Forever is a Long Time . . .

This particular year, Frank was blessed with his birthday falling on a Friday. That also meant that we could stay out as late as we wanted and cause as much immature trouble as we wanted and not have to worry about school the next day.

Unfortunately, though, the wait for the end of the day was slow and agonizing. I watched the clock in all of my classes, silently begging the universe to bring the end of the day quicker.
I didn’t pay attention at all in any of my classes; the only thing I could think of was going to Frank’s party and seeing his face when I give him that guitar. I knew it was the best gift ever and the look on Frank’s face upon seeing it would be priceless.

Barely waiting for the bell to finish ringing, I shot up out of my seat and bolted to the door after each of my classes.

Come lunch, I raced to the outdoor tables to meet the guys by the tree again. We were all super stoked for the party later on that night, especially Frank. Even if it wasn’t his birthday, I think Halloween would always be Frank’s favorite holiday. He, like the rest of us, loved the spook factor and the opportunity to pull pranks and cause general mischief.

We clarified the plans for the night, making sure we didn’t skip a beat. We wanted the night to go absolutely perfectly. I turned to Bob in the midst of our plotting to settle the plans. “So, after school, Kaitlin and I will go back to my house and change into our costumes.” Gerard shot me a look as I said this, knowing full well what else I was going home for.

I needed time to get Frank’s gift from my house before the party, and Gerard had probably suspected that I’d followed through with buying him that guitar. Well, he’d be right.

“Then,” Bob elaborated. “I’ll come and get you guys so we can head over to Ray’s in time for the party.” I nodded my head, confirming Bob’s words. “Be ready; seven o’clock.”

“We’ll be ready.” I was super excited about my costume. I’d spent all week working on it, making certain every detail was perfect. Plus, not to toot my own horn or anything, but I though I looked damn hot in it, not that it really mattered. I’d only be around my friends, none of whom would take any notice to that, what with all of them having girlfriends already. Everyone but Frank, though the years of friendship between us and years of my secret love for him proved that that was never going to happen. No matter how gorgeous, or beautiful, or hot I was, Frank would never feel the same way about me as I did about him.

***

After my last class, I met Kaitlin out by the front of the school. We decided to walk to my house on account of the weather being so fair and the fact that Kaitlin and I hadn’t really seen much of each other in a while. I’d known Kaitlin since before she and Bob started dating, since before he moved to Jersey. We’d met in elementary school and were pretty good friends, but admittedly, we hadn’t actually gotten close until after Bob asked her out.

“So,” I started a conversation as we walked along the sidewalk. “What’s your costume, Kaitlin?”

She pushed her long, brown hair out of her eyes and turned to me. “Wonder Woman,” she replied with a sweet smile on her face. “I thought it would be cool since Bob’s going as Superman.” She seemed really proud of herself, as she should have been for coming up with that. “That is cool; you guys are going to look so cute together.”

Kaitlin blushed and looked down. She and Bob had been dating for about two years but she was still totally in love with him. They were cute together but they weren’t one of those couples; they were close but not always on top of each other. “Thanks, what about you? Who are you going as?”

We had all agreed on the theme of superheroes for the party, and most everyone had shared with each other who they were going as. Everyone but me; I preferred to keep it a secret and let it be a surprise. That, and I was really good at being an ass-hole.

“Well, I’ve kind of been keeping it a surprise,” I told Kaitlin who gave me a displeased look, obviously not wanting to have to wait to find out. “Oh, come on, Paige!” she plead. “You can tell me, I’m going to find out in, like, three hours anyway and it’s not like I could tell anyone once I do.”

I thought about it for a moment. Kaitlin was right; she would be the first to find out whether I told her now or later, but just telling her wasn’t enough. If she was going to know prematurely, she might as well just see it. “Okay, we’ll be at my house in two minutes, can you wait ‘till then to see?”

“Fine,” she sighed, rolling her eyes before cracking and letting a smile play across her lips.
When we got into my house, we set our bags down and went into my room. Kaitlin settled herself on my bed while I went into my closet to pull out my masterpiece. I held up the hanger it was placed on for Kaitlin to see. “Damn, Paige! That’s hot.”

I laughed at Kaitlin’s excitement and took a look at the costume myself. It was just a simple dress I’d made from sewing together and skirt and matching green skirt then pairing it with a yellow belt and arm warmers. It was nothing special, but I was still proud. “Thanks?”

“You’ll look great,” Kaitlin said as she let out a cute little laugh. “I can’t wait to see you in it, and the look on Fra- . . .” Hold up; what was she just going to say?

I mean, I didn’t want to jump to any irrational conclusions, but I could have sworn I heard the beginnings of Frank’s name. What about Frank?

“Can’t wait to see what?” I asked, pretending not to have any suspicions toward her at the moment.

“Oh, just how you’ll look in the costume. I think her character really suits y-” Before she could finish, I cut her off.

“Don’t change the subject, Kate. What were you really going to say?” Kaitlin looked around for a second before settling her gaze on her lap where she fiddled with a loose string at the seam of her sweater. “Nothing; it’s stupid.”

I really wanted to know what she was going to say about Frank. She looked up from her thread and looked at me with guilty eyes. “Just tell me, Kaitlin. How bad can it be?”

“Promise you won’t get mad?” I gave her a reassuring smile as not to seem as stern as I probably looked. I held up my right hand and looked straight at Kaitlin while I sarcastically said, “Girl Scouts’ honor.”

She rolled her eyes, seeing past my joking. “Okay,” she sighed. “I was gonna say . . . I couldn’t wait to see your costume and the look on Frank’s face when he saw you in it.” Ha! I knew it!

I knew Kaitlin was going to say that, well maybe not that exactly, but at least something along those lines. But why?

“What?” I questioned to hide my previous suspicions, yet I was still curious to hear the rest of it. “Why would Frank care?”

“Well, because,” she explained a bit more freely now. “It’s a pretty sexy outfit?”

“And?”

“You seriously don’t know?” Know what?

“Enlighten me,” I replied dryly as I felt my patience growing thin.

“It’s obvious, Paige. Well, to everyone except you, I guess.”

I felt myself snap a little as I completely lost whatever placidity I had left. I wanted to know, now. “What is!?”

“Frank,” Kaitlin quickly explained as she registered how truly wound up this had made me. “He’s, like, in love with you.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. If anyone was in love with anyone, it was me that was in love with Frank, and boy was I in love with Frank. There was no way it could be the other way around; whatever Kaitlin or any of the other guys thought, they were wrong. That is, if that was even what they thought. Where did she ever get such an idea?

Any normal girl would squeak at the idea that the guy she liked felt the same way about her, but I wasn’t so quick to jump to excitement. He was my best friend after all, and though I’d spent years wishing he was mine, there was something getting in the way of me accepting Kaitlin’s words. I couldn’t know if it was true for sure, getting my hopes up so high just to be shot down and fall hard. Not only that, but I also never saw the possibility of me and Frank dating to be so eminent. As much as I’d love the chance to date him, I’d hate myself with all my heart if I were to lose him if things didn’t work out.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, letting the denial wash over me. “Frank’s my best friend.”

“Yeah, your best friend who’s in love with you.” I let out a frustrated sigh. This was ridiculous; there was no way in hell Kaitlin could be right. She could think it all she wanted, but I knew that it would never be true. My feelings would never be requited. “You’re crazy; Frank isn’t in love with me. That’s just ridiculous.”

“I don’t know, Paige. You don’t see what we all see.”

“Which is?”

“How he lovingly stares at you. How he smiles at everything you do. How he blushes when he’s around you. How he-"

“Okay! I get it!” I blurted out, bringing Kaitlin’s train of thought to a startling halt. I’d had enough of hearing this. I hated that Kaitlin was getting my hopes up so high. Even if it was what she truly thought, I still hated hearing it.

“You can think whatever you want, Kate, but Frank is definitely not in love with me.”

Notes

Whoa!!! So sorry I'm updating so late!! I'd like to say that on this Valentine's Day that I was too busy to update because I had a date, but that would be false; I was just at work for the past four hours, but before that I had about two feet of snow to shovel out of my driveway and lots of catching up on other fan-fictions to do (i.e. reading all of the ones on my alerts :)
Any-who, enjoy the reading, leave a comment if ya wanna and I'll see you back here (on time) next Friday!!!