More Than Anythig Else I Know

‘Ugh, why am I still stuck in this hell-hole?’ I think to myself. ‘It’s just the same exact thing, over and over again. Take order, make drink, serve. Over and over again.’

‘Maybe the drink will change occasionally. It’ll go from being a Latte to a Mocha. That’s probably the highlight of my day, when I get to make a Mocha.’ I hate this place. I can’t wait to get out and do what I love as a job. Painting. Drawing. Anything like that.

Nobody likes my art though, apparently it’s too dark and depressing. Well guess what, I’m not gonna change the way I paint for someone else. Even if it means getting outta here. Stupid Starbucks, with all the popular, successful customers, looking down at you because you’re struggling to make your dream work out.

I look down the line. Yep, all women in smart shirts and skirts and high heels, which I can’t even walk in, for God’s sake, and men in black suits looking at their watches, worrying about the time. If you’re going to be late for a meeting, then I strongly suggest you leave the coffee. Apparently that’s not an option.

There is this one guy, with long black hair, halfway down the line. He looks like he doesn’t want to be here. Same here, mate. Get out while you can. Heh. Just kidding. The moment you step in that door, surrounded by pink hearts and red lips, to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you’re trapped. Trapped in a dungeon of capitalism, disguised as a plain and simple coffee shop.

Also, what is up with that whole Valentine’s get up? It’s just a holiday that makes card companies rich and single people depressed. Let it go, people. Let it die.

Eventually the guy with black hair is first in line. I decide to make a conversation that consists of more than the usual ‘What’ll it be? That’ll be $4. Thanks’ that goes along with every order.

‘Hey. I’m Kitty. What you want?’
‘Uhhhh, I’m not sure, I’m not really one for Starbucks.’ I cut him off
‘I can see that. You want me to get you something I like?’
‘Yeah, sure. If it’s as tasty as your face is pretty, than I’m sure I’ll like it.’ Heh, funny. I smile at him, and manage to bite my cheek. Ow. Damn.
I get him the drink and give it to him. ‘That’ll be $4 dollars… Sorry, I don’t know your name’
‘Frank. Iero. Frank Iero.Sorry, I have no idea what I’m doing right now’
‘Don’t worry about it. Are you gonna pay, Frank, or are you just gonna stand there, looking like a total idiot?
‘Oh, right, money’ He blushes, and I laugh at him. ‘Shut up, not my fault you’re so beautiful’ I stop laughing immediately. What?
‘W-what? What did you just say?’
‘Nothing’ I see him scribbling on a piece on paper. ‘Here’s my number, call me later. I’ll see you’
‘Yea, bye’ What. The hell. Just happened? He leaves and the next customer steps up, looking annoyed. Yeah, yeah, whatever, don’t care about you right now. My hands are shaking as I prepare her drink. What just happened? I got a boy’s number? And he called me beautiful? Okay, I am dreaming. I have to be.

This doesn’t happen to people like me. It happens to pretty girls, girls who aren’t as irritable and moody as me. Girls who are happy and sociable. I am the outright opposite of that. I’m rarely happy or smiling and I have social anxiety. I’m so confused right now….

~Time-lapse, after work~

As soon as I got in from work I ran into my studio. I knew that I would calm down if I drew something, it helps with anything. I’m not joking, whether it be something good like this, or something bad like… That, then I go into my studio and draw my emotions. This time it looks like a Frank-opus. Like an octopus, but it reminds me of Frank.

Frank!I need to call him. I scrabble around in my pocket for the scrunched up piece of paper with him number on. I get out my phone and hit the numbers on the screen.

I pause before I press dial. Kitty Worsnop, I am never going to forgive you, if this goes wrong. I press dial and hold the phone to my ear tentatively. What if he doesn’t pick up? What he he’s changed his mind? Oh my God, he’s changed his mind- I’m interrupted by the phone being answered.

‘Hello?’
‘H-hi. Oh, right, it’s Kitty. From Starbucks’ Oh my God, I sound like such a nerd
‘No need to remind me, I could never forget’ Aww, he’s so sweet! ‘I’m back to normal now, and I’ve decided to ask you out somewhere’ What the hell. No, not happening. It’s a dream.
‘Where were you planning on asking me out to?’ Okay, Kitty, calm down, it’s fine.
‘Do you want to go out for a drink? There’s a band playing tonight, they’re not well known, but they’re good’
‘Yeah, that sounds ama-good. That sounds good. What time? Where?’
‘Just tell me your address and I’ll come pick you up at around 7-ish. That okay?
‘Y-yeah, that’s fine’ I tell him my address and end the call. Then I run upstairs and panic. What am I going to wear? How am I going to do my hair? How am I going to wear my makeup?

I stop for a second and breathe. In… and out. In… and out. Okay. I’m going to wear blue shorts, a loose white tank top with a black cross, and my purple doc martens. I’m going to leave my hair loose and down. I’m going to do my makeup the way I normally do it, natural. And go!

~Time-lapse, 6:50pm~

Right, I’m ready. I’ve showered, gotten dressed, eaten a salad, in case we don’t eat when we’re out, and now I’m ready to leave. Hell, no I’m not! Where’s my phone, I wanna cancel with Frank. I think I left it on my dresser, by my necklace. I run to the stairs, ready to grab my phone to ring Frank and tell him that I’m ill, or something.

Then my plan is ruined by a little thing called Frank Iero. Seriously, he’s only just taller than me, and I’m midget. Anyway, as soon as I’d found my phone, he turned up outside my house. Damn. I go downstairs ready to tell him that I can’t go, after all.

‘Hey, Frank, I’m really-‘
‘You look beautiful’ Aww, I can’t tell him now, he’s making me melt inside ‘Sorry, what were you saying?’
‘Nothing. Let’s go!’

I get into his car with him. He holds the door open for me, and I blush. He’s so sweet. When we’ve been driving for 5 minutes or so, the radio is the only noise, so I decide to ask him about the band.

‘What band is playing tonight?’
‘My Chemical Romance, they’re fairly new, but I really like they’re sound’ He’s smiling while he says this

‘What type of music do they play?’
‘Uhh, pop-punk, rocky stuff, I guess. What’s the matter?’ Oops, didn’t mean to pull a face.
‘Nothing, I’m just more of a pop kinda person.’
‘Oh’ He looks really sad ‘You wanna do something else then?’
‘Oh my God, no that’s fine. I can deal with it, I might even like it’ I chance a smile. He smiles back, I guess it’s okay to smile then.

~Time-lapse, at the gig~

We get out of the car and I see that the bar is full. Oh no. This ain’t gonna go well.

‘You okay?’ Frank asks. Didn’t see him coming over.
‘Did I ever mention that I have social anxiety?’
‘No…’
‘I do. This is way too many people for me to handle right now’
‘Okay, Kitty, look at me’ I look at him. ‘We’re going to do this. Just breathe in time with me for a minute’

It goes quiet. The only sound I can hear is Frank breathing and I try and time myself to him. In… and out. In… and out. Not the first time I’ve done this today, and it won’t be the last…

Eventually I’m breathing normally again, and am able to go into the heaving bar. We grab two seats at the bar that are, thankfully, isolated from other people. Frank seems to know the bartender, and chats with him for a bit, before ordering for both of us.
‘Sorry, me and Jay go way back. So… tell me about yourself’
‘Nothing really to tell. Anxiety is the main part, but you already know about that… I’m not really a friendly person. I don’t get along with people easily.’
‘There has to be more. When’s your birthday?
‘February 5th. You?’
‘October 31st, Halloween’
‘Surprise, surprise’ He chokes on his drink
‘Sorry, what?’
‘I just mean that you look like Halloween. Scary. Dark. Actually, this is probably why I don’t have any friends. I’m horrible. Sorry, I’ll go’ Messed it up again. Why can’t I just be nice for once? I get up from the bar and start walking towards the exit. I soon hear a voice behind me.

‘Wait. Kitty. I thought it was funny. I really like you, but I gotta go for a few minutes, stay at the bar, Jay’ll keep you company. Watch the band when they go on, at least try and enjoy it, huh?’
‘Wait what?’
‘I gotta go. I’ll be back soon’ He kisses my cheek and runs off. What just happened. I guess I have to go back to the bar and wait. I sit down where we were and check my phone. No new messages. Why was I even expecting any. I look towards the stage, for the band. They’re there.

I look at the lead singer. Kinda cute, black hair, nice smile. Bass guitarist, nerdy, thin, glasses, not my type. Guitarist, nice fro. I can’t really see the drummer, there’s someone in the way. I expect the band to start playing, but then another guy walks out. Black hair, hazel eyes, wider frame. My date. Oh my effing God.

He goes and stand to the right of the stage guitar in hand. He looks up at me, and smiles. I blush. He mouths something at me. Are you okay now? What? Yeah, I guess. Whoa, this day is crazy.

The band actually start playing. It’s actually good music. I start tapping my fingers on the bar counter. I think the first song was called something like I’m Not Okay, or something like that. It was good, really just… I don’t know, good! Then there was a much sadder one called Helena or something, this was more my type of thing, but I liked the first one more for some reason. The last one they played was The Ghost of You. Ehh, it was okay.

Speaking of okay, I’m Not Okay was definitely my favourite. I sip my drink for the next few minutes before Frank returns.The second I see him I run up to him and hug him, which is so unlike me. What is wrong with me?

‘Why didn’t you tell me you were playing tonight?’ I say into his shoulder
‘What?’ He says, laughing at me. I get off of him and repeat myself.

‘It was meant to be a surprise. You looked like the type of girl who would like our music, so I invited you out. But then you said you liked more pop-style music so I thought you wouldn’t like it. Did you like it?’
‘I loved it, especially the first one. What was it called?’
‘I’m Not Okay (I Promise). I’m so glad you liked it’
‘I didn’t just like it, I loved it! And it’s not the only thing I’ve fallen in love with tonight…’ I mumble the last bit, what the hell am I doing?

‘What, Kitty? Didn’t catch that last bit’
‘Never mind, just me being stupid’
‘No, I’m not going to ‘never mind’ it. You just said you’d fallen in love with me, didn’t you?’
‘Maybe’ I say to the floor. He’s going to hate me. Nobody says that they’ve fallen in love with their date. Except idiots like me.

‘You love me?’
‘Oh my god, are you frickin’ deaf? You made me say it like 3 times already, isn’t that enough? Just laugh at me and leave me already, I know you want to’
‘How wrong you are, Kitty.I’m not going to laugh at you and leave you. I love hearing you say that you love me. Because it makes me feel like I don’t need to feel shy about saying this next bit. Kitty, I love you more than anything else I know. Will you be my girlfriend?’

What? Did he just say he doesn’t hate me? That he’s not going to laugh at me? That he loves me? AHHHHHHHHHHH! No, not happening. Can’t be happening.

‘Yes’ I blurt out. ‘Of course I’ll be your girlfriend.’ I fall into his arms, feeling like there was nothing in the world that could bring my down from my happy bubble.

~Time-lapse, Valentine’s Day a year on~

‘Do you, Kitty Worsnop, take Frank Iero to be your lawfully wedded husband?’
‘I do’
‘And do you, Frank Iero, take Kitty Worsnop to be your lawfully wedded wife?
‘I do’
‘I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.’

As Frank presses his lips to mine I can’t help but think that this is the happiest day of my life. I’m marrying the man who makes me sociable and happy, who likes my sense of humour and doesn’t find it offensive. Who makes me light up like there’s nothing wrong with anything. Who makes me feel perfect.

Our guests cheer and we break apart and blush, which makes everyone laugh. People have been asking us for months, when’s the wedding, are you engaged yet, why aren’t you married yet, so we decided to tie the knot on a Hawaiian beach. Purely because of the views. It’s stunning here. It makes New Jersey seem like a slum.

Everything is just perfect. Exactly how I never imagined my wedding to be. I imagined it would be for safety from my father, or to an art dealer to secure my profession. But marrying a musician is something I never thought I’d do.

A successful musician at that. Frank’s career took off soon after we got together. Turns out someone from Reprise Records was at a gig they played, he talked to Gerard, and they had a deal! I was so pleased for them! Gee’s Frankie’s best man, they’re like little kids when they’re together, it’s so cute.

Me and Frank are so happy together. He’s turned me into a better person. I smile more (without biting my cheeks), I’m friendlier, and I know when I’m going to offend someone with my jokes. So I made my first real friend. She’s called Amy, and she’s my bridesmaid. She’s amazing, whatever I need, I can turn to her for help.

As me and Frank go in for one last kiss, I think to myself: All these lovely people genuinely like me and Frank. That’s not happened before. And it’s all because of him. I love him so much…

Notes

Hey guys! Say hi to my first oneshot! Sorry... I just felt like coz it was Valentine's I should write something... Tell me how you thought it was please! Check out my other fanfic Life is Colourless it's more sci-fi but I finally know where I'm going with it wooo