I woke up the next morning in Frank’s bed, wrapped up in his arms, and dressed in one of his Black Flag shirts. He was snoring softly beside me and had managed to steal most of the blankets and hog the bed during the night leaving me slightly chilled and plastered against him.

Yesterday had been blur, we ate most of the pizza, drank a case of beer between the two if us and watched horror movies late into the night. I had phoned my Dad half pissed and trying to stifle giggles as Frank kissed and nipped at my neck. Needless to say I think my dad knows what’s going on; but he let me stay the night at Frank’s none the less, so he must have trusted us to some degree.

I moved Frank’s arm off of my waist and got up to use the bathroom, padding down the hall silently wishing I had my toothbrush here. After I was finished in the bathroom I re-entered Frank’s room finding him sitting up in bed rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his hair sticking up in all directions, his shirt twisted awkwardly to one side.

“Need a coffee?”

I asked from the doorway.

“More than anything right now.”

I walked over to his chair and picked up my jeans, slipping them on.

“Well you coming?”

He shot me a confused look, getting up from his bed.

“There’s coffee here Nicole.”

“Is it Starbucks?”

“Well…no.”

I nodded, “Exactly.”

Frank knew I was very faithful to Starbucks, and he also knew he had lost this battle. He pulled on some pants and followed me down the stairs, out to my car. As we drove down the street to the nearest Starbucks, he reached across the console to grab my hand, placing his lips on the back of it for a second, making me blush a deep crimson.

After coffee was in our hands we drove back to Frank’s house, deciding we were going to make breakfast before I went home to face my Dad, and most likely the grounding that came with it. We pulled into the driveway, and trudged inside the house; still not fully awake yet, I prayed the espresso worked fast so I could finish my homework before classes resumed tomorrow. This three day weekend was kicking my ass this time around; thank god we didn’t get them often.

Frank was rummaging through the cupboards, with one hand on his hip and his lips pursed together.

“So it looks like pancakes, eggs, or pop tarts.”

“I don’t care; I’m quite content with my coffee actually. I do need a smoke though, if you want to
join me?”

He looked at me over his shoulder, and followed me out the back door, sitting in one of the lawn chairs. I sat down in one facing him and took a gulp from my Starbucks cup before lighting my cigarette.

“Nothing is better than a cigarette and a latte.”

I voiced out of the blue.

“I beg to differ.”

I raised my eyebrow in his direction, challenging him to think up anything better than my
heavenly combination.

He leaned forward so his elbow was resting on his knee and with his other hand he reached forward, placing it on the back of my head bringing me forward into a light kiss; before sitting back in his chair, with a sly grin on his face.

“Okay you’re right.”

He let an airy laugh escape his lips and took a drag off of his cigarette.

“Frank I have to ask you something.”

His expression fell, becoming serious in a matter of a few seconds.

“Okay I’m listening.”

I took a drag off my smoke, and looked down at the wooden deck, sighing before meeting his stare.

“I… I think we need to talk about what we are doing. Like are we friends who make out and fool around…”

“Fuck buddies?”

I didn’t like the way that this was going already, when he cut me off and spoke those words I felt like the wind had been knocked from my lungs and my heart fell into my stomach. I took a breath before answering him.

“Ah yeah I guess, or is there something else going on? I don’t know, and I don’t know what you want from this, so I guess that’s what I’m asking.”

I looked up and leveled my gaze with his,

“What am I to you Frank? Your “fuck buddy” as you like to say or are we something more? Because if I am here just for you to screw around with, well I’ll walk away now; I don’t want to be somebody’s play thing. I’ve done it before and it ended in a horrible mess.”

I finished my rant and my smoke, but he must have sensed I wasn’t done and stayed silent.

“You have the power to break my heart Frank; I’m just hoping you choose not to.”

I couldn’t bear to look at him, fearing his answer I sat in silence, looking back at the deck, as I let a few tears escape the corners of my eyes. I lit another cigarette and quickly wiped the tears away, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

He cleared his throat before he spoke in a hushed tone.

“I don’t plan on breaking your heart Nicole; so I guess what I have to say is…Do you think we could maybe try?”

Upon hearing his words I looked up into his hazel eyes, not caring if he saw my tears anymore; he got up and walked the few steps to me, taking my face in his hands and wiping the tears away.

“Frank, you had me at hello.”

He pulled me into a standing position and closed the space between us, crashing his lips upon mine; his hands still placed on either side of my face, mine holding onto his shoulders. I ended the kiss and rested my head on his chest, listening to his quickened heartbeat, smiling to myself knowing that life was perfect in that moment.

---

I left Frank’s a short time later, knowing my Dad was waiting for me to grace him with my presence; we said goodbye in the driveway with a kiss, which turned into several as Frank kept pulling me back for “one more” sending me into a fit of giggles every time.

I finally got into my car and backed out of the driveway, waving at him before I sped down the road towards my place.

I walking into the house and threw my purse in my room before going to find my dad; I found him in the living room watching wrestling, and drinking a Coke straight from the can.

“Hey Dad.”

He looked up from the TV in my direction put the show on mute; I thought I was definitely in for it.

“Have fun?”

He asked with a grin on his face.

“Ah yeah, sorry I didn’t come home, I was…well I was with Frank.”

He nodded, glancing back at the TV and seeing a commercial playing for cat food.

“I figured; you know you’re still wearing his shirt right?”

I looked down and found I was in fact still wearing Frank’s Black Flag shirt, I felt my cheeks heat up and looked back up to my Dad.

“Ah yeah I guess I am.”

He laughed at me and turned the TV back off of mute before adding,

“About time you two got together, just be smart about this Nicole.”

I took that as my cue to leave while everything was peaceful and travelled to my room, going straight for my computer chair, pulling my binder off of the floor before placing it on my desk.
I couldn’t concentrate on doing much of it though, my thoughts kept travelling back to Frank and the way he made me feel; like I was on top of the world.

Notes

I would like to apologize for the delay, I've had a busy couple of days and when I finally sat down to write nothing became of it, the only thing that got me through this chapter was listening to Dope by Lady Gaga on repeat. (Yes I listen to Lady Gaga, and I love her!) even if you're not a Gaga fan I highly recommend this song, it's very powerful.
This chapter is not a favorite of mine and is more of a filler than anything, but it needed to be written anyways, so if it seems like a dud that's why.
I'm hoping chapter nine will be up tomorrow, if my writers block isn't acting up again.

Helena.