Headfirst for You

Ch 2 Trusty Punk

While moving in, Gerard wondered about his neighbors. Where he used to live, there was Ms. Wright, cat lady extravaganza that never knew that peeping toms would watch her shower through a small window. Not until Gerard left an anonymous note on the door, did she get the window removed.

There was also the Barsons who had probably the nicest house on the block.

It was a corner house, room for a pool and barbecues. And Catherine Barson was what Gerard considered an angel. Long light strawberry blonde hair with the palest skin that it almost illuminated. Gerard always wished he had the guts to ask her out but the most interaction between the two was talking at barbecues, which in that case, Gerard barely said a full two or three sentences.

"Hey! Give it back!"

Gerard turned his head to see a boy with a black fluffy mohawk jumping up and down trying to get something out of a taller kid's hand. Yeah, the kid was short, but the other guy was tall, really tall. It was a really unfair match.

"Come on, it's Joy Division! My dad gave me that!" The boy pleaded.

Gerard put the box down and made his way over to the sprawl. Normally he didn't get involved but the kid was at an unfair disadvantage and Gerard digged Joy Division. It could've been because the kid was so different, much like Gerard himself, with the rebellious hair and silver nose and lip piercings, but Gerard didn't admit that. But he didn't deny it either.

"What do you want?" Asked the taller boy who was towering over Gerard.

"Just give the kid his tape back." Gerard sighed, slightly annoyed by the giant's attitude.

"This doesn't involve you." He snapped back.

"I like Joy Division, so I guess it could." Gerard shrugged.

The tall kid looked into Gerard's eyes. "You're the new kid, huh?" He motioned his head to the house that Gerard was settling into.

"Yeah..."

The tall kid looked around the street and handed the tape to Gerard. "Since you're fresh, you don't understand how it works around here." The kid looked around and pointed at the shorter one. "Hope you're happy that your boyfriend saved you."

After the tall kid walked away, Gerard handed the tape to the punk and fixed his jacket a bit.

"Thanks." The kid looked it over. "My name's Frank."

"Gerard." Gerard bit the inside of his mouth. He was never the best at talking to people.

"Thanks Gerard. Sorry about the whole... boyfriend thing..." Frank looked up and smiled and scratched the back of his head.

"It's okay."

"Gerard! Can you bring in the box on the lawn?" Gerard's mom called out. "I think it's yours!"

"Yeah Ma!" He hollered back.

Frank stuffed the plastic box in his back pocket. "Do you need any help? You pretty much saved me from getting squashed so..."

Gerard stuttered for a bit. No one really talked to him. He was always treated like an omen or some kind of voodoo object. He didn't even know why Catherine would talk to him at the neighborhood get-togethers. He was dirt compared to her. "Sure, but only if you want to..." Gerard stuffed his hands in his pockets and headed over to the box. Frank followed Gerard, wanting to see the house first so he knew where to go.

"I never knew the people that used to live here." Frank followed Gerard up the stairs. "My house is the smaller one a couple doors down. With the willow tree."