FicWad

‘Trohman!’ Pete shouted as he easily pushed open the apartment door, ‘Front and center soldier!’

A small grunting noise came from the bedroom and the creak of springs. Great, he was asleep, Frankie thought, now he’ll be even more annoyed with me. She shuffled nervously, rubbing the front of her shoes on the ratty, mocha brown carpet. The apartment was homey. A little leather couch and a big screen TV. It was very open with the kitchen within sic meters of the living room. He had photographs all over the place. A picture of Patrick with his arm around some girl. A picture of Pete and Patrick on stage. Joe and his mom. Joe and his step-dad. Frankie shivered and looked away from that picture. There in the corner of the bookshelf was a little photograph in a silver frame. It was her and Joe. Her hair was in bunches and they were both grinning like idiots. She couldn’t have been more than ten in that picture. That was probably the last picture they had taken together.

‘Shut up asshole!’ A voice drifted from the direction of a room directly opposite. ‘I’m trying to sleep!’

‘Hey Jewface’ Pete hollered, ‘I’m delivering something for you.’

There was a silence followed by yet another grunt and yet another creak. Footsteps came from the room and before long a curly haired boy was stood in the doorway staring at the three of them.

‘You’ve brought me…’ Joe began, studying Frankie, ‘A chick?’

Frankie looked at her cousin in awe. He was different to how she remembered him. He had the same stupid smile and awkward disposition but now he was a man and not the dorky kid from the past. She took off her black and pink trucker hat and held it tightly in her fists.

‘Joseph Trohman’ Pete held her by her shoulders, ‘Allow me to introduce…’

He paused for effect. Damn that dramatic nature of his.

‘Frankie Trohman’ Pete shoved her forward slightly so now she was close enough to touch him.

Joe stood absolutely still, his mouth hung open like she had two heads. Not a single word from her for over ten years and now there she was, in his apartment.

‘Frankie?’ Joe gawped, ‘Really?’

‘Uhh...’ She cleared her throat nervously, ‘Hey Joe...’

‘What…’ He tried his hardest not to grab her and squeeze her tight, ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I…’ She let out a anxious giggle, ‘I have to talk to you about something.’

Silence smothered the room and drowned all four of them. Joe nodded and slung an arm around her shoulder. He led her into his room so that they could talk in private, leaving Pete and Patrick just stood like idiots by the front door. As soon as the bedroom door was shut Pete shrugged and threw himself onto the couch, quickly followed by Patrick who was a little more hesitant and on edge.

‘Hey…?’ Pete’s eyes were burning Patrick

‘Uh… Yeah?’ Patrick asked, trying not to sound so troubled

‘What’s wrong with…’ Pete was cut off by what sounded like crying coming from the bedroom.

Muffled voices followed and Pete, being as inquisitive as he is, couldn’t resist eavesdropping. Patrick protested but did Pete listen? Of course not. He had his ear pressed to the bedroom door.

‘Ten years and now you turn up with all of this?’ Joe asked, he seemed borderline angry.

‘I’m sorry Joe but I just have no one else,’ She was definitely crying by now, ‘Please… If it’s too much of a problem I’m sure I can find a motel or…’

‘No,’ Joe cut across, he was calmer this time, ‘You can stay as long as you want.’

‘Thank you so much Joe’ She was sobbing hard and then her voice became muffled as, Pete assumed, Joe pulled her close and hugged her, ‘If it’s too much trouble…’

‘It’s fine,’ Joe whispered soothingly, ‘ I can’t exactly have my favorite cousin out on the street.’

She laughed shakily. The bed creaked and Pete literally had to sprint to get back to the couch before the door opened. Frankie’s face was shining from the tears that had spilled down her dainty, pale cheeks. Patrick smiled, sympathetically at her and she smiled sadly back.

‘You okay?’ Patrick asked

‘I’m fine…’ She sniffed, wiping her eyes

‘So… Guys’ Joe began; arm still wrapped around Frankie, sheltering her, protecting her, ‘We have a new addition to our home’

‘Your…’ Frankie said out loud but really she was saying it to herself, ‘I don’t mean to intrude… This place seems pretty crowded as it is with the three of you guys…’

‘Actually…’ Joe ran his fingers through his mini ‘fro. ‘There’s four of us… But it’s okay… Right guys?’

‘Oh sure’ Pete grinned, ‘Nice to have female company for once’

‘Yeah, it’s fine’ Patrick nodded, ‘We’ll squeeze, it’s cool’

Frankie started crying again, but not from sadness this time. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone was this nice to her.

‘Sorry…’ Frankie snorted, wiping her tears once more, ‘It’s… Thank you’

‘I’ll show you to your quarters madam’ Pete said, getting up from the couch and scooping her up in his arms, causing her to emit silly giggles.

The second they had left the room Patrick looked up at Joe.

‘You sure this is okay with you?’ Joe asked, sounding rather apologetic

‘I’m totally cool with it’ Patrick smiled though, to be honest, he’d never been so worried in all his life.