Chapter Three:

Frankie isn't to sure what's happening between him and Zach, but he certainly isn't in any rush to stop it.

It only took a day from their first cuddle for Zach to climb into bed with Frankie. He asks if its alright, and the blonde mumbles a tired 'yes'. They're constantly cuddling and they don't spend a night apart.

They also hug a lot. Scratch that. Zach hugs him a lot. Not that he's complaining. He also doesn't complain when the brunette nonchalantly tells him how hot he is like, all the time.

The kid follows him around everywhere. He's like a lost puppy dog. Its just so cute.

All these thoughts of happiness and adorableness are swept away when Devin becomes Head of Household.

Despite Zach's constant reassurance that he is safe, Frankie feels nervous. If not for his game, then for Zach's.

Devin has to put up a replacement nominee. And the reasonable choice is Zach. Frankie agrees at first. Then, as the seconds tick down to the Nomination Ceremony, his heartbeat picks up.

What if their numbers are wrong? What if there's a secret plan to backdoor Zach? If nobody told him about it, that means they don't trust him, which means he's next.

He stops himself from chewing on his fingernails several times. He settles on biting his bottom lip (his teeth become restless when he's nervous don't judge) and pacing around the backyard .

"Frankie, calm down. I'm on the block, not you. Chill." Zach says, stopping him in his tracks.

The blonde sighs, "I know .. But what if our numbers are wrong? Or .. or.."

Zach grabs him by the shoulders, "We got the numbers, and nobody's backdooring me. Everything's gonna be alright babe.

"You're right." Frankie says with a half smile.

"I know I am. I'm always right." The Florida native teases with a cocky smirk.

Frankie playfully rolls his eyes, "Just try not to piss anyone off, okay?"

"I can't make promises I know I won't keep."

He gently pushes Zach out of his way. Honestly, he doesn't know why he puts up with the younger man. But he thinks it has something to do with the thing in his ribcage.

Frankie feels like crying after the ceremony. Zach is safe. His Zach is safe.

As soon as Paola is out the door and her picture goes gray, he pulls Frankie into the storage room and they hug it out.

He's relieved, to say the least. But he shouldn't be. This is a game. It doesn't matter who goes home as long as its not him. And maybe Caleb (but only if his crush on Amber doesn't spiral out of control).

Apparently his eyes and brain aren't connected, because his vision is becoming blurry.

"Devin's next." Zach whispers.

"Devin's next."

Neither Frankie or Zach are HoH the following week, but that's okay. Because Derrick is and he'll never put either of them up.

"Oh my god. What if he puts me up? Or you? Or the both of us? I couldn't deal with that." Frankie rambles, pacing in a straight line.

Just like before, Zach steps in front of him to stop the blonde in his tracks.

"Stop. Calm down. Relax. Chill out. You're safe. I'm safe. We're safe."

Frankie runs a hand through his hair and lets out the breath he was holding, "I know, I know. Derrick's a good guy. He wouldn't do that. Not yet."

Zach smiles, "Good. I think the hammock is open. So let's go lay down."

"Yeah. Let's do that."

The whole week is surprisingly peaceful. Everyone knows who's going to be on the block. Everyone knows who's going home. Even with Devin's negative spirit lurking around the house, its easy to breath.

Frankie and Zach have gotten even closer. In both the literal and figurative sense.

Currently, Zach is inside helping Derrick do guy stuff. So Frankie is sitting with a few members of the Bomb Squad and Victoria. Its just idle chit chat about their lives at home.

His other half comes out while they're talking about little siblings. Zach presses a kiss to the top of Frankie's head and squeezes his shoulder.

"Yo, Zach's into you." Cody says once he left.

Frankie hopes he isn't blushing, "I know."

He knows? He knows? He doesn't know anything.

Zach doesn't like him. Its .. its a joke. It has to be. They're friends. Just friends.

Frankie turns his head to look at Victoria whose rambling on about some boy or whatever. He honestly doesn't care. But having her as an ally might be good for him in the long run.

And of course, he meets Zach's eyes. The younger man smiles, so he returns it.

Just play it cool Frankie, play it cool.