The next morning I woke up on the floor, wrapped up in my sheets. It was about five o'clock and I had to get ready for school.

I trudged into the kitchen, sleep still in my vision. My eyes were suddenly blinded by the light from the refrigerator.

There was my dad, hunched over the fridge in just his boxers. I was not expecting this.

My dad was a normal size for his age; 5'7". He was in mid thirties and had very little hair and many tattoos. He was a little pudgy as well, but you had to expect that from a drinker. I usually never saw him leave his bedroom, but I guess he came out for a beer refill. We always had cases of six packs lining the bottom shelf of the fridge.

I waved awkwardly at him and he grumbled, grabbing the case of booze and stumbling back to his room. He left the refrigerator door open.

I shook my head, trying to get the feeling of pity out of my system. I had no pity for him, he chose to live his life like this.

I got out some orange juice and milk from the fridge and shut it. Opening the cabinet above the sink, I strained my arm upwards to reach the Lucky Charms. When I got them I made cereal, and poured the juice in a glass.

Harley came in a couple of minutes later, sitting in a chair at the circular table, eating the breakfast I had made him.

Next I had to make food for Frank. We had some bagel bread and butter, so he was getting a bagel.
As I was spreading the butter on the bread I asked Harley, "What do you want for lunch?"
He shrugged, making one of his thinky faces while he chewed on his cereal. "Ham and cheese," he said finally.

I nodded and begun to pack up Frank's food. "Do you need money for snack or something?"
He pondered for a moment, but nodded soon after, indicating a yes.

"Okay go get dressed I have to go and see Mr. Iero," I said grabbing the bag of food and heading for the door, still only in my pjs.

It was freaking freezing when I got outside. I really should have worn a sweater or something, but I knew this wouldn't take too long.

I opened the door to the tattoo parlor and was somewhat warmed up. This place never really had the best temperature control.

"How can I help you little lady?" a man sitting behind a small desk asked me. He was bald and grinned when he spoke to me.

"I'm looking for Frank Iero?" I asked, looking around the shop for him.

The man looked around for a moment, before staring directly behind me and grinning devilishly. "Is that the man you're looking for?" he asked pointing behind me.

I looked behind me to meet the hazel eyes of none other than Frank himself. He had a lopsided grin, and he was wearing a red t-shirt. I could faintly see the Our Lady of Sorrows tattoo on the back of his elbow. Boy was it a beauty.

"Guess what I got?" I joked, holding up yet another brown paper bag.

"Thanks Alina. Here-" Frank said, shoving a hand into his pocket. He pulled out a ten dollar bill and handed it to me.

"No really Frank I couldn't," I tried to say. I really couldn't take money from him, he needed it more than I did.

He didn't say anything, just put the money in my hand and gave me my usual kiss on the forehead, closing the conversation entirely.

"I've gotta go. I'll come by after school," I smiled.

Frank nodded and turned to go to what I believed was his workstation. He sat down in the same brown leather chair I saw him in yesterday. He opened the bag and started to bite into his bagel. I chuckled to myself and then walked out.

When I got back home, Harley was sitting on the couch dressed, and flicking through the channels on the television.

I went to my room to get my clothes on and shove my homework back into my annoyingly itchy shoulder bag.

I changed into a black and gray striped shirt, jeans with a couple of rips, and my only pair of shoes which were my black converse. I placed my hoodie back onto my body and tucked the money Frank gave me securely into my jeans pocket. I lifted my bag over my head and grabbed a pack of gum off my desk. I popped a piece in my mouth and then left my room.

"You ready to go? You made lunch?" I asked, when I came into the living room.

Harley nodded, shutting off the TV and getting up off the couch. He grabbed his backpack off the floor and put it on his shoulders.

"C'mon lets go," I smiled, taking his hand and going out the door.

*

I walked down the street from my high school to Harley's elementary school. He didn't have after school today, so I had to pick him up right after I got out.

When I reached his school, his class was already being let out, his Batman book bag clearly noticeable. He waved goodbye to his friends and walked over to the front gates, where I was waiting.

I kissed him on the cheek, took his hand, and asked him about his day as we walked down the block.

"Today was great! Me and Mark hid worms in the teacher's desk and she flipped out," Harley exclaimed.

I laughed as we crossed the street, our block coming into view. The ice-cream truck was parked on the corner.

"You want ice-cream?" I asked looking at my little brother. He shouted yes and I stopped short for a minute, getting the ten dollar bill out of my pocket.

I handed the ice-cream man my money as he gave my frozen treats. Harley got a chocolate ice cream cone with loads of sprinkles, and I got a spider man pop. We sat on the curb in front of our building to eat.

"Hey," Harley said between licks of his ice-cream cone, "isn't your birthday next week?"

"Well at least someone remembered," I beamed, ruffling his hair.

I finished off my pop and tossed the stick into the street, standing up and rubbing my hands on my jeans.

"We can have a huge party," Harley exclaimed, devouring his cone and standing up next to me.

I laughed and walked over to the door opening it. "I can't believe I'm going to be twenty."

"You're gonna be old," Harley teased walking in front of me. I started to chase him and he ran down the hall and up the stairs.

I tackled him at our door, erupting into a fit of laughter. When I could finally catch my breath and stand straight, I opened the door.

"Go get started on homework and I'll make dinner," I said as I went to my room to put my things away.

I threw my bag on the floor of my bedroom and flung my hoodie on my bed. I patted my pocket where my change was and headed into the kitchen.

As I put a pot of water on the stove, I could hear my dad's loud snoring from his room. Then there was a loud crash and I jumped, Harley running out of his room.

"What was that?" he panicked, looking at me anxiously.

"It was just dad. Don't worry about it, everything's fine"

"Can I go see him?"

"Not right now, he's sleeping, okay?"

Harley's face fell and he sighed an okay before going back into his room.

It was hard for me to have to keep what was really going on with my dad from Harley. It's not like I could just tell him, oh yeah dad dropped one of his beer bottles on the floor and it broke. He was too young to understand, and I hoped that by the time he was old enough, we could live somewhere better. Hell, maybe we could live with Ray. But I was going to be twenty in less than a week, and if I could get a good enough job, I could give Harley the home he deserved.

The sound of boiling water broke me from my thoughts. I grabbed the box of pasta I set out on the counter and dumped it in the pot. I got some marinara sauce out of the fridge and put it in the microwave to heat up. I put some plates on the table and got out two forks.

I finished up making dinner and set it on the table, calling Harley from his room to eat.

I wasn't the world's best cook, but it was something. At least Harley wasn't spitting it out behind my back.

Or at least I hoped he didn't.

When we finished eating I did the dishes and Harley went to go and take a shower.

I went to my room to start on homework, which I had to admit annoyed me. Homework wasn't my forte.

I was in the middle of my English report when I heard a sneeze.

"God bless you," I called to no one in particular.

"Ah thank you," the no one in particular sniffed.

I jumped out of my chair when I actually got an answer. I wasn't expecting an answer. But the voice sounded familiar.

"Wait...Ray?" I questioned, cautiously walking toward my window.

I pulled up the grime and finger print covered window to confirm my suspicions.

There was Ray sitting on my fire escape, his leg draped across his knee, tapping to a tune in his head with his other foot.

"Ray," I exclaimed, very happy to see him, especially since he wasn't wearing his normal black suit. Instead he was wearing a black t shirt and jeans along with his own pair of Chuck Taylor's.

I climbed out onto the fire escape to join him.

"Hey Alina. Sorry about this, I should've knocked."

"No, no it's fine. How...how did you get up here?"

"Climbed the gutter till I could reach the fire escape."

We both laughed after he said it, and then my door opened.

"Is that Mr. Toro?" Harley asked peering out my window.

"Hey Harley," Ray confirmed waving at him.

"Stay inside. I don't want you getting sick," I said, sending my soaking wet brother back inside.

"So..." I trailed off, once we were alone again. Nothing but us and the evening sky.

"I heard you playing Black Flag last night. I didn't know you listened to punk rock," Ray said.

"Well lets not forget we never hang out out of your job," I retorted.

"Can't argue with that. I'm in a band myself actually. We're not that good, but we're getting there."

Now I was intrigued. "Really?! Who's in it? Besides you of course," I chuckled.

He laughed. "You know that short kid that works in the tattoo parlor? Frank?"

"Yes," I practically yelled. "I make him lunch and breakfast everyday!"

"You're the sweet teenager he keeps talking about? Ha, I should've known. But anyway, it's me, him, my friend Gerard and his little brother, and this kick ass drummer that works in Home Depot on 13th street."

"That's so cool. I never knew you played."

"Well like you said, we never talk outside my job. I've been playing guitar for a while now. You should come by and see us play sometime. We practice in Gerard's garage."

"I'd love to hear you guys play. It's not like I have anything better to do," I smiled.

"I heard your birthday's coming up?" Ray asked.

I nodded slowly. "Yeah, next Thursday. You must've heard my brother proclaiming it to the world earlier today."

"You're going to be twenty," Ray singsonged, elbowing my shoulder.

"Yup, the big two zero. I'm actually pretty scared."

"Don't be. Being twenty is pretty easy," Ray said sarcastically.

"Yeah I just hope things will get better once I turn twenty," I mumbled under my breath.

Ray placed a hand on my knee. "It will," he mouthed. I stared at his brown eyes for a moment, trying to believe what he was telling me.

"It's getting pretty late I better-"

"Hey Toro! What're you doing hanging out on people's fire escapes? Ya hobo!"

"Shut up Frank," Ray called down to the figure standing in front of the building, flipping him off.

"Hey Frankie," I called waving down to him.

"How's it going Lina?" he called back, chuckling a little.

I turned back to Ray. "I'm going to go okay? I have school tomorrow. Are you going to stay out here?"

"Yeah I'll stay out here a little longer if you don't mind."

"Not a problem. Night Ray," I smiled, kissing him on the cheek.

He returned the goodnight and I climbed back into my bedroom.

I changed into some pjs in the bathroom (didn't need Ray seeing me change) and brushed my teeth. I blew a kiss to Harley as I passed his bedroom, and flopped down on my own bed.

I had a feeling things were going to get better. And I had an even deeper feeling that Ray and Frank were involved.

Notes

2nd chapter! Leave a comment below on your thoughts(:
xoxopoison