On your knees // Bandom

12. Last Young Renegade

Ray was practicing in the music room when she arrived. He'd had study hall for the last hour and got there early. He was not, of course, to be blamed for everything that happened. This was not his fault.

A girl walked through the door, her skirt rolled up and her top button undone, Ray got the the feeling that it was more as a form of rebellion than to look good.
"Ray Toro?"
"Yeah? How'd you know?"
She sat down on the chair opposite him, crossing her legs. "We've been keeping an eye on you."
"Well, this is creepy. Who's 'we'"
"Me and my bandmates, well, not technically bandmates if we haven't got a band yet. That's where you come in."
"You want me to be in your band?"
"Yeah."
"Seriously?"
"I just said yeah, Toro, now meet me in music room 5 tomorrow lunchtime?"
"Uhhh, sure."
She smiled at him and left just as Brendon walked him, they gave each other a momentary once-over and he laughed. "I have a boyfriend now, Lindz."
"You did before, whats your point?"
Brendon rolled his eyes and went over to the drum-kit. 'Lindz' left the room.

He found them the next day at lunch, making some excuse to his friends about homework. This felt like something he was destined to fail, so no need to get hopes up, besides, he didn't know what they'd think of him making music with someone else. Judas.

The girl who approached him was there already, talking to a boy with spiked hair who gave him a full up and down look when he walked in. The drums were taken by a very pretty girl, her uniform as messed up as Lindz's and her hair streaked with bleach.
"Hey," The guy greeted him with a much more friendly smile and Ray relaxed slightly.
"Hey."
"I'm Jimmy. I sing," he introduced himself. "Obviously you've met Lindsey, bass, and then Kitty's on the drums."
Ray nodded.
"So, umm, who do you listen to? What can you play? Hopefully we can crossover and see what you're like with us."
"Yeah sure, I like almost everything, just memorised the first verse and chorus of Something Must Break by Joy Divison if that works?"
Kitty grinned. "I love Joy Division."
Jimmy nodded. "I think I know it. Lindz?"
Lindsey bit her lip. "I know it, haven't played it for ages though. Ill do my best."

Lindseys 'do my best' turned out to be absolutely amazing and Ray felt so inadequate in comparison, tripping over his strings. But when they stopped, he was greeted with smattered applause from Kitty and Jimmy, and a begrudging smile from Lindsey. He got the feeling that she didn't really like him, despite her apparent designation of spokesperson.

He grinned back, though, and Jimmy handed him a setlist. "How does here every Friday sound?"
"Uhhhh."
An eyebrow raised.
"Amazing. Im so excited."
"Good." Kitty sent him another smile and he blushed slightly. The bell went before he could embarrass himself though. Thank god.

~

Gerard was slightly late to maths, and it was too public to kiss, but Frank offered him a smile and the answer to the starter question, and they were secure enough that that was enough.
"Hey, art boy."
"Hey Frankie,"
"You're coming round to mine, yeah?"
"Yeah. If your mums okay with that?"
"My mum loves you, don't worry."
"I don't even think you've met my mum."
"Or your dad."
"Its a difficult relationship. If you want to meet them you can though, its not about me not taking this seriously."
"I know. I love you."
"Love you too."
Gerard just stayed watching him as he bowed his head and carried on doing whatever they were meant to be doing. He was still in denial of Franks perfection. Of how much he deserved it.

They met at the bottom of the school hill, and Gerard was late again, but Jamia had decided to walk back with them so Frank wasn't alone.
"You'd kill Tony The Tiger?" Jamia was asking, incredulous. Gerard thought he'd probably arrived at the wrong time.
"Well yeah, Mickey has a massive house."
"And a wife."
"And a dog. I want a dog. A tiger can't keep a dog."
"Neither can a mouse, for fucks sake."
"Uhhh, guys?" Gerard interrupted. "Whats going on?"
"Fuck, marry, kill with Tony The Tiger, Mickey Mouse, and Popeye."
Gerard looked at them, and they just looked right back, awaiting an answer.
"Uhhh, I guess Popeyes strong and would be the best fuck, then maybe marry Tony? Mickeys annoying."
Frank sighed. "No, you obviously marry Mickey and get his 'special tools' and his dog, besides, Tony's always in swimming trunks and you hate swimming."
"Very good point. I agree with Frank."
Jamia rolled her eyes. "Tony would be the best fuck by far, and if you marry him you get to do it as much as you like."
"You may be a furry, Jamia, but I am not."
"No, you'd just marry a goddamn mouse."
Gerard interrupted again. "Frankie, your mums probably waiting for us, stop arguing with Jamia," He pulled at his boyfriends arm and they both glared at him but complied. Walking in the direction of Franks and staring another round.
"James Bond, Batman, and Jack from Titanic." He nudged Gerard at the last one and Gerard opened his mouth in mock shock that Frank would even suggest that. Frank laughed.

Linda Iero greeted them at the door with hugs, Frank squirmed slightly in his mums arms but Gerard lived for the motherly affection, she seemed to understand that and held him for a moment longer than necessary, even as the smoke sensor went off.
"Frank, honey, sort that out for me?"
"You're cooking? Why are you cooking?"
"Because Gerard's round for dinner."
"So? That's exactly why we don't want you to cook. We want him to stay alive."
"Stop being rude to your poor mother and sort out the smoke thingy."
Frank shook his head exasperatedly and left the room.

Linda had made quiche, and they were sitting down and talking, and Gerard felt so comfortable, like he actually belonged here, for once. Then Frank said something, too quiet for anyone to hear.
"Can you repeat that, sweetie?"
"I need to say something."
"Go ahead."
"And, you probably already know this, and Jamia said you would probably already know this. And I know you'll still love me, but, I, I still need to say it."
He gripped Gerards hand under the table, and Linda smiled at him. "I think I do know, but I'll let you tell me in your own time."
Frank bit his lip. "Im- Gerards- I-," Gerard held on harder. "Im dating Gerard."
Linda nodded. "That's great Honey."
"Thanks. That's why he's here."
"Even if you don't have serious things to tell me, Gerards welcome anytime."
"Thanks," Gerard murmured "The quiche is great, too."
"You're a lovely boy, and Frank? You never have to worry about what I'll think of you. I love you unconditionally."
"I know, mum. I love you too."
"So we'll be seeing even more of Gerard?" She smiled at him and raised her eyebrow. He blushed and nodded.

~

Jamia was sitting on her roof, because apparently whoever orchestrates this mess of a universe really likes the aesthetic of sitting on roofs, and she was staring at her phone.

Lindsey had posted a photo of her in the cute shirt Jamia had got her, and she was obviously wasted. She had followed this by sending a snapchat. A snapchat that Jamia didn't know if she wanted to open. The phenomenon of the infatuated, they care too much about the object of their love, and too little about actual reasoning. So Jamia was tempted, so tempted, to open it. Even if not to reply, just to see. But drunk Lindsey was something she had encountered too many times, and she wanted anything but the repercussions, the flirting, the possible nudes. Because part of her wanted them so badly it hurt.

She opened the snap.

It was, as predicted, a blurry selfie of a braless Lindsey. The caption 'why did we stop talking?' and if Lindsey was sober, Jamia would have just told her she was a homophobic piece of shit. But Lindsey under the influence of alcohol was a completely different person. Apparently being drunk reveals your true feelings, so apparently Lindseys true feelings were for Jamia. But Jamia was done with all of the temporary romances and acting like everything meant nothing. With the momentary bliss and eternal damnation. With Lindseys cute smile and harsh words. With every angel or demon that followed in her footsteps.

So she didn't reply to her message, and she left each following message with a little opened notification. And if Lindsey noticed, then she noticed. Their friendship was in enough pieces that one more crack wouldn't hurt. Even if it was a Grand Canyon sized crack.

An// god this has so much plot im living. Does anyone have a favourite character? Whos plot should I focus on next? Xx