Return To Me, My Love

The rest of the afternoon and night pass with Mikey, Pete and I watching another movie before moving on to play video games and after a while Mikey says "So how was Bert?" "What?" I snap, my cheeks heating up until I realise he just meant how has be been and Pete laughs before saying "You fucked him didn't you?" "No" I snap, dropping my gaze down to my lap as I feel my whole face go red and Pete laughs before saying "Come on Gee, you can tell us." I look back up, meeting Mikey's gaze and he smiles and says "Good for you, are you gonna see him again?" "Yeah but it's not like that, we're both going through a break up and we both know it didn't mean anything, we're just friends and...." "Hey it's ok, we're not judging you or anything" Pete tells me. "Actually we're really happy for you. You seem a lot happier today and it's nice to see." I smile as I say "Thanks. Yeah today's actually been the best, I love my new job, the manager is really cool and...." "Oh god I forgot that's where you were, I'm such a dick. How was it?" Mikey says and I chuckle before telling them all about it and both Pete and Mikey smile before Mikey says "That's great, I'm glad you like it so much."

By the time I climb into bed it's really late, my body exhausted from all the physical activity it's done today, no longer used to moving around and being on my feet all the time and just as I drift off my phone starts ringing. I reach out and grab it, seeing the time on the clock beside the bed is 1.30am and when I look at the name on the screen it's Frank. I frown to myself, wondering why he's calling me now after we haven't spoken in almost two months and I hit answer, bringing the phone to my ear. "Hello?" "Hi Gee" Frank says, his voice a little scratchy and I take a deep breath before asking "How are you?" "I'm ok" he says but I know he's lying so I say "Really?" "I miss you so much" he chokes out, his voice cracking before he adds "Are you in the city?" "Yeah" I tell him, letting my eyes slip closed again and I hear him take a deep shaky breath before he says "Can you come over?" "Frank...." "Please, I can't be alone right now" he pleads, his voice sounding scared and I sigh as I say "Alright, I'm coming." I drag myself back up after we hang up and change, grabbing my keys and wallet before going downstairs and hailing a cab. Fifteen minutes later the cab stops outside Franks building and I go upstairs, knocking on the door and it opens almost immediately, Frank obviously waiting for me and after I step inside I turn to really look at him, his eyes red and bloodshot, the skin under them dark and saggy and he looks frightened. "Frankie" I breathe out, opening my arms and he launches himself into my chest, clutching at my shirt as I hold him to me, his body tense but the longer we hug the more relaxed he gets. "When was the last time you slept?" I ask when we pull apart, my hand coming up to cup his cheek. "I dunno, a few days I think" he tells me, leaning into my touch as his eyes slip closed and I sigh to myself as I slide my hand down to wrap around his waist, guiding him down the hallway to the bedroom. "Get some sleep Frankie" I tell him as I help him into bed and he wraps his hand around my wrist, his eyes wide and frightened as he says "Please don't go." "Shh, it's alright, I'm right here" I tell him as I pull the blanket up over him, taking a seat on the edge of the bed and Frank tugs at my arm until I'm laying down beside him. Once I'm settled Frank slides up to cuddle into my side and I wrap my arm around him, holding him close as he falls asleep, feeling bad seeing him in this state. As Franks breathing evens out I find my own eyes growing heavy and the steady rhythm of Franks breathing helps lull me to sleep. I wake up a few hours later, needing to use the bathroom and as I go to sit up I find that my hands are tied to the headboard, my head snapping up to see the handcuffs wrapped around my wrists and I start to panic, realising my feet are tied to the bed posts too and I thrash around, the lamp coming on and I see Frank standing beside the bed. "What are you doing? Let me go" I demand, tugging against my restraints and Frank leans down over me, his face hovering just inches from mine as he says "You're not going anywhere ever again. I'm not letting you leave me again." "Frank stop this" I plead as I thrash around, the look in Franks eyes terrifying me further as I try to get away and just as Frank opens his mouth to speak again I scream out, my eyes snapping open and I come face to face with Mikey, his arms wrapping around me as I sit up and glance around, seeing I'm back in my room and it was just a dream. "Shh it's alright, you're ok" Mikey tells me as he rubs my back and I slump forward against him, my head resting against his shoulder as my breathing slowly returns to normal.

Once I fully calm down again Mikey lets me go and I slump back down against the pillows, Mikey looking down at me as he asks "Are you ok now?" "Yeah, I'm sorry for waking you up." "It's fine Gee, do you need to talk about it?" I shake my head, not wanting to think about the dream anymore and Mikey nods before standing up and saying "I'm gonna go back to bed but if you need anything just come get me." "Thanks Mikes" I tell him, sending him a grateful smile and Mikey smiles back before leaving the room, pulling the door closed behind him and once I'm alone again I roll onto my side and curl up, reaching out to grab my phone and I start to scroll through old messages between Frank and I, the loving messages making me feel a little better until my eyes grow heavy and I sit the phone back down, pulling the blankets right up as I drift back to sleep, wondering whether the dream is a sign that I need to talk to Frank again.

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