♡︎ Frankie ♡︎
I've been sitting here thinking about how strange today has been, about an hour ago Billie came to sit next to me on the sofa and fell asleep watching some cartoon on my tv.
I carefully unfold the throw blanket that had been resting on the arm of the couch, laying it over Billie before going into my room.
I take my phone out of my pocket and decide to ring my sister, Jordan.
"Hello?" She says.
"J, are you busy right now?" I ask getting straight to the point.
"No why is everything alright?" Her voice laced with concern.
"Yeah yeah I've just had the strangest day. I was hoping maybe you could help me understand something."
"I can try, what's up?"
"I met this girl in the parking lot when I was coming out the grocery store. Some woman left her stranded, and when I approached her she was holding a teddy bear and a children's book bag. She was upset and had no where to go so I brought her back to my place.."
"Frankie, you brought a stranger to your house?!" She exclaims.
"Relax, she's harmless" I sigh.
"And how do you know that?"
"Because she told me she's 3 years old" I inform her.
"So she's a child? Why didn't you just say that? Take her to the police station, what's so strange about that?"
"The strange part is I don't think she's actually 3. She looks about my age, maybe a year or two younger. But she talks and acts like a child."
"Okay, you need to hand that girl over to the police and let them handle her. This whole situation sounds freaky, Frankie. That girl could be major trouble for all you know."
"She seems so innocent though, I offered to take her to her parents house and when I did her mother slammed the door in her face. And if she is my age what are the cops gonna do with her? Anyone 18 or older is considered an adult, they'd just tell her to go find somewhere to go."
"Frankie, I know you like to be nice sometimes but this girl is not your problem. You just moved over there and haven't started your job yet. You're not financially stable enough to deal with some weirdo who acts like a kid."
"Alright, I'll figure it out in the morning. I'm not gonna kick her out tonight it's getting late. I'll call you tomorrow, goodnight." With that I hang up, plopping down onto my bed.
****
A bunch of loud noises jolt me out of my sleep, I lazily pick up my phone checking the time, 7:20 am.
"What the hell is going on" I grunt as I get out of bed.
Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I pry my bedroom door open to see Billie pacing back and forth seemingly searching for something.
"Billie? What are you doing, darling?" I husk making her stop dead in her tracks.
She looks in me with fear in her eyes, "I have to go! Do you have a phone I can use? I can't find mine!" She's hysterical now.
Her voice is different, way less childish. If I wasn't concerned before I definitely am now. "Billie, you need to calm down" I place my hands on her shoulders to stop her movements.
"P-please don't t-touch me. I have to go, I have to get back to her" her eyes well up with tears.
"Who? The woman that left you in the parking lot? She didn't seem like she wanted anything more to do with you" I say sounding way more harsh than I intended.
Her face drops as the realization sets in, "oh yeah.. that's right" she sighs. "No one wants me."
"Don't say that, I'm sure someone wants you sweetheart. Do you have any other family?"
"Just my brother but he's on tour right now. He won't be back for 3 months" she sighs.
"I can give you my phone to call him, maybe he'll come get you so you guys can be together" I shrug.
"Okay" she mumbles looking down into her lap.
I rush back to my room grabbing my phone before heading back to her, "here you go."
She reaches for her backpack and flips through the pages of her little notebook. She has his number written down in green crayon, how cute. She dials his number.
"H-hello, Finn it's Billie... This is someone else's phone.. no s-she left me in a parking lot.." her voice starts to crack, "I went there but she slammed the door in my face.. I h-have no where else to g-go can you come g-get me?" She sniffles wiping underneath her little nose.
"Okay." She moves the phone from her face and hands it to me, "he wants to talk to you."
I gently take the phone from her and put it to my ear, "hello?"
"Hi, I'm Finneas, Billie's older brother. Firstly thank you for taking her in, I know it couldn't have been easy to bring a complete stranger to your home."
"It was no problem, she seemed harmless and she was really upset. And I know this is none of my business but can you-"
"Explain the teddy bear and the childish behavior?" He finishes my thought.
"Y-yeah, I just wanna understand so I know how to deal with whatever I've gotten myself in too" I chuckle.
"Billie's an age regressor, I don't really have the time to explain it but when she's in her little head space just try your best to tend to all her needs. She should have all of her comfort items in the sparkly green book bag she carries around. Hold on one second."
I faintly hear him talking to someone in the background, "okay I have a shoot soon but can you just keep her until I come back? Don't answer right now just think about it and I will call you back later on tonight to discuss everything. I will answer any question you have about her."
"Okay I'll text you when I get out of wo- shit! Call me later bye." I hang up the phone and jump up probably startling Billie.
"What's wrong?!" She panics.
"My first day of work is today, I have to go in at 8." I run into my room to quickly get dressed before rushing into the bathroom.
"Frankie?" A small voice calls out.
"Yes" I ask peeking my head out of the bathroom.
"W-where am I gonna go?" She asks.
I finish up in the bathroom so I can talk with her quickly.
"Okay your brother asked me to look after you until he gets back. I have work so you're gonna stay here. Help yourself to anything in the fridge okay?"
"No!" Billie shouts startling me.
"Billie I have to go to work, sweetie. I don't have to stay a full day I will be back in 4 hours. Here you can even take my phone" I offer but she is not having it, slapping my phone from my hand.
"No!! Wan' mommy!" She screams, her pale face now a dark shade of red as tears roll down her cheeks.
How the hell am I supposed to put up with this for 3 months?
I inch closer to the smaller girl and carefully wrap my arms around her. She goes stiff at first but she quickly complies burying her head in my chest.
This is the strangest situation I've ever been in.
"Shh it's okay" I instantly regret my next words, "how about you come with me?"
She nods immediately liking that idea, "okay grab your stuff and put your shoes on quick. I'm already late" I sigh.
The tiny girl grabs her things, stuffing everything in that little bag of hers. I run to the fridge to grab a bottle of water and then the cupboard for some snacks incase she gets hungry.
We head out the apartment and into my car. My boss is gonna have my head for this.
