Logan

126. We're Old Friends

*Natalie's POV*

"Wow, you and Daddy Warbucks on a real date." Frankie teased. We were sitting in her car, she'd called me earlier needing moral support and since I was already going it just made sense for us to go together.

I grimaced and turned toward her to set the record straight, "You know, Frankie, I don't think of him that way, at all. Just," I crossed my hand in front of my face, as if to make an x, "at all. So why don't you call him something else."

She sighed and seemed apologetic, "I'm sorry, I'm just- honestly, Micah has never asked me to one of these things before and I'm so nervous." I noticed her hand shake a little as she brought down the mirror to look at herself.

I looked her over, "Sweetie, you're adorable." She was wearing a black dress with a red headband on top of her pixie cut.

"He told me to dress casual, but I'm afraid I'm going to look too... pale."

I couldn't deny Frankie's resemblance to an Addams character but I knew what she was actually nervous about. Her scar was showing, especially in this outfit, a first look for a lot of his coworkers. Sometimes she was confident, but on a 'casual' night like tonight, she was nervous.

I looked down at my own outfit, dress slacks with a raspberry tank top and a black cardigan to go over it. It was my first time finding slacks that not only fit, but didn't make me look like I was some frumpy intern in a law office.

Frankie broke the silence by patting my knee, "How are you doing, sweetie?"

I sighed, "I'm fine."

She seemed to doubt me, then looked out and back at me, "Alex told me you haven't cried yet."

I sighed, "It's not like I'm not trying to, I watched sad movies, listened to sad songs, it's just...I don't think I've let myself feel yet. I know he's gone, I know he's not coming back but for some reason, I just can't bear the thought. So I don't think about it. I really just feel like, I don't know, disappearing."

I looked over at my best friend, who's eyes were trying not to tell me she was scared for me, just by her facial expressions I knew what she was thinking. It was hard for me to ignore her lip biting and the way she picked at her fingernails sometimes. She looked up at me, "So have you thought about maybe, going to Lakeside?"

I pulled my hand from hers, "I won't. I actually called my psychiatrist for a dosage check and we readjusted things."

She nodded, "Fair enough." then reached over and tilted my chin to look at her, "You'll tell me if things get bad again, okay? I'm here for you."

I smiled and nodded, "I'm okay, I promise, but yes, I will tell you."

She put her hands in her lap and looked down, "Do you think they'll think I'm a freak because of my scar?" Her voice was quiet.

"Frankie, no! You're a good person, everyone's going to see that you're fun to be around and you have many outstanding qualities. Plus if anyone says something I'll fight them for you."

She looked at me and smiled, "Okay."

"Okay, let's go." I reached over and squeezed her hand.

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The station without two trucks in the hall was fabulous. Twinkling lights hung from a few angles, everything was arranged so beautifully. The tables were in rows, with checkered tablecloths. My hair was still in the scarf, I wanted my hair to be a surprise. Frankie stood beside me, holding a glass of punch.