Author's Note: Wow, you guys are great. Thanks again for all your wonderful comments :D So here's the next chapter. Prepare to be fluffed. Immensely. And just for all you hopeless romantics out there, there's even some sap near the end. Enjoy! XD
Looking For the Smile
Chapter 4: Never Wanted More
Frankie stormed up the stairs, praying wholeheartedly that no friend would follow her. All she wanted to do now was grab her stuff and leave. If she could just leave already everything would be fine....
...Her angry stomping slowed to a walk, and then she stopped altogether as she remembered. Something had seemed out of place at dinner. ...Wilt hadn't been there. She glanced behind her towards the opposite end of the hall.
...Wilt deserved a goodbye.
In a dark room lit now only by moonlight, Wilt laid underneath the bed, absolutely crushed and full of bitter remorse. From his bedroom he'd been able to hear the entire fight in the dining room. Hatred penetrated the walls, did it not? Screams permeate the ceilings and the floors.... It would have been no use to try to block it out...he only had one hand, after all.
Earlier, he'd allowed himself just the slightest bit of hope that Frankie might change her mind. It just seemed too unreal for her to want to leave...it was too unreal to imagine life in this house without her.
But his tiny bit of hope was gone now. Shattered, in fact, by the anger and the hatred he'd just heard wafting through these walls. Not after that was she ever going to stay. Not for anybody. Not even for him.
He wished he'd shown Frankie the appreciation she deserved. He could have made her happier, couldn't he? Maybe if he'd just tried a little harder...maybe it would have been enough to make her see past all that Mr. Herriman said to her and made her happy. After all, that was why she was leaving, wasn't it? Apparently she hated it here.
He heard a knock at his door, jolting him out of his thoughts. But he didn't care to respond. He knew he should, to be polite...perhaps he could just feign sleep for now.
He heard the door open as his visitor let themselves in. "...Wilt?" came a familiar voice.
Wilt's eyes widened and his heart lightened. He knew that voice...that was his favorite voice. And to make things better, it was the voice he knew. The friendly one, the loving one...not the angry one he'd been hearing. He heard it the way it was supposed to sound. ...He heard Frankie's voice.
"Yes?" he answered, so as not to be rude even further.
He heard Frankie's footsteps approaching as she crossed the room. She stopped in front of the bed and knelt down. "Hey.... ...You're still sleeping under there?"
Wilt shrugged, though he knew she could not see it. "I don't mind it that much."
She nodded, though he couldn't see that either. "...Wilt, you weren't at dinner. How come?" He could detect the change of tone in her voice.
"I'm sorry," he replied, not wanting her to worry about him. "I just wasn't hungry."
"You don't have to apologize, Wilt."
"...Sorry."
She allowed herself a tiny giggle. "Wilt, I wanted you to be there. ...There's something important I have to tell you. Something that you should--"
Frankie was interrupted and briefly startled, when she felt his hand abruptly, but not sharply, reach out from under the bed and grab her wrist.
"...Don't go," Wilt pleaded quietly.
She stared at his hand, struck speechless. After a moment of strange silence, Wilt's head emerged as well. In all the years she'd known the friend, Frankie could not recall a time when his eyes had ever looked like that. When they'd looked so sad and so desperate.
"Please?" he begged, his voice small and despairing. "...Please don't go, Frankie."
"...How did you know I was leaving?" Frankie stammered out. She could think of nothing else to say. To be honest she could care less on how he had found out, but the true surprise was...just...she hadn't known it would affect him like this.
"I...uhm...I heard you and Mr. Herriman fighting today," he said with a guilty tone of voice. "I'm sorry I was eavesdropping. But...I heard you say that you were quitting. ...And then I heard you two fighting again downstairs. Just a little while ago."
Frankie, again, wasn't sure what to say. Now that she thought of it, she could vaguely remember yelling at somebody as she stormed upstairs that afternoon. ...Had that been Wilt? She'd been too angry to notice much of anything. "...I didn't know you heard that."
Wilt didn't reply. What could he say anyway? He kept his hold on Frankie's wrist, mindful not to hold too tight, but intent on keeping her there with him. Wilt had no idea what he would do if Frankie left...maybe if he refused to let go of her she would stay.
"I...I'm sorry, Wilt," Frankie murmured softly after a moment. "But I can't stay here anymore."
"Why not?"
"Well--" Frankie stopped herself for a second...for a moment she thought, and looked at him. Would it really hurt to tell him? He would understand, wouldn't he? It might even make it easier...and Wilt was good at keeping secrets. Unless of course, Bloo pried enough...he might succumb then. No, no, it would just make it all less complicated if she told him her predetermined excuse.
"Mr. Herriman and I...we haven't exactly been getting along very well."
Wilt's eyes drifted elsewhere. "I know."
"And...well...." She sighed, trying to think of a way to put this. A way so that he would understand, and way so that it would hurt less. "Sometimes people fight...and if it gets to a certain point, if they fight for too long...it gets worse. And if they stay around each other much longer...it might turn dangerous. ...I don't want things to turn dangerous around here, Wilt."
"But they might get better!" he exclaimed, slightly tightening his grip on her. He turned his eyes to her, trying to look hopeful, saying, "Maybe you two will make up in the morning...maybe Mr. Herriman will say he's sorry for saying all thosethings and you two will--"
One look at her face and he knew it was pointless to continue. It was plain that Frankie didn't believe a word of what he'd just said. She'd made up her mind. That was the only truth here.
She merely shook her head, trying to keep a smile on just for him. "I'm sorry, Wilt..." she told him, placing her free hand on top of his. "...I'm sorry it has to be like this."
Why?! Why does it have to?! Why won't you stay, Frankie? Why won't you tell me....
But Wilt said nothing, his eyes turned downcast again.
"I promise I'll always think about you, Wilt," she told him in the most reassuring voice she had right now. "I won't forget about you."
"You sure?"
"Of course. I could never forget anyone here at Foster's...I could never forget you."
"I'll remember you too, Frankie.... ...Are you sure you won't stay?"
Why did he ask again? He knew the answer. They both knew she wasn't going to stay. It broke her heart to think that he was so desperate he'd ask yet again. Slowly, she nodded. His expression didn't change much. A silence hovered between them for a while.
Frankie found herself after a moment staring into Wilt's eyes, though the friend himself was looking elsewhere, lost in his own thoughts. She doubted, though, that more than one of those eyes could even see anything anymore. The eyestalk was crushed and bent and sometimes the lid didn't close. She had to admit, it had been a little surprising to see the first time they'd met, but she was never majorly put off by it.
She smiled briefly to herself, remembering the first time they had met. She'd been much younger then...but she remembered it all very clearly. It had been her first day working at the home; she was around fifteen, maybe sixteen then, and she'd always wanted to work for her grandmother in her imaginary friend adoption home.
Mr. Herriman had given her a fairly simple list of chores to do (Frankie sighed, thinking what she would give to have her responsibilities cut down to that amount again), and she'd happily gone to do them. The only problem was, she never before realized how easy it was to get lost in a huge Victorian mansion such as this one. Luckily, a certain tall, red, extremely helpful imaginary friend had been kind enough to show her around. He'd even helped her with some of her chores.
For the first few weeks of her employment, Wilt and Frankie had been practically inseparable friends. Wilt was always happy to help Frankie out with her chores, and she was grateful he was there to keep her company. But, after a while, Mr. Herriman found out that Wilt had been helping her. He'd forbid him to do so any further, saying that it was Frankie's job and it was her responsibility, and hers alone. The always-obedient Wilt had apologized and said he wouldn't do it again. ...But sometimes even that hadn't stopped him from doing it behind the rabbit's back.
As time went on Frankie came to not notice his eye and missing arm at all. Yet one day she'd found herself watching him and started to think...would any child ever really adopt him? She'd never ever say it out loud, but somehow she didn't think any child would find much fun in an imaginary friend with only one arm. ...He was a good friend, though. No amount of physical defects could change that. But would any child ever be able to appreciate that?
As she thought on it more, a bit of anger had rose up within her. How had his previous owner let this happen to him anyway? What child would be so careless as to let his imaginary friend, a friend like Wilt no less, be impaired like that?
One day she'd approached him with the question. But she'd worded it a bit differently to him.
"Was your creator a good kid, Wilt?"
She saw the remembrance in his eyes as his face lit up. "Oh yeah! The best! I used to play basketball with him every day, and he wasn't half bad at it, either."
"Was he careful with you?"
"Uhm...what do you mean by 'careful'?"
"He never like, played too rough with you, did he?"
Now she could see that he was starting to suspect something. "Frankie, of course not. Why are you asking me this?"
"Well, it's just...I'm curious as to how--" She sighed, trying to think of the best way to say it. "I'm trying not to offend you when I ask this."
He smiled reassuringly at her. "You're not offending me. It's okay."
"...Your arm, Wilt. ...How did that happen?"
"This?" he asked, holding up what was left of his left arm. "Oh, don't worry about it, Frankie. It was nothing."
"I'm not trying to say your creator was a bad kid, Wilt, but...how did he let that happen to you?"
For a moment Wilt didn't respond. She tried to read any emotions in his face, but he merely looked thoughtful. ...And then after a while he smiled, though she thought she saw the slightest glint of sadness in his eyes. "It was nobody's fault, Frankie," was all he told her.
Frankie brought herself back to reality. She'd known Wilt a long time. Longer than she'd realized...she was going to miss him. ...A lot.
"...I'm really going to miss you, Frankie," Wilt told her presently, his grip tightening again. Frankie suddenly noticed she was fighting to keep tears from falling. He wanted her to stay so badly...she felt like every moment she stayed in the room with him the more she was hurting him. She couldn't lead him into the illusion that she would stay because he asked her to.
"I know it'll be different without me, but you'll do just fine," she assured him. Wilt only sighed. He wouldn't do fine. He knew he wouldn't do just fine. But he said nothing.
"Will you keep Bloo out of trouble for me?" Frankie asked, allowing herself a little smile. Wilt did not return it. "...I'll do my best," he responded half-heartedly.
"If Ed gets scared, you'll tell him it's okay for me, right?"
"Of course, I always do that...."
"And don't let Coco take any more jobs at the mall, okay?"
"Of course."
"...Wilt?"
"Yes?"
"Will you...would you smile one more time for me before I go?" Wilt looked at her, perplexed by the question. Had he heard her right?
"It's just," Frankie explained, "I...I just love to see you smile. There are some days it just makes me feel better to see it. Sometimes I can just walk past your room and see you talking with Ed or Bloo and you'll laugh for some reason...and it just makes me smile. It makes my day better...it makes me happy. Would you please smile for me, Wilt? I don't want to leave knowing I've left you feeling sad."
Wilt considered her words. It would make Frankie happy if he did it...wasn't that just all he'd been hoping for since he overheard their fight? She was giving him this wide open chance to do it...what could it hurt? Wilt forced a tiny smile, the most and best he could do with the immense and ever-growing weights on his heart.
But Frankie only grinned and shook her head. "No, no, not that one."
Wilt's face saddened again. "What? What's wrong with it?"
"I mean your real smile, Wilt. Come on, you know which one I mean. It's that smile of yours that lights up the entire room, the one that just makes your happiness contagious to everybody, the one that makes it impossible to be sad once you see it...."
Wilt was way too flattered by her words. He grinned.
It was obviously the one Frankie wanted to see, because her expression softened at that moment. "...That's the one. That's how I want to remember you, Wilt. Not sad like this. I don't want to think back on you and see you depressed this way. I want to remember you the way I always knew you."
"So...is this okay?"
"Yes, it's okay."
"Wilt, I'm gonna try my best to come back. But it's not going to be for a while, all right?"
"You promise?"
A brief pause. "I can't promise anything. But I will see you again one day. Tell that to Bloo, Ed, and Coco, okay? This isn't the last time we'll see each other."
"Okay."
Frankie looked down to her wrist, the one Wilt was still holding onto. "I have to go now, Wilt." She tightened her own grip on his hand and bent down further. She planted a friendly kiss on his cheek, and said, "I'll be thinking about you." As she stood, he slowly, reluctantly, let go of her hand.
"I'll see you later."
"...Bye."
Nothing else could be said. She walked to the door, opened it, and left. Wilt stared at the door for what felt like hours, some miniscule part of him praying madly, insanely, that she'd come back through it, saying she'd changed her mind and was staying and never ever leaving again--
But that was impossible. He knew that wouldn't happen. Sighing, he crawled back under his bed.
He had a strange suspicion...a notion that perhaps...maybe Frankie hadn't left because of Mr. Herriman. Maybe she'd left because of something else.
This time is hard
It's not as easy as it was
With you around
You always stood by my side
You made this world a better place
With just a smile
I waved goodbye
I shed a tear
And never felt for someone
The way I felt for you
And I don't mean for anyone
I mean for you
And all these memories fade away
I can feel that I will lose these images
I tried so hard to keep
But I never will forget
You made it such an easy thing
To feel at home
I waved goodbye
I shed a tear
And never felt for someone
The way I felt for you
And I don't mean for anyone
I mean for you
--Wolfsheim, "For You"
Okay, let me just say one thing. This is not supposed to be a Wilt/Frankie. This is supposed to be a Wilt-and-Frankie-are-really-good-friends sort of thing. Personally, though, I don't care if you do want to read it as a romance, I'm just saying that's not the way I'm writing it. You can look at it either way. Make enough sense? Good XD
I've been meaning to try this lately...but I normally update late at night so I'm too tired to do much of anything else. Review responses seem to be the "in" thing these days...I suppose I could give it a try :P
Umi Fox: Yep, she actually left ;; I wonder how Wilt would taste to the dust bunnies...probably a bit too sweet XD Oh yes, and one more thing... ::sneaks up behind Mr. Herriman and sets his tail on fire...then tosses him out the window:: Mwahah! There :D Just for you
Sherlock-fan19: Wilt thanks you for the big hug :D And he wants to give you one in return. But first he wants to know if it's okay.
Shenloken1: I know, it's about time, right? I'm glad you're liking it so far :D
FlyingToast: Yep, Frankie's taken a lot from Mr. Herriman. She was bound to snap sooner or later. Glad you're liking the story too
DanniB: I try :)
PhantomGoDeo: Like I said, that last chapter was really hard to write. But perfect you say? :D I guess I did something right then XD Glad to hear you're enjoying it so much :)
Candy the Duck: You didn't think so? Guess it was a bit of a surprise ending for you then :D
Kitty Gaby: Isn't he though? But only sometimes, we all know the guy has a sweet side ;) ::coughcoughFunnyBunnydancecoughcough:: You beg of me? Can't argue with that, I suppose XD Well, I'll see what other tortures I can come up with for our lovely little imaginary friends.
DippyDaBugbear: Glad you like it :DD
Kittie1: lol Your review made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside And you'd think there's enough Wilt stories on , but no...there's never enough :D
Spyden182: I'm glad you liked that chapter. Like I said before, it was difficult to get everything in it right, so I'm happy to hear you think it turned out all right :)
Shannon Foster: Wilt and Frankie are my favorite characters too! :D Well...I actually like all the characters, but they're at the top of my list ;) I mean...on my list, my dear lass, they are at the toppity XD Sorry. Couldn't resist.
Sorry if the responses are dumb or too short or whatever. I've never tried this before. ...Okay, I did it once, but that was only for one chapter and I didn't even respond to every review. Anyway, leave a review and tell me what you thought :)