You thought senior year would be better. It wasn’t. The same crowded halls, the same noise, the same jocks throwing paper at your head — only now you had them.

My Chemical Romance. The outcasts. The weird kids. The ones who made you feel seen.

At first, it was fun — sneaking out to the courtyard with Frank to smoke behind the bleachers, doodling song lyrics with Gerard during study hall, laughing when Mikey pretended to pass out in gym just to get out of running laps. But lately, something about them had changed. The jokes weren’t jokes anymore.

That morning, when you walked in wearing your new uniform jacket, the entire hallway froze. Gerard was already there — leaning against a locker, black hair in his eyes.

“You trying to get someone’s attention, sweetheart?” he asked, voice soft but sharp.

You laughed awkwardly, brushing him off. But then Ray appeared behind you, hand landing heavy on your shoulder.

“He means ours. You look good. Too good.”

Their friends were watching too — Mikey clutching his notebook tight, Frank glaring at a group of cheerleaders who’d dared to wave at you. You thought it was just them being protective, but then your locker opened to reveal a dozen photos of you — taped inside, neat and deliberate. Each one labeled in sharp black marker: MINE. OURS. FOREVER.

You stumbled back, the hallway spinning, but Gerard caught you before you could fall. His grin didn’t reach his eyes.

“You shouldn’t act surprised. You said we were friends, right?” He tilted your chin up. “Friends look out for each other.”

Behind him, Frank kicked one of the lockers shut, sending a loud metallic echo down the hall.

“Yeah, but people keep talking to you like they can take you away. We can’t have that.”

Mikey tore a page from his notebook — a drawing of the five of them surrounding you in a heart, with “I’m Not Okay Without You” written across the top.

“We’re not crazy,” he said quietly. “We’re just scared you’ll leave like everyone else.”

The bell rang — sharp and shrill — but no one moved. The world outside the hallway didn’t exist anymore.

Ray stepped forward, blocking the exit. His eyes softened as he whispered:

“You don’t need them, Y/N. You’ve got us. We’ll protect you from everything. Even yourself.”

Gerard’s hand slid down to yours, holding it like a vow.

“We promise.”

And as they led you away from the noise, down a quiet side hallway filled with old trophies and forgotten lockers, you realized the truth:

They weren’t trying to save you from the world. They were saving the world from you leaving them.