I Never Told You What I Did for a Living

The rest of my first day of school went by quickly. Apparently, I'd become a legend already. Not in the way I was used to, though. Everyone was amazed that I'd stood up to a teacher. Maybe they'd never met anyone with nothing to lose before.

Although she'd been nice, it soon became very clear that I wouldn't be able to spend much time with Carrie. With her, grades were everything. My attitude towards school didn't go over very well with her and I found myself hanging out more with Ben. He was kind of fun, but I felt nervous around him. It was obvious that he was quickly developing a crush on me, and I wasn't okay with that.

Dad was there to pick me up when I left the building. I was impressed that I'd found the way to the exit all on my own.

"How was your first day?" he asked as I slid into the passenger seat.

"I've had better days. But I've also had worse. The people here are... different."

"Yeah, it'll take some getting used to."

I sighed. I didn't want to get used to it. It was nice to have a change, but, if nothing else, home was where Gerard was. I could never get used to a life without him. I knew I would be able to make the best of this situation, but I couldn't help but wonder just how long it would last.

I sat on my bed a little later, flipping through a textbook. I'd already finished the unit I was to do here while I was at my old school, so I found it extremely boring. The rest of the book didn't look any better, so I shut it and dropped it on my floor just as my phone rang. I smiled as I recognized the ringtone.

"Hey," I answered the call happily.

"Lily! I'm finally FREE!" Gerard was screaming gleefully, and I laughed.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going home. No more hospital food for me!"

Sadness overtook me like a drug kicking in.

"I wish I could be there with you."

"You will be soon enough. Just hang in there and we'll be back together soon," he comforted me.

I sighed. "I wish I could believe that. You're sure you can't just come get me?"

"Is it that bad? Do you need me to?"

"No," I sighed. He sounded so worried that I had to tell the truth. "I actually learned that I prefer my dad to my mom. It's just... I really miss you. I don't know how long I can survive without seeing you."

"We've always got the phone, Lily. You'll be fine."

"The phone's not the same. What if we drift apart?"

"You worry too much."

I couldn't help but notice that he didn't actually say the words "we won't drift apart." I guess there's no way to promise something like that when you're so far away.

"How's school?" he changed the subject abruptly.

"How'd you know I was going to school here?" I'd only found out that morning, how did he know?

"I just assumed you would be."

"I don't know what to think about it yet. They all seem to take grades too seriously and the one kid who doesn't wants to get in my pants. Other than that and one particularly bitchy teacher, it's going great," I added some fake sweetness to my voice.

"Hang in there. It can't be any worse than the schools here."

My heart ached uncontrollably. Being this far away and in love was much worse than being close and fighting. If I was able to, I would have hid in the dark with my sketchbook again. Unfortunately, I knew Dad wouldn't let me.

"Tell everyone I miss them," I whispered, trying to fight back emotion.

"Mikey says hi, and he misses you, too."

Another knife stabbed into my chest as I thought of Mikey. I wanted to see him, too.

"We're all waiting for you to come home!" I could hear him yell in the background.

"Me, too," I replied, more to myself than those on the other end of the phone line.

My God, how I wanted to go home.