The Boy In The Red Beanie

A Trip Down Memory Lane

"Why weren't you in music and science?" Gerard asks Tyler when walking into their dorm, "Don't worry about it." Tyler shrugs his shoulders. "I'm gonna worry about it now and plus you left me all alone with the rich kids in music and left me with Bob in science, it was shit," Gerard says while kicking his shoes off.

"Sorry about that, I decided to ditch, I'll explain later." Tyler rolls over to face the wall to try and fall asleep, "I'm tired so I'm going to go to bed early." "Okay, I'll save some food for you if you wake up in the middle of the night." Gerard walks into their little kitchen that the school decided to add into their already small dorm. "Thanks, goodnight." Tyler yawns.

Tyler's POV:
"Thanks, goodnight," I said, I lied. I wasn't actually going to bed. I couldn't go to bed. Back home everyone thought I was really creative and intelligent, but here that was all looked over. Here, you are either rich or poor. There is no in-between. Even if you're Pete Wentz, the smartest kid in the school, you still don't matter to the teachers because you're poor. Mr. Armstong is the only one who doesn't judge you by that stuff. If it weren't for him being the principal, the poor kids wouldn't even get to go here. Yet the bullies are still never taken care of.

Why does Bob have to bully me? Is it because I'm poor? Or that I don't fit in? I just don't get it, I didn't do anything to him. My mind checked yes on every one of those questions. Even if I knew the real answer on why he does bully me, I'd still think it's because I'm poor, and just don't fit it. Going from a school that encouraged me not to fit in and be different from one that did just added confusion and messed with my mental health. Which did the world want me to be?

An ache formed at the back of my throat. Great. Bob Bryar had brought me to the point of crying and I was just going to sit here and let it happen.

My breaths shortened, causing me to start getting choked up. Tears welled up in my eyes. Then, the glow of the lamp from the opposite corner of the room reappeared.

I quickly wiped away at my eyes and acted like I was coughing after realizing Gerard was awake.

"Ty, you're not fooling me. You need to get over here and tell me what is going on." He said, softly offering a spot on the bed next to him. "That won't change anything, Gerard-" I started. "Bullshit." he interjected, "It's going to help me understand where your mind is right now and why your acting this way and don't end up saying something to make it worse or something and protect you from what's going on to the best of my ability. Now, please, come here and talk to me."

I rolled my eyes, getting up to sit down. "Seriously Gerard, this isn't going to change anything." I sighed while sitting down. "Shut the hell up. You know it's better to vent about it, instead of keeping it all bottled up. So tell me what happened Ty." Ugh he has a point, but should I tell him? I could just lie... no I can't do that to him, he is my best friend.

"I just hate this school. Specifically because Bob Bryar and his dumbass gang that go here. I leave them alone and avoid them the best I can, yet they still treat me like a sack of shit. Lately, I've been wondering about how they can just do that. Why doesn't Mr. Armstrong or any of the teachers stop them? Is it because their parents are rich or some important person? Why can't they just leave me the hell alone?" At this point I'm bawling into Gerard's chest while he messes with my hair to try to calm me down, "Oh sweetie, why didn't you tell me? I would have talked to Mr. Armstrong, we are his favorite students, he would have helped if you just told him." God dammit why did Gerard have to get all wise with me? He is correct though, I sniffle really loudly, "I guess you're right... but when should we go see him about this?"

Gerard thought for a couple moments before speaking, "Well it is only 7 and he also lives on campus, he could still be in his office, we can see him now or in the morning if you want." I thought for a few seconds, "In the morning, I don't want to go now with puffy red eyes." If I'm going to be honest that's not the only reason why, what if I tell Mr. Armstrong and it just makes it worse? It could get more physical than just pushing me around and calling me 'loser,' 'emo,' 'gay,' or my personal favorite 'emo fag.' Yep super original on their end of the insults, sometimes I question how they got into this school but their parents are loaded so I guess that comes into play. My stomach rumbles really loud, stupid stomach ruining the few moments of silence.

"We can go tomorrow morning, that will be fine, but first you need food, then taking a shower, and after all that you can go to bed. I know how you get when you get all depressed, you won't eat, you won't take a shower, and you rarely sleep." Gerard gets off the bed to make me some food, "But-" I begin to talk but Gerard cuts me off, "No buts, go start the shower while I reheat the food in the fridge." I roll my eyes, why does he have to be so motherly? I mean I know why but still, I'm 17 I can make myself my own damn food.

"Don't sass me in your head." Gerard yells from the kitchen. "What the FUCK?!" I shake my head and grab a towel then head into the shower.

Gerard's POV
I shake my head and go back to heating up Ty's and mine food. I love that kid but he can be a pain in the ass, ever since I met him 11 years ago when I moved into the house next to his. I met him on the way to the local elementary school. He actually was the one to show me to the bus stop. He was a very outgoing kid back then he introduced himself to me the next day I moved into the neighborhood.

*Flashback to when Gerard and Tyler were 6*

"HEY KID!" I turn around to see a kid on the sidewalk. "Uh, hi?" I asked semi-awkwardly. "I noticed you moved here yesterday... Do you need to know the way to school?" The boy walked up to me, "Yeah... I forgot the way to school." I hide my face behind my shoulder length black hair because I'm embarrassed.

"Cool, I can show you the way to school, it's a couple minute walk from here. Oh by the way I'm Tyler." The boy... Tyler sticks his hand out for me to shake. "I'm Gerard." I smile and shake his hand.

*Present day*

We've been best friends ever since that day. Suddenly, I got choked up. Tyler is not the same as he used to be. He has changed so much since then. He was so outgoing, he loved to be confident and positive about everything, and he was friends with everyone. Now, he's just really sad, quiet all the time, and has only 4 friends. I miss how he used to be, sometimes I wish he was still like that, maybe he would be able to stand up for himself against Bob.

Tyler just appears out of nowhere, "Why are you crying?" "Because I was thinking about when we first met and how much you've changed." I whipped my tears away. Tyler's eyebrows scrunched together almost sympathetically. "No, no, no, shit, don't cry. It's fine, I'm still like I was back then." He took me into his arms. Tyler initiating a hug? That's a first. (That's GAYYYY -Trin)

I scoffed. "Do you not see the difference? Do you not feel a difference? You've become way less social and more shy and you only have like 4 friends now. You can't even deny that." Tyler backs out of the hug and gave me a pissed off look. "I have more than four friends, Geebear, thank you very much." I cringed at that nickname, but chose to ignore it.

"Oh yeah? Who are they?" I asked, crossing my arms. He pondered for a few seconds before saying, "Well, there's you, Mikey, Josh, Patrick... wait, you're right I don't have anymore oh shit." I nodded, "Yeah, that's what I thought, motherfucker."

Tyler looked offended. "Woah woah woah, that's not fair. I gave you a cute nickname you're not supposed to call me a motherfucker. You're supposed to call me something like 'Tyger' or something like that." I shot him a disgusted glance. "How would that even be spelled?" Tyler chuckled cockily, "T-y-g-e-r."

I brought my hand up to the bridge of my nose and held it there. "You're so fuckin' stupid." I said with a sigh before giggling. Tyler held back his own laugh. He looked like he was about to say something in defense, but I cut him off. "Nope, you know what, you need to eat. Here's your food now eat and go to bed so we can get to Mr. Armstrong's office in the morning. This is all going to be worth it okay?" I asked, sliding his food to his side of the table he sat down at.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." He said, shrugging his shoulders. I laughed while walking away, "Damn straight." I muttered. Once I got back to my bed to get covered up I heard him say quietly, "Thanks Gee." I smiled and drifted off to sleep after a while.