Kill All Your Friends (My Chemical Romance)

N°2

Over the course of the next few weeks left in the summer, Mikey had come over almost everyday. I finished unpacking about a week ago, and Mikey had given me all the gossip regarding Summerfield. He didn't mention any friends, and it felt rude to ask. So I didn't. I did learn his full name was Michael. No wonder he went by Mikey.
I told him about Louisiana, and he told me about New Jersey. He wasn't surprised to find I was from Louisiana, I guess my voice gave it away. He said I had an accent, but it wasn't an annoying southern drawl, to my relief.
By the end of the four weeks, we were best friends. I was glad to have met someone, and I was even more relieved to not be facing a new school alone. Maybe this move wouldn't be so bad after all.
But now it was the second week of school. Mikey was right; Tiffany Blew practically ran the school. I managed to dodge her so far, but I haven't seen Mikey once. He hasn't even answered my calls. I was beyond mad at him.
"Hey new girl."
I turned around to find a scraggly teen boy with shaggy hair, too many scarves, and a grungey boho-ish style.
"I'm Ryan Ross." He extended a hand. I tilted my head and shook his hand.
"Juliet. How'd you know I'm new?" I asked.
"I know everyone, and I know new faces." He winked. "Especially the pretty ones."
I shifted my weight. Uncomfortable, and wishing for my new friend Mikey to come help me, but that was far fetched. At this point I wondered if i just made him up, and the whole Tiffany Blew thing was just a coincidence. I really wished I could leave and not be considered rude for running away. Ryan's smile fell. "Wait, no I didn't mean it like that! It was supposed to be a compliment—" Ryan stopped and sighed. "I'm gay. I was just trying to be nice; you looked a little lost."
Ryan looked so distraught that I couldn't help but chuckle. "Thanks. Do you know where history is?"
"Mr. Dubose?" He asked. I nodded. "Right this way." He made an elaborate theater wave down the hallway in the opposite direction from where I was headed.
The phrase suddenly reminded me of my friend. "Hey, Ryan, do you know Mikey Way?"
"I," Ryan stopped for a second. "I, um, yeah. I knew Mikey." He gave me an uneasy side glance. "Why do you wanna know?"
"Well, I met him the other day, and—"
Ryan quickly pulled me into an empty classroom. "Juliet, are you okay?"
"What? Yes, I'm fine. Look, I just need to know where he is. He hasn't answered my calls for days, and I'm worried." I said blatantly confused. Why was this guy acting so weird? Was Mikey a bad person?
"Juliet, Mikey is..." he trailed off. He was searching for words, and he looked sympathetic. My stomach dropped. "Look, let's go to the nurse. I don't think you're okay."
"No, I'm fine. What happened to Mikey?" I was getting irritated and my voice was getting louder.
"Juliet—"
"Ryan." I gave him a look and he sighed.
"Mikey Way is dead. He died a year ago. He and his brother were hanging out by the old bridge, and he fell off." Ryan explained softly. "Now can we please go to the nurse—"
"You're a liar." I pulled out my phone. "Look his number is right here." I held up my phone for Ryan to see the contact.
He gave me a scared look. "How'd you get that?"
"He gave it to me, obviously." I rolled my eyes. "Now stop joking around, we're gonna be late—"
"Look." He pulled out his own phone and searched up Mikey. Google pulled up news articles matching Ryan's story.
I shoved his phone back into his hands as my head started spinning. Mikey wasn't dead. I saw him just two weeks ago. I talked to him. I felt him. How was he dead? I quickly pushed my way outside. I needed to talk to Mikey.
"Juliet!" Ryan called. His voice hung on empty air. I was already out the door. I walked down the halls until I found the entrance. The way home was a bit of a walk, and I knew I couldn't talk to Mikey if I was out of breath, so I simply held a brisk pace.
"What are you doing, Julie?" I was startled by Mikey's—slightly annoyed—voice.
"Where did you come from?" I asked taking a step back. None of this made sense.
"You should have had that talk with your mom by now." He laughed. We had stopped walking now.
"Mikey. I'm really freaked out. This kid at school said you're dead. You fell off a bridge or something. I didn't believe him, but then he pulled up these google articles and—"
Mikey put a finger over my lips to shut me up. I took a deep breath. "He's right. I did die."