FicWad

Willow Renae always dreamed of a happy ending, away from her abusive father and out of this cage-like town. But she never

got very much, no matter how much she tried. She was an outcast no matter how beautiful she was, no matter how kind she

really wanted to be, she always sent people this vibe, sending them off, as she seethed inside her broken shell. The way

she looked at the world, life never had those happy moments. And she didn't believe in them, either. The way she felt

about happiness, was the way her father felt about being sober; that part of him wasn't even alive anymore.
Willow, however, believed in one thing. And that was art. She expressed her art in ways no one could assess, it was angry

in a beautiful way. Yet it always returned them a vibe of pure despair, as if crying out for help. But no one knew about

her father, they all thought her life was perfect, amazing. So when they caught the heartbroken vibe, everyone asked

themselves, "What would she need to be saved from?" So Willow decided to persue her dreams, and applied for Visual Arts

College, they gladly excepted her and she told her father right away. He fumed with anger at first, and she cringed,

afraid to be hit, but he only took a deep breath and shook his head, muttering, "Fine. But you better be here in time for

dinner or you'll be kicked out of this house." Willow solemnly nodded her head.
She was twenty years old at the time, so being kicked out wouldn't be such a big deal besides the fact that she had

nowhere to go. Nowhere to hide. No friends to pick her up in the pouring rain at a bus stop, telling her to stop being a

moron and to get in that car before she got sick. She had nothing besides her father and her artwork. And the longer

Willow stayed there, the more she reminded herself, "This bloody mess of a house will never be my home." Even without the

reminders, she would always remember; she had not a home, but a cage. Where her father would look at her with moments of

sympathy, where sober crawled at the surface, but no matter how sober he got, he would never even concider unlocking the

cage and letting her free.
When the day finally came, she rushed to the school, taking a second glance at her father passed out on the floor before

leaving a note. She decided not to take the bus, but to run, tripping over her feet and wishing she had money. But of

course her father would never allow that, would he? "He's just afraid." She thought to herself, "That if I get my hands on

some cash, I'll leave and never come back." When she entered the school she took a good look around, smiling at the

welcoming aura it gave her. She glanced at her schedule, and wandered around to find Cartooning, she probably looked as

daft as her thick-headed father, playing around the school like a lost puppy, looking for the classroom. She was going to

be late. But finally, she found the room, and walked inside, sighing in disappointment as she noticed all the good seats

were taken before she looked in the back, noticing a boy with shoulder-leangth black hair that curled slightly, he wore a

sweatshirt and jeans with converse and was huddled over his desk, drawing something on his sketchpad. She watched him with

curious eyes and noticed how others avoided him, she glanced around, walking towards him and standing next to the seat

beside him.
"Is this seat taken?" She asks and he glances up at her and back at his sketchbook, vaguely interested.
"Sure. Go right ahead." He says and she sit down next to him, sensing the awkward vibe building up.
The entire time they didn't speak, except when the teacher recieved a phonecall, and had to retreat from the classroom for

something important. Everyone spoke to someone, except for the two. They sat in a silence that only they could build,

until Willow turned to him, glancing at his sketchpad. "So what are you drawing?"
He quickly covered it up, looking away. "Er, nothing."
She rolled her eyes, "Fine, anyway, I'm Willow Renae." She tried a smile, hoping she could cover the pain in her right

shoulder from the other night, when her father threw her up against the wall.
"Gerard Way." He confirmed, throwing his sketchpad into his desk before turning back to her.
Gerard had sensed something from the very beginning, and he knew that something was wrong, but he knew it was none of his

business. So he strayed from saying anything about that subject. They made small talk, Gerard's eye constantly caught on

her hand that was itching to grip her right shoulder. Gerard shot her a strange expression, not knowing whether her pain

was mentaly or physically. Or both. But again, who was Gerard to barge in on a girl's personal space? What was this girl

even doing here, next to him, noticing her beauty she could most likely score with any guy here. Gerard couldn't imagine.
"Wanna go get coffee after school?" He asked, suddenly regreting it once she didn't respond right away.
"Sure.. I mean, it's not like I have plans or anything." She said, smiling. Gerard threw on a grin, and their eyes caught

again. He was interested, never meeting a girl like her, and he wanted to know her more.
Afterwards Gerard was waiting by the door, Willow smiled, suprised that he would wait. She was even more suprised that he

hadn't moved away from her like the others, "Does my vibe not affect him?" She thought, shaking her head out of disbelief

with a smile on her face.
"Ready?" Gerard asked, and she nodded her head as they started walking to the coffee shop that was only a few blocks away.
"So," He started once they had their coffee and we settled at a table. "You're a bit... different. May I ask you

why you even bother talking to me?" Gerard asked, leaning his head against his hand that was proped up against the table.
'Because you're just like me' Willow wanted to say, she could read it in his eyes, he was going through pain, too.

"Because I like you," She managed to say, "You're not like the others."
Gerard smiled, forgetting why he ever avoided people. "Yeah. I like you, too. But I wanna ask, what's up with your

shoulder?" He asked, and Willow stiffened, looking away.
"N-nothing." She stuttered. 'Damn, why can't I just tell one goddamned lie?!'
"Oh? Then tell me, what's your family like?" Gerard pressed some questions, knowing that if there was a beautiful girl

that was in pain, it always started with their family.
"My family?" Gerard grinned, she was starting to crack. "Uhm, well, I have a Dad.."
"And..?"
"Just a dad." She confirmed.
"What's your dad like?"
Willow mentaly shook herself, knowing that Gerard was trying to get something out of her, but at the same time, she had

never had a friend before, and wondered, if she could trust someone like him? Someone who had the same pain as her, they

could relate. "He, uh, he get's drunk a lot."
"And is that related to the story of your shoulder?" He continued, face now completely serious, knowing he was getting

somewhere.
"N-no." Gerard could read her now, she stuttered when she lied.
"Yes it is."
"No, it i-isn't! Just a m-measley bruise.."
"Tell me the truth." Gerard pled, "I can help you."
Willow blinked, wide eyed as Gerard sat across from her. Never in her entire life had anyone told her that. Never. So

Willow gave in, nodding her head solemnly and saying. "Yes. He did it."
Gerard frowned, setting his hand on hers from across the table. He looked Willow in the eye and said, "I don't know what

will happen next, we may end up hating each other and we may become very close. But I want you to know, that no matter

what the trouble is, where the trouble is, when it is, and whatever the hell I'm in the middle of doing, I want you to

call me. And I'll be there before you know it. And if that bastard ever hurts you again, if you hesitate about calling me,

I will find out." Then he grinned, pulling out a piece of paper and scribbling something down on it and handing it to her.

"My number." He confirmed. Willow smiled, looking at him.
"No one has ever... done anything like this for me before." Willows face turned several shades of red as she put the note

in her pocket, Gerard only grinned.
"Anytime!"
Willow checked her watch, cursing, "Shit! I'm gonna be late. I really gotta go." I said, standing up as Gerard did, too.

"I'm so sorry, but my Dad strictly told me I had to be back before dinner or..." Willow cut off, shaking her head as she

headed out the door.
"Wait!"Gerard called, "Just come back to the school with me, I have my car there and I can get you home much faster."

Willow nodded her head as Gerard gave a cheeky smile, taking her hand as they ran to the school, panting by the time they

were sitting in his car and on the road.
"You didn't finish your sentence." Gerard said, watching the road.
"What?"
"What would your Dad do if you were late?" Gerard said, his voice quavered with anger as he could imagine what her father

would do.
"He said he'd kick me out."
"That's not much of a big deal, is it?"
"I don't have any money, Gerard. My dad's locked me up for all these years." Willow sighed, resting her head against the

window.
"Well, like I said, if any of that shit happens, just call me up."
She directed him to her house, constantly looking over at him and smiling. When they got there Gerard had gotten out and

opened her door for her. She smiled, watching him with careful eyes. She was about to leave when she turned back at him

and said, "Oh, and Gerard? Thank you." She leaned up and kissed his cheek, Gerard and her only blushed as she escaped into

her house and ran upstairs to her bedroom window in time to see him drive away.
"Willow??" A slurred voice came from downstairs as her body froze, afraid to see what her father wanted.
"..Yeah, Dad?" Her voice shook as she went down to the kitchen to her father standing arms crossed.
"Why the hell were you so late?!"
"What are you talking about, it's not even dinner yet!!" Willow argued, taking a step back once realizing that she had

talked back to her father.
His face boiled red as he grabbed a glass off of the counter and smashed it over her head and punching her eye, she cried

out in pain, falling back to the ground, "You think you're so big, huh?!?! Well, ya know what! YOU'RE NOT." And he kicked

her in the stomach before leaving her crying on the kitchen floor.
"Shit." She cried softly, trying to stand up.
"And clean up that broken glass, too!!" Her father yelled as Willow heard him open his beer and locking himself inside his

room. She didn't know when he'd ever come out.
The next day Willow had to put on a lot of make-up to cover the bruise that had formed on her face, mostly her hair

covering it and she prayed to God no one could see it. Especially Gerard. She had also fallen into the glass, leaving cuts

all over her back and arms so she had to wear a coat that day. And when she sat down at her desk Gerard was already there,

again drawing something but once he noticed Willow was there he put it away.
"'Ello." He said cheerfully, but Willow only glanced in his direction, shamfully looking away. Gerard raised a brow,

noticing her intentions to cover her face. "Willow, look at me." Gerard almost growled, knowing exactly what was to happen

next.
"No thanks." She whispered and Gerard frowned even more, standing up and walking in front of her to see her face, sweeping

her hair back and gasping. "Gerard I'm so sorry-" Willow tried, but Gerard stared in disbelief.
"I told you to call me! Why did he do this?? Why didn't you call me??"
"Gerard, I'm fine, really-"
"No, you're not and you know it." Gerard stated, and his face softened, watching her with sad eyes, "You're too much of a

good person to let this happen to you."
Tears started to swell in Willow's eyes as Gerard took her hand and they left the classroom and out to Gerard's car. She

cried silently as they both sat in the un-moving vehicle, Gerard started the engine and Willow's head shot up. "Wh-where

are we going?"
"Does your Dad work?" Gerard asked, not answering her question.
"Yeah, he'll be at work until three-thirty."
"Good."
"What? Where are we going?"
"We're going to your house, and we're going to grab all of your shit, and you're never going to see that house again."
"B-but where would I stay??"
"With me, of course." Willow couldn't believe what she was hearing, she stared at Gerard, trying to find a sign that he

might be joking, but he wasn't. He was dead serious.
When they got there Willow showed Gerard her bare room, "Easier to pack up, then." Gerard said with a smile, trying to

lighten the mood.
After packing, they threw her stuff into Gerard's car and they pulled out of the driveway the first second Willow's dad

arrived, he watched as his daughter left. Glaring through his drunken eyes and passed out on the curb.

The next few days were fine, Willow was getting closer and closer to Gerard, though the memories of her father are

what held her back, and she stilled refused to believe in happiness, even living with an amazing man who saved her life,

she couldn't bare the pain from her memories. Gerard sometimes caught her crying in her sleep, and tears drenched her face

like the blanket on her body. One night Gerard found her sitting on the couch, her face drenched and her body shaking.

"Willow?" Gerard asked, slowly creeping next to her.
"I'm scared, Gerard." She trembled and Gerard rushed over to her, pulling her into his arms and kept reminding her that

everthing would be okay, and that he would never let anything hurt her.
"Willow, look at me." Gerard pled, tilting her head up as their eyes caught contact. "The world's fucking ugly and there's

nothing you can ever do about it. But I'll tell you what we can do-we can fight it to the end, and I will promise you that

I will always be there to hold your hand. So please, don't give up, stay strong with me."
Willow nodded her head, tears silently pouring from her eyes as Gerard leaned down, softly kissing her lips before she

kissed back, their mouths moved together as the feel of their kisses overwhelmed them. She pressed her hands against his

chest before pulling back out of breath, looking directly into Gerard's eyes. "The world is fucking ugly." She confirmed,

her hand carressing his cheek, "But you're beautiful to me."
They were pulled back into another powerful kiss, Gerard's arms were wrapped securely around her waist as he held her

close, Willow's hands were tangled in his black hair. She couldn't help but smile as he nuzzled her neck and they laid

together on the couch, wrapped in each other's arms. Willow laid facing him, her blank expression left Gerard confused as

he swept the hair from her eyes and asked, "Are you thinking of me, or him, Willow? I know he broke you. But he's gone

now, and if he ever comes near you ever again I'll rip out his throat. I'm always going to be here for you no matter what,

I never want you to leave." Gerard said and Willow smiled.
"It's always gonna be you." She whispered in his ear, now lying on top of him as she stared down at him, and she closed

her past with a kiss, forgetting what pain ever meant as she left herself within Gerard's grasp, promising him she would

never leave as she fell asleep in his strong arms, awake long enough to hear Gerard murmur,
"I love you."