Another Day Goes By, Am I In Your Dreams Tonight?, chapter 2
***
"Oh my god and you haven't called him, he gave you his number girl!"
"How do I even know it's his number?"
"How will you know unless you call him! Frankie you are too much of a wuss. If you don't call this hunk of a man I will!"
"Stevey I doubt he is your type, I think he fell in the straight category."
"Oh I could so convert him."
"Sure, sure," Frankie sat back in her couch and petted her fat cat Splitz, "I guess I could give it a shot."
"That's what I like to here, call me back with the juicy details okay! Ta, ta!"
"Will do Stevey will do, talk to you later," Frankie hung up and stared aimlessly at the napkin given to her by Mike.
'I guess it really wouldn't hurt we could get coffee or whatever; I should have given him my number guys can call anytime without stupid debates with themselves. Ok breathe Frankie, now dial the phone, oh god it's ringing, no freaky outs no freak-outs'.
"Hello?"
'Oh shit, answering machine would have been nicer' *click*
'Stupid, stupid, stupid, why did I do that, why did I hang up if I call back now he wont answer'.
*Ring, ring*
"Hello?"
"Hello, did you just call this number?"
"Uh yeah, um sorry my phone went hay-wire."
"Um okay...may I asked who this is?" the voice asked.
"Well if this is Mike Dirnt this is Frankie."
"Oh! Frankie hi, how are you? And your cats, did they live?"
"I'm fine and they are fine, Splitz is on my lap being a lazy ass right now."
"Great great, I thought you lost my number or something."
"Yeah, I mean no, I didn't I've just been busy with work, that's why I haven't called."
"Yeah understandable, hey are you doing anything today?"
"No that's why I called, not in a I'm bored so I'd call you way cause you're not boring. I just uh, wanted to see if you would like to go for coffee with me or something."
"Well I can't go to coffee but would you maybe want to come to a party with me?"
"What kind of party?"
"A birthday party, my birthday party actually."
"Oh yeah, I forgot sorry, happy birthday."
"That's okay, I didn't expect you to remember, and thanks."
"What do you want?"
"What do you mean?"
"For a present."
"Nothing, just you to be ready at 7 o'clock, if you can come, or want to come."
"I can and I do, I'm going to be at Dean's Café though, can you pick me up there?"
"Yeah no problem, I'll see you then?"
"Yup see yeah then" Frankie hung up the phone and it rang immediately.
"Hey, its me again, sorry I forgot to say it's formal apparently. I'm not planning it, actually I'm not even suppose to know about it, but my friend Tré has a big mouth and can't keep a surprise party quite. But we are going some place fancy for dinner, don't worry about paying for anything birthday boy and date get special treatment."
"Okay no problem, bya bye."
"Bye."
'A date with Mike Dirnt, better call Stevey so he can talk my ear off about it for an hour, which will leave me one and a half too get ready, perfect'.
Frankie dialed Stevey and he answered on the first ring.
"Were you waiting with the phone in your hand?"
"Maybe I was, but that's not important tell me what he said woman!"
"He shot me down said I was ugly and he never wanted to hear from me again."
"That jerk! I'm going to find him and rip off his balls!"
"Ha ha, I'm just kidding Stevey. He invited me to his birthday party, he said bring myself is all he needs from me as a present and its formal, I need a dress."
"I'll ask Kiera, she has that sexy red and black one, you can make him be begging for it all night with that. It's not screaming slut but it says 'I'm sexy and you want a piece of this and wear those black dress shoes of hers too'.
"Is Kiera there?"
"Of course, we were discussing you, and she's getting the dress and shoes and heading over right now."
"You were discussing me? Oh that makes me feel comfortable."
"Never anything bad."
""Sure it isn't, I'm going to take a shower. I'll call you tomorrow, or when I get in if it's not too late."
"Okay bye, don't have too much fun."
"I will try, bye Stevey." Frankie hung up and headed to the bathroom and turned on the water for a shower.
"Frankie, Frankie, Frankie you are going to knock this man off his feet. There, you can open your eyes, I'm done."
"Thanks Kiera, for everything. The dress, shoes and doing my make-up," Frankie stood up, grabbing her purse off the bed beside her.
"No problem, always here to help a friend in need. So tell me about this guy?" Kiera asked going into the kitchen and grabbing a soda from Frankie's fridge. "You want me to get you something?"
"No I'm fine," Frankie filed into the living area of her apartment and took a seat on the sofa.
"So is he tall dark and handsome?" Keria emerged from the kitchen and took a seat next to Frankie.
"In a way yes, I mean I don't know him well. We talked for about forty minutes at Starbucks and that's it."
"Well you'll be getting to know him tonight."
"I won't be getting to know him that well Kare, but if things go well, there's date two and after that date three."
"And then two months from now and you're in love with the man, oh this is so exciting!"
"I don't see anything really exciteful about it. It's one date with one guy I barely know, it could or couldn't evolve don't get the streamers out yet."
"Well you need to get laid, you haven't had a relationship since that Tommy jerk, come on what isn't there to be excited about. Maybe he will make you laugh and smile again bringing back the Frankie we all know and love."
"I laugh and smile all the time," Frankie said taking Kiera's coke and having a sip.
"Yeah but you don't really smile, you just do it politely. You need to learn to live again, be you again."
"I'm still me Kare, I am. People do change you know, I have the same everything I've always had I've just changed. Felt things, seen things, and lost things that changed me."
"Well, I guess I should let you go huh? It's twenty to seven."
"Yeah, it will take me twenty minutes to walk to the Café in these shoes."
"Why did you tell him to meet you at the café anyway? Cause I really want to meet this guy."
"I didn't want him to know where I live just yet, maybe I'm just a bit paranoid. Let me get my coat I'll walk you to your car, seeing as how I'm going out anyway."
"Okay, and I know what you mean not wanting him to know guess it's understandable he could be a weirdo. Well I'll see you later." Kiera and Frankie embraced and Kiera got into her car and pulled out of the apartment buildings guest parking as Frankie started walking in the direction of Dean's Café.
'Note to self - have Kiera drive me next time; I'm five minutes late. What if he leaves? I hope he doesn't, he probably thinks I stood him up, or maybe he is really standing me up and when I get there he wont be there. Oh well, what can a girl do really, run in heels? Yeah right. I'm only another five minutes away anyway. Maybe I'll walk a bit faster'.
Frankie picked up her pace on the semi-alive New York street trying to make herself less late as possible, and mean while a frantic Mike Dirnt was getting out of a limo outside of Dean's Café ready to apologize for his tardiness.
'Shit, I hope she didn't leave already, she probably though I stood her up I cant believe I'm late'. Mike entered the café and looked around but not seeing Francesca anywhere. 'Maybe she did leave already, I should still wait a bit'. Mike took a seat near the entrance and began drumming his fingers on the table.
"What would ya like sir?" a young looking waitress asked, ready to take his order
"Just a coffee please."
"Coming right up." With that, she left him waiting.
'Ten minutes late, I'm ten minutes late. I'm never late for anything! Please be here'. Frankie stopped outside the Café looking up and down the street. 'I told him meet me outside right? Or did I tell him to meet me inside? Or did I tell him anything but I'd be here? Oh why can't I remember, oh well a quick coffee while waiting, if he's not gone'. Frankie entered the café on the unoccupied side of the entrance door so she could see anyone who came in. 'If he comes in, I see him, and if he's here, he isn't great. I bet he's came and left'.
Mike came out from the men's room and decided he'd go after waiting for ten minutes and her not showing; he put his money on the table and headed for the door.
"Dean move out of the way, I need to see the entrance," Frankie said frustrated, moving Dean out of her way.
"What for?" he asked looking at the doors.
"I'm waiting for someone, I swear he just came in or left," Frankie averted her gaze from the door to outside seeing Mike opening a car door to get in. "There! I have to go," she got up and rushed out of the café to the limo door closing.
'Oh well, I guess I lucked out. I'll call her tomorrow, wait I don't have her number fuck; well maybe she'll call me then. Lets hope'. Mike thought getting in the limo and shutting the door to find it stop and pull open. 'What the hell?'.
"Mike, I'm sorry I was late. I thought I missed you, I'm so sorry," Frankie panted from her frantic dash to get to the car in time.
"No I'm sorry I was late too. I thought I missed you so I stayed and waited" Mike said getting out of the limo.
"Yeah I was inside and saw you getting in, I almost sprained my ankle in the sprint but I got here in time," Frankie said and laughed nervously. 'Oh sure, say that, it makes you sound like a desperate freak, way to go Frankie! You idiot'.
"Well after you," Mike moved aside and let Frankie into the limo.
"Wow nice, I've only been in a limo once for high school graduation but it was nothing like this."
"Yeah its my pimped out birthday ride, Jeffery we're ready to go." Mike said holding a little speaker button down to inform the driver.
"Yes sir," the voice of Jeffery spoke in reply.
"Now I have to warn you, I have rather crazy friends, and due to how alcoholically induced this night will be for them, and most likely myself, I apologize for anything that they may say or do to you or anyone. And possible nudeness, well let's just say sometimes table stripping happens."
Frankie let out a laugh and sat back in the seat, "Well that's okay, my friends are pretty bad. I honestly can't think of Stevey having his clothes on most of the time, alcoholically enhanced or not."
"Well then it wont be a shock then, Billie Joe and Tré they, well I heard something about someone popping out of a cake in edible undies. I hope that was just a joke."
Frankie busted out in laughter at the thought of this and gripped the seat for support. "Oh god, trust me I've had that done. Actually I did it to a friend, well planned not actually jumping out of the cake was done by myself, we had her boyfriend do it, it was hilarious."
"Well you better not have been in contact with Tré and given him the idea, because if anyone would jump out of a cake he would. Well, him and Billie Joe would both get in there together and do it. They would probably fight over who gets to."
"Well your friends sound great, I think we will get along well," Frankie smiled at Mike and he took her hand.
"That's great, it really is. I'm sure they'll love you. If they say your great when sober it means something, but if they say it when there drunk it means more, they tend to say what they mean when they're intoxicated." Mike laughed, squeezing Frankie's hand/ "You look really beautiful by the way, I like the dress." Mike said looking her up and down to observe what she was wearing.
"Thanks, you look good too. Very sharp and handsome like." Frankie giggled. 'Oh god did I just giggle, I'm a idiot, giggling is for gits Frankie, gits, remember that!'.
"We're here," a voice boomed out of the speaker making Frankie jump slightly at it's suddenness.
'Okay, here, we go the friend test already this is a big jump for a first date. Breathe Frankie it will all be fine... hope'. Mike got out and took Frankie's hand as she stepped out to one of the fanciest French restaurants in New York the La Grenouille.
"Well here we are, there probably inside from being sick of waiting, but I'm the birthday boy its okay for me to be late." Mike took Frankie's hand and led her into the restaurant.
"Armstrong party," Mike said to the waiter who took both their coat and gave them to a younger gentleman and took them to another room.
"V-right ziss way masseur," the waiter led them to the far back of the restaurant where tables had been put together and others cleared away to give the party privacy or so there rowdiness didn't disturb other guests. "V-will you be a taking your order now, or would you like moi to return in a few minotes."
"We'll need a few minutes, please." Mike sat pulling out Francesca's chair for her to take her seat.
"Thank you," she sat and waited for introductions to everyone.
"That waiter had the cheesiest ballest French accent I have ever heard, I can do better then that. Oh and I'm Tré by the way, Mike is horrible ain't the not introducing you to his most wonderful friends."
"Francesca, but my friends call me Frankie," she replied as she shook Tré's reaching hand.
"I was getting on that Tré. I thought she'd like to get seated before you harass her," Mike shot Tré a warning look and pulled his chair in beside Frankie.
"I don't harass, I just like to talk a lot. Making new friends is so much fun isn't' it?" Tré smirked at Frankie and she snuffed a laugh.
"Well Frankie this here is Billie Joe, his wife Adrienne, their kids Joey and Jacob and that's Tré as you know" Mike introduced as Frankie shook hands of the new faces before her.
"It's nice to meet you all, it really is."
"I told the these tow to keep it small and simple for dinner, didn't want to overwhelm you, and we wanted to leave this place with it in one piece." Adrienne said smiling nicely at Frankie.
"Thanks, but as I was told aren't these two the rowdy ones?"
"We are not, always behaved Mike's the naughty one, aren't you Mikey" Tré snickered.
"Sure sure say what you will, but I'm no way near as bad as you two are. Isn't that right Joey?" Mike gave Joey a wink to play along.
"Daddy's the worst, he pulled his pants down in front of thousands of people."
Frankie let out a bolt of laughter along with the rest aside from Billie Joe himself.
"You paid him to say that didn't you? At least I crap in toilets," Billie Joe smirked and crossed his arms.
Mike was about to speak his defense when the fake French-speaking waiter returned to take their orders. "Vare you ready to take vour orders?"
"Um yes we are, I would like, and you want red or white wine Mike?" Adie spoke up to get the three men out of a who's down what war.
"Red please, what about you Frankie?"
"Oh doesn't matter."
"Okay so we will take, your finest bottle of red wine..." Adrienne voice trailed off Frankie relished as Mike's voice came floating into Frankie's head.
"Can you read French?"
"Huh?" she turned to him.
"Can you speak French, or read it? Most of the stuff on the menu is in French."
"A bit I mean, my friend he taught me a bit he picked up from Paris."
"So you want me to order for you then?"
"Yes, thank you."
"No problem, they have really good food here, actually they have really good steak."
"I think steak sounds good."
"Okay steak it is, do you want potatoes and a salad with that or either or, whatever you like pig out."
Frankie chuckled and said a ceasar salad and potatoes was fine as the waiter turned to Mike for her order and his own.
"So Mike told me you were in a band in high school."
Frankie turned to her left to look at Billie Joe who started talking to her,"Oh yeah, I was."
"You write your own music?"
"Yeah I wrote the songs and the guitar, we actually still get together and play when I can get home for the holidays."
"That's cool, Mike should get you tickets for one of our shows, we-"
"We don't have any for awhile from now, but I'm sure next time we get around to playing we'll have you come if you want," Mike interrupted, shooting Billie Joe a stern look
"Well I'd love to see you guys play."
"Well you will, tonight actually, we have to get the birthday boy on stage now don't we."
"No, we really don't," Mike said looking down at the empty space in front of him. 'Don't ruin this for me Billie Joe, I don't want her to know'.
"Don't worry when he's good and drunk we'll pull him up there and he'll play for you, and that's a promise," Billie Joe gave Frankie a friendly nudge and looked at Mike's stern face.
"I'll hold you to that, both of you." Frankie turned to Mike and he dropped his look and smiled
'Fuck Billie Joe, why'd you go and do that'.
"Oh my god and you haven't called him, he gave you his number girl!"
"How do I even know it's his number?"
"How will you know unless you call him! Frankie you are too much of a wuss. If you don't call this hunk of a man I will!"
"Stevey I doubt he is your type, I think he fell in the straight category."
"Oh I could so convert him."
"Sure, sure," Frankie sat back in her couch and petted her fat cat Splitz, "I guess I could give it a shot."
"That's what I like to here, call me back with the juicy details okay! Ta, ta!"
"Will do Stevey will do, talk to you later," Frankie hung up and stared aimlessly at the napkin given to her by Mike.
'I guess it really wouldn't hurt we could get coffee or whatever; I should have given him my number guys can call anytime without stupid debates with themselves. Ok breathe Frankie, now dial the phone, oh god it's ringing, no freaky outs no freak-outs'.
"Hello?"
'Oh shit, answering machine would have been nicer' *click*
'Stupid, stupid, stupid, why did I do that, why did I hang up if I call back now he wont answer'.
*Ring, ring*
"Hello?"
"Hello, did you just call this number?"
"Uh yeah, um sorry my phone went hay-wire."
"Um okay...may I asked who this is?" the voice asked.
"Well if this is Mike Dirnt this is Frankie."
"Oh! Frankie hi, how are you? And your cats, did they live?"
"I'm fine and they are fine, Splitz is on my lap being a lazy ass right now."
"Great great, I thought you lost my number or something."
"Yeah, I mean no, I didn't I've just been busy with work, that's why I haven't called."
"Yeah understandable, hey are you doing anything today?"
"No that's why I called, not in a I'm bored so I'd call you way cause you're not boring. I just uh, wanted to see if you would like to go for coffee with me or something."
"Well I can't go to coffee but would you maybe want to come to a party with me?"
"What kind of party?"
"A birthday party, my birthday party actually."
"Oh yeah, I forgot sorry, happy birthday."
"That's okay, I didn't expect you to remember, and thanks."
"What do you want?"
"What do you mean?"
"For a present."
"Nothing, just you to be ready at 7 o'clock, if you can come, or want to come."
"I can and I do, I'm going to be at Dean's Café though, can you pick me up there?"
"Yeah no problem, I'll see you then?"
"Yup see yeah then" Frankie hung up the phone and it rang immediately.
"Hey, its me again, sorry I forgot to say it's formal apparently. I'm not planning it, actually I'm not even suppose to know about it, but my friend Tré has a big mouth and can't keep a surprise party quite. But we are going some place fancy for dinner, don't worry about paying for anything birthday boy and date get special treatment."
"Okay no problem, bya bye."
"Bye."
'A date with Mike Dirnt, better call Stevey so he can talk my ear off about it for an hour, which will leave me one and a half too get ready, perfect'.
Frankie dialed Stevey and he answered on the first ring.
"Were you waiting with the phone in your hand?"
"Maybe I was, but that's not important tell me what he said woman!"
"He shot me down said I was ugly and he never wanted to hear from me again."
"That jerk! I'm going to find him and rip off his balls!"
"Ha ha, I'm just kidding Stevey. He invited me to his birthday party, he said bring myself is all he needs from me as a present and its formal, I need a dress."
"I'll ask Kiera, she has that sexy red and black one, you can make him be begging for it all night with that. It's not screaming slut but it says 'I'm sexy and you want a piece of this and wear those black dress shoes of hers too'.
"Is Kiera there?"
"Of course, we were discussing you, and she's getting the dress and shoes and heading over right now."
"You were discussing me? Oh that makes me feel comfortable."
"Never anything bad."
""Sure it isn't, I'm going to take a shower. I'll call you tomorrow, or when I get in if it's not too late."
"Okay bye, don't have too much fun."
"I will try, bye Stevey." Frankie hung up and headed to the bathroom and turned on the water for a shower.
"Frankie, Frankie, Frankie you are going to knock this man off his feet. There, you can open your eyes, I'm done."
"Thanks Kiera, for everything. The dress, shoes and doing my make-up," Frankie stood up, grabbing her purse off the bed beside her.
"No problem, always here to help a friend in need. So tell me about this guy?" Kiera asked going into the kitchen and grabbing a soda from Frankie's fridge. "You want me to get you something?"
"No I'm fine," Frankie filed into the living area of her apartment and took a seat on the sofa.
"So is he tall dark and handsome?" Keria emerged from the kitchen and took a seat next to Frankie.
"In a way yes, I mean I don't know him well. We talked for about forty minutes at Starbucks and that's it."
"Well you'll be getting to know him tonight."
"I won't be getting to know him that well Kare, but if things go well, there's date two and after that date three."
"And then two months from now and you're in love with the man, oh this is so exciting!"
"I don't see anything really exciteful about it. It's one date with one guy I barely know, it could or couldn't evolve don't get the streamers out yet."
"Well you need to get laid, you haven't had a relationship since that Tommy jerk, come on what isn't there to be excited about. Maybe he will make you laugh and smile again bringing back the Frankie we all know and love."
"I laugh and smile all the time," Frankie said taking Kiera's coke and having a sip.
"Yeah but you don't really smile, you just do it politely. You need to learn to live again, be you again."
"I'm still me Kare, I am. People do change you know, I have the same everything I've always had I've just changed. Felt things, seen things, and lost things that changed me."
"Well, I guess I should let you go huh? It's twenty to seven."
"Yeah, it will take me twenty minutes to walk to the Café in these shoes."
"Why did you tell him to meet you at the café anyway? Cause I really want to meet this guy."
"I didn't want him to know where I live just yet, maybe I'm just a bit paranoid. Let me get my coat I'll walk you to your car, seeing as how I'm going out anyway."
"Okay, and I know what you mean not wanting him to know guess it's understandable he could be a weirdo. Well I'll see you later." Kiera and Frankie embraced and Kiera got into her car and pulled out of the apartment buildings guest parking as Frankie started walking in the direction of Dean's Café.
'Note to self - have Kiera drive me next time; I'm five minutes late. What if he leaves? I hope he doesn't, he probably thinks I stood him up, or maybe he is really standing me up and when I get there he wont be there. Oh well, what can a girl do really, run in heels? Yeah right. I'm only another five minutes away anyway. Maybe I'll walk a bit faster'.
Frankie picked up her pace on the semi-alive New York street trying to make herself less late as possible, and mean while a frantic Mike Dirnt was getting out of a limo outside of Dean's Café ready to apologize for his tardiness.
'Shit, I hope she didn't leave already, she probably though I stood her up I cant believe I'm late'. Mike entered the café and looked around but not seeing Francesca anywhere. 'Maybe she did leave already, I should still wait a bit'. Mike took a seat near the entrance and began drumming his fingers on the table.
"What would ya like sir?" a young looking waitress asked, ready to take his order
"Just a coffee please."
"Coming right up." With that, she left him waiting.
'Ten minutes late, I'm ten minutes late. I'm never late for anything! Please be here'. Frankie stopped outside the Café looking up and down the street. 'I told him meet me outside right? Or did I tell him to meet me inside? Or did I tell him anything but I'd be here? Oh why can't I remember, oh well a quick coffee while waiting, if he's not gone'. Frankie entered the café on the unoccupied side of the entrance door so she could see anyone who came in. 'If he comes in, I see him, and if he's here, he isn't great. I bet he's came and left'.
Mike came out from the men's room and decided he'd go after waiting for ten minutes and her not showing; he put his money on the table and headed for the door.
"Dean move out of the way, I need to see the entrance," Frankie said frustrated, moving Dean out of her way.
"What for?" he asked looking at the doors.
"I'm waiting for someone, I swear he just came in or left," Frankie averted her gaze from the door to outside seeing Mike opening a car door to get in. "There! I have to go," she got up and rushed out of the café to the limo door closing.
'Oh well, I guess I lucked out. I'll call her tomorrow, wait I don't have her number fuck; well maybe she'll call me then. Lets hope'. Mike thought getting in the limo and shutting the door to find it stop and pull open. 'What the hell?'.
"Mike, I'm sorry I was late. I thought I missed you, I'm so sorry," Frankie panted from her frantic dash to get to the car in time.
"No I'm sorry I was late too. I thought I missed you so I stayed and waited" Mike said getting out of the limo.
"Yeah I was inside and saw you getting in, I almost sprained my ankle in the sprint but I got here in time," Frankie said and laughed nervously. 'Oh sure, say that, it makes you sound like a desperate freak, way to go Frankie! You idiot'.
"Well after you," Mike moved aside and let Frankie into the limo.
"Wow nice, I've only been in a limo once for high school graduation but it was nothing like this."
"Yeah its my pimped out birthday ride, Jeffery we're ready to go." Mike said holding a little speaker button down to inform the driver.
"Yes sir," the voice of Jeffery spoke in reply.
"Now I have to warn you, I have rather crazy friends, and due to how alcoholically induced this night will be for them, and most likely myself, I apologize for anything that they may say or do to you or anyone. And possible nudeness, well let's just say sometimes table stripping happens."
Frankie let out a laugh and sat back in the seat, "Well that's okay, my friends are pretty bad. I honestly can't think of Stevey having his clothes on most of the time, alcoholically enhanced or not."
"Well then it wont be a shock then, Billie Joe and Tré they, well I heard something about someone popping out of a cake in edible undies. I hope that was just a joke."
Frankie busted out in laughter at the thought of this and gripped the seat for support. "Oh god, trust me I've had that done. Actually I did it to a friend, well planned not actually jumping out of the cake was done by myself, we had her boyfriend do it, it was hilarious."
"Well you better not have been in contact with Tré and given him the idea, because if anyone would jump out of a cake he would. Well, him and Billie Joe would both get in there together and do it. They would probably fight over who gets to."
"Well your friends sound great, I think we will get along well," Frankie smiled at Mike and he took her hand.
"That's great, it really is. I'm sure they'll love you. If they say your great when sober it means something, but if they say it when there drunk it means more, they tend to say what they mean when they're intoxicated." Mike laughed, squeezing Frankie's hand/ "You look really beautiful by the way, I like the dress." Mike said looking her up and down to observe what she was wearing.
"Thanks, you look good too. Very sharp and handsome like." Frankie giggled. 'Oh god did I just giggle, I'm a idiot, giggling is for gits Frankie, gits, remember that!'.
"We're here," a voice boomed out of the speaker making Frankie jump slightly at it's suddenness.
'Okay, here, we go the friend test already this is a big jump for a first date. Breathe Frankie it will all be fine... hope'. Mike got out and took Frankie's hand as she stepped out to one of the fanciest French restaurants in New York the La Grenouille.
"Well here we are, there probably inside from being sick of waiting, but I'm the birthday boy its okay for me to be late." Mike took Frankie's hand and led her into the restaurant.
"Armstrong party," Mike said to the waiter who took both their coat and gave them to a younger gentleman and took them to another room.
"V-right ziss way masseur," the waiter led them to the far back of the restaurant where tables had been put together and others cleared away to give the party privacy or so there rowdiness didn't disturb other guests. "V-will you be a taking your order now, or would you like moi to return in a few minotes."
"We'll need a few minutes, please." Mike sat pulling out Francesca's chair for her to take her seat.
"Thank you," she sat and waited for introductions to everyone.
"That waiter had the cheesiest ballest French accent I have ever heard, I can do better then that. Oh and I'm Tré by the way, Mike is horrible ain't the not introducing you to his most wonderful friends."
"Francesca, but my friends call me Frankie," she replied as she shook Tré's reaching hand.
"I was getting on that Tré. I thought she'd like to get seated before you harass her," Mike shot Tré a warning look and pulled his chair in beside Frankie.
"I don't harass, I just like to talk a lot. Making new friends is so much fun isn't' it?" Tré smirked at Frankie and she snuffed a laugh.
"Well Frankie this here is Billie Joe, his wife Adrienne, their kids Joey and Jacob and that's Tré as you know" Mike introduced as Frankie shook hands of the new faces before her.
"It's nice to meet you all, it really is."
"I told the these tow to keep it small and simple for dinner, didn't want to overwhelm you, and we wanted to leave this place with it in one piece." Adrienne said smiling nicely at Frankie.
"Thanks, but as I was told aren't these two the rowdy ones?"
"We are not, always behaved Mike's the naughty one, aren't you Mikey" Tré snickered.
"Sure sure say what you will, but I'm no way near as bad as you two are. Isn't that right Joey?" Mike gave Joey a wink to play along.
"Daddy's the worst, he pulled his pants down in front of thousands of people."
Frankie let out a bolt of laughter along with the rest aside from Billie Joe himself.
"You paid him to say that didn't you? At least I crap in toilets," Billie Joe smirked and crossed his arms.
Mike was about to speak his defense when the fake French-speaking waiter returned to take their orders. "Vare you ready to take vour orders?"
"Um yes we are, I would like, and you want red or white wine Mike?" Adie spoke up to get the three men out of a who's down what war.
"Red please, what about you Frankie?"
"Oh doesn't matter."
"Okay so we will take, your finest bottle of red wine..." Adrienne voice trailed off Frankie relished as Mike's voice came floating into Frankie's head.
"Can you read French?"
"Huh?" she turned to him.
"Can you speak French, or read it? Most of the stuff on the menu is in French."
"A bit I mean, my friend he taught me a bit he picked up from Paris."
"So you want me to order for you then?"
"Yes, thank you."
"No problem, they have really good food here, actually they have really good steak."
"I think steak sounds good."
"Okay steak it is, do you want potatoes and a salad with that or either or, whatever you like pig out."
Frankie chuckled and said a ceasar salad and potatoes was fine as the waiter turned to Mike for her order and his own.
"So Mike told me you were in a band in high school."
Frankie turned to her left to look at Billie Joe who started talking to her,"Oh yeah, I was."
"You write your own music?"
"Yeah I wrote the songs and the guitar, we actually still get together and play when I can get home for the holidays."
"That's cool, Mike should get you tickets for one of our shows, we-"
"We don't have any for awhile from now, but I'm sure next time we get around to playing we'll have you come if you want," Mike interrupted, shooting Billie Joe a stern look
"Well I'd love to see you guys play."
"Well you will, tonight actually, we have to get the birthday boy on stage now don't we."
"No, we really don't," Mike said looking down at the empty space in front of him. 'Don't ruin this for me Billie Joe, I don't want her to know'.
"Don't worry when he's good and drunk we'll pull him up there and he'll play for you, and that's a promise," Billie Joe gave Frankie a friendly nudge and looked at Mike's stern face.
"I'll hold you to that, both of you." Frankie turned to Mike and he dropped his look and smiled
'Fuck Billie Joe, why'd you go and do that'.
