Frank

Man, was I brilliant, or was I brilliant? Sapphire's hair was going to be so fucking awesome by the hair I had finished with her. She was fussing over the money, but I shut her up by tickling her. I'd pay for them, I had money. She had spent all of hers on lunch, as usual. That girl ate SO much food, it was ridiculous! How did she manage to eat some much food and never gain weight? She looked fantastic, no matter how much junk she stuffed her face with.

"Are we going to do it now?" she asked me breathlessly, skipping around me like an excited four year old. Well, mentally she was younger than that…

"Sure, honey bunny, we'll do your hair all pretty once I get some medicine for my nosey-wosey," I chuckled, taking the piss of her. She pouted and I just had to give her a huge hug to say sorry, still giggling to myself. She repaid me but punching me in the stomach lightly and then hugging me back.

"I love you so much! Thank you thank you thank you! You are a genius!" she told me, and I grinned. Even though she didn't mean it the way wanted her too, Sapphire telling me she loved me made my day light up.

"Yes, I know, please continue," I said graciously, taking her hand and leading her to the chemists. She squeezed my hair and skipped away me, swinging her bag.

"And you're wonderful and kind and lovely and gorgeous and so nice to everyone and everyone loves you because you're so brilliant and smart and funny and beyond awesome and way too cool for school!" she listed, dotting them off on her fingers. I grinned when she called me gorgeous, happy in my delusion that she and I were an item and all the looks we were getting with jealousy that we were so happy together. Actually, a few of those looks were very familiar. Scarily familiar…

"Sapphire? What are you doing in town with him? I thought you were asleep,"

Oh, great. Kleaver. My day just went out of the window. In fact, it just jumped off a bridge. He looked confused and miffed and tragically hurt. She smiled at him and ran over, wrapping her arms around him in a huge hug. My hand felt empty now, my side was cold. I felt betrayed, even though I had no reason to be. My comfort was Stud sitting by my leg, growling at Kleaver as he hugged her back, his hand stroking her hair. We made eye contact and I saw a flicker of annoyance. Arrogant prick.

"Couldn't sleep, and I needed to walk Stud, my dog. Frank and I needed some stuff from the shop," she explained, breaking away from him and standing in between him and me. I felt like grabbing her hand and running away with her, just to piss Kleaver off, but I did nothing. I just clenched my fist.

"Oh, cool. So you wanna ditch him and we'll go get something to eat?" he offered, smiling his 'dreamy' smile at her. For a second I saw her melt in his eyes, then she realised what he said.

"Why? I came to town with Frank; I'm not going to just ditch him. He's my best friend," she said defiantly, challenging him to say something stupid. That's my Sapphire. She doesn't let things slide. Kleaver looked a bit annoyed, his ploy to snub me out backfiring.

"Whatever, you can choose your own friends, no matter how shitty they are," he muttered, flicking his fringe to one side and leaning back on his hip. Twat. I gritted my teeth, but Sapphire got mad.

"Hey! Don't insult Frank! I know him way better than you!" she said, pointing one fierce-looking black nail at him. Even though she's small, Sapphire is terrifying in a fight. Trust me, I know. Kleaver rolled his eyes at her, which only annoyed her more.

"Please! I went to school with that jerk," he said, looking me up and down "I know what he's really like. He's nothing like the guy he is around you,"

Hypocrite! I felt my muscles bunching, ready for some real violence. Sapphire was taking my opportunity away though, and I let her see the real him.

"I don't believe you, he's my best friend and I love him! You're just an arrogant little prick!" she yelled, attracting the attention of some of the passers-by. Kleaver noticed this too, and looked very pissed off, his face closing in under that black gel-filled fringe.

"You're just a teasing little slut, and you're friend's a loser with no future, you're good together," he hissed, snarling at her. She punched him. I have never seen Sapphire hurt anyone like that before; she just hit him with all the force she could muster. He swayed, looking shocked and his cheek turning bright red, the other side following as the spectators cheered. Sapphire hadn't finished though. She stamped on his foot and pushed him away roughly, digging her nails into him, before spitting on the ground in front of him, looking disgusted. He was still shocked and before he could really react, she grabbed my hand and ran away.

I let her drag me a few streets before pulling her over and grabbing her in a tight hug. She was sobbing, tears steaming down her face and I felt them soak into my shirt. Her make up would stain, I was sure, but I didn't care. I needed this hug as much as she did.
"That arsehole! I can't believe he called you a slut. I wish I had hit him now," I hissed, my entire body praying he would turn up again so I could really let rip on him. Not only for calling her a tease and a slut, but also for touching her and dancing with her. I'm a severely violent guy when I'm jealous. She cursed into my chest, holding into me tightly.

"I can't believe I liked him! I can't believe I thought he was a nice guy! I fucking hate him!" she yelled, stamping her foot and hiding her face in my shoulder. No matter how upset I was, she was ten times worse. Right now, she needed comfort.

"Calm down, Sparkle, he's just an arsehole and a half. Everyone meets them I life. I'm sorry I didn't tell you how much of a jerk he was before you went out with him,"

"You tried, and I didn't believe you. I'm so sorry," she sobbed, shaking with tears. "I'm so sorry I yelled at you, I feel so terrible. I knew he wasn't what I thought he was, I just didn't want to believe it," she told me, looking up at me. Those enormous shoes made her only an inch below me but she still looked so young and innocent, her eyes wet with tears and her massive blue eyes shimmering. Oh my God, she was beautiful.

"There's something about him I didn't tell you, when maybe I should've done, a long time ago. If I had, you would never had even talked to him," I said quietly, avoiding her eyes before I went insane and kissed her then and there. Now wasn't the time. She looked confused.

"What is it?" She asked me "Did he do something to you?"

I didn't say anything, partly embarrassed, partly unsure how to tell her.

"He and his friends…they were the ones who beat me and Gerard and the guys up at school. Remember?" I said softly, looking back at her. That moment, when she remembered all the times she'd washed my cuts, put ice of my bruises, kissed them all better and sworn bloody revenge and realised she had sought that revenge just now, albeit a slightly less bloody one than the one she promised, was immense. That single moment of realisation was so beautiful and clear and liberating that I wished I could have caught it on film and watched it over and over again. I was literally lost in her eyes.

"Oh, Frank!" she breathed, her eyes saying everything she needed to. The sorrow, the apologises, the horror. I gave her a small smile and used a free hand that wasn't holding her close to wipe away the tears now edging down her cheeks.

"Hey, it's ok. I'm sorry I never told you. I was embarrassed,"

"What kind of friend am I? I promised you I would always be there for you and cursed that guy until God himself covered his ears, but I never imagined…" she shook her head, leaning against me again.
"He lied to me. He told me you beat me up,"

I laughed at that one.

"Well, that's new! I don't remember ever having the upper hand against him and his mates!"

"I swear I'll kill him if he ever comes near me or you or one of the guys," she said in a tone that scared me to the bone. I knew her eyes were hardened, cold and she was as serious as hell. That was just scary.

"Hey, relax, it's all ok. Feel free to rip his balls off if he ever tries to make out with you again though," I laughed, leading her out of the doorway and winding my arm around her shoulder. She shuddered.

"Eugh! I'll make him eat them with tomato ketchup!" she hissed. I laughed and nodded, impressed, before adding the ultimate torture for anyone.

"I think a worst punishment would be no ketchup at all…"