I'm Not Okay (I Promise)

Maybe They'll Leave You Alone, But Not Me

Gerard's POV:

"You're late." Frank said when we got there.

"Sorry. Let's get started."

Took us about twenty minutes to get everything ready. It was almost lunchtime. Frank texted Amanda. I had no idea of what she would do.

In front of the school, out of the gates, there were us, our instruments and an amplifier Ray had at home. We were about to perform Teenagers.

Sure, the principal said we couldn't go to school until Thursday. But there was the best part: we weren't at school. We were outside the gates. Edwards couldn't do anything about it.

How Amanda manage to make everybody go to the front court of the school instead of the cafeteria, I had no idea. But the thing is, a couple of minutes after the bell rang, we had our audience. They were not exactly looking at us, and they'd probably leave if didn't do anything quick.

"Should we just start playing?" Mikey asked.

"I think someone should say something, first." Ray finished.

I took a deep breath and held the microphone. What should I say? Just present us? Make a speech? In the end, I decided to just go with whatever was in my mind.

"If you ever felt rejected. If you ever felt confused. If you ever felt lost." I started. People started looking at us. I saw all types of people. People frowning. Jocks and cheerleaders, pissed off as hell. Outcasts looking curious. "If you ever felt anxious. If you ever felt wrong. If you ever felt wronged. If you ever felt unclean. If you ever felt angry. If you ever felt ashamed." I looked at Jason, in the middle of the crowd of Jocks. "If you ever felt curious." I looked at Mr. Franklin, a bit far away, close to the front door. "If you ever felt used."

I stopped talking. Everybody was looking at us now.

"Be prepared to feel revenge."

The boys took that as a sign to begin and the music started playing.

They're gonna clean up your looks

With all the lies in the books

To make a citizen out of you

Because they sleep with a gun

And keep an eye on you, son

So they can watch all the things you do

Because the drugs never work

They're gonna give you a smirk

Cause they've got methods of keeping you clean

They're gonna rip off you head

Your aspirations to shreds

Another cog on the murder machine

When the chorus started, people seemed to enjoy the music even more. Not only enjoy. Feel. They were dancing in the court, having fun. The Jocks and cheerleaders were the only ones in the corner with grumpy faces. Teachers seemed desperate. I bet the principal had already been warned of the situation.

They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
So darken your clothes
Or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me

We didn't care. We kept playing.

The boys and girls in the clique
The awful names that they stick
You're never gonna fit in much, kid

But if you're troubled and hurt
What you got under your shirt
Will make them pay for the things that they did

They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone will bleed
So darken your clothes
Or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me

"Whoooa yeaah!" I screamed and the guitar solo began. People on the court screamed. I smiled as our plan was really working out.

They said all teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone will bleed
So darken your clothes
Or strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me

"All together now!" I screamed, and people actually started singing with us. I think by that time, they had already learned the chorus.

Teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone will bleed
So darken your clothes
And strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me

Teenagers scare the living shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone will bleed
So darken your clothes
And strike a violent pose
Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me

And we were done. People applauded and screamed for more. We really wish we could play more... But we had to leave. Immediately.

We started packing our stuff, when Mr. Franklin showed up.

"Boys... That was quite a thing." He said. I was expecting him to give us a lecture and send us to the principal's office, but instead, he just sighed and continued. "But don't ever do it again, ok? You're already in big trouble. Go, leave before the principal comes." And then he left.

We exchanged a look. Apparently more than some of the students were in our side? Well, I'm not complaining.

About five minutes later, we had already packed our stuff and were leaving the school, as lots of students in the court sang our song and screamed the name of our band.