me with a pleasure as luscious as his voice, and then take it away. I wanted to hear him speak again. I needed to.

"What's your favorite book?" I asked him after I took some time to think of a relevant-to-Gerard question. He looked at me in surprise.

"How do you-?"

"I notice how much you read. You're always reading those idiotic books they have for us in the rec room. What's your favorite?"

Gerard thought for a moment.

"I don't have a favorite book. It's cruel and unusual punishment to pick just one." He said finally.

"Cruel and unusual punishment to whom?" I asked.

"The books." Gerard answered simply.

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

"I also tend to read a lot of comic books," Gerard continued. "But there's no way I could have a favorite series of comics either. Like I said before; cruel and unusual punishment."