Chapter 25- In between Free Runner
Hey guys! I know I said before and After but I wanted to write an in-between one, especially for Free Runner! Hope you enjoy it!
Jasmine xoxo
After Frank had picked up his toolbox and ran away in a hurry, he made his way to HQ. Once he got down there, he flopped down onto a chair and ran a hand through this brown, curly hair. Was that Stella? She looked so care-free, so young…not that she looked old, she just looked older, uh…oh crap, better not say this aloud.
He heard the lift doors open and turned around the see Stella walks over to the round table and place her bag on it. She smiled at him and laughed a bit; Frank looked confused.
"What?"
"Stella?" She mimicked his voice and then burst out laughing.
"Haha, very funny. You just look beautiful, that's all." He said the last bit quieter and Stella blushed.
"Thanks, Frank." He stood up and walked towards her and tucked a bit of hair behind her ear. Then he placed his hand in hers and smiled at her.
"No, I mean it Stel. You look stunning." Stella blushed to the shade of tomato and Frank chuckled.
"I haven't worn this in a while." She finally said and Frank looked confused.
"Why? When did you last wear this?" Stella looked up at him with sorrow in her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I wore this for one of our dates." Frank pulled her into a hug.
"It's ok Stel, that's all gone. What matters is that we are here now, together." He kissed the top of her forehead and she smiled into his shoulder. She pulled out after a few seconds and grabbed the M.I.9 assessment sheet from her bright, yellow bag.
"I've got to write some comments on here. When I've finished call your team down for the next mission." She pulled a pen out of the clipboard and started to scribble down some notes. Frank walked up behind her quietly and peeked over her shoulder. When she felt his breath on her skin, she turned around quickly to see Frank looking sheepish.
"Frank, it's confidential."
"I know; I'm just curious that's all." She went back to walking around the round table when she started to laugh a little; Frank was tickling her waist. Only Frank knew Stella was ticklish and Stella planned to keep it that way.
"Frank, stop." She whined but continued to laugh. She grabbed his hands and turned around.
"Frank, I need to fill this out."
"Can't you do that later? You could be doing something more fun." Stella raised her eyebrow.
"Oh yeah? Like what?" But she knew exactly what he meant.
"Like this." He kissed her gently on the lips and she kissed him back. She clutched the clipboard against her chest while Frank held her close. She pulled away and smirked.
"Nice try, but I need to fill this out." She kissed him one last time and went back to fill out the report. Frank smiled and sat down at Tom's computer. But instead of filling out reports, he was thinking about before, when everything was perfect and he didn't have a care in the world.
10 years ago, we, Stella and I were dating, lives being in pure bliss. She was my world, my everything. I loved her so much, as did she. We regularly went on dates when we weren't risking out lives for M.I.9. It was usually a Saturday and Wednesday night; every half week. Usually we would watch a movie at her flat or in the cinema, or go out to a restaurant to have dinner.
But my favourite was usually when we went for moonlight strolls along the beach. We would be talking and laughing while holding hands and just walking slowly. Whenever she and I would do that, I saw the real her; the real Stella before my eyes. She was so perfect and-
"Frank? Frank, are you okay?" Stella waved her hand in front of his face, causing him to mentally slap himself and look up at Stella, feeling sheepish. She laughed and sat down in the chair next to him.
"What were you thinking about?" Frank looked a little shocked at what she asked but then again, this was Stella; she always if something was up with Frank.
"Uh… its nothing, Stel. Don't worry about it."
"Frank, I wasn't born yesterday. What were you thinking?" She looked at him sternly and he sighed in defeat.
"I was just thinking about when we were dating, you know, before the KORPS assault." His voice cracked a bit and Stella put a hand on his knee; he was usually doing that to her and now it's the other way around. Frank took a deep breath and continued.
"I remember when we used to go out on dates every Wednesday and Saturday night. We used to watch movies together, go to a restaurant for dinner, and take walks along the beach afterwards. And then-"Frank snapped out of his daydream when he saw a tear snake down Stella's face. He wiped it away with his thumb and placed his hands in hers.
"Stel, it's okay, it's in the past."
"I know Frank, it's just…I miss her so much." A couple more tears escaped from her eyes and Frank gently pulled Stella onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. He let her cry freely in silence, rocking her slightly back and forth. He knew when she said that, she was referring to Hyperia. He missed her too, a lot in fact; she was like a little sister to him, even when they were in M.I High together with Stella. When he heard no more cries, he asked-
"Are you okay now?" Stella turned around slightly and looked down at him.
"Yeah, I'm ok." She kissed his cheek while he tried to stifle his giggles. Stella raised an eyebrow.
"What's up?"
"You got a little something on your face." Stella pulled out her phone, opened camera and turned it to face her. She gasped and stood up in surprise, feeling for something in her pockets. Then she frowned at Frank.
"You know, you could have told me my mascara was running so I wouldn't look like a hideous mess when the team arrive!" Frank laughed out loud at Stella, looking frenetic. She pulled out a make-up wipe and sighed in relief as she started to wipe her face, looking at the 'mirror' on her phone. Frank was still laughing and Stella poked her tongue out at him. When she finished and applied more mascara, (don't even ask her why she carries it around with her) she gasped.
"Crap! I forgot to fill out the report." She grabbed the report off the table, where she placed it when she was wiping her face.
"It's okay, I'll call the team for the mission and you can finish the last bits of the report, okay?"
"Yeah, okay."
"Good." Frank stood up from Tom's chair and walked over the round table. He was standing almost opposite Stella, who was still filling out the sheet of paper.
They heard the lift doors open and the four teenage spies walked out. They walked to the round table, opposite to Frank and Stella.
"Okay, one, you are totally rockin' that look. And two, hello? What are you doing here?" Keri asked, leaning forward onto the round table. Stella looked up from the clipboard and stopped writing.
"I take it you've all forgotten." The teens had blank expressions. Stella sighed.
"It's time for your M.I.9 annual assessment." The team groaned.
"Aww what? But we've had like five tests already this year!" Dan complained.
"Yes but this time I wanted to see how you worked above ground too!" She turned to Frank.
"The teaching job was the perfect cover." She said gently.
"Cool! We'll get to hang out!" Keri exclaimed.
"And she'll get to spend more time with Frank." Aneisha whispered to Keri but Frank and Stella heard then blushed.
"Wait… don't they already spend enough time together?" Tom pointed out and Dan, Aneisha and Keri sniggered while Frank and Stella blushed even harder.
"Uh…yes…well, you've still got a mission…"