Pinky Promise (Frerard) ✔️

Eight

I wasn't looking forward to school on Monday. I was in a weird mood, and I didn't want to hurt any of my friends' feelings.

And the date with Lindsey hadn't ended well.

She was nice, and cute, but we wouldn't work out. There was some kind of spark missing.

The good news was we were still friends.

I walked into guitar class with my guitar and sat at my desk in the back, pulling my hood up and avoiding looking at anyone.

Someone tapped my head as the bell rang. I looked up to see Frank standing over me.

"You know I hate to do this, but hood off. School rules."

"I'm just having a really bad day," I murmured.

"You wanna talk after school?"

I nodded.

"Okay. If any administrators walk in, you gotta lose the hood, Gee. Just follow along. You don't have to play or anything today."

I smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

"'Course." He clapped and walked away from me. "Alright, everyone! Let's learn A."

I just sat with my guitar in my lap, tapping the body and observing the class. I didn't want to be here. I didn't even want to talk to my friends today. I had skipped lunch.

Class seemed to be longer than usual, probably because I wasn't playing. I was reading and identifying notes, instead.

The bell rang, and everyone rushed to put their guitars away. Lindsey gave me a questioning look as I turned to go back into the classroom, but I ignored her.

"What's going on today?" Frank asked, pulling a chair over for me.

I shrugged and picked at the threads on my sweatshirt sleeve.

"Hey. Can you look at me please?"

I looked up at him.

"Gerard, I'm serious. Did something happen this weekend?"

I shook my head.

"Can you tell me what you did this weekend?"

"I went on a date," I muttered quietly.

"Um, that's good! I think. How'd it go?"

"Okay."

"Are you guys...together?"

I shook my head. "It wouldn't work out. We're just friends."

"Okay. Did something else happen?"

I shook my head again.

"Okay, Gee, I need you to listen to me." He moved my hood out of my face so he could see me. "Hi there. Good to see ya. I make observations about the kids in my classes who worry me so I can tell administration if it gets worse. You are one of those kids. Because regardless of how close we are in age or how good friends we are, you're still my student and I need to look out for you. So can you please tell me what's going on?"

I blinked back tears.

"Gerard. Please."

I sniffed quietly.

"Honey, if you don't talk to me, I'm not going to be able to help you."

"Can I have a hug?" I asked quietly. My voice was shaky.

"Yeah, of course."

He stood up and wrapped me in his arms, squeezing tightly. I bit my lip to keep from sobbing and buried my face in his shoulder.