I didn't know Emo was an insult until three people muttered it under their breath while walking by me at school. It wasn't my clothes, though. And it wasn't the fact I was wearing eyeliner. It was that everyone at school now knew that Gerard Way adopted me.

Apparently, the girl who found me in the bathroom on Thursday also saw him come pick me up that day. She told her friends, and the news spread like wildfire. Even those who'd never even heard of My Chemical Romance were talking about it. All they knew was that that quiet eighth grader was adopted— and, get this: by some guy in a band!

Emerald told me not to pay attention to them and the looks they were giving me. But, that's much easier said than done. Especially for her. Everyone likes her. How could they not? She's so bubbly and friendly and easy to talk to. She's not intimidating, but she can stick up for herself and people know not to mess with her.

Me, on the other hand... well I moved to this school in the first place to rid myself of labels like "orphan-girl" and "freak", but they seem to have followed me. I'm not surprised.

At least the teachers didn't seem to care. They were too keen on giving me the mounds of homework I'd somehow missed the one day I was absent.

That's how it goes, isn't it? You have perfect attendance and nothing ever happens, but the one day you miss school they hand out three new assignments, Freddie Mercury rises from the dead solely to perform for your school, and the president stops by to give a quick speech.

Well, maybe all that didn't exactly happen, but you get the point.

I've gotten into the habit of waking up in the morning before Gerard so I can say I "had breakfast already." So then, when I'm ready, he can just drive me to school, hand me some lunch money, and say farewell.

I'm not using that lunch money today. Emerald won't notice if I stop having lunch. I just need to keep her distracted by talking a lot.

As soon as Em and I walk into the cafeteria today, almost all eyes are on me. Good thing Charlotte isn't here; she'd hate to be outshined by me.

"C'mon, Eve," Em says, dragging me back out of the caf. "We can eat in the library."

I nod and we make our way to the library. It's pretty much deserted, as always. "So, how did you like staying at my house?" I ask as she takes a sandwich out of her bag.

"Oh my god, Evie. I had such a great time. I wish my mom wouldn't have picked me up so soon on Saturday!" She gushes, "So, first of all, Gerard is so nice! I mean, I didn't expect anything less— well, I didn't expect anything at all since you didn't tell me about him— but, you know what I mean!"

I let Emerald ramble on about her love for Frank's laugh and random things like that as I think about what I'm going to do with all the lunch money I'll be saving. I can't exactly tell Gee, "oh, no thanks," next time he tries to give me some. I guess I could just store it in a drawer in my room. Better yet, a drawer in my bathroom. Who snoops in other people's bathroom drawers?

Yes, the money will be safe in there.

When the bell signalling the end of the lunch break rings, Em and I part ways and I go to math class. My least favourite class. Not only is it incredibly tedious, but I absolutely suck at it. I mean, it's useless, anyway. Like, I don't know how to write a resume and get a job, but thank-fuck they're teaching me how to find the surface area of a triangle, am I right?

But, in all seriousness, I'm pretty sure I'm failing this class and we're only halfway through October. I don't even bother trying to concentrate in the class anymore. It's too difficult. I'm uninterested, I'm stupid, I'm tired, and I have other things to think about.

Food is on my mind all the time.

How can I think about something I hate so much so often? Yes, I've decided I hate food. I hate that it tastes so good. I hate that there's no escaping it. Oh, and I absolutely I hate what it does to my body. I don't even know how I held it together enough to eat a muffin at that café with Emerald.

I also hate that I can feel Nathan's eyes boring through the back of my head. I knew he disliked me, obviously, but the hatred radiating off him right now is unreal. What did I ever do to him anyway? It's ridiculous.

When the bell finally rings, setting us free from the hell that is math class, I go to take my stuff from my desk, but Nathan swiftly wipes it all off and onto the floor.

"Whoops," he says, sarcasm dripping from his voice, "you should probably pick that up. Emo bitch." He mumbles the last bit under his breath, but I still hear it, just like he intended. I don't know why, but that one hurt. The way he said it, and after doing something so unnecessary and plainly rude when I'd done nothing at all. Ouch.

• • •

I told Gerard Emerald's mom would bring me home. That was yet another lie. I needed to get my feelings out somehow, so I jogged home. It took half an hour.

I wait outside for a couple minutes until I catch my breath, then storm into the house and shut the door loudly behind me. I run straight upstairs to dump my bag on my bedroom floor. Once I've kicked my shoes off I jump onto my bed and stuff my face into my pillow.

Today was not a good day. Actually, "not good" is an understatement, but I'm too frustrated to think of a better word right now.

I feel the mattress beside me dip. "Bad day?" Gee asks, but I'm sure he already knows the answer.

I groan into my pillow and nod, "People suck," I declare bluntly, flipping over so he can see my face.

"What happened?"

"Don't even get me started," I sigh.

"We have time." Gee says. Damn, he actually wants to know about my life.

"Well," I start, sitting up. "They, um, everyone at school knows about you now. I mean, they know you adopted me. And, well, I'd like to know what their freaking problem is with that!"

"What'd they say to you, Eve?" He asks carefully.

"The orphan girl. The one adopted by Gerald Way or whatever-the-fuck. Emo." He can't help but smirk a bit at "Gerald Way," but stops when he sees how hurt I really am over the whole situation. "That's all people will ever know me for, isn't it? My mom abandoned me and then I was adopted by you. Don't get me wrong, I love you and all, but... you know."

"Bullshit, Eve. You're so much more than that; you are a whole complex package, just like everyone else, so fuck them and their opinions. And between you and me, Emo is a pile of shit, okay? So laugh in their face if that's the word they choose to describe you. A smile is the best revenge."

My mouth forms an "O" shape while I let it all sink in.

A smile is the best revenge.

"Okay, but- but what about everything else? People stare at me in the halls and they whisper things about me. I'm just a freak— that's what they say. I'm worthless. No one likes me."

I could actually see the hurt in his eyes. I don't take it back, though. I know it's all true. Still, he's quick to disagree. "No, Evelyn. Don't listen to them," he pulls me into his arms. "You're none of that. You're such a great, amazing kid, worth so much more than words can express. If they can't see that then it's their loss."

I started to argue back. I was going to tell him how wrong he is and how I'm nowhere near amazing, not even average. Then he adds something that shuts me right up.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, okay? I'm so happy I have you."

• • •

another filler I guess? not sure about the ending of this one (or the beginning or the part in between) but there we go