School was boring, as usual, and seemed to take for ever but finally it was over. Afterwards she went to BJ's to get something to eat. She had just got done ordering a cheeseburger and a soda when she heard a familiar voice. "Well if it isn't Bianca-la."
She turned around and smiled. "Hey... Frankie, isn't it? Sit down. Can I buy you lunch?"
"Sure, I'm not one to pass up a free meal," said Frankie sitting down across from her and ordering her food. "So do you know any cool clubs to hang out at? I just got into town last week and I haven't had time to check this dump out."
"Yeah, there's Sounds of Salsa or SOS, it's pretty cool," Just then Bianca saw Laura walk through the door and looked down trying to hide her face, she didn't need to have Laura call her more names and berate her for being a good friend.
"Whose that?" asked Frankie noting Bianca's reaction to seeing Laura.
"Just some one I thought was my friend."
"Ahhh, I see, that must be the someone you were upset about yesterday."
"Yeah," said Bianca trying to ignore Laura but she knew that wasn't a possibility when Laura walked towards them.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Bianca, did you trade me in for her?" Laura asked looking at Frankie, "Or are you waiting for the Blue Angel to open up tonight?"
"That's it Laura, I want to talk to you now," said Bianca getting up and pulling Laura towards the bathroom heedless of her protests.
"I am sick and tired of your attitude. If you don't like me fine, but don't purposely come up to me and degrade me in front of my friend just because I'm there. I am not your personal whipping girl and I don't want to be treated like one. If you are insecure about yourself, your marriage or whatever then don't take it out on me! I don't care anymore! It's not my problem and I would be more than happy if I never saw you again," Bianca said, she took one last look at Laura trying to find the friend that had disappeared before stomping out.
She sat back down across from Frankie and occupied herself with twirling her straw around. "You okay?" Frankie asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"So what time are you going to pick me up?"
"What?" asked Bianca confused.
"To go to that SOS place, I want to check it out, is 8:00 okay?"
"Sure," said Bianca hesitantly.
"Good, you can pick me up here," she said scribbling an address on a napkin and handing it to Bianca."I have to go, I'll see you tonight," Frankie said grabbing the hamburger she had ordered and leaving.
Bianca sat there with a smile on her face.
Frankie was walking home, well the place she called home, which definitly wasn't much, thinking about how she would obtain a dress to wear to SOS. "In a few months I will be living the high life with everything I need, a car, a house, all the dresses I want and everything I've ever dreamed about. "
She was so busy day dreaming that she didn't see the car coming at her until it made contact with her body. She hit the wind shield and then rolled off the car onto the road. She caught her breath as a sharp pain hit her ribs, the pain was so bad she almost threw up but after what seemed like minutes but only about the 30 seconds it lessened and she was then left with a dull pain.
"What do you think you were doing jumping out in front of my car like that!"
"Lady? What are you talking about?!" exclaimed Frankie.
"You can't play your little games with me, young lady," said Erica Kane pulling out her cell phone and calling her lawyer.
Twenty minutes later Frankie was in the hospital room being checked out by a doctor Joe Martin who was surprisingly nice and very gentle. "Does it hurt here?" he asked gently applying pressure to a rib.
Frankie winced, "Kinda," she said gritting her teeth.
"From what I can tell they're not broken, you do however have a nasty bruise on your hip and a severely twisted ankle. How old did you say you were?"
"Eighteen. So I'm going to be okay then?" she asked relieved.
"Yes, but I'd prefer you weren't alone for the next twenty-four hours, are you sure you don't have any family in town you can stay with?"
"Positive."
"Well then I recommend that you stay here for tonight. I'll be back to check on you soon," he said leaving.
"Great," muttered Frankie, "How am I going to pay for a night in the ER?"
Bianca rushed to the hospital to make sure her mother was okay. She had just got a call from her Uncle Jack saying her mother had hit a pedestrian but she was okay. He had also told Bianca to stay home but there was no way she was doing that. She got to the hospital and saw her mother talking to some police officers so she ran over and gave her a tight hug. "Mom, I'm so glad that your okay!"
Erica returned the hug. "Some crazed girl jumped in front of my car."
"Ms. Kane, we aren't done questioning you," reminded one of the officers.
"I'm really okay, Sweetheart."
Bianca listened to her Mother's statement when she saw Dr. Joe. "Do you know anything about this person my mother hit?"
"Well, she's a young woman, 18, I've recommended that she stay over night."
"But she's okay, right?"
"Yes of course but she's going to be very uncomfortable for the next few days and I recommended that she stay with a family member but she doesn't have any in town."
"Do you mind if I go talk to her?"
"Go right ahead."
Bianca looked in and saw the back of the girl's head so she walked in, and she was just in time to catch the girl as she fell backwards.
"Are you okay?" asked Bianca up-righting her.
"Bianca-la?" asked Frankie turning around. "Why are you here? Did someone tell you about my almost brush with death?" she said with a little laugh.
"You could say that. What are you doing out of bed?"
"Leaving."
"But Dr. Joe said you were staying over-night."
"I can take care of myself, anyway I can't afford it, do you know how much one night in the hospital costs?" asked Frankie limping over to were her belongings were gathered.
"My mom is the one who hit you, she'll pay for the bill."
"Wait? That loony toon out there is your mother?"
"Yeah," said Bianca smiling, "but don't hold it against me."
"I won't. According to the doctor I'll hardly be able to walk for the next week so I guess I'll have to cancel our date."
"That's okay, there'll be other days. Look I have to go talk to my Mom, don't go anywhere, I mean it."
"Yes, sir!" said Frankie saluting as she sat down on the bed and suddenly grabbed her side.
"Are you okay?" asked Bianca rushing to her side.
"Yeah, just some bruised ribs, I'll get over it."
Bianca walked over to her mother who seemed to be in a heated discussion with Mr. Stamp.
"You may work for the FBI--"
He cut her off. "Do you want to blow my cover?"
"Mom, excuse me, I need to talk to you," said Bianca surprised that her mother obviously knew now that Mr. Stamp was an FBI agent.
"Yes Bianca. What is it?" asked Erica casting daggers at Chris.
"The girl you ran over is a friend of mine and she doesn't have any family in town to take care of her while she heals from her injuries so I was wondering if she could come stay with us."
"Absolutely not! Do you think I'm going to let someone like her in MY house?"
"Well look at it this way. If you are not as nice to her as possible I'm willing to bet she might decide to sue you and what would all your fans say if they found out you hit a helpless teenage girl and let her leave without so much as an apology and a place to stay while she healed?"
"Bianca, this is blackmail! She threw herself in front of my car!"
"Mom, I'm not trying to be mean but she is the one in the hospital and you did hit her, it'll only be for a few days, a week tops."
Erica was silent for several minutes. "Two days, under the condition she does no interviews with the press and I'll have a contract drawn up saying she won't."
"Thanks mom."
"I mean it Bianca, only two."
"Yes, Mom."
Bianca walked back into Frankie's room. "Well, get your stuff, I have a place for you to stay."
"Where?"
"With me and my Mom."