Frankie was glad that she still had friends around, she got an apartment a few hours after she got to New York. It wasn't in the best neighborhood but the rent was cheap. Tomorrow she would go job hunting and get started on building a life, after all what else was there to do? She sat down on the mattress sitting on the floor, her only piece of furniture. She ran her fingers through her hair and closed her eyes with a sigh. She hadn't liked contacting her old supplier, Jake, for the apartment but he was nice and the only thing he expected in return was a little cash, and that was better than what some men wanted. She lay back, trying not to think of Bianca, but how could she not? Maybe if she tried hard enough she could put Pine Valley behind her...for good. But she couldn't, every time she closed her eyes she saw her and Bianca dancing in the snow, that had been the best moment in her entire life, but it was time to forget that.
Just then Robby walked in and Frankie cursed herself for not bothering to lock the door. "Frankie! I'm so glad you're back, it's been dull around here without you."
"How did you know that I was back in town?" she asked her old 'friend'.
"Jake called me and said that you'd rented an apartment, I didn't believe him at first but now that I see it for myself...where have you been off to?" he asked, his green eyes curious.
"Around."
"Oh, don't want to talk about? I see, well I brought you a welcome home gift." he said pulling out two small bags.
"You know that I'm clean."
"Come on, we'll start off easy for ol' times' sake, one joint."
Frankie looked at the weed, one hit, and maybe a pill or two, wouldn't hurt, she wouldn't blow her every cent like she had last time, she could control herself.
"Okay, maybe one would be all right," she said ignoring her trembling her hands. If she could take away the pain for just a minute, then tomorrow she would be responsible, tomorrow she would find a job, all she wanted was one night to forget.

Leo sat there and held her, it seemed like she cried forever but gradually the tears stopped and she fell asleep. An hour later, he smoothed hair away from her tear stained face. If anyone in the world deserved happiness it was Bianca. Besides Greenlee, there was no one else in the world that he trusted more, and he hated not being able to sooth away her hurts. She was the little sister that he never had, life could be so unfair.
After awhile he shook her gently to wake her up. "Bianca, it's time to wake up."
Bianca opened her eyes and sat up clutching her head, it was the price she paid for crying, for caring to much. "I want to fall asleep and never wake up again." she said drawing her knees up to her chest. "No one is ever going to love me, I've fooled myself into thinking that someone could, but they can't Leo. I'm just so tired...of everything."
"Look, Bianca, you're hurt and you're angry right now, and I don't blame you, but there is someone out there for you."
"Everyone I've ever felt anything for has left me, my Dad, Sarah, Laura, Frankie, I'm so tired of opening my heart and having every one hurt me."
"Listen to me, do you believe that I love Greenlee?"
"Of course I do."
"Well when I first came to town I was conning her, but she changed me, isn't it possible that you changed Frankie? That she loves you?"
"If she loved me so much than she wouldn't have left me."

Frankie sat up and sighed, it took her a moment to figure out where she was. A draft of cold air hit her and she realized that she wasn't wearing any clothes. She looked over and saw Robby in the same state. Frankie couldn't remember how many times she'd woken up just like this. Frankie the whore. She looked at her arms sure of what she'd find, little holes where she had stuck needles into her veins. At least Robby never used a dirty needle, it was one of his 'rules'.
"Robby, did we use protection?" she asked shaking him, she was so pathetic.
"Don't I always?" He rolled over and smiled.
"What did I take last night?"
"The usual, I remember your favorites." He looked at his watch, " I gotta jet, see you later. I'm really glad that you're back," he said standing up and getting dressed.
Frankie went into the bathroom and got into the shower. She let the water run over her body, how could she have been so absolutely stupid? How could she let herself get sucked back into her old life? She suddenly realized that she had never slept with a guy while she was sober, she never even remembered having sex, but when she'd wake up hours later next to a naked body it didn't take much to connect the dots. So she would go down to the free clinic every couple of months to make sure she didn't have an STD or AIDS, she'd been lucky so far.
She didn't have a wash cloth, or soap so she sat there until the water turned cold.

Bianca snuggled closer to Leo, she couldn't believe that Christmas day was over, it was officially a day after her world had collapsed. She shook Leo trying to get him to wake up, he should have been with Greenlee, not her. Leo had coaxed her to leave her room so they went downstairs and ordered take-out while they watched TV, Frosty's Winter Wonderland, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and A Christmas Story, it helped, plunging herself into a world of sleigh rides and candy canes, but she couldn't help but think how it would have been if Frankie were there, she'd probably laugh and call them silly for watching the cartoons but secretly she knew Frankie would enjoy herself. Bianca sighed, the Frankie she knew wasn't the real Frankie.
Bianca shook Leo again and he roused.
"Leo, you have to go, Greenlee is probably ready to kill you."
Leo sat up and rubbed sleep from his eyes. "I called and explained to her what happened."
"I bet she loved that, Lesbianca and her girl troubles."
"She understood, how are you doing?"
"I really don't want to think about it right now, go home to Greenlee, surprise her with a dozen white roses, and tell her that you love her, she won't be able to resist you."
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"
"I'm sure, now go, I'll be fine, I promise."
"Okay, okay, but I'm going to call you later, you better answer the phone."
"I will, thanks Leo, for everything," said Bianca wrapping her arms around him. "You're the best."
"So are you, Binx," said Leo kissing her forehead. "If you need anything call me," he said leaving. Bianca looked out the window as he drove away, in truth she didn't want to be alone, but she hadn't wanted to be needy, so she had let him go. Leo could almost fill the emptiness Frankie left, when she had felt like she'd never be able to laugh again, Leo had made her crack a smile, when she thought she'd die of despair Leo lifted her up. Greenlee was lucky to have a person like that in her life forever.