𝖺𝖿𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗍𝗒 || 𝗅𝗎𝖼𝖺𝗌 𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖺𝗋

𝗇𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗍𝖾𝖾𝗇.

𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 ||𝟭𝟰
"𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙?"
𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘀

⋆⋆⋆

               𝗧he sky outside was still waking up, a soft blue light filtering through the window. frankie stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the collar of her denim jacket. her eyes were a little tired, but her reflection was steady. determined.

behind her, lucas sat at the edge of her bed, quietly watching.

"farkle hasn't been by in weeks," frankie said, her voice soft. "have you heard from him?"

lucas shook his head. "i tried texting a couple times. nothing."

frankie sighed and picked up her hairbrush, dragging it slowly through her red waves. "it's not like him. he always answers. even if it's just a meme."

lucas stood, walking over. "he'll come around. he might just need some time."

"i know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "i just hope he's okay."

before she could say more, a knock sounded on the door, followed by it cracking open.

abby leaned in, hair half-done, toothbrush in one hand. "hey, you two eating or just surviving off adolescent angst this morning?"

frankie managed a small smile. "both."

lucas chuckled. abby stepped fully into the room, looking between them.

"just making sure he hasn't turned into your emotional support golden retriever full-time," she teased, nudging lucas with her shoulder.

he laughed. "too late."

abby grinned. "well, come on. mom made toast with that weird almond butter you like. dad's downstairs pretending he doesn't know how to pack his lunch."

frankie turned from the mirror. "tell him i'm not doing it for him this time."

"you told him that last week, and you still folded his napkin into a heart," abby called over her shoulder as she left the room.

frankie looked at lucas again, more comfortable now. "she's not wrong."

"she never is," lucas said. he stepped closer, reaching for her hand. "you look... really good today."

frankie rolled her eyes but her cheeks pinked anyway. "flatter me again, i dare you."

"i will," he said softly. "every day if you let me."
she squeezed his fingers, blushing uncontrollably.

lucas didn't say anything. he just stared at her like she was the most remarkable thing he'd ever seen.

downstairs, they heard the clatter of silverware and abby yelling something about a burnt bagel.