This Is It
Laughing, dancing, eating, they did it all that night. "Oh my God, she did not just do that," Rachel said to Frank. "I know," he laughed, "I guess she'll do anything for a dollar." "So will Rachel," Tyson said with his crew following him like lost puppies. Rachel and Frank both rolled their eyes and with to talk to Mia who, by the way, did the worm in the middle of the dance floor. "You are crazy, I can't believe you did that," Rachel said to Mia. "Hey, you should try it Rachel. It's easy, I'll show you," Mia slurred and swerved into Rachel. Rachel caught her and asked, "Whoa, how many tequila bottles did trick the corner store cashier into giving you?" Mia laughed, "I don't know, I lost count after twenty." "Okay, you need to go home," Frank said. Mia softly punched him on his arm, "Buddy, come on, I don't need to go home, I'm the life of the party." All of a sudden, she frowned and said, "I need to throw up." Frank and Rachel looked at each other and rushed her to the ladies' bathroom. Only Frank, being the gentleman that he is, waited outside. "Let it out sweetie," Rachel said hold Mia's head over the toilet. "'Gag' I'm not drunk, I just ate some bad shrimp," Mia argued. "Mmhm, sure." After all of her stomach contents Mia rinsed her mouth in the sink. "You really got to stop drinking so much," Rachel said. "I know, but it's so fun, when you and sexy out there get together then I'll stop drinking," Mia said. "Here take a tic-tac, let's go and call Andre so he can take you home."
"Promise me that you will never get that drunk," Frank said. Rachel laughed. They were sitting at the swing set in the park next to the school. "Trust me, you will never see me that drunk a day in your life." "Do you want me to push you?" Rachel bucked her eyes. "I'm in a dress," she said. "So what," he stood up and got behind her, "It's just me and you." She smiled and held on to the chains, "Okay, but don't push me too high." He started to push her softly for a few minutes. "You know, the school is going to get complaints tomorrow. We are outside and I can still hear the music." Frank slowly the swing down just a little bit. "It's a dance, there is supposed to get complaints," he said, making Rachel laugh, "What's so funny?" "You are sounding more and more like me every day," she replied. Frank laughed a little himself. He pushed her a little more until the DJ in the school said, "All right ya'll, this is the last song. I want all the guys to get the lovely lady you came here with this evening, take her in your arms and dance the night away to this slow jam. Or at least until the song is over, ya'll have a good night." He turned on the final song of the night and Frank stopped pushing Rachel. "What's wrong?" she asked. "I know this song," he said. 'If I should stay, I would only be in your way,' the song went. "This is the song my parents danced to at their wedding," he said. Rachel listened to the words, 'And I will always love you.' "Kind of depressing, but has a nice ring to it." Frank took her hand and stood her up. "May I have this dance?" he asked bowing. Rachel laughed. "Why yes you may?" she said doing a curtsy. She rest one hand on his shoulder and the other in his hand. They swayed back and forth. "Doesn't Dolly Parton sing this song?" Rachel asked. "Yes." "I bet, when she wrote this, she had to leave a man she really loves, and just couldn't find the words," she said. "Have you ever had someone you love but you couldn't find the right time or words to tell them?" Frank asked. "Yes." "Oh, do I know him?" She stepped a little closer to him. "It'd be weird if you didn't, how about you?" "Same," he admitted. "Do I know her?" "It'd be weird if you didn't." As the song started to end, their lips were getting closer and closer. Then 'Clap Clap.' They quickly separated. Rain started to fall down. "Dammit," Frank mumbled under his breath. "Dang, I can't get my hair wet, Andre's going to kill me," Rachel said before running to Frank's car. Frank followed her trying to get the keys out his pocket. When they were in the safety of his car he said, "Mother nature is on no one's side tonight." She chuckled. He started the car and drove out of the school parking lot. "Man I hate being alone on these kinds of nights," Rachel complained, "Why do I have to be a big scary cat?" "Well where are your parents?" Frank asked. "In Atlanta helping my sister Nikki get acquainted to college life for the rest of the semester," she answered. "Oh." It was silent for a few moments before Frank said, "You can spent the night at my house." Not believing what she had just heard she asked, "Huh?" "My parents are won't be back until tomorrow night. You can sleep in my bed and I'll sleep on my futon," he suggested. "I can't take your bed, I'm sure I'll be fine at my house." "Are you sure?" he asked. Before she could confirm the thunder clapped and she nearly jumped onto his lap. "S-so i-is your bed comfy?" she asked.
Just a block away from his house, Frank's car started to slow down to a complete stop. "Oh no," he said trying to start it again with no luck. Rachel was fast asleep on his shoulder. Frank carefully moved her so it would rest on the passenger side of her window. It was raining cats and dogs but he still got out pushed the car to the side walk so it would be parked. He began to think taking his dad's old junked pick-up truck somewhere when it was low on gas was a bad idea. The only thing he could think of was to call a tow truck, but they were expensive and he used his emergency money on Rachel's bracelet. He had no choice but to leave it there until morning. But first he had to wake Rachel. "Rachel," he shook her softly. She move a little, but didn't wake up. "Wake up sweetheart," he said shaking her again. That's when she opened her eye and asked, "Did you just call me sweetheart?" "We have a situation," he said. "What?" she asked sitting up. "Well, don't get mad but, my car just ran out of gas just a block away from my house and though I hate doing this to you, we have to get to my house on foot." "I'm not mad, but I can't run in these heels and I'm not taking them off." "Okay, I will carry you," he said. "Excuse me, what?" she asked. "Yeah while the rain is light, just," he slid his hands under her and scooped her out the car. "Wait, what are you- oh my God in the air," Rachel said a little nervous, "You know, I had a dream like this once."
When they got to Frank's house they were soaked. "Andre is going to be so pissed that I got my hair wet," Rachel said. "I can only image, let me get you a towel," he said squishing his way to the linen closet. 'Thank God we have wooden floors,' he thought. Rachel took of her shoes and walked through the living room. She saw pictures of people at a wedding, which she assumed was his parent's, along the mantle. She saw a little boy version of Frank hold a newborn baby. Another picture was Frank, a little older, pushing a little girl around three on the swings playing a playground. Frank looked so happy, almost proud in that picture. But, the next picture showed a tomb stone that read: Jocelyn Isabelle Farmer; An angelic girl; Sunrise: September 4, 1974 Sunset: December 6, 1978. Rachel picked up the previous picture and smiled at Frank, smiling from ear to ear. "I love that picture," Frank said coming up behind her. Rachel jumped and swiftly put the put the picture back. "Here's your towel," he said. "Thanks," she said. She wrapped the towel around her head. "Can I ask you a question, Frank?" "Sure." "You don't have to now but, one day can you tell me about how she died?" she asked hesitantly. "Maybe," he told her.
Frank had to take a shower before he went to sleep because he was slightly OCD when it came to staying clean, but after he was fine he exited the bathroom in his pajama pants. "Well hello there Mr. Shirtless," Rachel said when she saw him. Frank blushed a little bit. "I'm sorry but it's very uncomfortable when I sleep with a shirt on," he apologized. Rachel shook her head with a smirk on her face, "You don't hear me complaining." That made Frank blush even harder. "So, I got you my basketball shorts and my t-shirt, is that cool?" he asked. "Yeah, that's cool," she got up from his desk chair and got the clothes, "Thanks for letting me stay here tonight." "No problem, I kind of didn't want you home alone, you know," he confessed. "You are very protective do you know that?" she teased. "I am just protective of people I love," he said without thinking. All Rachel did was smile and quickly thought of something for him to think about. "You love me?" she asked. Frank suddenly froze, realizing what he had said. The look on his face was priceless. Messing with Frank's head was so fun for her. "Well, do you?" Frank was trying to find a way to ease himself out of the situation. "You don't have to answer that," Rachel said before going to change in his bathroom. Frank let out a sigh of relief. 'Dodge that bullet,' he thought. He went to get the extra blanket out his closet but he noticed that Rachel didn't close the door all the way. Now he had plenty of self-control but he never thought he would have a beautiful woman in his house getting undressed, so he control told him to walk away but his hormones told him that he will never have this opportunity again: stay. He peeked through the crack and saw her in the basketball short with her bra still on and her underwear on the floor. "Frank do you have any mouthwash?" she asked. "Uh-huh, medicine cabinet," he answered in a fog. He watched her gargle the mouth wash and rinse her mouth out and for some reason that turned him on. Unfortunately his self-control kicked in when she reached to unsnap her bra and he hastily moved away from the door. She came out in fully dressed and laid down on the bed next two Frank. "Did you have fun tonight," she asked. "Yeah, until it started raining," he said got up. "Where are you going?" "To get my fold out bed." He opened the closet door and pulled out the bed. "You don't have to sleep on that thing, it looks on the uncomfortable side," Rachel said. He spread the cover over his bed and said, "I'm okay." "Are you sure?" she asked. "Yeah, can you shut that light off?" "Sure," she shut it off, "Good night." "Night."
Frank woke up around three to a sound. He dimmed his light and looked at Rachel. "Mm, stop," she mumbled. 'What's going on in her head right now?' he thought to himself. "Please stop," she said, "Tyson stop, I said no." Frank frowned at that name. "Stop it, Tyson stop. NO! HELP! HELP! STOP IT TYSON!" she screamed. Frank got up and tried to wake her up. "Rachel, Rachel. Wake up." "NO, LEAVE ME ALONE!" "Rachel, wake up," he tried again. This time her eyes flew open faster than a bullet. Her breathing was heavy and there were tears in her eyes. She, out of the blue, flung her arms his neck, hugging him so tightly that she was weighing him down. "It's okay, you're okay," he said trying to comfort her. "I am so glad to see you," she whispered. She let go and he sat at the foot of the bed. "I'm sorry I woke you up," she apologized. "It is okay. Do you want to talk about your dream was about?" "I rather not relive it," she replied. They sat there in silence for a few moments. "You want to try to go back to sleep?" he asked. "No, but you can." "I don't think so." It was quiet again. "Let's play the question game?" Rachel suggested. "Huh?" "Yeah, we could just ask each other random question." "Then you will be able to sleep?" Frank asked. "Probably." "Okay, you start." "What is your favorite food?" Rachel asked. "Everything. What is your favorite color?" "Purple. Have you ever been in a fight before?" "Yes. What is your favorite movie?" "Sparkle." The questions kept going and going until it got more serious. "Have you ever loved someone so much it hurts sometime?" she asked. "Yeah. Do you know that to most guys, you are the most beautiful girl they ever seen?" "No I didn't, if you could have any girl in the world, who would she be?" Frank acted like he was thinking but he already the answer. "Any girl?" he asked. Rachel nodded. Frank really wasn't thinking when he did this. He sighed in defeat, lean in and kissed her on the lips. It was soft and gentle, but that was good enough for him being that it was his first real kiss. He pulled away and looked at Rachel. Her eyes were wide with shock and were unpredictable. "What was that?" she asked in a soft shy voice. "To be honest, I have no idea," he admitted. Rachel scooted a little closer to him and asked shyly, "Can we do it again?" Now Frank was the one that was shock, but too shocked to lean in and kiss her again. Their lips met once again and this time with a little more energy. It became deeper and more passionate. Neither could breathe but neither wanted to stop. When they finally did break away Frank lips move to her neck. There was one spot on her neck that made a moan escape her lips. She move close enough to be sitting on his lap with her legs wrapped around him. Frank thought life couldn't get any better until she took his hands and slid them under her shirt. He carefully laid her down on her back and at this point, everything he believed in flew out the window and he didn't want to be held responsible for what he was about to do to her.
Whew. You guys have no idea how long I have been waiting to write this chapter, man. Anywho, the next chapter is called More Than You Know.