Chapter 17 - **2 Years Later** OMG Really Ray? (Jacquie's POV)

“Omg really Ray?” I say sarcastically.
“Yeah” he says.
“You have already told me,” I say
“Oh” he says
“You have to tell Gerard NOT ME,” I say with a laugh.
“Oh yeah” he says with a laugh “It’s just you two are like so similar, well the main difference is that you’re a girl and he’s a guy”.
I laugh.
“It’s true,” he says.
“Nah there’s a bit more then that,” I say trying to think of something.
“Like?” he asks.
“Umm” I say still trying to thinking.
Gerard walks in.
“Hey Gerard, Umm think of something different about us” I ask him.
“Umm… What do you mean?” Gerard asks.
“Well Ray thinks we are like the same and I’m trying to think of differences” I say.
“Oh” he says, “Umm I think he might be right”He laughs.
“Really?” I ask.
“Yeah” he replies.
“Right” I say.

Gerard hadn’t changed much he was obviously taller and his hair was a bit longer but his mum made him cut it so it would look neat well neat-ish. Ray was way taller and he would practice playing his guitar a lot. He was great. Matt had grown taller too and had taken an interest in drums and would go to his cousins in the holidays and practice them because he didn’t have any yet. Gerard’s Brother Mikey had grown heaps and matured a lot. He had gotten his eyes tested after complaining of his eyesight and now he has to wear glasses but the glasses he wears are so cute but he reckons he looks like a geek/nerd. But he doesn’t. Frankie whoa he is like a little rocker. But seriously he is little and he likes to rock out on his guitar. He is awesome. Mum had tried Internet dating and had just found a guy from Australia and he is coming to America to see her. It was great knowing she had moved on from dad. Speaking of Dad he came out of jail like a week ago. He called my mum asking to speak to me and I told her to tell him to fuck off and I haven’t heard him from him since.
“Are you gonna tell him?” I ask Ray.
Ray goes a slight red colour.
“Tell me what?” Gerard asks confused.
“Well umm… I got a … Girlfriend,” he says slowly.
“Omg that’s great when are we gonna meet her?” Gerard asks enthusiastically.
“Umm I dunno” he replies.
“Well that’s Gerard down and Matt left” I say with a laugh.
Ray slips a small laugh.
Gerard smiles at me. I smile back.
"Can you tell him for me?" Ray asks.
"Sure" I say

I go and look for Matt on my skateboard, who had been skating with his new girlfriend Paula. She was a friend of his since year 1 but had left New Jersey in year 6 and went and lived in Ohio and had come back this year. She was a brunette with green eyes. She was an awesome skater and I could easily see why Matt liked her, she was fun to be around. Matt told me that he had a crush on her ever since he first met her. I told him if he doesn’t ask her out I would ask her out for him. He choose to ask and she said yes. They had been going out for 3 months now and were madly in love.

I find them on the grass kissing.
“Heya Lovebirds” I yell to them. And get off my skateboard. Matt pulls out the kiss.
“Hey” he says and then goes back to kissing her.
I laugh.
Paula then pulls out “Hey” she says and then he kisses her again.
I laugh again.
"Ray's got a girlfriend" i say
They both stop.
"Cool" they say and start kissing again.
I get on my skateboard again
“Bye lovebirds” I say to them.
They take no notice.

I skate off. I find Ray outside with Gerard and a girl. I ride up and stop.
“Heya Jacquie, This is my girlfriend Lucy” Ray says to me.
“Hey” I say going to shake her hand.
“Hey” she says shaking it.
She was a little shorter than me. She has summer blonde hair with piercing blue eyes.It was kinda awkward. Sorta like when I first met Paula.

***************Flash back***************
I knock at Matt’s door.
“Hey” I say as Matt opens the door.
“Hey” he says letting me in.
I walk in and find a Gerard and a girl talking on the couch.
“This is Paula” he says nervously.
Paula gets up and walks over to me.
“Hey I’m Paula” she says “And you are?”
“I’m Jacquie, It’s nice to see you” I say kinda confused.
“She was one of our friends in year 6 but she left and lived in Ohio but now she back” Matt says.
“Cool, so umm do you like umm stuff?” I say not knowing what to say.

***************Flash back END***************
“So” I say this time not asking a question.
“So yeah” she says.
I look at Gerard he shrugs.
“Well me and Lucy are going over my place if you want us” Rays says.
The two walk off hand in hand.
“Man I am a loner” I say.
“So am I” Gerard says with a laugh.
“Oh well, Oh and I found Matt and Paula they are making out over near Lake Ave” I say with a laugh.
Gerard lets out one of his cute laughs.
I smile at him.
He smiles back.
“So watch ya wanna do?” I ask him.
“Meh comics or TV” he says.
“I know… BOTH” I say as if it was an amazing idea.

We walk into his place.We hear the sound of a guitar.
“Frankie’s here” I say to him.
“Yep I’m guessing so,” he says.
We go into Gerard's room and he gets out his comics. I close the door.
"Spiderman or X-men?" he asks me.
"I don't mind" I reply.
He hands me a comic. It's an x-men comic.
"TV?" I ask
"Oh yeah miss greedy" he says jokingly.
He turns on the TV on a random channel.
I watch for a little while but get bored because it’s a cooking show. I began reading the comic and Gerard turns off the TV and reads a comic as well.
There’s a knock on the door and it opens and in walks Mikey and Frankie.
"Frankie learnt a new song,” Mikey says.
"Cool" I say
"Yeah play it Frankie" Mikey says.
Frankie starts to play Enter Sandman by Metallica.We all listen. Gerard starts to sing quietly. I watch Frankie. He is awesome.When he finishes we all clap for him.
"That was awesome, I bet if the guitarist out of Metallica (Kirk Hammet) was to hurt his hand they would hire you to fill in,” I say.
"Hell yeah" Gerard adds.
"I wanna be in a band,” Frankie says.
"Yeah" I say.
Mikey and Frankie leave the room.
"Man that was great,” I say to Gerard.
"Yeah I know,” he says.
We go back to our comics.

2 hours later...
"Man we have been reading comics for ages" I say.
"Yeah, lets go check on Matt and Ray" he says.

We walk out the house and we walk around looking for Matt and possibly Paula. We find Matt still on Lake Ave. He is just lying there looking at the sky. We walk over to him.
"What’s up Matt?" I ask him.
"Oh just waiting till I TURN 18 AND CAN SEE PAULA" he says.
"What happened?" Gerard asks.
"Her mum and dad where driving around here and spotted us kissing and told her to get in the car and then yelled at me telling me to leave their daughter alone and what till she was old enough to leave home" he says angrily "Then they left taking her with them".
"That sucks how long have you been sitting her for?" I ask
"About 30 minutes" he says getting up.
"Why didn't you come to mine?" Gerard asks.
"I didn't know what to do" Matt says.
A tear slides down his face.
"Aww Matt" I say hugging him.
"Come back to mine we will have lunch or something" Gerard says trying to make it better.

We walk back to Gerard's. We go inside and we go into Gerard's room. Matt flops down on Gerard’s bed. Gerard walks out and goes and makes lunch. Matt just lies there not saying a thing.
"It's gonna be alright" I say, "It's just that her parents don't know you and it must have been a surprise to see their daughter kissing you and you kissing her".
"Well yeah" he says.
Gerard comes in hold three plates each holding a sandwich.
"Cheese for you" he says giving Matt a plate "and tuna and whipped cream for us" he says giving me one.
We start eating in silence. It's weird and awkward and I wish it wasn't.

When we finish Matt calls Paula. And decides to go over and explain himself to her parents.
So yet again Gerard and me are left alone.
"OMG we didn't check on Ray" I say
"Oh Yeah" Gerard says.
We walk to Ray's.
We knock on the door and Ray's mum opens the door.
"Hey" she says.
"Hey can we see Ray" I ask.
"Actually he’s not here he's with his girlfriend,” she says.
"Oh do you know where his girlfriend is?" Gerard asks.
"Umm no actually" she says.
"Well okay we'll see ya later" Gerard says
She closes the door and we start walking back to Gerard's.
My phone rings. (Calling: Mum)
"Heya mum" I say.
"Hey" she says, "I'm going to the airport to pick up Mark" (Mark is the guy off the internet from Australia)
"Oh yeah that’s today isn't it" I say
"Yeah, wanna come with?" she asks
"Nah I'm hanging with Gerard" I say.
Gerard smiles at me.
"Okay cya honey" she says.
"Cya" I say and hang up.

"So..."Gerard says.
"Oh that was mum she’s picking up her new boyfriend from the airport,” I say.
"Oh cool" he says.
"Yeah" I say
"You don't sound very happy" he replies.
"Well I am it's just weird" I say.
"Ooo someone’s jealous,” he says jokingly.
"Am Not" I say with a laugh.
"Anyways wanna go skating or something?" he asks.
"Meh alright" I say.
We walk outside and grab our boards and skate around.
Up comes Ryan.
"Hey guys,” he says.
I roll my eyes. Ever since word got around that I had bashed him he had become very very unpopular.
"What now Ryan?" I ask.
"How’s it going?" he asks.
"Umm I don't believe I have to tell you,” I say.
I seriously can't believe he why he tries to talk to us.
"Yeah get lost" Gerard says.
"Oh please can I hang with you?" Ryan begs.
"Hell no" I say.
"Why?" Ryan asks.
"You know why" Gerard says
"No I don't" Ryan says.
"Okay for one you bashed Matt, two you punched Gerard, three you tried to bash me and heaps of other crap so get lost,” I say.
"That’s behind us now, Can we be friends?" Ryan asks.
"Pfft you wish,” I say.
"We would never be your friend even if we were paid money,” Gerard says.
"Fine then" Ryan says walking off.
Gerard and I laugh.
He glares at us and continues walking.
"What a loser" I say.
"Hell yeah" Gerard replies.
We laugh again and Ryan turns the corner of the street and disappears.
We continue to skate till we find Ray.
"Hey Ray,” I yell to him.
He looks up.
"Oh hey guys,” he yells back.
We skate up to him.
"So where were you?" we question him.
"I was at Lucy’s house" Ray says with a smirk.
"Oooo" I say laughing.
Gerard laughs.
"Can you feel the love" I start to sing.
"Shut up" Ray jokes.
"Guess who we ran into begging us to be his friend?" Gerard asks.
"Who?" Ray asks.
"Ryan" I say.
"Really?" Rays laughs.
"Yep" Gerard says.
We all laugh.
"Man he is such a loser now" Ray manages to say over his laughter.
"So why aren't you with Lucy right now?" I ask
"She had to go out shopping with her mum" Ray replies.
"Okay" I say.

We walk over to the park and sit on the bench. The park had been let go since last year. There was graffiti and the swings had broken. The bench was in a bad state too but was still able to be used. Ray looked up at the sky. And Gerard was looking down the road. And I realized I was watching them. I laugh to myself. I decide to see what happens if I walk off. Would they notice? I start to walk away as quiet as I can.
I get to the road and Ray calls out to me "Where ya going?".
Gerard just realizes.
I laugh, "You guys are so slow".
I walk back to them. I watch my mum’s car drive by and go up our driveway.
"OMG MY MUMS HOME" I yell full excitement.
"Geez calm down" Ray says getting up. Gerard joins him.We watch as mum and a man get out of the car. 'Mark I'm guessing' I think to myself.
He was tall with medium length dark brown hair. And well kinda handsome I guess.
"He looks pretty cool" Gerard says.
Mum sees me and waves me to come over. I walk over with Gerard and Ray following.
"This is Mark,” my mum says introducing me to him.
"Hi" he says shaking my hand "You must be Jacquie".
"Hi and yes I am,” I say kinda nervously "and these are two of my best friends Gerard and Ray"
"Hey" he says shaking their hands too.
"Hi" they reply.
We all walk inside. Kerrie and Jimmy met Mark too. Kerrie nudges my mum and says something quietly they both laugh. Jimmy and Mark start talking randomly about stuff. And there’s a knock at the door.
"I'll get it,” I announce to everyone.
I open the door and there is Matt.
"Heya Matt" I say letting him in.
He walks in.
"Yes Paula's Parents like me" he yells. And then realizes everyone is there.
"Umm Hi" he says kinda embarrass
"Is this your boyfriend or something?" Mark asks.
"No this is Matt another of my best friends" I say with a laugh "Matt this is Mark my mums boyfriend"
"Umm Hi" Matt says shaking Marks hand.
"Hey" Mark replies.
Jimmy and Mark go back to their conversations and Mum and Kerrie join.
"Well me and my friends are going to be outside see ya later" I say.
"Okay Hun" my mum says.

We walk outside.
"He seems friendly" Gerard says.
"Yeah" Matt says.
"Oh yeah Matt you said something about Paula's Parents?" I ask
"Right, I went over and explained to them my actions and how I felt about Paula and they said it took bravery to stand up to them and that they had no problems with their daughter dating a brave man like me" Matt says.
"Brave man?, pfft, you wish" Gerard said.
"I am brave" Matt says.
"Right and my middle name is Mary" Gerard teases.
"Whatever, the main thing I can see Paula" Matt says.
"Well that’s good" I say
"Well I gotta go check on mum and find out what Mark is like okay cya guys later".
"Cya" they all say.I walk back into my house and talk to Mark.

(Gerard's POV)
Jacquie walks into her house.
"So what are we gonna do now?" Ray asks.
"Man Ray you get bored easily" Matt says.
"Yeah" Rays says "So"
"Skating maybe?" Matt replies.
"Nah I already have" I say.
"Movie?" Matt says.
"Yeah okay" I say.

We walk to Matt's and we go inside.
"Is your mum ever home?" Ray asks with a laugh.
"Nah she works real late now" Matt replies.
We all sit on the couch.
"Umm Matt movie?" Ray says.
"Oh right" Matt says getting up and turning the TV on "Can we watch normal TV I can't be bothered putting a movie on"
"Fine" I say.
"Well anyway how’s it going with you and Jacquie?" Matt asks.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"You still like her?" Matt asks. Ray looks at me.
"Umm yeah" I say kinda nervously.
Matt smiles.
"Dude ask her out" Ray says.
"DUDE she probably only likes me as a friend" I say.
"Dude there’s only one way to find out" Ray replies.
"STOP SAYING DUDE, and I'd rather stay friends than ruin a relationship with awkwardness" I say.
"You won't ruin a relationship even if she says no and rather be friends with you, you know her she’s not like that" Ray says.
"Well I don't want her to feel awkward around me okay, now enough about me okay" I say angrily.
"Okay Gerard" Ray says
I feel bad now. Stupid guilt
Sorry guys" I say.
"It's not your fault we shouldn't have pressured you" Matt says.
"Still I shouldn't have snapped,” I say.
"Oh well" Ray says.We continue to watch TV until we decide it's time to sleep and we go home.