page 12

[green]

Mikey puts his tray down on the table and sits next to the guy with the smile. The guy is also wearing eyeliner, which is cool with Mikey.

“Hey,” the guy says, smiling impossibly wider. “I'm Pete. Who're you?”

He's so forthright that it almost puts Mikey on his guard. Almost.

“Mikey. Way.”

“Any relation to Gerard Way?” Pete asks.

“He's my brother,” Mikey says, ready to defend Gee.

“Cool,” Pete says, and digs into his fries. “So you're a freshman?”

“Yeah,” Mikey says.

“Awesome,” Pete says, and Mikey's not sure if that's actually something to be enthusiastic about or not. But Pete seems to mean it, so Mikey gives him half a smile.

“Are you a senior?” Mikey asks.

“Yep,” Pete says. “Can't wait to graduate and get the hell out of here.”

Mikey nods. That's the way he feels now.

“Are you going to eat those fries?” Pete asks, and reaches over. Unfortunately, he upsets Mikey's tray and Mikey's food slops all over the front of his shirt.

“Oh, shit,” Pete says while Mikey just stares at the sloppy joe on his clothes. “Shit, I'm sorry.”

Mikey stands, embarrassed because everyone is looking at him. “I think I'll just go to the bathroom and clean up.”

“I'll go with you and help,” Pete says, and he sounds so sincere Mikey wants to let him. But what can he do?


page 24 let Pete help
page 25 say no thanks and go alone