Gerard was constantly frowning as Mikey dragged him through the school corridors. He was expecting a million glares; maybe for someone to stick their foot out and trip him and Mikey up. Instead, all he got was warm smiles and friendly waves.

"Mikey... why are they all being nice?" Gerard muttered. This wasn't at all an unwelcome change - he'd always deemed the popular life to be boring, but he was still curious about what it felt like to be loved so universally - but it was a strange one. He just wasn't used to it. Was he just being stupid again, or was he right? Mikey seemed to think he was wrong.

"Because they like you, Gerard." The younger brother quipped in a sarcastic tone, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"But why? I'm a total dork."

"That's exactly what they seem to love about you," Mikey chirped. "They almost seem to have this odd fascination with you. It's strange."

Gerard huffed. "You're telling me. Fascination?" he laughed a little. "That's kinda hilarious. I'm a kid who talks to himself and listens to heavy music. There's nothing to be fascinated about."

"I dunno. They just are, I guess. Have been since you got here." Mikey chuckled.

"C-Can we go somewhere else?" Gerard asked worriedly. "I feel weird about this."

"Um... sure." Mikey shrugged, gazing back at the other three, who returned the shoulder roll. Gerard wriggled out of Mikey's grip and rushed over to a quieter corner of the school.

"Thank god," Gerard smiled, feeling a lot better now. But he still felt strange. He hated being alone like he thought he was supposed to be, but he also loathed the fact that now no one had their eyes off him. Actually, he waw quite happy being in this small group of five. It just seemed more ideal.

"What's wrong with you today?" Mikey frowned. "You're being really weird."

"I-I don't know what's going on. I feel like my life has been flipped around. Everything is completely different to how it was yesterday."

"How do you think it should be?"

"Well... from what I know... or what I think I know... you should be silent and unsociable, Mom should not have a job, I should have no friends, and these three probably wouldn't have shown up."

Mikey regarded him in surprise. "Are you serious?"

"One hundred percent. I feel more like my nightmare was less of a twisted reality than this is. It's loads better now, don't get me wrong, but... it's just a lot to take in." Gerard gazed at him seriously. I bet he thinks I'm mad.

"...Alright." Mikey sighed. "I believe you."

"I believe you if it counts," Ray broke in. "You look serious, and you've given me no reason not to trust you."

Bob nodded slowly. "You were super nice to us at the festival. You don't seem like a liar now, and you certainly didn't back then."

"I believe you too," Frank chided.

Gerard sighed in relief and smiled happily, feeling more at ease. "Thank you so much."

"It's better now that we know. If you feel weird about anything, just tell me." Mikey winked.

"Alright. I will. The bell's gonna ring soon. What do we have after registration?"

"Music, I think." Ray hummed. "I'm under the impression that it's a mixed age group?"

"Mhm." Gerard dipped his head. That was the same, at least. Though music ruled his life, and the subject itself was his favourite, he hated the practical side of it. He couldn't play an instrument to save his life, and he definitely couldn't sing. Maybe that had been reversed in this strange alternate dimension place too, but Gerard highly doubted it. He loved the theory side, which was why he took the subject. They did less theory than practical, but those smaller, sweeter highlights were why he was so fond of Music.

As he thought about it, the bell rang, and he made his way to registration. Frank bounded along with him, apparently in the same area of the school for form. He couldn't wait for Music. Mikey was in his class too due to the mixed age groups, and Ray, Bob and Frank seemed to be as well. It was nice to see the three again. They chatted online occasionally, but to be honest, Gerard had pretty much forgotten what they looked like. He decided to bring the topic up.

"It's great to see you and Ray and Bob again, Frank." he hummed. Frank smiled.

"You too. I'm not as ecstatic as I was when I first met you. I managed to temper my excitedness down a bit, but I still have random outbursts like when I saw you today."

Gerard chuckled. When he first met his Belleville Music Festival camping neighbours, he'd decided that Frank was on crack. And it was almost plausible at the time, considering the fact that they were at a festival. "Well, it's nice to know that you've kept some of that. I probably wouldn't have remembered you if you hadn't thrown yourself at me like you used to."

Frank laughed. "Yeah, sorry about that. Anyway, I gotta go. See you in Music!" he pressed a sweet kiss to Gerard's cheek before bounding into his registration room. Gerard flushed a little and giggled quietly, shaking his head. His smile evaporated as he entered his own form room, where one of the biggest challenges of the day awaited him - Miss Riley.

-----

Don't forget to leave a comment on what you think so far! It means a lot. xo