Always

At lunch we all sat outside under the bleachers. It was our tradition to smoke cigarettes and drink coffee or energy drinks while we all discussed music.

“So, this Saturday, what is our playlist going to be?” Ray questioned. He was the only one, besides Mikey, who didn’t smoke.

“Why not start off with Vampires Will Never Hurt You?” I replied, inhaling my cigarette blowing it in Frank’s face. He laughed and swayed his hand in the smoke.

“Stop, Danny,” Frank tackled me to the ground and tickled me.

I screamed and began giggling until I couldn’t breathe anymore.

“Frank, okay,” I laughed, pushing him off. He blushed.

“Anyway, yeah let’s start off with Vampires and then Honey,” Gerard stated. He glared at me.

“I already started selling tickets and putting up flyers,” Mikey butt in.

“I bought booze for the house party, but I think we will need more,” Bob mentioned. “A lot more.”

“I’ll get some more,” I said, resting my head against Frank’s shoulders.

Gerard stood up. “I’m going to head to class.” He looked at Bob, Ray, and Mikey. “Walk with me.”

All three stood up on command and left Frank with me under the bleachers.

“What was that about?” I was confused. I looked at Frank who shrugged.

“Danielle,” Frank mumbled, “I need to ask you something. I was thinking we could – well, I really have no idea how to ask this.” He rubbed his eye. “I suppose, since we trust each other and I worry about you a lot, that you could not have one night stands anymore with random dudes. Maybe we could be, like friends with benefits.” He let out a noisy exhale and flicked his cigarette. “I mean, we don’t have feelings for each other and I’m STD free.” He smiled.

I gazed at him. His eyes were glowing from the sunlight beaming down on him. Frank was such a beautiful man. Wait, what am I thinking?

“It’s just,” Frank continued, “I just want you to be safe. I don’t want anyone to take advantage of you or use you. I figure we are friends and there is nothing wrong with us sleeping together. I’m sorry I even asked.”

“Frank, yes,” I said. “I didn’t mean to say it so quickly. But yes, Frank, as long as you promise you don’t have feelings with me and never, ever – and I mean never – will,” I demanded.

“Danny, we have known each other for seventeen years. If I had feelings for you, I would have them by now.” He said it so softly and gently. Frank reached up and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I just want you to be safe.”

“It won’t be weird?”

Frank and I kissed once. It was last year in fact. The guys and I were at a party. It was Frank’s birthday and at midnight we kissed. It was somewhat like his birthday present. I felt so terrible about kissing him at the time since he had a girlfriend so I had to tell her I kiss all my friends at midnight so I had to kiss Ray, Bob, Mikey, and Gerard that night. Ray was actually the best kisser of all. Well, I take that back. Frank was, but I would never tell him that. His sent tingles up my spine and I couldn’t wiggle my toes because I felt like I was floating. I wanted to press Frank against the wall and never stop kissing him. I wanted to kiss his collarbone, his neck, and every finger. I wanted him to hold my face in his hands…

“Danny?”

I blinked and Frank was standing above me, waving his hands in my face.

“We have to get to class,” he said, helping me to my feet. “It won’t be weird either. We kissed before and that was like kissing my dog.”

I slapped Frank in the back and chuckled. “You better run, Iero, before I kick your ass.”

Frank smirked and took off running with me chasing after him.

Notes

Short and sweet. (:

I hope you guys are enjoying it and, of course, thanks for reading!
-christy-