*WARNING! WARNING! THIS INSTALMENT MAY CAUSE CRYING, UNCONTROLABLE ENVY, AND POSSIBLY FANGIRLISM. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED*
And now our regular programing "Life with MCR: Episode 8. The Truth and Proposel"
And my eyes flashed open. I was in my room, the posters the same, my drawings still there, and I heard voices from the doorway, while “The Only Hope for Me is You.” played on my CD player.
Frankie! Gee!!
“How is she Gerard?” Frank asked, sounding tired.
“I’m sorry Frank. Nothing since yesterday.” Gerard replied, sounding stressed.
“Damn it. It’s been 3 days… is she ever gonna wake up?”
“I’m not sure-”
“You guys are so blind!” I called softly, laughing. “If I had the strength, I would’ve thrown something at you by now!” I heard running, and Gerard appeared in my line of vision. Same red hair, same pretty hazel eyes.
“Hi, Gee.” I smiled at his startled expression
“Oh my god!!!!!! Frank! Go get Mikey and Ray!!!!” I heard loud voices downstairs, and soon Frank, Mikey, Ray, and Gerard stood there at the foot of the bed, staring at me in total awe.
“Becki…?” Mikey tried, but his voice failed.
“Don’t just stand there you guys!” I joked, “I wanna hug!” I lifted my arms up, and they grinned.
“Yep, that’s our Becki!” Gerard said laughing, jumping on the bed and hugging me tightly, as if he was afraid I would black out again. The other 3 just stood there, grinning.
I glared at them playfully,
“That means you, too, misters!” They laughed, and they dog piled/hugged me. I laughed as they pulled away, but sat on my bed. They all looked tired, with black bags under their eyes, but they all seemed overjoyed.
“God we missed you, Beck.” Mikey said smiling, making me blush a little.
“Aww, thanks guys.” I smiled, stretching. “So…, how long was I out?”
Nobody said anything for a minute before Ray answered,
“About 3 days. Frank and Mikey wanted to get you to a hospital, but Gerard said no. I was the neutral one.” He smiled a little, but it was strained. “We brought you back to the house, and cleaned up your face. But you’re gonna have a scar, Becki.” I reached up and touched my face, my fingers brushing my eyebrow, but I smiled.
“It’ll be okay. So what does a wannabe comatose girl have to do to get something to eat?” Gerard laughed, but he jumped of the bed and jogged downstairs. I leaned back on the pillows, sighing. My body was throbbing and I hurt like hell, but I felt …nice. Happy even, but sad at the same time. Sad because I knew the guys would leave soon, and probably forget about me in no time. I didn’t want that, I didn’t want them to leave. But I knew they would have to. I sighed heavily.
God? If you can hear me up there, if- when they do leave, take care of them for me. Please? I love them to death and I don’t want this happening again. Just take care of them for me. Amen.
“Becki!” Gerard called, coming in with a plate of eggs, meat and what looked like-
“Gee? Is that French Toast?!?” I asked in amazement, as he handed me the plate. The toast was golden brown, covered in syrup and powdered sugar, the eggs were perfect, and there was even bacon.
“Yep!” Gerard grinned, sitting back on the bed. “I’ve never made it before, so I had to borrow a cookbook from the library, but I think I did okay.” I cut a corner of the toast, smothered it in syrup and powdered sugar, and ate it. It was perfect, and I quickly eat all 4 slices of my childhood treat.
“How is it?” Gerard asked, anxiously. I giggled,
“I love it! It’s perfect! Just like how my mom-” I stopped, my voice flattering. “It’s great, Gee.”
“Becki…? What really happened with your family?” He asked his eyes serious. My heat skipped a beat, but I knew this was coming. I took a deep breath, and set the plate aside, looking out the window.
“When I was 3, my baby sister was born. Her name was Banditta Ayahe Blue Ivy, and she was the sweetest little girl in the world.” I smiled sadly, feeling the burning of hot tears in my eyes. “She had long silky black hair, and momma’s beautiful hazel eyes, and she could move like a swan. She had my attitude, she could fight like me. She was like my twin.” I brought my knees up, and I hugged them tightly.
“When my dad came back from all the fighting, he wasn’t the same. He was jumpy, and he drank a lot. He’d come home drunk and he’d hit momma. She’d hide me and Banditta in the closet before he got home, but when he was working or at the bar, she was happy and full of laughter. She’d make cookies, and cake and French toast for breakfast.”
I felt the tears flow down my face, as the memories I’d suppressed for so long raided my head. My mom holding Banditta, us playing in the little backyard of our house. Momma standing at the stove, letting me help make cookies while Banditta watched from her high chair.
“Then it happened. I was 9 years old, and Momma needed milk for supper, so I ran to town. Daddy was home from work early cuz he’d been caught drinking on the job, and he lost it. He took it out on Banditta, cuz Momma was trying to stop him. He…he killed Banditta….” I let out a sob, and wanted to stop, but I couldn’t.
“She was turning 6 that year. I came home, and the police were there.”
I remembered it all.
9 year old me, walking home with the gallon of milk, and seeing the flashing lights. Dropping the milk and running toward the house, Momma crying over Banditta’s little body. Daddy being lead away by the man with the mustache. I rushed to Banditta’s side, shaking her little shoulders, yelling. “Bandit! Bandit!! Wake up! Daddy’s gone!! You can wake up!!” Momma pulled me away, cradling me and crying. The paramedics came in, and picked my baby sister of the floor, taking her away. I remember pulling away from momma and running after daddy, grabbing a stick and hitting him with it, screaming. “You killed Bandit!! I hate you daddy! You killed my baby sister!! I hope the cops take you to hell!!!”
“My father was sentenced to life for abuse, 1st degree murder, and endangerment of life. He’s rotting somewhere in the middle of Death Valley now.” I finally stopped, the tears silently flowing down my face. I looked back at the guys, and they were all looking at me in utter horror, sympathy, and just plain despair.
“My god….” Mikey whispered, leaning against the head board, staring out.
“Fuck.” Frank muttered, lying out at the foot of the bed. Ray sat in silence, looking conflicted.
“Her name…was Bandit?” Gerard whispered, and I nodded, giving the tiniest smile.
“You can imagine my surprise, when I heard you named your daughter that, Gerard. I felt honored, in a way. That my baby sister’s name was that of my idol’s baby girl.” I looked at him, my mouth becoming a sad smile. “I loved it. And it made me so happy, and I felt so…proud.” I choked, and I covered my mouth, the tears flowing like rivers.
“I’m sorry, for dumping all this on you guys. I really am. I’m sorr-”
“Don’t Becki. Don’t apologize.” Frank said, looking at me with a jerk of his head. He sat up and looked at me with such an intensity I wanted to flinch back. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
“He’s right.” Mikey mumbled from beside me, sitting up and putting his arm on my shoulders, squeezing gently. “You don’t have to apologize.”
“So, what happens after that? You said you mom ran off with her boyfriend. To Vegas to get married. Why didn’t she come back?” Ray asked, looking at me. I shrugged.
“I don’t know. She left in the middle of summer, and I haven’t seen her since. Last time I heard from her was about a week before she was supposed to come back. She said hi and that she’d be home soon, that she loved me, and that my new step-father loved me and all that. But she never came. I’d made her a big dinner and everything, but she never came.” I said, leaning against Mikey. “But,
I’ll be fine. I have been for the past 4 years, and I will be for the rest of my life.” I yawned.
“You don’t have to be alone, Becki.” Frank said, grinning at me.
“What do you mean, Frank?” Gerard asked, surprised.
“She can come live with us. Or we could live here with her.” He said, looking at the others. I was shocked, but the others looked excited.
“Yeah! We can all have joint custody and take her on tour with us and stuff!” Ray added, almost ecstatic.
“You mean…”I started, trying to process this. “You guys want to adopt me!?” Gerard, Frank, Ray and Mikey all smiled and nodded vigorously.
“Yep!” Gerard said, pulling me up off the bed. I was almost as tall as him but I still looked up at him, then at the others.
“Are you guys sure…?” I asked, but I could tell by the way Gerard’s eye were shining, the way Frank was grinning, how Mikey was practically vibrating with excitement and how Ray was shining like the sun.
“Becki Blue Ivy, would you like to become Becki Toro Iero Way? The daughter of the band My Chemical Romance?” Gerard asked, moving back until Ray, Frank, and Mikey stood behind him, grinning. I laughed, and nodded, feeling tears well in my eyes again.
“Yeah.” I sniffled, smiling. “Of course!” Gerard laughed and opened his arms.
“Group hug!” I ran and jumped into his arms, feeling Frank, Ray and Mikey’s arms wrap around me, too.
“I love you, guys.” I whispered, blushing a little. Gerard’s arms tightened.
“We love you, too Becki.” Mikey said, coming from behind me. I felt the tears flow again, and when I finally pulled away, I wiped my face and grinned.
“I think we might have a bit of a problem, though.” I said, as we went downstairs to the kitchen. I sat on the couch with Gerard and Frank, while Mikey and Ray grabbed some chairs.
“What?”
“Don’t you all have to tell your wives?” I grinned as uncertainty light their eyes.
To be continued.
