Cemetery Drive

I woke up to the sun beating down on my face, a wicked headache, and someone’s feet resting behind my head. Startled I sat up, only to see Frank laying on my backseat asleep. Everything came back in a wave, the dent in my car, the whiskey and wine, the stories we told late into the night; until finally laying down and passing out, both of us cramped on my backseat.

I reached on the floor for my pack of smokes, pulling one out and lighting it, hoping it would give my head some relief. Frank stirred and opened his eyes, squinting at the bright sun.

“What the fuck happened last night, I feel like I got hit by a truck.”

I let out an airy laugh and handed him a cigarette.

“Here this will help.”

He took it from my hand giving me a small smile.

“So I guess we’re both going to be in shit huh?”

He asked flicking his ashes out the window, I nodded at him, lost in thought, about how it made me feel last night when he grabbed my hands, how easily we could talk to each other, the way his smile would melt my heart a little.

God what is going on with me? I didn’t do this ever! I was Nicole, one of the guys, a cool chick to drink and share a joint with. I was smart and sassy making sure everyone knew it, but with Frank I felt different.

“Nicole? You there?”

Frank’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“What? Sorry I was thinking about something.”

“I can see that. Anything you wish to share with the audience?”

I scoffed at him.

“No not really. Anyways it was fun getting completely shit faced with you, but I have a few things I need to get done today, seeing as it is Saturday.”

He studied my face, more than likely looking for a weakness. I tried my best to give him a blank look, but I didn’t think it was working.

“Well what's more important than being here with me?”

I knew at that moment I had lost, something I didn’t do very often.

“If you must know, I have a job to get too.”

“What kind of job?”

Would this kid ever give up?!

“I ah have to get to the stables and exercise my horse, Spartan.”

He gave me a blank look before nodding his head a looking directly in my eyes. Oh god those eyes! I could stare into them for… a very long time.

“More surprises. I didn’t know you were into horses.”

I shook my hair out of my face, and took a drag.

“Well to be honest Frank we really don’t know a whole lot about each other.”

With that I flicked my smoke out of the window and got out of the car. The moment I felt my feet touch ground I let my body stretch after sleeping in a car all night. I heard Frank exit the car and let out a groan, I turned to face him intently watching the way his muscles rippled as he stretched.

“Well Nicole, I’ve never ridden a horse. You want some company?”

“What!? You have got to be kidding me? I’m not handing out riding lessons here Frank. Spartan is a handful even with an experienced rider like me.”

He looked almost hurt at my outburst, shoving his hands in his jean pockets.

“Sorry didn’t mean to intrude.” He mumbled.

Okay now I felt bad.

“It’s just I don’t have any friends in this town and hanging out with you yesterday was fun. A lot of fun actually, and I didn’t really want it to end yet.”

I looked down at the ground for a minute, with every word he said I was giving in more and more.

“Please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?” He begged.

“Alright fine! But I have to stop off at my house and get changed.”

I had most definitely lost, again, great. He plastered a smile across his face and ran around to my side of the car before grabbing me in a tight embrace.

“We’re going to have so much fun today Nic!”

Yeah loads, I thought to myself. I detached myself from him and got into the driver’s seat, grabbing for my sunglasses in the console. Frank joined me in his seat a minute later sinking into the plush seat, making himself comfortable, as I put the keys in the ignition and sped out of the cemetery.

“I’m stopping for coffee. Want something?”

I asked pulling into the Starbucks drive-thru.

“Ah yeah sure, a Grande Hazelnut Latte.”

I moved forward to the speaker ordering Frank his drink and myself a Grande Cinnamon Dolce, no whip. We paid for our drinks and exited the drive-thru, turning onto the main road going to my house.

“So are your parents going to be home?”

Frank asked in between taking sips of his coffee.

“Yeah my Dad will be there. My Mom is gone to visit my sister in Oregon. Why?”

I saw his eyes get wide out of the corner of my eye and laughed to myself.

“Relax Frank. My Dad is the best, you’ll see.”

He gave me a small smile.

“Yeah I guess I will.”

After about ten minutes of driving we pulled into my driveway, parking beside my Dad’s truck. We got out and walked up to the door, I unlocked the door and stepped into the entryway,

“I’m home!”

I called out, closing the door behind Frank.

He smiled at me weakly and followed me into the kitchen, where my Dad was sitting at the table reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee.

“And just where have you been Miss?”

I rolled my eyes slightly and plopped down in the chair beside him.

“Dad this is Frank, he’s new to town, so yesterday after school I showed him around a bit and
we ended up at talking most of night before we passed out in my car.”

My Dad looked between the two of us before putting the paper down and giving me a stern look.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Frank’s face go white.

“Nicole, you have a cell phone for a reason, next time phone me.”

I watched as the color returned to Frank’s face some and gave my Dad an apologetic look.

“Will do. By the way Dad meet Frank. Frank meet my favorite person in the whole world my Dad, Stan.”

Frank reached out his hand to my Dad as they shook hands.

“Nice to meet you sir.”

I watched as my Dad eyed Frank up and down before giving him a smile.

“You too Frank. Now Nicole you need to get going, the stable is expecting you in half an hour.”

I stood up from the table grabbing Frank by the arm and leading him towards my room.

“Thanks Dad!”

I opened my bedroom door and led Frank in. He looked around my spacious room; the walls painted a deep purple with Pink Floyd, and other various band posters hung up on the walls. My queen bed sat in the left corner against the wall along with my computer desk and vanity. My walk-in closet door was open revealing my mostly dark clothes and my vast high heel collection.

“Wow this is nice.”

I shrugged.

“Yeah it’s okay. My Dad seemed to like you, you know.”

He let out a shaky breath.

“Yeah thank god, I thought for a minute he was going to shoot me.”

I laughed at his response.

“He’s a big teddy bear mostly.”

Frank nodded at me going to sit down in my computer chair.

“So um give me a few minutes to get changed and we can be on our way.”

“Okay sounds good.”

I turned and walked into my walk-in, picking out a Misfits shirt, my riding jeans, and a pair of riding boots. I grabbed one of my hair elastics off my vanity and went into my attached bathroom, closing the door behind me.

“So how far away is this riding place of yours?”

His voice was muffled through the door.

“About a fifteen minute drive, give or take.”

I had finished putting my new clothes on and opened the door. Frank looked me up and down, which sent shivers down my spine; I put my dirty clothes in the laundry basket in my closet and opened my door.

“You ready?” I asked.

He stood up and followed me back out into the hallway. I called a goodbye to my Dad as we left the house and walked to my car. I got in and lit a smoke, watching as Frank did the same.

“I’m going to tell you this now Frank so you can prepare yourself.”

He looked over at me with a questioning stare.

“Oh and what’s that?”

I smiled wickedly at him.

“You’re in for the ride of your life.”

Notes