Every Burden Has a Version

“Gerard, did that sign just say ‘Welcome to Pennsylvania’? If it did, I’m hitchhiking my way back home.” I pressed my face against the car window, creating steam from my warm breath on the window. I smeared away the condensation with my hand so I could still see out the transom.

“It did,” Frank answered for him. “We are in Pennsylvania.”

“I get that, but why? What’s so exciting about Pennsylvania?”

“Well…” Frank began.

“I rest my case.”

“Like I said before, you wouldn’t make a good lawyer,” Frank chuckled as Ray just stared at the two of us from the front seat.

“You two are a duo. It’s hilarious,” Ray finally peeped in.

“Why thank you, Sir Raymond. Can I call you that, Sir Raymond?” I asked.

“No. Ray is fine, thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Sir Raymond.”

“She’s an entertaining woman, isn’t she?” Frank nudged me in the ribs.

“Oh, burn! Call the fire department because I just got burned! You got me good, didn’t you?” My laugh was not real. “No,” I sighed. “If we are going to be a duo, Frank, you have to make better jokes than that.

“Hey, guys, when you stop being lame fuck heads,” Gerard huffed, “can you look for the highway exit of 305A?”

“Be a big boy and do it yourself because, uh, you just passed it.” I bit my lip, prepared for Gerard to throw a paroxysm.

“That was 305B, Violet,” he said oh-so-calmly.

“I’m delighted you know your ABC’s because A comes before B, Gerard.” My tone was so bitchy I would have slapped myself, but Frank did it for me. He unconscientiously whacked my left cheek.

“Oh, fuck me,” Gerard yelled, exiting on the ramp of 305B. “We’ll just find a hotel here, I guess. Is this alright, Frank? We have an hour to go till we reach our destination, but I can’t drive anymore. We’ve – I’ve – been driving all day. It sucks.”

“Cry me a river,” I joked, receiving a smack from Frank.

“That’s okay,” Frank responded.

-Three Years Ago-
“Which way is it to her house?” Frank asked as we drove to the party in my car. The music was now fully turned down so Billie Joe Armstrong’s voice was inaudible. “Do I make a left hand turn or a right hand turn? I can’t read her directions that has her I’s dotted with little fucking hearts. I can’t believe I’m still going to this party,” Frank sighed. “The things I do for you, Violet.”

“We can turn around and go home then,” I suggested. “It’s better than driving around in the middle of the night trying to find our way to some fucking stupid party.” I tried to sound even in my voice.

I wanted to bawl, to be candid. I haven’t been invited to a gargantuan high school bash and my one chance turns out to be a disaster.

“No, we’re still going,” Frank said in a piqued tone. “Is it alright if we leave early though? I have to take you somewhere which is on the other side of town.”

I nodded. “Sure,” I softly said.

-Three Years Later-(Frank’s Point of View)
“I’ll start grabbing the luggage out of the car while you guys check in,” Violet stated as Ray, Gerard, and I entered the hotel.

“So, when are you two going to get it on?” Gerard snickered in the main lobby of the hotel.

“Never, dude,” I said, offended. “Violet and I aren’t like that, you know? We don’t need to be. We’re just friends and always will be.”

“Then why are you taking her to Pennsylvania for your birthday if you’re just friends?” Ray questioned.

“Three years ago something horrible happened to us after a party she wanted to go to for her birthday and I can tell it’s still a burden on Violet’s life. I’m trying to sort her problems out.”

“What happened?” Ray was immersed.

“We… hit someone. A little kid to be exact,” I spoke. “She was driving and I was screaming at her. We were having an argument. You know what? It doesn’t matter. Go check in, Gerard.”

Gerard blinked and turned around to walk to the front desk of the hotel.

“You love her, man,” Ray declared, placing his hand on my shoulder. “I don’t even know the girl and you two have this chemistry. She looks at you with this non platonic friend look and you do the same. It’s scary to see you act this way around another human being let alone another human being that’s a chick.”

“I am not,” I bickered. “You don’t even have evidence that we ‘love’ each other.” I put finger quotations around the word love.

“I can get some,” Ray retorted. “Violet, over here,” he shouted, waving at Violet who just came through the revolving doors with our luggage.

“Hello, Ray,” she smiled vividly.

“Violet,” Ray began, eyeing me, “doesn’t Frank have brown eyes? He told me he doesn’t.”

Violet smirked and leaned into my chest at the same time she observed my eyes. She wasn’t even looking straight through me, but in me as uncanny as that may sound. I shivered frenziedly. I hope Ray doesn’t see. I carefully glanced at him. A smile was perched on his face. He saw. Violet won’t see though. I wish she doesn’t.

Violet rubbed her hands over my arms.

“You’re freezing, Frank. You appear as if you saw a ghost.” Violet bit her lip and blushed at our contact. She let go automatically. “Ray, to answer you question, his eyes are hazel.” Violet tapped her foot against the tile floor still examining me. “Ray, can you excuse us?”

She pulled on my arm and tugged me across the floor to an elevator. We waited till the elevator door open and Violet dragged me in there.

“What was that about?” she questioned. “If you think it’s amusing to manipulate and make fun of me with your friends; it’s not. I don’t enjoy being apart of your gag reel.”

“I wasn’t doing anything to be a jerk to you,” I stammered.

“Good,” she huffed. “I see your goose bumps went away and you stopped shaking uncontrollably.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I do and I don’t want to be the topic of your birthday because it’s special. You’re tarnishing your own birthday, Frank.” Her voice became faint. “Why are we here?”

“It’s still a secret.”

“I despise secrets.” Violet folded her arms across her chest. “I’m just messing with you. It’s simplistic being a douche to you.” She knocked me in the arm.

“Danny Wharton,” I uttered.

Violet’s smile faded from her countenance and with full force banged her fist against the elevator door.

“I thought we went over this. Danny Wharton’s name is to never be said around me.” Violet touched the elevator button to open the doors and exited.

Notes

Who really needs comments? Not me, I suppose.
Anyway, this chapter isn't the best due to be me super busy, but the next chapter... oh damn. It's going to be amazing and I mean it. So stay in tuned and if you want it sooner, comment!

Be sure to check out my other Frank Iero story as well! (it's better wink wink)

-christy-