The Homecoming Of Whatsername (Edited), chapter 5

At three minutes to eight the next morning, Tre and Frankie ran out to his car to school. After flipping through the radio channels for a bit, Tre snapped off the radio, and glanced at his sister, who was pulling at some strands of her hair, and pouting thoughtfully into the mirror.

"What do you think I'd look like with blue highlights?"

"Cool. I wanna dye my hair green." Tre replied.

"Yeah!" Frankie laughed. She ruffled Tre's messy mop. "I'll do it tonight, if you want!"

Tre's eyes lit up. "Really? Thanks, Frig!"

Frankie swallowed. Funny how just one word, like Frig, could bring back a hurricane of memories.

"So," Tre started hesitantly. "Are you and Brad moving down here permanent?"

Frankie nodded. "Yeah. Hopefully. Brad wants to find an apartment in maybe Oakland, so we won't be too far away."

"And when's he coming down?"

"Uh, Thursday, three weeks time. We want the wedding early in the New Year, maybe the weekend of the 31st January, sometime like that."

"Oh, yeah. And, um, what's Brad like?"

Frankie shot her brother an amused look from under her long eyelashes. "Why?"

Tre turned into the school parking lot. "Well, you're planning on spending the rest of your life with him. And you're my baby sister. I don't wanna see you hurt."

"Tre! Half an hour doesn't make me a baby!"

Tre started to answer, but was interrupted by Chloe and Tat knocking on the window. Billie Joe and Mike were standing by the gates, waiting for Tre so the could go for an early morning smoke.

Frankie, Tat and Chloe walked into their homeroom class, and waited for the guys. They were all in the same class, but Mike was in higher sets for some subjects, as were Chloe and Tat.

"So, Frankie, tell us about Brad!" Chloe demanded as soon as they sat down.

Frankie laughed, and shook her head slightly. Obviously, she would be talking about her fiancée quite a bit.

"Whaddya wanna know?" She asked.

Tat and Chloe looked at each other cheekily. "Everything!" Tat smiled. "Like, how far have you got?"

Frankie flushed a bright pink. "Tat!" She slapped her friend playfully. She looked around the nearly empty classroom. She leaned in and lowered her voice. "Third."

"Base?" Chloe howled in disbelief. "You're engaged but you haven't done it yet? You're still a virgin?"

Frankie scowled at her friend. "So?" She snapped.

Chloe began to answer but was cut off by the bell ringing, and more people entering the class.

"Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it." Chloe mouthed.

***

That afternoon, Frankie, Tat and Chloe walked out of the school gates to a big surprise. Brad was sitting on the low wall, a big grin lighting up his face as he saw Frankie. She squealed, and ran to wrap her arms around her fiancée.

Billie Joe stared sourly, before slamming into his car and driving home, closely followed by Mike. Tre was in detention.

"Ohmigod, I can't believe you're here!" Frankie crowed when she finally released Brad.

"Yeah!" Brad smiled. "I missed you big time, and flew out for Christmas."

Frankie just plastered a smile on her face and hugged Brad again, but still watched Billie's car speed down the road.

***

The next two weeks passed in a fast blur for Frankie and Billie Joe. Brad booked a room in a hotel. He and Frankie bought a small apartment, but were told they couldn't move in until the New Year. Before long, it was Christmas, and time for one of Tre's infamous house parties.

Three days before Christmas Eve, Tat and Frankie were in Frankie's room, getting ready for the party. Mr Wright had gone out of town, and would be back the day before Christmas Eve, as had Brad. Chloe had gone to her gran's with the rest of her family.

Tat flicked her hair, and rubbed moisturiser into her ebony skin, pouting in her preppiest impression.

"How do I look?" She asked. Frankie glanced up from her eyeliner, and took in Tat's outfit. She was wearing a tiny black disaster miniskirt, and a hot red halter neck.

" You look great. You'll freeze, but at least you'll look good!" Frankie laughed. "What about me?"

Frankie was wearing a pair of her tightest black jeans, and an equally tight electric blue top that brought out the blue of her eyes and the new highlights in her hair.

"You look amazing," Tat replied sincerely. She cleared her throat. "Um, do you remember that first day of school, when Chloe said about you and Brad... "

"Yeah, I remember." Frankie said shortly.

"Well, um, why?"

Frankie sighed, and flopped onto her bed. "Is anyone outside?"

Tat poked her head round the door. She could just about see Tre and Mike setting up the third keg, with some other guys from Gilman's and school. "No." She said, sitting next to Frankie.



"I dunno." Frankie pouted again. She picked at her nail polish, and added another coat of it. She looked back at Tat. "T, do you think I'm doing the right thing? Getting married, I mean."

"Well, sure. I mean, you're in love and everything, right?" Frankie didn't answer. "Frankie? You do love him, right?

"Yeah, I love him. Just don't know if I'm in love with him." Frankie sighed, and looked at her best friend. "Tat, I think I might be in love with someone else." Before Tat could reply, Frankie pushed out of the door, and ran downstairs. And didn't see Billie Joe hiding in the linen closet, listening to every word she had just said.

***

LATER THAT NIGHT

Frankie's head was spinning as she stepped into the garden. She sat down and massaged her temples. She remembered now why she never drank any of Tre's alcoholic drinks.

"You OK?" A voice came over the cold air. Billie Joe stepped into the light, a half-smoked cigarette dangling from his lips.

Frankie nodded, and shivered. Billie Joe grunted, and swung his jacket around her shoulders. He offered Frankie his cigarette.

"No thanks," Frankie shook her head. "I quit."

"Why? Brad made you?" Billie Joe chortled, but his eyes were serious. Frankie stared at him, willing her vision to unfuzz.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Billie glared at his nails for a long time. "Why are you with him?" He muttered finally.

"Huh?"

Billie Joe raised his head, meeting Frankie's eyes. "Why are you with him? I know you don't love him."

"Wha- why would you say that?" Frankie bluffed. "Of course I love him. I'm getting married to him, for fuck's sake!"

"Not what you said to Tat." Billie Joe started, as he realised what he had said.

Frankie paled. "Were you listening in?"

"No."

Frankie stood up and began to walk inside. Billie Joe leapt up and pulled her towards him.

"It's ok," he murmured. "I'm still in love with you."

"No Billie!" Frankie exploded. "It's not ok! I'm engaged."

"You can break it off." Billie Joe pouted.

"I can." Frankie agreed softly. "But I won't."

She walked quickly inside, and went up to her bedroom with no-one noticing. But Billie Joe still followed her, and came in after her.

Frankie rounded on him.

"What do you want me to say, Bill? Huh? That I'm gonna dump Brad? That I'm still in love with you? Because I can't say that."

Billie Joe opened his mouth, then closed it again. "No." He tugged Frankie closer to him, and kissed her lips softly.

Frankie tried to pull away, but Billie Joe held her tighter. His lips were hard and soft, rough and gentle, sweet and salted all at the same time. His hands loosened their vice-like grip on Frankie's wrists, one dropping to her hip, the other running through her hair. In return, Frankie twisted her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

Billie Joe moved against her, and they fell down, entwined on her bed, Billie Joe on top. He placed a fist either side of her head, and pushed himself up, just enough to look into her eyes.

"No." He said again. "I want you to say you're not in love with me at all."

Frankie's bright blue eyes welled with tears.

"I can't say that, either."

And she pushed Billie Joe off her, and ran out into the wet, cold, dark December night.

And she was still wearing Billie Joe's jacket.