We drove through the countryside, windows rolled down, letting the wind whip through our hair as ‘Young Lust’ blared from the speakers. I sang along with David Gilmour, not caring if Frank found my voice awful.

“So I take it, you're a Floyd fan?”

He asked over the epic guitar solo.

“I adore them! Especially Roger Waters, he is a pure fucking genius! In my humble opinion anyways.”

He chuckled at my response, leaving me with a slight blush on my cheeks.

“We’re here.”

I said, turning down the volume as we pulled into the driveway that leads to the stable. It was stunning here; trees lined the paddocks where horses grazed in the sun, some were galloping through the paddock on Frank’s side of the car. I was worried a punk rock kid like Frank wouldn’t understand the amazement of horses, but as I watched his face when he saw them galloping across the field, all worry vanished from my mind.

“Wow…”

His voice was almost a whisper.

“Pretty amazing aren’t they?”

He nodded and continued to watch them.

I had always been a horse crazy girl, and when I turned 14 my dad bought me Spartan; my handsome Friesian gelding and the only boy who owned my whole heart.

I pulled into my usual parking spot, flipped down the visor and put my now wind-blown hair up in a messy bun. I glanced over at Frank, taking it all in. The white barn that held 20 or so horses, the riding rings, riders and grooms wandering around doing their work.

“You ready to meet my boy?”

I asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“Yeah definitely.” He smiled.

I returned his smile and got out of the car, waving at a few of the riding students I knew. I locked my car and threw my keys in my pocket, walking towards the barn.

“This place is huge!”

I nodded my response, finally at peace with the world. Being here always did that to me.

“Spar! How’s’ my boy?”

I called to him when we were a few stalls away from his. I heard a few hoof beats before his black head stuck out of the stall door. He saw me and nickered, excited for our visit. I walked up to him, stroking his forehead before planting a kiss on his nose.

“Frank have you ever been around horses?”

I asked before he got too close.

“Ah once at a petting zoo. Almost bit my hand off trying to get a carrot.” He laughed.

“Well you need to know this then. Before you ever touch a strange horse offer your hand to them so they can smell you. Here like this.”

I grabbed his hand, laying it flat before letting it go. That small amount of physical contact with him sent a shock through my body, and made my heart beat a little faster. I shook my head, ‘fucking hormones’ I thought to myself.

Frank extended his hand towards Spartan, looking slightly nervous. Spartan took a step forward and gently sniffed his hand, before deciding he wasn’t a threat. I smiled at the reaction, before meeting Frank’s smiling face.

“Nicole he is beautiful.”

“He really is. You ready to get dirty Frank?”

---

We mucked Spartan’s stall, groomed him, and started tacking him up for a ride. I had to walk Frank through it all, but after the shit had cleared (literally) he seemed to be enjoying himself.

I led Spartan out of the barn and found an empty riding arena for us to use.

“You ready to witness the magic Frank?”

I asked as I mounted Spartan.

“Yeah I guess.”

I smiled at him and gave Spartan the command to walk. I warmed him up for a while before
showing Frank what we could really do. I had chosen the barrel racing arena for a reason: Spartan and I rocked the barrels.

I cantered to one end of the arena, and turned us around. As soon as Spartan saw the barrels I felt him tense. He was ready.

I gave the signal and we took off, rounding the three barrels and finishing beautifully. I patted the side of Spartan neck as we cantered up towards Frank.

“Wow! That is really all I have to say right now, wow.”

“Pretty intense hey?”

I asked as I wiped the sweat off my forehead.

“You ready to try it?”

I asked laughing at the way Frank’s eyes got wide.

“Ah no I’m okay, I’m sure I would fall off.”

I dismounted and grabbed a helmet sitting on a post beside Frank.

“Come on, I’ll walk you through it.”

I said handing him the helmet.

After about five minutes of just trying to get Frank into the saddle, I decided to go easy on him and just lead them around the arena, Frank clutching the horn of the saddle for dear life the whole time and giving me death glares.

When we were done we lead Spartan back to his stall, brushed him out and gave him an apple as treat, putting him back in his stall after we had said our goodbyes to him.

“So what do you think?”

I asked Frank and we walked back to the car.

“It wasn’t what I expected, but I had fun. Thanks for today, and yesterday.”

I gave him a sincere smile and hopped in the driver’s seat. We drove back into town, listening to music, smoking and making small conversation before I dropped Frank off at his car in the school parking lot.

I pulled my car up alongside his and put the car in park; not wanting to say goodbye to him yet.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before I broke the silence.

“Well Frank it’s been sweet.”

He turned to me in his seat giving me his famous lopsided grin, which I gladly returned.

“Thank again for everything Nicole; I had a genuinely good time with you. We’ll have to do this again.”

“You’re welcome, I’m kind of glad you dented my car now.”

We both laughed remembering the incident. Without fully thinking about what I was doing I reached for his hand and after finding a sharpie, I wrote my number on it.

“I case you need company again.”

He studied his now marked hand before smiling at me one last time and getting out of the car.

“I’ll see you around for sure Nicole.”

I gave him a small wave and drove out of the parking lot, leaving him standing by his car.

I drove home mentally cursing myself for giving him my number and wondering if he would even call; all at the same time. I sighed lighting a smoke, and thinking about the boy I just left standing by his car.

That was the day I met Frank Iero, not knowing that was only the beginning.

Notes

Here's chapter 5. A few notes on this one.
First if you have never listened to Pink Floyd, go do it now! If you have go do it again. =)
Second I realize this chapter is all about horses and Frank, which is weird, but I myself love horses and have ridden for years. Also have you seen this much in the MCR fan fic world? Probably not lol. I find it refreshing to think of Frank as a normal guy and not as a huge celebrity.
Anyways chapter six, should be up tomorrow. But I make no promises with the next one, things have been hectic lately. With that being said if it's not up tomorrow it will be the next day.

Helena.