Road Trip ⭐️

12 - First Step

I was sitting in the bed in Chad's house in Wilmington reading. I had been here for a week and a half and was loving the small vacation.

"Book any good?" Chad asked leaning on the door frame. I looked up at him and smiled.

"Meh, it's not catching my attention but I'm enjoying being away from everything that I'm pushing myself to read it. I haven't been able to just sit and read in a long time." I said.

Chad came in and sat next to me on the bed and leaned against the headboard next to me.

"You know I love you right?" Chad asked.

"Right.

"And you know I have loved having you here and spending time with you right?" Chad asked.

"Right."

"Well with all that being said...I think it's time you go back to LA and talk to Chris."

I sat there and looked at him like he had 3 heads.

"Talk to Chris?! Are you crazy?!" I snapped.

"No, I'm not. I think it's time. It's been 11 years." Chad explained.

"You have been Vice President of the 'I Hate Chris Evans' fan club since we dated, and you knew what happened. Why are you changing your tune? Why are you on his side?!" I snapped.

"Okay your attitude is very Peyton Sawyer right now, so I need you to tone it down a little." Chad said causing us both to laugh since he mentioned a 'One Tree Hill' character. "I'm changing my tune because I know how bad he hurt you and I know writing music about him is therapy, but don't you sometimes wish you could just branch away from him and sing about other things than being hurt by someone?" Chad continued and I just sighed.

"I mean yeah maybe but I mean it's made me who I am..." I said.

"So, reinvent yourself. Be happy Frankie." Chad said.

"I am happy." I snapped and he just huffed a laugh putting an arm around me shoulder.

"Sweetie, I never said you weren't what I am saying is, Chris has dealt with enough. I know what he did to you, and I know everything was hard but right now just go about living your life. I mean not that I want to bring this up, but I mean when I was with you there were 3 people in the relationship...you, me and him. You have never let him go and now you can move on. Maybe even find someone to spend your life with..." Chad said, and I looked up at him.

"Chad, you don't mean us again...?" I questioned and he laughed and shook his head.

"No, not us. We had our time, and we know how hard it was since I plan on being down here a little longer after that I don't know where life will lead." Chad said and I half nodded.

"Okay well since I have no more prospects, I think I will just write about love and see where it gets me." I said.

"You never know, it could hit you when you least expect it." Chad said causing me to shrug.

"And even if I wanted to contact Chris I wouldn't know how. I mean I don't plan on going back home to Massachusetts and I don't even have his number." I explained.

"Well, I may have pulled a few strings..." Chad said handing me a folded-up piece of paper.

"What is this?" I asked and unfolded it seeing a phone number.

"That is Chris's phone number. I didn't know if it was the same as before, but I figured I would get it for you if I could. Chad explained. I looked at the number and sighed.

"So, you want me to call him and say what exactly...'I'm done writing break up and heartbreak songs about you so now you can go on and live your life?'" I asked.

"I mean maybe not in those exact words and maybe just make amends with him. You both have a lot to talk about and maybe if you can meet and talk and just get everything out in the open it will all work itself out in the end." Chad said.

"Maybe...I don't know, I will have to think about it." I said and placed the piece of paper on the nightstand with my cellphone.

"Just think about it." Chad said and kissed the side of my head and got up from the bed.

"Do you think it's time to go home?" Chad asked.

"Well, if you are kicking me out, I guess I don't have a choice." We laughed together and he sighed.

"I'm not kicking you out Frankie, I'm making you be a grown up."

"And I don't like it." I said and he laughed as he walked out.

I realized then it was time to go home, I knew it was time to face reality and one part of that reality was talking to Chris although just calling him out of the blue is going to be weird. I mean it's not like I could just pick up my phone and call him acting like nothing happened and we hadn't been silent towards each other for years...that wouldn't be weird at all...god I love my sarcastic brain.

I got up from the bed and started packing everything up. I knew Chad wasn't really kicking me out but he was giving me a swift kick in my ass for a reality check which was definitely needed while I was here, he was just giving me time to realize it.

I sat on the bed after I packed to book a flight cross country, back to LA I go.

🔹 🔹 🔹

I was sitting at the airport waiting to book my flight, I was doing pretty good at keeping a low profile. Only a couple of people noticed who I was and asked for an autograph or picture. I tried to always do as much as I could knowing it was the fans that made me.

Everyone who asked for something had heard the new song and loved it. They asked if more surprise songs were coming, and I just shrugged.

In truth I didn't know, I had no clue what was happening in my life. I was now sitting holding the folded-up piece of paper in my hand with the phone number Chad told me to call. I thought about it the whole way here and I was going to think about it the whole way home. I knew a pro and con list needed to be made in my head.

I know Chris would talk to me since he had been trying but did, he still feel the same way. If the fans heard the new song, I was sure he did and he knew it was about him. I didn't know how he even reacted, but I also didn't know why I cared. There was a lot to consider.

Before I could stop my fingers from unlocking my phone I was dialing the phone number, I couldn't stop myself. It was almost like I was having an out of body experience as I dialed the number and put the phone to my ear.

It rang a few times and then my heart stopped and jumped into my throat when I heard the phone click and I heard his voice.

"You've reached Chris, just leave me a message and I'll call you back."

I sighed and then I heard the beep.

"Hey Chris, it's me...Frankie. Call me back."

I hung up and took a deep breath.

First step made.