Chapter Text
A beat-up, clunky black minivan pulls into the driveway of a quaint yellow home. The passenger door swings open, and a pair of black doc Martens land on the pavement. The boots are connected to a pair of skinny jean-clad legs, belonging to a scrawny boy with tousled, greasy, black hair.
The boy sweeps hair out of his eyes and turns to face the woman exiting the driver’s side of the car. “Mom, this house is so much bigger than our old one!” He exclaims. His mother shuts the driver’s door. “Yes, Frankie, it has two floors! You’ll get a place to store your guitar and drum set.” She turns to face her son and places her hands on his shoulders. “Oh, sunshine, I’m so excited for you. Tomorrow you’ll start your first day in a new, supportive school!”
Frank grins and gives his mother a big hug. “I appreciate everything you’ve done to get me here, mom. Pennsylvania to New Jersey is a big move!” He says as he pulls away from her. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Frankie boy. Now help your mother carry our bags in, and remember the moving van won’t be here until tomorrow.”
——
The sound of an alarm clock fills the dim room as a groggy hand feels around the desk to turn it off. Frank Zero sits up on his bed and rubs his eyes. He rolls up and out of bed, and turns on the light. The clock reads 5:00 AM. He groans, and stumbles down the hall into the shower.
It’s not much of a shower. Since all of his toiletries are in the moving van (with the rest of the furniture), Frank has to use shampoo and shower gel from the hotel they stayed at two nights ago. He steps out of the shower and towels off, and puts on his last change of clean clothes - another pair of ripped black skinny jeans and a tattered band tee.
As he heads down the hall and grabs his backpack, he also decides to grab a granola bar out of the pantry. Just as his foot leaves the doorway, his mom calls down the hall: “Goodbye honey, and good luck at your first day!” He smiles. “Bye mom, love you!” And heads out the door for his first day of his new life.
The bus ride to school is bumpy and loud. Who knew kids could be this loud at six in the morning? He sighs, and pops in his earbuds to drown out the noise. He doesn’t need them for long though, as a new face plops down into the seat next to him. Startled, he turned to greet the possible new friend. The stranger next to him had medium length brown hair with bleached highlights and glasses. “Hey there!” The boy said cheerfully. “Hope you don’t mind the invasion of personal space. Are you new here? My name is Mikey.” He said in a rush of breath. Frank tentatively smiled at him. “I am new. My name is Frank, I moved here from Pennsylvania. I’ve been homeschooling since I was twelve.”
Mikey grinned at him. “Really? Any particular reason why? By the way, I love that band.” He gestured to Frank’s shirt. “I had some issues with bullies at my last school, so homeschooling was easier. My mom and I decided to get a fresh new start in a new state.” Mikey patted him on the back. “Well, it seems like you’re off to a decent start. You’ve already made yourself a new friend.” The two boys smiled.
The bus pulled into a stop at the school, and Frank and Mikey exited together. “What classes do you have? Maybe I can show you around, if we have the same ones.” Mikey asked, and Frank handed him his schedule.
“Aw yeah, we have-“ Mikey began, but was cut off by a blur of black and red as another boy ran into him full-force. A younger-looking boy with shaggy brown hair messes up Mikey’s hair. “Mikey! What’s up, man? Who’s your new buddy?” Mikey absolutely beams at the newcomer. “Hey Ryan! This is Frank, he’s new here!” Ryan holds his hand out for Frank to shake it. Frank grabs Ryan’s hand and nearly gets all the bones in his hands broken. “As I was saying before we were interrupted, we have all the same classes!” Mikey says. They begin to walk inside while Mikey chatters on. “Mr. Biersack is our math teacher. He’s pretty bitchy, but the homework isn’t terrible. The science teacher Ms. Williams is super nice though. Oh, here’s your locker.” Ryan and Mikey stop and wait for Frank to dump his stuff inside.
“Cool pins, man. You’re one of us.” Ryan says, pointing to the rainbow flag pin on Frank’s backpack. “Really?” Frank exclaims. “I’ve never met another gay!” Ryan smiles. “I’m bi. Mikey here is unfortunately straight, though.” Mikey pretends to be offended and lightly elbows Ryan in the side. “Come on, you can bond over gay shit together in math.”
——
“Alright class, settle down. We have a new student to welcome today.” The teacher, presumably Mr. Biersack, calls to the students. He is a tall, well-built man in his mid-thirties with tattoos. Frank stands at the front of the class, waiting to be assigned a seat. He waves at the twenty-eight pairs of eyes on him. “You may sit there, behind Mr. Way.” Mr. Biersack gestures at the only empty seat in the class, behind a boy with long, greasy black hair, on the opposite side of the room from Mikey and Ryan.
The boy turns around in his seat and says hello to Frank. “Hey. My name’s Gerard. Welcome to Pencey.” Frank just stares at him. Despite the greasy hair, Gerard is actually kind of cute. “Whatever.” Gerard sighs after a moment of silence, and turns back around. “Wait, sorry, I’m not used to social interaction. My name’s Frank, I’ve been homeschooled since I was twelve.” Gerard turns back around with a shy smile. “Hope you’re enjoying the joys of public high school so far.” Gerard replies. “Boys! Enough chit-chat, time to work!” Mr. Biersack reprimands. Gerard turns around with a groan, and the school day officially begins.
——
“Oh my gosh, were you talking to GERARD?” Ryan yells at Frank after class. Mikey walks up behind him, approximately ten times calmer. “Chill, Ryan. He just said hi and was kinda cute.” Frank admits. “See? I’m not the only one who thinks so!” Ryan squeals. Mikey rolls his eyes. “Ryan has had the fattest crush on my brother for years. Now he’s found someone who agrees.” Frank gasps. “You’re related to him?” Mikey smiles. “Yeah, Gerard and I are siblings. It’s cool, though. I won’t kill you. I’d watch out for his girlfriend Lindsey though, she’ll rip you to shreds.” Mikey gestures across the hall to a girl with black hair, bloodred lipstick, and more fishnet than was necessary.
Damn, thought Frank. I’ve got some competition.