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Ch.3---- Undying Feelings

"I feel that I need to separate myself from Pete and the others to allow myself the proper study time in class to accomplish my assignments on time." I told Mrs. Versalli, the principal.

"I'm very pleased with you Mr. Iero." She said with a smile; her wrinkled skin smoothening itself out as it pulled into a wide smile. Hasn't she heard of botox? She could really use some. "What changes would you wish to make?" I dug around in my backpack and handed her a list. Mrs. Versalli took it and read it over, nodding to herself. "Seeing as these are the classes you're already taking, except for art, I can make the necessary switches. Do you wish to take art?"

"Yes ma'am." I told her with a brief nod.

"You'll do the work?" Mrs. Versalli's tone got serious as she eyed me intensely. How hard could art work be? You doodle or paint and tell yourself you've created a masterpiece no matter how shitty it is.

"Yes ma'am." I repeated.

"Well, I'll switch your schedule. You make go to first period." Mrs. Versalli said as she picked up her phone and punched in a few numbers.

"Thank you." I told her with a genuine smile as I stood up from the chair and headed for the door. She nodded and half waved to me as she read my new schedule to the guidance counselor so he could change it in the system. I walked out of the office completely and into the crowd of students heading to class.

"How'd it go?" Bob suddenly appeared next to me; an unfamiliar face beside him.

"Fine." I said as I looked to the new person. "You are-?"

"Ray." The boy told me with a nervous smile. "Bob told me to come with him. I-I hope you don't mind."

"If Bob likes you then I don't give a fuck." I said as I turned my attention back to avoiding getting trampled. I'm a bit smaller than most of the kids here.

"A-are you the one who's been talking to Gee lately?" Ray asked, still nervous.

"Yep." I replied without removing my eyes from the hall. "You must be the person he mentioned along with his brother." I abruptly stopped and turned to Ray. "What do you know about him?" I asked, my eyebrows pushing together in curiosity. "He's one of the hardest people to figure out that I've ever come in contact with."

"Gerard keeps himself in his own shell so others can't figure him out." Ray told me quietly, avoiding eye contact. What was his problem? "H-he's not too fond of you."

"He will be." I said with a small shrug and Bob laughed. "What's his deal though? Like, he's kinda rude." Ray looked at me directly now, apprehensive and a bit afraid. His eyes scanned over me as though he was carefully studying me then he placed his hand on my shoulder and pulled me off to the side of the hall.

"Gerard had a really bad experience once." Ray said quietly. "He got really hurt." I stared right back at him. No wonder Gerard is so apprehensive to my talking to him. He doesn't want it to repeat. Then again, who really wants to get hurt a first time? "Just, if you're doing this for some bet or dare or anything like that, don't. Leave him be unless you really do care for him." There was warning in Ray's voice and I could only manage to nod my head.

"Well I just had my entire schedule changed to match his." I told Ray with a smile as his hand left my shoulder.

"Push him, but don't push him too hard." Ray said again with warning.

"Come on Ray, we'll be late." Bob said from behind and Ray nodded, giving me one more warning look before turning and heading into the sea of students with Bob as they headed to first period. I watched them disappear before putting myself back on track and getting to first period. I was the last one to arrive; but that's nothing new.

"What are you doing here Mr. Iero?" Mr. Muraz, the social studies teacher, asked me as I strolled in. "You don't belong here until fifth." He said with a slight frown.

"Schedule change." I said with a beaming smile; my eyes scanning the class room. In the far corner sat Gerard; hunched over most likely his sketchbook. Mr. Muraz looked me over then sighed, turning and looking around the room.

"The only seat available is in the back by Mr. Way." He said and I smiled widely.

"Perfect." I replied, more to myself than to him as I shifted my bag and headed towards the empty desk. "Hello again." I said as I carefully sat down next to Gerard.

"I admire your persistence." Gerard told me and I finally got a glimpse of what he was drawing. It was his own comic I'm assuming. He's an excellent artist. "Regardless of how futile your persistence is."

"Yes well," I stuck my bag on the ground next to me, pulling a notebook out and lying it on the desk, "When I see something I want," I pulled out a pen and held it loosely between two of my fingers, "I won't give up until I get it."

"Don't strain yourself." Gerard replied as he carefully dragged the pen along the penciled lines, leaving a trail of thin black ink behind. From what I could see of the drawing, his one character was a bit of an outcast. Perhaps a shadow of himself? "It's rude to stare."

"As I've said, the eyes are drawn to beauty." I replied; tapping the tip of the pen against my lip ring. "What is it that you're drawing?"

"I'm creating." Gerard corrected me. Man was he very hard to crack. Most people (men) I talk to stutter when attempting to talk back because they're overly infatuated with me. While Gerard's ignorance was aggravating, it was rather refreshing at the same time.

"Alright; what is it that you're creating?" I asked, trying to stay calm and collected.

"Comic." Gerard said, leaning up away from his drawing to examine it.

"That's cool." I said, smiling though he wasn't looking. "You really like to draw."

"It passes the time." He said as he pressed the pen back to the paper to continue. "I'm assuming you purposely changed your schedule to match mine in hopes that you'll be able to persuade me into liking you or more specifically in your case to go to the dance." His eyes left the paper and rested on my face. I swallowed hard then sighed heavily; nodding. I really couldn't lie. "That's what I thought."

"Why won't you give me a chance?" I asked him with a little stress. "You don't even look at me when you talk."

"It's called multi tasking."

"It's called being rude." I said a little harshly. "And putting everything into a polite form doesn't make it less rude. It simply covers the fact that you're hiding yourself from others." Gerard stared at me blankly; almost like he was either lost or thinking. "So tell me, to my face, why you won't go to the dance with me."

"I've already given you a reply to that question." Gerard said as he continued to stare.

"Yeah; I'm not your type." I said with a bit of mockery. "What's your type?"

"Not you." Gerard told me a little coldly. "You should change your schedule back so you can have classes with your friends."

"What if I want to be your friend?" I challenged with a smile. "It won't kill you to at least give me that."

"Why should I give you anything?"

"You owe me." I told him, lowering my hand to the desk. He looked to me with confusion.

"Owe you for what?" Gerard asked with a little apprehension.

"For constantly distracting me with your beauty." I told him, a soft smile on my lips as I stared at him. Again Gerard turned a soft shade of pink and a small smile even managed to pull at his lips as well. "So, if you don't want to go to the dance with me; fine. But you can be my friend."

"Yes but I'm not absurdly popular." Gerard looked back to his paper. I clenched my jaw tightly. He's purposely fighting me now. I can tell. He has interest, but he's denying it. At least we're making some progress.

"I can make you popular." I suggested with a smile. "Be seen with me and my other friends and you'll social status will boost over night."

"Popularity isn't everything." Gerard told me. "I happen to enjoy being left alone actually. It's peaceful and private."

"Then I'll tell people to leave you alone." I'm pretty sure Mr. Muraz has been teaching for a few minutes but I never pay attention. Plus, I'm a bit busy. "In case you haven't noticed, people tend to listen to me."

"Congratulations." There was some sarcasm in Gerard's voice and I took a deep breath. He was really trying my patience. "I don't see the benefit or enjoyment in having the ability to control other people." His eyes wandered from his paper and to mine again. "Nor do I see the benefit of being some who allows them self to be controlled. The weak minded who become submissive get taken advantage of by those with stronger minds."

"What's with the psychology shit all the time?" I asked a little coldly.

"See enough of them and you pick it up." Gerard replied with some pain and I, yet again, regretted for speaking harshly to him. It's obvious he's had trauma in his past and my bitterness isn't helping any. Still, he's so damn hard to remain calm around.

"I'm sorry." I said through a rather heavy sigh.

"For what?" Gerard asked me.

"For being harsh. I didn't mean to." I told him honestly.

"It's who you are." Gerard said with a shrug. "You can't be expected to change." That pushed me again.

"No, it's not who I am." I shot at him, careful to keep quiet so I wouldn't disturb the lesson. "What gives you the right to judge people you don't know?"

"The same thing that you think allows you to do so." Gerard suddenly pushed his things into his bag. "But then again, why listen to the school freak?" He asked bitterly as he stood up and left the classroom; muttering something about the nurse to Mr. Muraz who nodded then looked at me. I slid down in my chair and tapped my pen against my notebook in frustration; tugging at my lip ring with my teeth.

Gerard Way is one complex human being.

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"Our little circle keeps growing." Pete said as everyone gathered in our room for another thrilling game of 'Truth or Dare'. "Welcome almighty fro man."

"It's Ray." Bob said with annoyance and Pete giggled.

"I like Almighty-fro better." Pete said and Bob sighed heavily, rolling his eyes. "But he's your boyfriend so-"

"He's not my boyfriend!" Bob snapped a little too quickly which of course gave the rest of us doubt and smug smirks. Bob was totally hiding; hiding the fact that he was dating Ray. Or at least something along those lines. "He's my friend who I invited, for whatever reason, to come hang out with us. Though I'm not sure letting him near all of you this soon was a good idea." We all grinned proudly at Ray who was nervously smiling as he stayed close to Bob since, beside me, he's the only one Ray really knows. "He's not playing your torturous games either."

"He has a name and he can speak for himself." I told Bob. "So Ray, you want to join in our merriment?"

"Uh...sure?" Ray told me shyly. He's totally perfect for Bob. He's like Ryan; only bigger and with a lot more hair. And by bigger I mean muscular. "H-how do you play?"

"You've never played 'truth or dare' before?" Brendon asked with a raised eyebrow; sitting far from Bob with Ryan securely in his lap. Ever since our last game Brendon has kept Ryan away from Bob. It only made us all, including Bob, laugh. He wouldn't do anything to Ryan.

”Well I have but...if Bob doesn't want me to play it must be for a valid reason." Ray said, nervously playing with his hands which rested in his lap.

"The only difference is if you refuse to do a dare given to you, you strip and streak across school grounds." I told Ray calmly.

"It's liberating." Pete told him with a smile.

"And also embarrassing." Patrick mumbled, adjusting his hat on his head. "I'm not chasing your naked ass this time."

"You always chase my naked ass." Pete told him with a smirk. "Every night in your room-" Patrick's hand flew over Pete's mouth and I started laughing as did Brendon.

"You'll have to excuse Pete." I told Ray. "He tends to be a bit..."

"Perverted." Bob said with annoyance.

"Free minded." I said because we were all perverted. "He doesn't really know the meaning of 'proper etiquette' in the sense that he'll do or say anything on his mind." Pete straddled himself over Patrick, tonguing him against Patrick's will. "I rest my case."

"It's ok." Ray said though he was still apprehensive. "Don't do anything you wouldn't because I'm here..."

"Trust me;" Brendon took his hands from Ryan's waist and slid them into the rim of Ryan's jeans. "We won't."

"Before this turns into a giant orgy," I said and a round of smiles and small giggles erupted, "Let's get at least one round in. Ray, since you're new, you can decide to ask or be asked first."

"Be asked." Ray said with a little excitement.

"Bob, you have the honors since you brought him." I leaned back on my arms as Bob gave me a small grateful smile. Totally dating Ray; or hoping.

"Truth or dare?" Bob asked Ray.

"Hmmm...truth." Myself and Brendon sighed because we wanted to see him do a dare; even if Bob would make it something incredibly light.

"Have you ever had a boyfriend before?" Bob asked and Ray stared at him for a moment.

"Y-yeah." Ray replied with a little shame, looking to his lap. Something was bothering him; it was evident. But the tension between the two was also very evident. They obviously weren't going out; yet. I'll fix that if I can.

"Who's next?" I asked to relieve them of the attention and of course Brendon's hand flew up with a chorus of 'ooh! ooh! me me me!'. "T or D Brendon?" I asked him.

"Dare!" Brendon yelled with a somewhat evil smile; Ryan yet again jumping. How the hell can't he be used to Brendon's hyper, loud personality? They've been dating a month.

"I dare you to get Ryan down to his boxers by the end of the evening." I said with a smile and Ryan's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Pete even released Patrick to look at them with a large grin.

"Ok!" Brendon eagerly answered.

"What?!" Ryan turned himself around to face Brendon. "Bren, I don't know your friends that well..."

"Oh lighten up Ross." Pete told him. "If it'll make you happy, I'll strip again."

"NO!" We all shouted at him at once. It's bad enough I get to see him naked too often.

"Party poopers." Pete frowned and crossed his arms; sitting properly in Patrick's lap. "Truth or dare Trick?" He leaned his head back to talk to Patrick; his attempt in ignoring the rest of us.

"Dare." Patrick told him. Pete opened his mouth when Patrick cut him off quickly. "And your clothes, as well as mine, are staying on." Pete shut his mouth again and we laughed. Patrick is finally getting the upper hand on Pete. Maybe Patrick can handle Pete after all.

"Fine." Pete replied with misery. "I dare you to help remove Ryan's clothes by the end of the evening." He looked to Ryan with a smirk and Ryan went white. Everyone needs a good initiation.

"You want me touching someone else?" Patrick asked with amusement. "Someone just as short and just as hot-"

"Will you all lay off Ryan?!" Brendon suddenly yelled. "God; I'm going to hide him all from you vicious people. He's mine!"

"I'm no ones." Ryan said in defense. "You need to lighten up Brendon." I contained my laughter as Brendon got scolded. Here I thought Ryan was this shy, quiet person but damn he can be scary too. "They're only joking. I'm dating you and no one else." Brendon stared at Ryan with a little shock; nodding his understanding. "Now," He stuck his arms to the side with a smile, "I believe you have a dare."

"Way to go Ryan." I complimented him. Brendon kissed Ryan then moved him off his lap; picking Ryan up and sticking him on my bed after. "Any mess you two make you're cleaning up!" I warned them. "And buying me new sheets!"

"Well we're down to five people now." Patrick said with amusement, moving him and Pete away from my bed. "I'm not going to attempt my dare and I'm not streaking because it was unfair." All of us, except Pete, agreed. Pete just wanted to get Patrick naked; not that he doesn't see it practically every night. "Truth or dare Pete?"

"Dare." Pete chimed, pulling himself from Patrick's arms then falling onto the floor next to him.

"I dare you to be quiet the remainder of the game." Pete's mouth fell open and Patrick grinned at him. He was getting very good at dares. That would drive Pete insane. "And if you talk, you're not allowed in my room for a week." Pete's mouth fell even farther while I fell backwards with laughter. Not a single word came out though. "Alright; who's next?" He asked with satisfaction.

"I-I'll g-go!" I managed to get out through my choking.

"Can I ask?" Ray suddenly put himself forward.

"Sure." Patrick said with a shrug as I sat myself back up and regained my breathing.

"Truth or dare?" Ray asked me. I didn't feel like doing anything stupid shit tonight so I opted for the easy, boring choice.

"Truth." I said, still choking a bit.

"Do you really care about Gerard?" Ray asked and my laughter instantly vanished. Everyone, except Brendon and Ryan, looked seriously at me. I felt my cheeks get warm as eyes burned into me. Ray was really looking seriously at me; concern.

"Yeah;" I said quietly. "I actually really do." Pete's mouth practically hit the floor and Patrick's eyes widened. "I do like Gerard Way." I shuffled a bit. "And I'm going to get him to be my date to the dance."