"Well, I'm going to go, I have some homework to do for school tomorrow, maybe I'll stop by after school and we can get something to eat."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow," said Frankie smiling.
"Bye."
"See ya."
Frankie waited until she was sure Bianca was gone and then she pulled out her notebook and looked it over.
Phase One: Meeting Bianca- That was easy enough, I followed her for a couple of days and one day she was upset so I introduced myself, I let her cry on my shoulder for a minute and then I left, it was easier than I thought it would be, she's way too trusting. It was so easy. This will be the easiest job I've ever had.
Phase Two: Making Nice- I 'accidentally' ran into Bianca at this restaurant she always hangs at and she invited me to lunch just like that, now is she trusting or what? I asked her about some clubs and got her to agree to go to one with me, it was so easy.
No more than two hours ago I was hit by a car and it was Bianca's mother and I didn't even mean to do it, it was all by accident! I was totally surprised when Bianca walked in the door but it all worked out, wonderfully because now I'm staying in their house, could I ask for better luck?
I don't know what's wrong with me, twenty-four hours ago it was so easy to do this but Bianca, she's just so nice and down to earth. Today, the way she tried to look after me, well no one's ever done that before, and then she told me she was gay and the way she said it, she was just so afraid that I was going to leave, that I was going to get up and walk right out and I felt so bad, so horrible because I've had people walk out on me my whole life and when I looked at her I could just see all of this loneliness, I've decided not to go through with this after all.
I couldn't back out, I tried but they wouldn't let me, it's so unfair, I don't want to do this anymore but what choice do I have?
Frankie closed the book and put it under her bed. At first she had figured Bianca would be this rich, spoiled girl who thought every woman should fall at her feet, but she had been off, way off. Bianca was the sweetest person she had ever met, so sweet that Frankie felt a terrible pang of guilt every time she thought about how she was really treating Bianca, how she was going to betray her the night of the Crystal ball.
Bianca sat on her bed with a happy sigh and layed her head down on the pillow, everything was looking up, she had a friend, a good friend that could possibly turn into something more, everything was perfect.
Bianca was so swamped with homework that for a week she barely saw Frankie and she was thankful that the Thanksgiving holiday had finally arrived and the first place she went after school was to see Frankie.
She knocked on the door and walked into to see Frankie sitting on the bed reading.
"Hey," said Bianca walking further into the room.
"Sorry, I didn't hear you, long time no see."
"Yeah, school's been really hectic. I came to invite you to spend Thanksgiving with me."
"I don't think your mom is going to be to happy with that."
"She's going to be here with Myrtle and I promised I'd stop by for a few minutes but then I want to take you out."
"And your mom agrees with this?"
"I'm not a child anymore, I don't need my mother's permission to take my friend out to dinner."
"Okay, okay, you can count me in. Where are we going?"
"Where ever you want, I was thinking the Valley Inn, and then we could catch a movie."
"It's a date then."
Bianca's heart secretly leapt, she was going on a date!
Frankie looked at the black dress that hung on the bathroom door, it had taken the rest of Vanessa's money and a quarter of her first paycheck to buy it and her shoes, but she didn't care, she had to look good, scratch that, she had to look fabulous. She took out the new make-up she had bought, it was nothing expensive, just hurriedly picked out at the convenience store down the street, and put it on.
She slipped into the dress that ended just at her knees, it was very simple with spaghetti straps but a modest neckline and it had small sparkles all over it. Her shoes were healed and black with straps wrapping around her ankles.
When she was done and her hair was just right, pulled back in a fancy barrette and curls hung over her shoulder she smiled into the mirror and was very pleased with the results, she looked sophisticated and…happy.
She looked down at the locket that was around her neck and frowned, she wasn't supposed to be happy.
Bianca took in a deep breath and released it but it did nothing to stop the butterflies in her stomach. She smoothed her long purple dress and touched the French roll in the back of her head to make sure it hadn't come out and then she knocked on the door.
Frankie heard the door and almost jumped out of her skin, she took on last look in the mirror and then grabbed her coat and opened the door and she saw the most beautiful sight she'd ever seen.
"Hi," said Bianca but it came out in a whisper as she looked at the beautiful woman standing in front of her.
"Hi," echoed Frankie.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah," said Frankie nervously as she walked into the hallway and shut the door behind her.
"Would you rather go to dinner first or see the movie?" asked Bianca as they got outside.
"Dinner, I am starving."
"My thought's exactly," said Bianca as she got into her car.
"Is your mother okay with this?"
"I already told you, I don't need her approval for anything, this is my life."
"Sorry."
"It's alright, really, I'm sorry for snapping at you."
Before they knew it all talk of Erica had left thier minds and by the time they got to the Valley Inn they were both laughing.
Bianca went and got their table and Frankie waited, looking at all of these rich people and suddenly she felt very much out of place.
The waiter led them to the table, handed them their menus and left. Bianca looked over at Frankie who looked as if she'd rather be anywhere but where she was and this put Bianca on edge. She'd pushed too hard, she should have known that Frankie would be uncomfortable going out in public with her and suddenly she felt very guilty for ruining Frankie's Thanksgiving.
Frankie was trying to decide what to order when she looked up at Bianca who seemed on the verge of tears.
"Bianca, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Come on, something's wrong."
"I just feel so guilty…"
"For what?"
"Making you come here tonight, if some reporter saw us or something your face would be all over the paper tomorrow."
"I don't care about that."
"Then why do you look so uncomfortable."
"Because I don't know my salad fork from my dinner fork," said Frankie and she smiled as she got a small laugh from Bianca.
"I'm serious though, Bianca-la, I don't want to embarrass you by doing something stupid."
"You could never embarrass me," said Bianca smiling.
"Good, because you couldn't embarrass me either."
The rest of the dinner went without a hitch and both Frankie and Bianca enjoyed themselves immensely.
After dinner they drove to the movie theater but the parking lot was surprisingly empty and there was a 'Closed, Remodeling, Re-opening in two days' sign.
"Great, I am so sorry, I didn't even know they were closed."
"It's okay, I'm sure we can find a movie rental place and get something there. Myrtle hooked up a TV and VCR in my room earlier today so I could watch this hair-care video tapes Opal gave me as part of my job training."
"Okay, if you don't mind."
"Of course I don't."
They stopped at a twenty four hour video place and rented Final Destination and on the way back it started to snow, as soon Frankie saw the large snowflakes she ordered Bianca to stop the car.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, follow me," said Frankie, opening the car door and getting out.
Bianca followed and crossed her arms trying to stay warm. "What are you doing?" asked Bianca as she watched Frankie twirl around as the snow fell down around her, her arms outstretched and her face pointing towards the heavens.
Frankie stopped, and walked back over to Bianca as her breath came out in puffy white clouds.
"When I was little and it snowed I always went outside just to twirl around in the snow, and I haven't done it in years. Come on!" she said grabbing Bianca's hands and twirling.
Bianca couldn't help but laugh at the picture she knew they must be making. Both of them in dresses and high heels, standing on the sidewalk and twirling around in the freezing snow. Bianca was surprisingly no longer cold as the sound of her and Frankie's laughter drifted into the dark silent night.
Finally they stopped, breathing heavily but hands still clasped.
"That was fun," Bianca said breathlessly, her words coming out accompanied by clouds of white
.
"Yeah, it was. Here, you have snow in your hair," said Frankie reaching out to brush it away but her hand wandered to Bianca's cheek. Bianca's hand followed Frankie's and she covered Frankie's hand with her own and they just stood there looking at each other.
Frankie watched as the snow floated down around them and she felt like they were the only two people in the world and the snow was a gift, just for them. She was so caught up in the magic of the night that she leaned in and gently covered Bianca's lips with her own.
Bianca had no idea what was happening it was so fast, too fast, but she liked it.
Frankie knew better than to give in. Even in the thick haze of surprise and delight, that she was actually kissing Bianca, she knew that kissing her would only complicate things further, but this was what she was supposed to do, she was supposed to kiss Bianca, but it should have been planned out and for a certain purpose. But this wasn't planned and the only reason she was doing it was because she wanted to.
Instead of stepping back, pulling away and breaking the kiss like she knew she should, Frankie took a tiny step closer and pressed her lips more firmly against Bianca's, allowing herself to be lost in the moment, in her. It was amazingly easy to just lose herself. And it all felt unimaginably right.
Bianca's tenderness amazed her and it pulled her closer to the ledge she was standing on, and the longer this went on, the closer she got to falling. But she couldn't stop it, and she wasn't sure she wanted to, but then she remembered where all of this was going to end.
Frankie tried to pull away and get away from these feelings she wasn't supposed to be having but she was so confused and she couldn't seem to separate herself from Bianca.
Breaking one kiss Frankie would lean down and kiss her again, and again. Gently brushing her lips over hers while trying with everything she had to stop. Simple little kisses that refused to end. Then finally she managed to take a step back, then another, until they were standing at least three feet apart.
"Wow," Bianca whispered, her fingers gently touching her slightly swollen lips.
"Yeah," said Frankie, breathing heavily, and then they both were silent.
"It's getting cold, we should, uh, we should get back in the car," said Frankie.
"Yeah," said Bianca walking back over to the car. Her knees were weak and her insides were like jelly. Frankie soon followed and got in. Bianca started the car and tried to stay focused on driving and not thinking because she knew if she did think about what had just happened everything would get all jumbled up inside.