Always Yours

This was weird.

The parking lot to the diner was empty. It had only ever been like this one time before and that was when Franko was hurt.

I wasn’t even sure the diner was open.

Had something happened again? Is that the reason he didn’t show last night? No it couldn’t be because if something had happened then Tommy wouldn’t have been at school.

Sighing I got out and made my way across the lot. The door wasn’t locked, and the open sign was still showing. Walking inside I shook my head. Of course he was up to something.

Franko was sat at the counter his back to me.

“You get my note?”.

“I did”.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“You read it?”.

“I didn’t. Is the diner open or closed?”. I asked.

“Wait”. He spun around in his seat. “You didn’t read it?”.

“Why would I you stood me up”. My heart racing, I walked around the counter so I could put my things away. “Where is everyone?”.

“You ain’t working tonight darling. I’m taking you out”.

“Why so you can tell me to meet you and then not show up?”. I poured myself some coffee and watched as the side of his mouth twitched.

Was he smirking?

“I didn’t stand you up I just didn’t show face”.

“What does that mean?”.

“I was there, and I got all I needed to”.

“So, what you were there watching and waiting to see if I showed?”.

“Yeah”. He nodded.

“Well, that’s stupid. You made me leave my house at that time of night for nothing and not to mention I got caught for sneaking out”.

“Grounded for life then”. He laughed.

“It’s not funny. Why would you do that to me?”.

“Because I needed to know you feel it to. I needed to know that you want me just as much as I want you and you showed up princess. You showed me exactly what I needed to see”.

My breath caught in my throat.

“Yeah, and you left me sitting out there like an idiot. I waited for half an hour Franko”.

“So, let me make it up to you tonight”.

I pursed my lips. I wanted to but if I said yes, I was going against everything. I was set on finishing this for good and here I was wanting to be whisked away by him.

“I’m meant to be working”. Yes, I was making excuses, but I also wasn’t up for hanging out.

“And I said you weren’t working tonight”.

“Not tonight Franko if I’m not working then all I want is to go home and go to bed. I haven’t had the best day”. I didn’t want to get into it, but he was here, and I felt I had to vent.

“Something happen?”.

“You could say that”. I filled his cup before taking the seat beside him. “I don’t think Alice and I are speaking”.

“Bout time. I can’t stand the bitch”.

“Hey”. I frowned. “Don’t call her that”.

He shrugged. “She do something to you?”.

I shook my head. “I’m sick of feeling used. I feel she only wants to hang out when something goes wrong with Tommy or if she needs something from me”.

“Aye darling saw it a mile away. You don’t need the bitch you got me”. He winked.

Rolling my eyes I pushed his shoulder. “Ever since she got a boyfriend it’s like I don’t exist anymore”.

“Cut ties princess cause it won’t ever stop. Want me to say something?”.

“No”. I frowned. “God no just don’t get involved”. He would only make the situation worse, and I didn’t need that.

“Whatever you say. Now you gonna let me take you out tonight or not?”.

“Yeah”. I nodded. “Yeah, I am but I have to go home and change first”.

“Fine by me darling I’ll pick you up at 7”.

“No, I’ll head back here so my parents think I’m at work”.

….

I had no idea where he was taking me, so I had no idea what to wear. Surely jeans and a t-shirt would be, okay? I was thinking about this too much. This was Franko I didn’t need to impress him and I’m sure he wouldn’t care anyway.

I grabbed my jacket and hat and shoved my feet into my black boots. If I was warm and comfortable I didn’t care where he took me. As long as it wasn’t a party with his friends right enough.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous. I think we were past the nervous stage. Although I still had no idea why I was doing this. I was letting him take me on a date. My first real date.

My stomach knotted. Maybe I was a little nervous, but I didn’t know what to expect. Where did the famous Franko take girls on dates? I wonder just how many dates he had been on.

No, I didn’t want to know that. What if he had never been on a date. I know he had been with a lot of girls but that didn’t necessary mean he had been on a date.

What the hell was I thinking? I swear my head was the worst place at times.

I grabbed my purse and made my way out. With my parents thinking I was at work meant I could chill out and maybe even enjoy myself. This date gave me the chance to really get to know him.

The real him.

Starting up my engine I reversed out the driveway and took off down the street. It didn’t take me long to get to the diner but when I got there a groan fell from my lips.

The parking lot was full which meant the diner was busy and because I was meant to be working tonight the guilt started to seep in. What if Jen was swamped?

Heading inside I took a quick look around to see if Franko was here yet. I didn’t spot his bike outside, but I was hoping he was bringing his truck. I wasn’t up for a bike ride in the dark.

“Hey sweetie”. Jen smiled. “Looking for Franko?”.

“Is he here yet?”. I took a seat at the counter. The diner was busy, but she had it under control.

“He’s through the back. I hope he’s taking you somewhere nice”. She grinned.

I wasn’t surprised that she knew. She seemed to know everything that went on around here. “I have no idea but-…”.

“Hey Aubrey, can we talk?”. Alice asked.

I didn’t even notice that she was here. This fight between us was stupid. I was angry and pissed off and it wasn’t her fault. She got caught in the crossfire of my horrible mood.

But the things I said I meant and if we were going to air things out then she needed to understand I stood by what I said. I just hoped our friendship meant something to her.

“Sure”. I nodded and followed her outside.

“I’ve been a bad friend to you. I got with Tommy and suddenly nothing else mattered. I took our friendship for granted and I’m sorry Aubrey. I made a mistake, and I don’t want to lose you. You’re my best friend my only friend and I don’t think I could handle it if you weren’t in my life”.

Well, she wasn’t wrong. She had been a shitty friend, but I let her be when I should have called her out on her bullshit. That’s what friends do right?

“I’m not going anywhere”. I sighed. “But we have to do better. I don’t just want to be your friend when you don’t have Tommy or he’s not around. We were inseparable before Tommy came along and now; I hardly see you unless you need something”.

“Ouch that one hurt. Have I really been that bad?”.

“Eh yes. Blinded by damn love you forgot all about me”.

“I don’t love him”. She huffed. “But now that you mention it, you’re right. I’ve been the worst and I’m sorry. Can we still be friends?”.

“I kinda need you seeing as I don’t have any other friends”.

“Hey”. She frowned pushing my shoulder.

“I’m kidding”. I grinned. “Of course, we’re friends but right now I have to go. I have a date”.

“A date? A date with-…”. She gasped. “Franko? It’s Franko, isn’t it?”.

I chewed the inside of my cheek as I nodded.

A high-pitched scream fell from her lips as she grabbed hold of my hands. “This is big, Franko Mendez is taking you on a date. Oh my god we can double date”.

Yeah, I don’t think Franko was the double date kind of guy.

“The fucks all the screaming about?”. He grunted.

Speaking of Franko. Delightful as ever.

“You better look after my friend”. Alice spoke.

Oh, god.

“Alice don’t-….”.

“You ready to go princess?”.

He full on ignored her, blanked her. Acted as if she wasn’t standing there.

I nodded as I glanced past him and looked at Alice. I gave her a small smile before he led me to his truck.

“You didn’t have to be rude”. I sighed.

“You’re too nice darling”.

“She’s still my friend Franko”.

“She ain’t always gonna be your friend”.

“Hey”. I glared.

“Trust me”. He smirked.

Rolling my eyes I clipped my seatbelt into place and waited for him to start the engine.

“Where are we going?”. I asked.

“It’s a surprise”. He winked.