Tomorrow's Money

Wednesday.

Everything was suddenly different at school and I knew it had something to do with Marley and Gerard. I wanted to know what the hell was going on. Since Marley had questioned me about Gerard, she'd been acting a lot different. She was paranoid, secretive and moody. Something was definitely up and I had to know.

I sat in my first class of the day, waiting for her to arrive, but she never showed up. I hopped over into her seat behind Mikey to talk with him. Maybe he knew something. "Hey, Mikey." I whispered as our teacher went about teaching the class.

"What's up?" He whispered back, slightly turning to me.

"Where's Marley?" I asked, hoping he wasn't as confused about all of this as me.

"I don't know. She's doing it again." He said. I could hear the hope in his voice fade away. Something was definitely going on.

"Doing what?" I knew this had something to do with Gerard.

"She gets weird like this sometimes. To be honest, I've always thought she had a thing for my brother. I've called her out on it, but she just gets mad, then tries to blame it on me not being attentive." He explained, obviously a little irritated.

"Why would she be with you if she had a thing for your brother?" I asked, though I was more so confirming my suspicion that she was only using poor, sweet Mikey to get to Gerard.

"I don't know. She asks that all the time. But every time he starts talking to a girl, or dating, or really anything, she gets so weird. Gerard told me that she'd been following him around once. I never really believed him, but lately.. I don't doubt it." He said. I felt awful. Mikey really cared about Marley, but she didn't seem to care about him.

"Why? Did she do something recently?" I asked. Was she following Gerard around when he was with me?

"I caught her staring through the window of the art room yesterday during lunch. She'd told me she wasn't showing up to eat with me because she had to go to the library. I went to bring her a sandwich and I found her spying in on Gerard's class. I don't know what the hell she's thinking." I could see the sadness in his eyes. He really did love her.

"I'm sorry that she's being like that. Do you think if you talk to her she'll leave him alone?" I asked. If he could, then it would get her back into his arms and off of Gerard's back.

"No. I've tried. She says she's just looking out for him, but I know her. She always insists that we hang out with him and when we do I end up on her back burner." He shrugged, seemingly at a loss.

"Does G-- uh, your brother, pay her any attention?" I asked, almost slipping up and using his name. I didn't know if it would be weird, calling him by his name like that in school.

"No. He's not just my brother, he's my best friend. He would never do anything like that. I would say she was too young for him, but you know." He said, not really elaborating.

"What? Does this have something to do with why Marley was questioning me about where he was last weekend?" I asked, paranoid.

"Maybe, why? Do you know something?" He asked, turning all the way around in his seat.

"If I tell you something, can you promise me you won't freak out or tell anyone?" I didn't know why I was telling him. I felt like I could trust him, but I knew that if I couldn't, everything would be ruined. But Mikey wasn't someone you could just lie to. He was so sweet and shy and he trusted everyone, you didn't want to do anything to betray his trust.

"It's you, isn't it?" He asked, somewhat shocked. It was like a light went off in his head and the gears started turning and he was fitting everything together like a puzzle he'd been trying to figure out. "You're the girl Marley has been trying to find out about. He was with you."

"Please, God Mikey, don't say anything." I almost cried, I wanted to take back the whole conversation.

"Hey, Lily, you're my friend. I wouldn't throw you under the bus." He smiled. I couldn't believe it. I could not believe what was coming out of his mouth. "If you wan to see my brother, that's your business. I like you, and I think you'd be good for him, even if you are younger. And look, Gerard needs someone positive in his life. He's had so much negativity and loss and so many problems that only he should tell you about, to see him happy again would mean the world to me."

"But it's illegal. If my parents found out they'd get him locked up." I was a little frantic, but kept as quiet as possible.

"I'm not going to tell anyone. Promise. Just don't let Marley see you two together. She might tell someone just get you away from him." He sighed as if he'd dealt with this before.

"Mikey, why do you stay with her if she has a weird thing with Gerard? Why not dump her if she doesn't want you for who you are?" I asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. I felt bad, he was hurting and it was part way my fault.

"Because I love her Lily. And I thought she loved me. But this has happened so many times.. She drives away Gerard's girlfriends. She's always done it. He could have probably been married or something by now if it weren't for her. And I think I know what I have to do." He seemed upset, but determined.

"What are you going to do?" I asked, hoping I could help.

"I'm going to end it. You're right. She isn't with me for me. She's with me to be around Gerard. It has to end. Tonight. I need to get through this as soon as possible." He decided. I was happy he was doing this for himself, but sad to see him hurt.

"Well, if you need a friend afterward, you can come hang out with me if you want. I'm not busy tonight so feel free to stop by. I know break ups are hard." I smiled, trying to be a good friend. I hoped he'd take me up on my offer.

"Thank you Lily. For everything. I'll text you tonight and let you know what's going on, okay? In the mean time, be careful. Once this happens she'll be ten times more determined to make things with Gerard happen. This might be bad for you." He warned, almost giving me an opportunity to tell him to stay with her.

"It's okay Mikey. You do this for yourself. Gerard and I will figure things out. If it doesn't work between us then it doesn't work. We aren't technically dating, we haven't promised anything, not really. Look out for yourself first." He smiled back and thanked me before the bell rang and we went our own ways.

I went by the art room to go to my next class, when I saw Marley walk in. I knew Gerard didn't have a class this period and suddenly got paranoid. I stood by the door, listening to what was being said.

"Hey Gee." Marley said.

"Yes, Marley?" Gerard sounded less than enthused.

"What are you doing?" She asked, trying to put on the charm. I could hear the flirtation in her voice and it made me sick.

"I'm getting ready for third period. Shouldn't you be getting to class?" He said, hinting at her leaving.

"Not quite. Who have you been seeing?" She asked, harsh and straight to the point.

"It's none of your business, especially during school hours. Now if you don't mind.." He trailed off.

"No, who the hell are you seeing and why is it such a huge secret?" She asked, demanding an answer.

"It's none of your business, like I said, and it's probably a huge secret because if you found out her name you'd find her and scare her away, like any other girls you've ever found out about." He was bitter with her.

"Please. Those girls weren't worth your time." She said, her voice turning back into a seductive, flirty one.

"Oh and you suppose you are?" He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Maybe. Want to try?" She giggled.

"Don't even fucking start with me. First off, you're dating my brother, so respecting him is kind of required. Second, we are on school grounds and I'm subbing right now. One more word about this and I'm taking it to the principal and he can deal with you. Third, stay out of my damn personal life. i like this girl and I have a good chance with her. Back the fuck off." I could tell he was getting pissed, but my heart fluttered a little at the way he talked about me.

"Gerard, don't you get it? Being with me would make your life so much better. You could forget the drugs and the alcohol and the suicide." She droned on. I was wasn't so surprised to hear about drugs and alcohol, I already knew he had a darker past, but suicide? That was the shocker. "Just give into it. You know you love me just like I love you."

"Don't touch me." He said, sharply. I couldn't see what was going on but I could well imagine. "Get out and don't you ever come back in here outside of your scheduled class again. Goodbye Marley."

"Gerard I-"

"Get out!" He almost yelled at her. I hid behind the wall as I heard her walking toward the door. "And Marley?" He said, stopping her from leaving. "It's Mr. Way to you while we're in school."

She got pissed and stormed out of his room. I wanted to go talk to him, but I was already late. Maybe he'd write me a pass? I waited until Marley was long gone and I slowly walked in, seeing how he was still furious. "Hey you." I smiled, greeting him.

His demeanor changed. His eyes brightened, he stood up straight and a smile came to his face. "Hey, what are you doing? Shouldn't you be in class?" He asked, walking toward me.

"Yeah, but I may have over heard your conversation with Marley. Mikey informed me on how weird she can be. I guess his suspicions were right. She's only with him for you." I shrugged. "Though, you know, she has good reason to like you." I laughed.

"Very funny." He said sarcastically, though he laughed with me. "Yeah, I guess that got pretty out of hand."

"Yeah. Mikey knows, by the way." I mentioned.

"You told him?" He asked, just as scared as I was at first.

"He kind of figured it out once we got to talking about all this. But he promised he'd be quiet. He said seeing you happy would mean the world to him." I smiled, hoping that I would make him happy, even though our situation sucked.

"He won't tell anyone. I can trust him. Hell, I should have told him from the start." He said, visibly relaxing.

"He's not mad or anything. I think he understands why you didn't say anything. We could get into some trouble here." I said, feeling a little on edge.

"I know, everything will be fine, okay?" He tried to reassure, but somehow I almost didn't believe him.

"Okay. Write me a pass to class?" I asked, knowing he wouldn't say no.

He leaned in close and grabbed my wrists, gently pulling me closer. "How about a pass to the storage closet? My lips have been aching for yours." He whispered. Even though I knew he was kidding, my heart raced at the thought.

"Are you seducing me Gerard?" I whispered back, being a little flirty.

"Is it working?" He chuckled, challenging me with those playful eyes.

"No, now write me a pass!" I shoved him playfully, making him smile. He was adorable, his soft laugh, flirtatious demeanor, and I couldn't forget his oddly sexual, yet somehow innocent comment. I was going down a path I originally wanted to avoid, but caring for Gerard was too hard to resist. I was already in too deep, but I knew I couldn't help but get deeper.

Gerard wrote me a pass and handed it to me. "Now get to class." He winked and sent me on my way. I couldn't help but internally gush over him.

I went on to English, too distracted to pay attention. "Hey are you busy tonight?" I text Tiffany, hoping she'd come over, knowing I'd be home alone again.

"Yeah, hanging out with you. Duh! :P" She sent, making me smile.

"Perfect! Be there before sun down!" I text back. I was happy to have good people in my life, but hated having Marley in it, specifically. I was so worried she'd find out and ruin everything.

I went to art, ignoring Marley and all of her questions. She kept saying things like "Who do you think he's with? Could it be a student? Maybe that's why he's being secretive. Or maybe he's with an older woman. You think he's into cougars?" I was getting irritated and put in my ear buds. She was being way too nosey and weird for my comfort.

"Lily, why are you ignoring this? Aren't you the least bit curious?" She asked, pushing me over the edge.

I ripped out my ear buds and snapped on her. "No Marley, I'm not, and you shouldn't be either. Stay out of it! You have your boyfriend, leave his brother alone. I don't know why the hell you're so desperate for the attention of your, now, substitute teacher, but I don't care! And I really don't want to hear about it. Now if you don't mind, I have a project to finish."

Marley got angry as she noticed the kids in the room staring, and Gerard glaring. "Marley, go to the office. Now." Gerard said, calmly. "I'll be calling them to make sure you went. Take your things. You won't be coming back to class." The other kids started laughing at her as she stormed out. "Get back to your projects." He said, sitting back down.

I knew he was pissed so I avoided looking at him, even if anger did look good on him. Hell, what didn't? I avoided him as I left, not really wanting to talk about it. Plus, I had to meet Tiffany and tell her everything, and maybe even get a visit from Mikey. I couldn't wait to hear about it, mostly to see what she was going to do to Gerard. I wanted to stop whatever she was going to do. All I could do is go home and wish for the best.