Pinky Promise (Frerard) ✔️

Prologue/One

There's a lot of events that led me to my husband.

Mostly high school.

We were high school sweethearts. Sort of.

I was in high school. He was my teacher. Yes, it sounds so illegal, and originally I just did it because I was lonely, but I fell in love.

I sigh and turn over to look at Frank. He stares back at me with soft eyes. "Good morning."

"Good morning."

What's four years?

We made a pinky promise. And you can't break that. 

One

I slouched low in my seat. It was a new semester, and I had guitar as my elective. I didn't want to be here, but I was new to the school and didn't know how anything worked, so the school chose an elective for me.

The teacher–a short, punk looking man covered in tattoos–was reading roll call. "I'm doing it from the back to spice it up, y'all. Gerard Way?"

I blinked, not realizing that I'd be called so quick. He called my name again before I could respond. I put up my hand and called, "Here!"

"Alright, rad, Gerard's here. See me after class, okay?"

I nodded and stared at my lap, picking at threads on my jeans. Fuck. Everyone was going to think something was up.

"Okay, everyone," he said. I hadn't realized he had already finished the attendance. "My name is Mr. Iero, that's I-E-R-O, and you can also call me Mr. I, if that's easier. Let's start with something simple. Who has a guitar at home?"

Three people raised their hands. Mr. Iero nodded. "Alright. That's about what I expected. It's not going to be very easy to practice for most of you. So I'm always here after school and you can take out one of the guitars and use it. Today is the first day of the new semester, and I know you're all going to hate me, but we're going to do some icebreakers. Um, let's say name and favorite band or artist. I'm Mr. Iero, and my favorite band is Black Flag."

The girl sitting in front of him raised her hand to go next. He nodded. "We'll start with you and go by row. Go ahead."

"I'm Lindsey, and I really love David Bowie."

Mr. Iero smiled. "Rad! Okay, next?"

I hadn't realized I'd zoned out until I heard Mr. Iero calling my name. My face flushed red and I ducked my head. "Uh, my turn? Okay, um, I'm Gerard, and I like the Misfits."

"One of my favorites." Mr. Iero shifted his weight. "Please don't expect me to magically know all your names now. I'll probably associate them with bands and shit. Give me like a week. Also, swear as much as you want in this class. Learning guitar hurts, I know. You're all seniors. You can swear. I don't care."

A little weight lifted on my shoulders. I had accidentally sworn in front of my math teacher when I cut my finger one day and she gave me detention for a week.

"We have like five minutes to just chill and socialize now," Mr. Iero said. "Just hang out with friends or whatever."

I bit my lip. My only friend was my brother Mikey, and I didn't like him, to be honest. I didn't have any friends other than that.

That girl Lindsey who had first gone sat backwards on the chair in front of me. "Gerard, right?"

I nodded.

"Cute name. I'm Lindsey." She smiled. "You seem like the type to like David Bowie."

"I...thanks?"