This Is My Stop

We walked through the cold streets of Chicago silently until we finally got in a italian place. As I looked through the menu I could feel Frank's gaze on top of me, I still was pretty shocked by the dream I had during the flight. A part of me wanted to be near him but the other just felt awkward around him. The waiter approached us and took our order, we talked about music, books, comics and movies. As amazing as it may sound I was surprised by the fact that we had so many things in common. We were almost done with dinner until he looked at me firmly and grabbed my hand, "I'm glad you came, I've been pretty shook up since that day at the train", he said while he played with a napkin between his fingers.
"I was really having a crappy day, my attitude was just... I don't know... I'm not usually like that"
He started laughing the same way he did that afternoon on way to Newark, "Really? You look like the kind of girl that does that often"
"Excuse me?", I said with furious grin on my face.
He laughed again, he was really getting on my nerves, "You know, those girls who just leave guys behind and don't really give a fuck"
I was furious, I stood up, threw my napkin at him and said, "You're such an asshole".
I left the table, and walked to the door. As I made my way out I heard him laughing hysterically, "You see, you did it again"
I looked through the glass and gave him the fiercest look I ever gave.

Frank's POV:
We walked down the street, she was wearing a black short dress with leather jacket and boots. A cold breeze came down the street, her skirt lifted slightly. I saw she had a skull tattoo on her thigh.
While we were on the restaurant I could see her skimming through the menu. Her face was mostly covered by big framed glasses, they gave her a geeky yet sexy look. Her hair was brown, her fringe covered her face slightly; you could see her big brown eyes. She was such a treat, I liked the colour of her skin. She wasn't pale yet she was white with a pink tone, perfectly balanced. I believe I made her feel uncomfortable by staring too much at her because she looked up and bit her lip. She looked at me, the same way she looked at me that afternoon. I was amazed by the way she talked passionately about the things she liked. It was amazing how compatible we were. Dinner was coming to its end, I felt the mood changed between us.
"I'm glad you came, I've been pretty shook up since that day at the train", I said while I played with a napkin between my finger to avoid looking at her expressive brown eyes.
"I was really having a crappy day, my attitude was just... I don't know... I'm not usually like that", she said with a slight red tone on her cheeks.
"Really? You look like the kind of girl that does that often" while laughing. I was just trying to tease her, I should've known better.
"Excuse me?", She said while her face changed. Her eyes weren't looking at me in a sweet way, her lips were in a straight line waiting for response.
"You know, those girls who just leave guys behind and don't really give a fuck", I laughed. I could see I was getting her annoyed and I loved it. I loved to see her upset.
She threw her napkin at me and said, "You're such an asshole".
Cursing, that was new. I couldn't believe how she managed to look like such a sweet human being yet had a very aggressive side that was fascinated but horror movies and liked punk rock as much as I did. She stormed out, I couldn't help but see her long legs while she left, I was still I'm the mood to tease her so I yelled, "You see, you did it again".
She wasn't very happy about it, I felt knives coming out of her eyes as she looked at me though the window. There was something about her, I could see why Sophie was so amused. She's going to be my Waterloo.
I took a cab and went to Sophie's place to get some sleep. I was staying with her parents for that week.
The next morning I woke up by uncle Thomas padding on my shoulder, "Frank, we're going to visit Sophie. Grandma and grandpa will be there, could you please watch the kids?"
I stood up and put a shirt on, "Sure, I'll go visit her afterwards. Should I make lunch for them?"
"Yeah, we'll be there until 5 probably. We'll call you"
They left, I was walking towards, Zac and Oliver's room. They were 9 and 7 years old, also Sophie's siblings. I saw them sleeping tightly so I decided to wake them up later. I went to the kitchen, gabbed a bowl of cereal and had a smoke. It was certainly overwhelming, having Sophie sick had really made the family grow together. In some aspects her disease was a bliss. I know it sounds sick but besides making us grow as human beings, I had met Aubrey. I couldn't seem to get her off my mind, ever since Sophie talked non stop about her I just couldn't have enough. I wasn't sure I'd see her again because of what happened last night but a deep part of me wanted her to stay forever.
I woke Zac and Oliver at mid day, made lunch for them and hang out until 4, his dad called saying they'd be home soon and I'd be able to see Sophie.
Once they came, I went to the hospital.

Aubrey's POV:
I has slept in, since it was Saturday I thought probably Sophie's entire family was going to be at the hospital. I didn't want to disrupt so I went walking around Chicago, it was a nice city, not as agitated as New York but it had its charm. During the day I had flashbacks of what had happened last night with Frank. A part of me wanted to leave to New York so I wouldn't have to see his face again but I knew Sophie loved him and I was here for her. After shopping and walking around Chicago I went to a sushi bar to have lunch, i saw Anthony in the news.
It was still so surprising for me, I couldn't believe he had started the shooting at NYU. According to the news, he was in NY waiting for trial. They showed his face when he walked to court, his eyes showed a deep grief. I felt a knot in my throat, a couple tears ran down my cheeks.
It was already noon when I decided to go to the hospital. As I was in the cab I dreaded the fact I was probably going to see Frank over there, "Do it for her" I though to my insides. I walked inside the hospital and ran to a closing elevator, "Hold it, please" I yelled.
The doors opened and I got in, Frank was there smirking.
"Ugh... You again"
He winked, "It's nice seeing you too, you look very nice today. Ditch anyone?"
"I've had it with you", I gave my back to him.
As the doors opened I was running to Sophie's room when I felt him grab my hand.
He laughed and pinned me to the wall, making a prison with his arms.
"Get off me, seriously"
"Aubrey, sweetie, I know you can't stand me but let's do this for her, okay? I just like messing around with you. I don't think she'll like it if her two favourite people fight around her."
"Just because I really care for her"
He let me go, we walked in and noticed the door was open. No one but Sophie was in the room, she was giggling while playing with Thomas.
"Frankie! Aubrey! It's nice to see you here! Thomas and I missed you", she made us kiss her stuffed giraffe. Frank and I stood on one side of the bed, as hard as I tried I couldn't help to feel tension around him. We spent almost all afternoon playing Sophie until she started talking about Halloween.
"Aubrey, can I ask you something?" She said while grabbing my hand.
"Sure, what is it, Sophie?"
Frank sat on the chair next to her, he was all over the chair.
"Remember I told you about the Halloween party?"
"Yeah..." I could guess where she was going with it but I wanted to let her finish.
"Well... Since Frankie thinks you're pretty... Would you like to go as his bride? We could all be a family of monsters together"
I looked over at him, he was laughing and had tears in his eyes.
"Uhm... Sophie..."
"Aubrey please, I would really like that" she looked at me with puppy eyes, I couldn't say no to her...
"Okay, I'll be his... Bride" I said while smiling at her.
She laughed and moved her arms as if making a victorious gesture.
Gerard walked in the room with a colouring book between his arms.
"Sophie, sup?", he said while approached to kiss her forehead.
"Hi, Gee, thanks for calling Aubrey"
"No prob, Sophie, who's that in your arms?"
"It's Thomas, Aubrey brought it for me. He's soft and smells good"
"I've got something for you" he said as he handed her a jungle themed colouring book.
"I love it, I usually get bored after chemo, are there giraffes on it?"
"Of course, what's a jungle without giraffes?"
While Sophie and Gerard were talking Frank and I exchanges devious looks all the time, I believe they noticed because they seemed to find it funny.
A nurse walked in to tell us visit time was over. We said goodbye to her and left.
"So... Guys wanna get drinks or dinner?", said Gerard while walking in between Frank and I.
"Yeah, that'd be nice", said Frank while Gerard put an arm around his shoulder.
"I guess it wouldn't harm anyone...", I said.
We went into a Mexican restaurant near the children's hospital.
As we waited for our order things seemed to be awkward around us three.
Gerard looked at us, smirked and looked at his empty wrist as if he had a watch on, "Wow, look at that. I've got to go meet my band's possible new drummer. I'm already running late. Guys, I'm sorry, dinner's on me. Have a nice time" he said while leaving a couple of 50s on the table. Frank and I were speechless, he obviously planned it.
He gave me a devious look and smirked, "you really can't stand me, can you?"
I rolled my eyes and gave him a dirty look, "is is that obvious?"
"You just don't get it..."He said while coming closer to me.
"What?"
"Nothing, never mind"
Dinner was pretty silent, we talked about random subjects but mostly about Sophie. As much as I tried I couldn't seem to hide my apathy yet sexual attraction towards him. It was something I'd never experienced before.
"Look... I want to get a tattoo with a friend of mine, would you mind going with me?"
"Hmmm, if you're not going to be an ass I'll go"
He smirked, again, while looking at me profoundly; "I'll try, let's go"
He payed the check and we left the restaurant.
While in the tattoo shop I felt the urge to get inked so when he explained to the tattoo artist what he wanted I stayed in the waiting room looking at the artist's work.
He took longer than expected, he was supposed to get the Black Flag logo inside his arm. I was about to get out for a smoke when he finally got out, shirtless.

Frank's POV:
As we walked to find a place to eat I could feel tension between me and Aubrey, she really was annoyed by me. Crashing into her at the elevator probably wasn't a good idea, maybe dinner itself wasn't a good idea. Last night she left me, as usual, in middle of dinner. I'll just mess with her if I get the chance.
Gerard apparently had everything planned, left us both to dine alone while he left to "meet his new drummer". Apparently the band project was looking good, a week ago while,I was in the studio with them and Pencey Prep his old drummer left. They've been looking for a good one around the area but apparently he found one here. As he left money on the table I saw Aubrey feeling uncomfortable while giving me a dirty look.
I looked at her and smirked, she seemed to get nervous every time I did that; "you really can't stand me, can you?"
She rolled her eyes, and looked at me angrily. She looked like a puppy trying to be evil, "is is that obvious?", she said.
"You just don't get it..."I wanted to stand up a kiss her, she was still having a hard time dealing with the way I looked at her.
"What?", she asked. Her face changed, I could feel her eyes looking at me tenderly as if she was getting it.
"Nothing, never mind"
I couldn't tell her just yet, I wanted to mess with her a little longer.
"Look... I want to get a tattoo with a friend of mine, would you mind going with me?" I asked.
"Hmmm, if you're not going to be an ass I'll go" she said while smiling at me and biting her lip.
"I'll try, let's go"
We walked into a friend's tattoo shop, Tony. I always wanted him to tattoo me but never had the chance to visit him while I was in town. Aubrey sat down I the waiting room as I went in the tattoo room. I was getting the black flags logo in my arm, he did it pretty fast. He was cleaning me off when I had a brilliant idea.
"Hey... I wanted to get another tattoo"
"Sure man, what is it?"
"Uhh... It's a girl's name"
He laughed loudly and looked at me, "That's not a good idea, Frankie"
"Just... Trust me. She's a keeper"
"Okay... Where do you want it?"
"In my chest, where my heart is"
"Well... That's cheesy but I'll do it. What's her name?"
"Aubrey."
He didn't take long, I was nervous and not sure shed like it. I had a good feeling about her, she was... I knew she was for me. Once he was done, I walked toward her with my shirt off, she looked surprised.
"I though you were doing it on your arm, why's your shirt off?"
I didn't tell her anything, I just showed her the Black Flag tattoo and waited for her to notice her name.
"Well, I like it. I think I'll get something done soon. I'm starting to feel the need for ink", she said while smiling and tracing the tattoos in my arms with the tips of her fingers. We were standing very close, I could feel her breath on my neck.
"Wh-why did you do that?"
"What?"
She noticed, she didn't look happy about it.
"Why on fucking earth would you get my name on your chest? What's wrong with you? You think you're so attractive you're gonna get me?"
I laughed, she looked sweeter than ever.
"You know what, I'm leaving. Ugh, you're... Ugh"
I knew it was the time, I grabbed her wrist while she attempted to leave and lulled her closer to me.
"I'm yours now." I whispered to her and kissed her cheek.
She blushed and stormed out as always.
Tony was laughing in the back.
"Isn't she a treat, she didn't like it?"
"I've been teasing her, I know she loved it."
"Are you dating?"
I put my shirt on, payed and shook hands with him, "not yet".

Notes