Kutee: Adam being nice…is he being a good guy or is it a sign of the apocalypse? Adam can be a nice guy, can't he? And yeah, Erica has a bit of a dislike for Frankie.
Bianca stood in the middle of the bare room. All that remained was the furniture and fixtures. The little things that made it a home were gone. No, not gone. They were packed up in a borrowed trunk. The window was open, letting the unseasonably warm air into the room and flapping the drapes and the edges of her dress. She could clearly hear the voices outside and the snickering of the horses.
The tears that had been present since Mr. Chandler's visit welled up.
"Bianca?"
Bianca didn't turn.
Frankie frowned from her spot at the door. She took off her cap and toyed with it. She could feel the sadness coming from her friend. "I'm 'bout ready to go. Tim got that trunk of yours I'm using on the wagon, and Darby's all hooked up. Bet ya can hear him. He get's impatient."
The blonde ducked her head as the other girl stayed silent. She squinted, attempting to think of what could make Bianca not so unhappy. Steeling herself for whatever was going to happen, she griped the end of the brand new wooden cane and limped over. The cane had been a present from Mr. Montgomery, a parting gift he had said. It was made from smooth oak and the head was made of gleaming silver. Frankie had been flabbergasted when she received it, but Jackson would not take no for an answer.
Reaching Bianca, Frankie stopped and hesitated. She rubbed her ear and licked her lips. Her eyes were focused on the shimmering blue silk covered back.
"Bianca? I…I know ya don' want me ta go."
Bianca spun around, tears rolling down her cheeks, "Then don't."
Frankie felt her stomach drop at the sight, "I gotta. Mr. Chandler's waitin'."
"You can stay here. You're my best friend, Frankie. What will I do without you?"
"It'll be alright. You'll see."
"How?" Bianca sniffled, "You are leaving."
"I'll visit." Frankie felt her own tears forming, but she fought to keep a smile on her face. "I gotta return your trunk. And, you can come to the store anytime ya want."
Bianca took a shuddering breath, and the trail of tears grew.
"Don' cry." Frankie hobbled the last foot. She fumbled with her cap, trading it to her other hand so she could wipe hastily at the fast falling water droplets. "Remember? Ain't no use ta it."
The clumsy yet gentle touch only caused her to cry harder.
Frankie was at a loss. Her thumb worked furiously to catch each tear.
"What if I never see you again?" Bianca peered down at her through a glassy sheen.
"What?" Frankie shook her head, "The store's not that far. I promise. We'll see each other."
Frankie promised. She never broke a promise. "I will miss you."
The blonde opened and closed her mouth, not knowing what to say. She felt a lump form in her throat and had to cough a few times to make it move. "Come on down anytime ya want. Tim can drive ya. Or…or ya can ring the store. I'll figure out how to get back." Her thumb had stopped moving and she held the pale face in her hand, "I'm not leavin' ya. I ain't goin' nowhere far. Whenever ya need me, I'll come back. Promise."
Brown orbs locked with hazel.
Pursing her lips to hold in the sob, Bianca fell forward. She wrapped Frankie in a tight embrace and buried her face in the scratchy material of a grey waistcoat. Their joined forms shook with each sob. Frankie hugged the thirteen year old back.
A throat clearing alerted them to another person's presence. They slowly broke apart, Bianca unwilling to let go all the way. Frankie turned to face the newcomer and subtly wiped at her watery eyes and cheeks.
Jack smiled in understanding, "It is time to go."
Frankie nodded sadly. She situated her cap and firmly griped her cane. A warm trembling hand slid into her free one, and Bianca moved to her side. She was not letting go until she absolutely had to.
Jack ushered them out of the room and led them to the foyer. Frankie gradually thumped through the halls, her leg still giving her more trouble than it should. Bianca was at her side the entire time, slowing down her pace to match Frankie's.
The minute they reached the foyer, Frankie's eyes widened considerably. The whole staff was assembled. Opal stood before them all, red eyes and damp cheeks shining in the sunlight. Seeing Frankie, she slammed a white handkerchief against her face. A muffled sob filtered through, and her eyes turned redder.
"Oh my," she choked out. Her feet rushed forward and she crushed the blonde in a bone-crushing hug.
Frankie grunted at the sudden unexpected impact. Bianca stepped back, but kept hold of her hand.
"Oh my." Opal said again. She grasped Frankie's shoulders and held her at arms length. "Look at ya, all set to go face the world, and here I am all blubbering like a mamma bear losing its cub."
"Opal," Frankie tilted her head.
Fingers twitched against the grey vest and adjusted the seams and buttons. "Need to look your best for Mr. Adam Chandler. If only I had gotten ya that grey cap."
Frankie was dressed in one of her best outfits. It was the grey waistcoat and trousers Opal had given her that first Christmas. Her white shirt underneath was freshly laundered, courtesy of Opal and Krystal, and her black leather shoes were polished to shiny excellence. Her old brown cap sat comfortably on her head.
"Ya look like a million bucks, Frankie." Tim called out.
"Now, you stay out of trouble." Opal undid and redid the buttons on her vest. They looked exactly the same. "If you need anything, just call. Don't go running about town all night like those other people."
"I won't." Frankie glanced at Bianca.
Opal patted her shoulders one last time, "Good. Now, go before I decide to hide ya in the cupboard."
She stepped back and the other workers walked up, each bidding Frankie a fond farewell. Finally, everyone had said their piece, and it was time to leave. Sensing the approaching time, Bianca and Frankie turned to each other. They stared at each other, quietly memorizing the other. This might be the last time they were ever like this. Their time as best friends laughing and playing together around the farm was ending. Times were changing.
Wordlessly, they wrapped their arms around each other.
"Come back to me." Bianca whispered in Frankie's ear.
"Promise I will." Frankie mumbled against her neck.
Bianca couldn't watch as Tim helped Frankie onto the driver's bench of the carriage and urged the horses forward. She wouldn't have been able to see them through the tears even if she had.
Frankie kept her promise.
Bianca used every excuse in the book to have Tim drive her into town. She needed to have her shoe fixed. She needed a new hairbrush. She had a letter to mail. Soon, though, she learned she did not need any excuses. Tim was more than happy to take her to Frankie. The blonde had found amusement in the fact the other girl had broken her shoe and thrown away her silver and pearl hairbrush on purpose, though. Erica, not so much.
Frankie called when she could. Stuart did not mind her using the telephone, and at least once a week Bianca could be found in the parlor, talking excitedly into the phone.
Soon, Bianca grew accustomed to this way of life. She started to enjoy her trips with Tim to town. Opal pestered her constantly for news on Frankie, failing miserably at hiding her curiosity. Going into town had allowed her to meet other people as well. Stuart was one of the nicest men she had ever met. He was a tad different. He sometimes had trouble expressing himself, not able to form the words quickly enough. But, he was kind, honest, and gentle. He genuinely enjoyed having Frankie there with him, and he treated the orphan as if she were a long lost relative and not just someone his brother had given a job to in return for saving JR's life.
As time went on, though, things changed. Bianca wasn't sure when it started. It might have been that day Frankie first left. It might have been before that. But, each time she had to say goodbye to the vagabond, it became more and more difficult. She did not want to say goodbye. She wanted to stay. She looked forward to their visits and phone calls more than even her new books.
She did not understand what was happening. She wrote to Kendall about it, but it was hard to explain. Her stomach felt funny when Frankie would look at her with that crooked grin. One time their hands bumped accidently. Bianca had, against Frankie's protests, helped shelve a box of needle kits. They reached for a kit at the same time. Her breath caught in her chest at the touch.
She found herself watching Frankie. She could sit for hours by the cash register and just watch her work. Sometimes Frankie would look up and their eyes would catch. Time seemed to stop in those moments. Her dreams at night featured them together, walking by the stream in the forest or gazing up at the stars.
Bianca had nearly burst with joy on her fourteenth birthday. Frankie snuck out to the house. Her mother had planned a lavish party for the evening with the whole town in attendance, but Frankie had arrived mid-morning. After accosting her with question after question and muttering about her not getting enough to eat, Opal handed the blonde a basket. Frankie held her cane and the basket in one hand while gallantly offering her other arm to Bianca. The season had been unusually warm, and with a good coat and gloves on, Bianca allowed herself to be escorted outside and through the woods to their spot. Frankie spread out a blanket and revealed a picnic lunch for the two of them. She apologized for not having enough money to get her friend anything good, but Bianca didn't care. Her chest fluttered as she told Frankie this was the best birthday she ever had.
Bianca did not know what was happening to her. These sensations both scared and excited her. Kendall's replies had been vague. She told her little sister that she would understand soon enough. Over Christmas, Bianca had boldly asked her sister to help. Kendall worriedly looked at their mother before responding that Bianca was her baby sister and she would always love her. That night she saw Kendall and Erica arguing.
Bianca was confused. However, she had a feeling Frankie was the same way she was. Frankie looked at her all the time with an unknown gleam. She was on her feet and at the door each time Bianca entered the store. She was almost certain Frankie was keeping an eye out the large window overlooking the main street for her. The blonde was rubbing her ear a lot, a nervous tick of hers. She made Frankie nervous. Frankie made her nervous, too. But, she was not nervous at the same time. It was strange. She trusted Frankie. They were the best of friends.
But, Bianca had never felt this way before.
It was terrifying. It was nerve-wracking. It made her heart jump and legs weak.
She cherished every moment she felt it.