Intuition.

The next day came inevitably. Dad did arrive home at four in the morning but left again at six; I heard his cell phone ring and him groan before getting up.

How he does it, I have no idea. He’s extremely dedicated that’s for sure.

From memory, he hadn’t had a full night of sleep since we arrived. About a week ago. It’s amazing how quickly he threw himself into work and hasn’t collapsed from exhaustion yet. He may as well move into the hospital; it wouldn’t make much of a difference.

It’s been like this ever since Mumdied left, seven years ago. Constantly moving, Dad always working, new schools. This to me is now normality.

Down in the kitchen there was a small pile of dishes stacked messily next to the sink. I couldn’t help but shake my head at Dad’s untidiness. My Mum had taught me form a young age about neatness, cleanliness and efficiency. I used to follow her around like a lost puppy; she was my god.

We used to spend so much time together when she stopped going to work. We were always in each other’s company, Dad too because he stopped working too when she got ill. I remember vividly how confused I was when Dad would cry and Mum would tell him how sorry she was.

She told us she loved us with all of her heart and soul every single day without fail, no matter what was going on. When shedied left Dad threw himself into work and I was left in the care of family friends all the time.

Then we moved, two months later. We’ve never been back.

*

My second day of my new school and I was last off the bus. It didn’t bother me as much as it did yesterday because I already knew that I was ‘in’. I had people I didn’t know saying hello to me. This was the way it always was with me, new school and instant popularity.

So different schools didn’t phase me because this is how I had always been treated when I arrived; like aking prince. I could tell that Gerard was king.

“New kid! Over here!”

I turned automatically, already used to the name Gerard had dubbed me with. I smiled seeing Gerard surrounded by what could only be described as a posse. I made my way through throngs of students over to Gerard.

“Hey,” I smiled, hiking the strap of my bag up my shoulder.

“Nice converses,” Gerard replied, nodding his head in approval. I looked down at my converse clad feet and smiled. I wore my black ones with the white-out stars and symbols drawn all over them. Charlie helped to decorate them at my last school. She was into tarot reading, witchcraft and everything.

Apparently she thinks that the ‘cards’ told her that I would find love at my new school and it would be of an unusual kind. Expect the unexpected, so to speak. I had laughed at her and told her she was full of shit. She had laughed along with me at the time and said to not take her so lightly with the most devilish gleam in her eye.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Now, new kid. What have you got after homeroom?” he asked, ignoring the girls behind him trying to get his attention by laughing as loud as they could. I almost laughed at them, the way they were glancing over every two seconds to see if he was looking at them.

“Music,” I answered, letting a small smile creep onto my face.

“You serious?” he asked, shocked, “You’re taking music? What level?”

I hesitated, not sure I was liking his reaction, “Four. Why?”

“What do you do?” he asked, now looking a little excited.

“What do you mean?” Now I was confused.

“Sing, play, drum, what?”

“Err, piano and keyboard,” I answered, deciding I didn’t care if he thought I was a loser for it. I doubt he would though.

“Cool. I’m in level 3 for singing. They want to move me up to four but I don’t take it seriously enough so the music teacher hates me,” he laughed.

“She hates you?” I asked, astonished.

“Yeah, she wants to move me up but I won’t let her. She doesn’t push me anymore because whenever she does I sing like shit purposefully so she can’t,” he explained, grinning.

“But that’s fucked! Music isn’t just a frumpy subject,” I cried, before I could even begin to stop the words pouring from my mouth.

“Someone’s touchy about music.” His grin widened.

“You smile too much,” I grumbled. Not being able to stop myself from smiling back sheepishly.

“Gerard,” Ray tapped him on the shoulder.

Gerard turned his head,” What?”

“We got to get to class. Look around,” Ray replied, laughing. Gerard and I both looked around, staring at a near empty courtyard.

“Oh,” we said together.

“I’ll see you later,” I said, already walking away.

“Yeah, break time. You, me and the soccer field,” he called back. I couldn’t help but smile at his tenacious determination.

Rushing to class, I passed a few people who called hello to me. I said hello back but, in a way, I was pleased that I didn’t know who they were. I made it into the classroom just before the last bell went.

“Nice of you to join us, Mr. Iero.”

“Sorry sir,” I mumbled, taking my seat.

“Now to start off the lesson…”

I tuned out. Grabbing a book from my bag, I started to draw things and doodle in the margins. I was just finishing off a quick drawing of catwoman when a ruler came down hard on my desk. It startled me and I jumped in my seat. The class giggled.

“Did I frighten you, Mr. Iero?” the teacher asked me.

“Not really,” I replied. Then mumbled under my breath, “Rulers just don’t appear like that everyday.”

Everyone giggling got louder but thankfully the teacher didn’t hear.

“Very well. I’d like to inform you that in this class it is compulsory to pay attention. Get out your student diary; we have something to record down in it.”

“I don’t have one, sir,” I replied, sure that my cheeks were flaming.

“Get your mother to buy you one before your next lesson with me,” he retorted as he made his way to the front of the class.

“I don’t have a mother,” I mumbled.

“What did you say?” he boomed, obviously thinking I had said something inappropriate.

“I said,” I started in a louder voice, my teeth gritted, “I don’t have a mother anymore.”

“Oh,” the teacher gasped. The class was now eerily silent. “Just have one by tomorrow then.”

And just like that, he was back on the lesson like nothing had ever happened. I couldn’t wait until music.