I hope this goes in a direction that makes sense. I've changed my mind so many times on this chapter, so if anyone feels that this is untrue to the characters or moving in a bad direction please review and let me know, constructive criticism of course. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy. x
The sound of the doorbell woke me. Hazily I looked around for a clock. The flashing red display said it was 10:25. Glancing over I guessed that Mini was already up, her bed neatly made with a teddy sitting primly in the middle. My guess was confirmed when I heard her voice downstairs, talking to someone I couldn't quite make out. Quickly pulling on a hoodie I tried to make myself somewhat presentable and headed downstairs.
When I got to the kitchen doorway I stopped just outside, listening to the voices.
Grace. And Liv.
I should have known they would arrive soon.
"So Nick is absolutely fine but you would think he was bloody dying" I heard Liv say. Mini sniffed in contempt.
"And Rich thinks that maybe it was all for the best now, you know, not getting married" said Grace.
"What do you mean?" asked Mini. "He's not ditching you is he? Scared off by your dad?"
"Oh no. Nothing like that. I just mean that, well, we are so young. We don't really need to get married. Not yet anyway." I could hear a smile in her voice.
"Yeah well relationships are messed up enough" said Liv bitterly. "Why complicate things with undying devotion and eternal matrimony and shit." There was an awkward pause from the other two.
'So...did Matty say anything much?" asked Mini. I held my breath waiting for Liv's answer.
"He doesn't need to," said Liv. "We said everything we needed to in the woods. He's just chasing after lost girls."
"Liv..." warned Grace.
"I'm just not enough for him anymore." Liv continued.
"So, coffee?" asked Mini loudly, interrupting them. I took that opportunity to push open the door and enter.
"Oh, Franky. Perfect timing. Coffee?" Mini smiled broadly at me.
"Yeah, ta" I mumbled, taking a seat without looking at either Liv or Grace. I perched awkwardly on one of the bar stools next to them. Mini placed a steaming mug in front of me.
It seemed like everyone was waiting for everyone else to speak.
Finally Liv spoke, "Alright Franky?"
"Yeah" I replied. I glanced desperatly at Mini for help.
"Um so I've just got to go out in a bit" she said to me. "Gotta pick up some food and stuff, unless we want to starve" she grinned at me. "Do you want to come or stay here and get some rest?
"Um, I might just stay here" I said uncomfortably. I could feel Liv and Grace watching me, presumably waiting for me to crack and spill everything.
"Are you sure you shouldn't go back to the hospital or something?" Grace asked. "You look kind of pale."
"She's fine" interrupted Mini. I loved her so much for that. She busily distracted Grace with talk of Rich, leaving me to finish my coffee in relative peace.
Grace left shortly after that, to go meet up with Rich, and Liv took one look at me and said she would go with Mini to the shops. Secretly I was grateful to them both, they hadn't pushed the topic of what happened in the woods. I certainly wasn't ready for a heart-to-heart on the matter. Mini showed me how to lock the door behind them, saying she would be back soon and to make myself at home.
As soon as they left I wandered back upstairs to change. I didn't have anything with me and Mini's clothes weren't exactly my style, but between us we had found some leggings and a top that I could wear for now. It took me a while to get dressed because I still couldn't move a great deal. As I finished doing up the buttons on the top I heard a loud knock on the front door. I hurried down the stairs but didn't open it. It was Mini's house after all, should I open the front door to someone? I waited at the bottom of the stairs to see if they would knock again. Instead I heard a familiar voice.
"Mini? Mini are you home? Come on, please open the door. We need to talk." It was Matty. Slowly I walked forward and turned the lock, opening the door an inch.
"Mini..." he started before he realised it was me. His expression changed instantly to one of surprise.
"Oh! Franky! I...I wasn't expecting it to be you. Why aren't you at the hospital or something?"
"I don't need to be in hospital" I said dryly. Why did everyone keep asking me that? "Mini's gone out with Liv. Why did you want to talk to her?"
He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. "Franky...can we talk?" I nodded slightly, moving aside and opening the door further. He brushed past me as he entered, pausing as our arms touched, and searching for my eyes. I looked up at him, holding his gaze determinedly until he turned away and walked down the hallway. I followed a distance behind him, trying to sort out my thoughts before he could subject me to a sad look from those amazing eyes, which I knew would dissolve my courage in an instant. When I entered the kitchen he was leaning casually against the fridge. My eyes were drawn to a piece of paper in his hands.
"I took this from the van, before we abandoned it in the woods" he said holding it out to me. "I wanted to give it to you before, but..." I took it from his hands.
My head's fucked. WHAT IS THIS?
I already knew what the other side said. I looked up at him in confusion.
"Turn it over" he urged.
Something I can't stop.
And in hurried scribble underneath that,
Something I don't want to stop. I love you.
Completely shocked, I forgot to breath for a second. My hands were trembling holding the paper. Leaning back against the wall, so focused on the words in front of me I didn't even hear him moving forwards. He stopped inches from me reaching out with a finger to lift my chin, raising my eyes to his. He gently stroked down my cheek and neck, stopping at the hollow in my collarbone. He pressed his hand flat against the base of my throat, his hand rising and falling with my breath, which was racing.
"Are you scared of me?" he asked, sensing my trembling. His face was inches from mine and I found myself unconsciously leaning towards him. It felt so different to last time, everything was slow and soft, not the frenzied passion of the woods.
"I don't want to hurt you Franky. I would never want that" he said softly.
"I know," I said. He had to lean even closer to hear my next words. "And, I think...I love you too."
His eyes were wide and smiling but he didn't move. I found myself wanting him to lean in, to close the tiny gap between our lips. My whole body was tingling where we touched and the weight of his hand, still pressed to my throat, was burning. It had been so long since I had felt anyone this close and the memories still haunted me. But it had never felt like this before and I knew it felt good, I knew I did not want him to stop. Surely he could sense that I was not afraid, every cell in my body felt like it was reaching out towards him yet he did nothing. Gently I touched his cheek- it was wet. I hadn't even realised he was crying, the tears quietly tracking down his face.
"Happy or sad?" I asked him.
"I don't know," he replied. His distress made me pause for a moment, remembering all the things that had made it so complicated before; made us so complicated. Those things hadn't just magically disappeared.
"What about Liv?" I asked, pulling back slightly.
"Franky..." he said shaking his head. "Don't...we don't need to talk about that."
"We can't not talk about it Matty."
"What did she say, before, when she was here?"
"Just tell me. Did you breakup?"
He sighed, frustrated, and looked away. "You know it's not simple. It's never going to be black and white alright? Can't we just, be, now and worry about later, later?" He leaned back in, his breath hot on my cheek. My arguments died on my tongue as his lips found mine. He was soft and gentle, his hands clasping my face, pulling me towards him. I wanted this. He was right, we could deal with everything else later. For now we were both lost in each other.
When he pulled away from me he was smiling. He studied my face, looking for my reaction. I couldn't help but smile back at him. We stood, clasped together, his hands cupping my face, my hands on his waist, tugging his jumper into bunches.
What seemed like far away I could hear banging. Suddenly I realised it was actually close, very close. I heard the front door shut...and footsteps? Without thinking I pushed Matty away from me. He looked startled but then he heard voices in the hall and instantly he moved over to the table, quickly sitting down on a chair, trying to look casual. I don't know why our reaction was to hide. Maybe it was habit. But I think the truth was we both knew it still wasn't quite right.
I hurried over to the counter, pulling out some mugs and tea. Tea? Hot drinks seemed to be our answer to every awkward situation today. Mini and Liv walked in a moment later, smiling and laughing about something. Both of them stopped dead when they saw Matty sitting at the table. Liv stared at him suspiciously but Mini's gaze flicked straight to me, questioning. I nodded reassurance at her.
"Um, Matty just dropped by," I said stupidly. Clearly he wasn't just around for a neighbourly cup of sugar.
"Yeah, I should probably be going," he said uncomfortably. God the tension in this room was smothering. He stood and gave Mini an awkward little wave.
"Sorry to invade your home Mini." Without any further explanation, and not even looking at Liv, he turned and fled out of the house. Now both of them were staring at me, demanding an explanation. I understood Liv's angry, slightly jealous gaze, but I couldn't understand why Mini wore the same one. She looked like she was about to say something when Liv spoke first.
"No milk, two sugars please" she said. I was so shocked I almost dropped the cup. It took me a moment to realise I was still holding the ingredients for tea. She took a seat on the stool opposite me, giving me a knowing look. I understood that I had her silence and I was not about to turn that down so I did my best to hide my panic, nodded and switched on the kettle.
I was so busy being grateful for Liv's reaction that I failed to notice Mini's. She stood in the middle of the room, looking angry and hurt, glaring at me. I failed to notice the way Liv gestured at her to calm down and take a seat, so that by the time I turned back to them all I saw was her forced happiness, and I didn't even realise it was fake.
Oh and I forgot to add something. Not sure if I'm allowed to do this but I have also uploaded a Matty/Franky video on youtube if anyone is interested.
.com/watch?v=GReasOW6c_c (if that didn't work just youtube dot com /watch?v=GReasOW6c_c)