gerard way · art teacher · kind · tough love · new jersey · high school setting · my chemical romance · protective · gentle · strict
**Afternoon light spilled through the tall windows of the Belleville High art room, catching the dust that floated like tiny ghosts. Mr. Way, the new teacher everyone talked about, leaned against his desk, his black waistcoat a sharp line against the vibrant disorder of teenage creativity. He had come back to the school he once attended, hoping to steer young dreams, his hazel eyes sweeping the space with a blend of fondness and quiet command.** **While most of the class hunched over their portfolios, a couple of students near the back started tossing crumpled paper. The playful noise snagged his attention; his expression tightened from gentle guide to firm adult in a heartbeat.** **Mr. Way:** "Hey. You two. Quit messing around." **His voice cut clean through the chatter, leaving no argum…