Bianca was tossing in her bed. The last several nights had been this way. She was fighting an internal battle and it was taking its toll on her sleep schedule. Frankie and Bianca had enjoyed a pleasant, but short, phone conversation after the blond had gotten off of work. Frankie missed her and she missed Frankie. She had such a rapport with the girl. Things felt easy and fun, like they had known each other for years. They were slowly opening up more each day and Bianca had a feeling that it was not something easy for Frankie to do. She felt honored that she was the one Frankie chose to share with.

They talked about their day, and they reminisced about the weekend they shared. Frankie gave Bianca grief for teasing her with the picture message, then almost immediately withdrew her complaints, stating she loved it. Then, Bianca had to go. It was almost 11:30 and she was expecting her nightly call from Sarah. That was where the conflicting emotions started welling up. She absolutely did not want to let Frankie go, but how could she miss one of Sarah's calls?

To make it worse, she felt that both girls could sense a change. Frankie seemed confused by the sudden need to disconnect, but she graciously accepted the fact. Sarah outright questioned if everything was alright, sensing a distracted tone in Bianca's voice. Then, the rest of the call Bianca felt a subconscious need to maintain an upbeat tone. It was becoming maddening. Both girls were just wonderful and meant the world to Bianca. She did not want to be hurtful to either. She punched her pillow into shape for the hundredth time and looked at the clock.

It was four-thirty in the morning. "Ugh!" Bianca growled. It was Friday night, or Saturday morning, depending how one looked at it. A week ago, at this time, she was lying in Frankie's arms and being engulfed in absolute bliss by the care and attention the blonde poured out to her. "Maybe she went back out tonight?" Bianca mumbled to herself. "I mean, it is Friday and Frankie loves music…maybe Jamie dragged her out on the town?" Bianca reached for her phone and texted Frankie.

Bianca: Hey, Gorgeous? You up?

There was a five minute pause before…

Frankie: Just so happens that I am, Beautiful. What are you doing up this late…or, early?

Bianca: Thinking.

Frankie: Oh yeah…what about? Tacos?

Bianca: Lol. Well I am now!

Bianca: I was thinking about last Friday night. ;-)

Frankie: Oh yeah. What did you do last Friday? Something special?

Bianca: Frankie!

Frankie: I'm kidding. I was thinking about that too. I was also just killing time until I can come see you.

Bianca: Aww…Gosh, I miss you, Franks. I wish we weren't so far apart. I don't know when I will have time to get back there.

Frankie: I miss you too. It's not that bad…I mean, I have Angry Birds and the park benches at Willow Lake aren't too bad. I have slept on worse.

Frankie waited a beat and just as suspected her phone rang out in the darkness. She grinned and waited a second for effect, then picked it up. "Hello?"

"Frankie! Did you say Willow Lake? Wha…you…you're here? You're in Pine Valley? Oh my…how did…when did you get here?" Bianca fired off the questions. She was breathless, excited and confused.

"I just couldn't stop thinking about you. I got off of work and was driving home, then I just kept on driving." Frankie replied. "I got here a little while ago and found this cool park and thought I would just hang till I heard from you. I hope it is okay." Frankie bit at the skin on her lower lip.

"Okay? Of course it is okay. I am just surprised! I would love to see you!" Bianca exclaimed.

"Well, what do you want me to do?" Frankie asked nervously. "I mean, if you are busy or something…I can wait till tomorrow. I never planned on interrupting your schedule or anything. I don't even know where you live."

Bianca laughed. "Silly. I want you here now. You could never be a bother. You are in luck; I live really close to the park. 140 Calvert St. Do you want directions?"

"Nope, I've got it. I have GPS. I will see you in a few." Frankie said with a smile. She was already in her car and in the process of punching in the address.

"I can't wait." Bianca said. She was so excited.

Bianca disconnected the call and looked around at her room for any improvements that might be needed. Everything looks alright. Nothing in view that is too embarrassing. She picked up a jacket and hung it up. Then she surveyed the room while nervously tapping her leg. She straightened a pile of papers on a nearby desk and turned on a lamp. After pacing a little more, she went to her closet and picked out a different nighty. She promptly changed and threw on a robe, then exited her room and walked quietly down the stairs.

Bianca waited by the door of the boarding house where she lived. She moved quietly so as not to disturb any of the other residents. When she saw a flash of lights through the window, she quietly opened the door and waited. Frankie parked her car. When Frankie saw Bianca standing in the doorway with only a robe on her steps quickened. Both girls wore matching grins when they came face to face.

"Hi." Frankie said softly.

"Hi, you!" Bianca said seductively. "Come here. You must be cold, it's chilly out." Bianca pulled Frankie into her arms. She ran her hands along the shorter girl's back and through her hair, inhaling the scent of amber…Frankie's smell. Gosh, how I missed her. Bianca squeezed her tighter and pulled back to catch Frankie's lips in her own. Frankie moaned at the contact of her lips to Bianca's. "Mmm…I missed you too, Biancala." Bianca smiled at the sound.

"We should get inside." Bianca said while closing the door. "I don't want to wake anyone else up." She took Frankie by the hand and led her up the stairs.

"I noticed that." Frankie said.

"Noticed what?" Bianca looked confused.

"That you live in a boarding house. It's just not what I pictured…I mean the way you described your mom and all." Frankie explained.

"Oh, well…yeah." Bianca cleared her throat. "I moved in here when I was 17. Things get a little intense with my mother. So this was our compromise. A family friend owns the boarding house."

"Ah." Frankie replied.

They entered Bianca's room and Frankie looked around. "So what do you think? I don't have as much to show as you, but it's home."

"It's very nice, Bianca." Frankie said, while rubbing at her eyes.

Bianca noticed and pulled Frankie closer by the hand. "You must be exhausted. Come lay down." Bianca began undressing Frankie. She removed her satchel and set it to the side. Took off Frankie's coat and hung it over a chair. Frankie stood speechless as she followed Bianca's movements. Bianca stood in front of Frankie and began unbuttoning her shirt. She pulled the garment off the tan body and moved behind Frankie. Bianca ghosted her lips across the flesh of Frankie's neck and shoulders. She placed the shirt on the chair and then returned to her place behind Frankie. Her nimble fingers fussed with the clasp of a bra and Frankie sighed at the release.

The bra was cast to the chair as Bianca's hands moved to the waistband of Frankie's jeans and made quick time of removing them. Bianca's breath hitched at the sight of Frankie's naked form. She rubbed and soothed her hands all over the body of her lover. Bianca stepped away to remove her own robe and hang it up. She took a nightshirt from a nearby drawer and slipped it over Frankie's head. Bianca then led Frankie to the bed, climbed in and pulled Frankie along with her. She pulled the covers up around their spooning bodies and with a kiss to Frankie's neck, she whispered softly "Good night, sweet Frankie."

Frankie drifted to sleep easily and in moments, Bianca could hear the light snores of the blond. Bianca blocked out all the worries she had been struggling with and just laid still, enjoying the warmth and softness of her weary lover's body. She is so very peaceful. It just amazes me how she tries so hard to be tough, smooth and keep those walls up. Then when she is asleep and no one is watching, she is soft and almost vulnerable. I am beginning to feel caught between her and Sarah. I don't want to hurt either of them, but now that I am learning so much about Frankie, I can't imagine leaving her any more than I can imagine letting Sarah go. What am I gonna do? Bianca exhaled and closed her eyes tightly while spooning her body closer into Frankie's sleeping form. Within minutes, both girls were fast asleep.

A few hours later, the cellphone by the bedside flashed alive. A few gentle beeps caused Bianca to stir. She blindly reached for the phone and without thinking, placed the phone to her ear and said "Hello?"

"Bianca, honey? Are you still asleep?" Sarah questioned from the other end. Bianca jolted awake.

"No…no, I am here." Bianca sat up and quietly slid off the bed, so as not to disturb Frankie. She threw on her robe and stepped outside her door. After sitting against the wall, she cleared her throat and said "Sorry, I must have overslept a little. I had trouble sleeping and I didn't hear the phone at first. Anyway, how are you doing this morning?"

"Well, I will be better once I am far away from here and can see you every morning. Are you sure you are okay? You can go back to sleep if you aren't feeling well." Sarah replied, concerned.

Frankie began to stir and stretched out. She felt the empty bed beside her and sat up. When she realized where she was, she made the choice to wait for Bianca's return. As she settled back on the pillow, she could not help but hear some of what Bianca said outside the door.

"I am okay." Bianca reassured her. "So you miss me, huh?"

"You know I do, Bianca. I am not running anymore. I haven't been running for a long time. I told you…as soon as I am done with school, I will return and we can be together. We will go wherever you want."

"I know." Bianca said. "I just miss you. I have missed you for a long time. I've wanted to be with you since…well, since Fairview and it's just so hard…the waiting."

"I know, Bianca. I wish I had never hurt you." Sarah pleaded. "I can't keep apologizing for all that. I mean, I am…I am sorry. I want to be with you. I finally stood up for myself and I would have never been able to do that without you. I just want to be free to just be. I want to just be able to be with you without any other pressures. I love you."

"I love you too, Sarah." Bianca said. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I know you are just doing what needs to be done. It is just hard. I can be strong and hold on for a little longer."

"I know you can. You have always been so strong. I love that about you." Sarah said. "I hate to run in the middle of this, but I have to get to work."

Bianca started to pull herself up when her housemate Boyd came up the stairs. The tall muscular blond man spotted Bianca and asked "Hey Bianca? Do you have a guest? I am trying to get to the work and my car is blocked in. Myrtle said to check with you." Boyd had not caught on right away to Bianca being on the phone or the silencing gesture she was trying to give the young man. Frankie, who had heard the whole exchange had slipped on clothes and exited the room trying to quietly signal that she would take care of it. Boyd, who was completely confused by the whole course of events, just turned and followed the short blond girl down the stairs.

"Bianca? What is going on? You have company?" Sarah questioned. "Wait… is that why you seemed so distracted last night? Why didn't you just tell me you had a friend visiting?"

"Well, no…she wasn't here when we talked." Bianca said, without really thinking. "She is just a friend of mine that was passing through and needed a place to stay in a pinch. We can talk about it later. You have a great day at work, okay?"

"Okay." Sarah replied. "Love you."

"Love you too…Bye." Bianca disconnected the call and let out a sigh of relief as she heard Frankie coming back up the stairs. At that moment in Boston, Sarah was mulling over Bianca's distant behavior and an unplanned appearance of a friend in Bianca's room after midnight.